Let's face it; trying new foods with impressive views is reason enough to travel. This summer, travelers can enjoy one-of-a-kind culinary adventures found all over the world, from Treepod dining high in the foliage of Koh Kood’s ancient rainforest in Thailand to an exclusive undersea dining experience in the Maldives. Here are some of our favorite options:
Dinner in the Grotto at Las Ventanas al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort
This Five-Diamond resort in Los Cabos provides guests the opportunity to dine and relax in a jacuzzi hidden inside the resort’s new Oasis pool. While unwinding in warm waters in a private grotto, guests will dine on pan-Asian cuisine and wines from around the world while live music and ambient fireplaces set a romantic mood. The experience can be enjoyed by up to six guests.
Ithaa Undersea Restaurant at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Located in the Maldives, this island resort offers guests an exclusive underwater dining experience. Made entirely of glass, the restaurant sits sixteen feet below the surface to provide guests with 180-degree views of the Maldivian waters. Manta rays, sharks and other fish will swim over guests as they enjoy caviar, cocktails and other European fare. It can be booked privately for breakfast, weddings or other special occasions.
Michelin-Starred Picnic in the Park With Four Seasons Hotel Firenze
Guests can experience a Michelin-starred picnic for lunch or dinner in Four Seasons Firenze’s della Gherardesca Gardens. Prepared by the hotel’s chef Vito Mollica, Italian specialties include a Tuscan spelt salad, Italian finger sandwiches, bresaola and a variety of artisanal cheese, all paired with a bottle of Tuscan red wine produced in the nearby Chianti region.
Guests can enjoy the picnic in one of four locations in the historic gardens: La Collinetta, a secluded spot on the garden hilltop, shaded by giant trees; Tempio Lawn near the Dome of the Seven Virtues; Duomo View, an enclave with views of the landmark Duomo Cathedral; and Holm Oak Tree, a corner under the foliage of this ancient tree. Each area is equipped with Bluetooth so guests may listen to music.
At Soneva Kiri, a luxury nature resort in Thailand, guests can enjoy organic Thai fare while perched atop a tree. During this two-hour dinner experience, waiters attend to diners via zip-line, while patrons dine and enjoy the views of the ancient rainforest of Koh Kood. Guests can also opt for the one-hour High Tea in the treetops.
The Highest Pub in Africa at Sani Mountain Lodge
At approximately 9,430 feet above sea level, the Highest Pub in Africa welcomes guests from the chilly mountains for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Situated between the borders of South Africa and Lesotho, the pub offers a place to relax after a long hike, with local beers, wines, regional bites and views of the neighboring peaks. The pub opens and closes three times daily, once each for breakfast lunch and dinner.
Dine in a Work of Art by Jean Cocteau at the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, a Four Seasons Hotel
An experience offered exclusively to guests of the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, a Four Seasons Hotel, travelers can enjoy a private French Riviera home for an evening with an exclusive dinner at the Villa Santo Sospir. Jean Cocteau, who lived in the villa for 13 years, turned the home into a work of art, decorating the floors and walls with mosaics, murals and frescos that remain today.
The villa, perched on the Mediterranean shoreline, once belonged to socialite Francine Weisweiller and served as a gathering place for celebrities, writers and artists, including Coco Chanel and Pablo Picasso. After a personal tour of the home and its artwork, guests will enjoy maître d’ service of cocktails and French cuisine customized by a Michelin-star Chef Yoric Tièche, complete with Mediterranean views on the villa’s terrace.
Dine in the Sky at the Shangri-La Hotel, Paris
On a few select dates in the summer and early autumn, the Shangri-La Hotel, Paris will host a four-course lunch for just 20 diners on the terrace of the Shangri-La Suite, perched on the top floor. Measuring 1,076 square feet, the terrace is faces the Seine and the Eiffel Tower, offering an uninterrupted view of the famous landmark.
Executive Chef Christophe Moret, who holds two Michelin stars at the hotel’s restaurant, L’Abeille, will devise a different menu for each occasion, with wine pairings chosen by Head Sommelier Matthias Meynard. In May, the menu included oysters, caviar, Cotentin spider crab, pigeon breast and morel mushrooms.
This dining experience has two more summer dates, July 11 and September 7, and will be held for the last time on October 5.
Related Articles
Nutella Café to Open in New York City by the End of 2018
Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita Starts Work on New Restaurant