These exclusive dining experiences will delight your senses and test your culinary prowess.
Know your amuse-bouche from your petit fours? We are increasingly seeking experiences that not only please the palate but also give a true taste of a region – literally. From epicurean artistry and cultural immersions to exclusive wine-tasting tours, here’s some of the best gourmet experiences for culinary connoisseurs around the globe.
Dine at the best restaurant in the world
Spain
Restaurant El Bulli changed the face of not only Spain’s, but also the world’s, gastronomic scene. The restaurant took out the number-one spot in the inaugural World’s 50 Best awards. Today, three of the dining room’s alums (Mateu Casañas, Oriol Castro and Eduard Xatruch) have achieved the feat again, being named 2024’s World’s Best Restaurant for their Barcelona establishment Disfrutar (enjoy). Whether you opt for the ‘classic’ or seasonal ‘festival’ tasting menu, expect a performance – fire, ice, smoke and lots of flavour and colour. Creations are at once playful and unpredictable, often surprising you by telling your eyes one thing but sending your taste buds on a completely different journey.
Over The Top heli-dining experience
New Zealand
Soar above the Ruggedy Mountains, witness albatross catching fresh blue cod and visit one of the largest beaches in the Southern Ocean on Over The Top Helicopters’ Stewart Island tour. Covered in rainforest, sand dunes, wetlands and remote sheltered bays, Stewart Island is home to a menagerie of unique birds. Land at Rakiura’s only town, Oban, and take a boat out to fish for your lunch, then have it cooked to order with an on-site barbecue on Doughboy Bay. From the wondrous avian haven of Ulva Island and the granite domes of the Tin Range to sea lions in Sydney Cove, this tour takes a deep dive into the southernmost farming lands of New Zealand.
Any meal prepared by leading helicopter company Over the Top’s chefs is a delight. But the food tastes even better when it’s enjoyed in an exclusive location that can only be reached by helicopter. Revel in mountain scenery, perhaps capturing your outlook on canvas with an easel and a brush, soaking in a hot tub, indulging in an alfresco massage or simply relaxing beside a stream.
Truffle hunting expeditions
Tuscany
Castello Di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, is a singular Tuscan immersion. Originally a 10th-century castle on an Etruscan site, the storied estate boasts true culinary heritage. Tuscany is home to the rarest truffles on Earth, and Castello Di Casole hosts hunting expeditions concluded with a four-course truffle-inspired dinner. Learn to cook classic Italian dishes at one of the on-site classes or arrange private dining in the enchanting garden.
The world’s most expensive restaurant
Ibiza
You’ll need at least a cool $3,000 (US$2,000) per person to dine at Sublimotion in Ibiza. It has been billed as the most expensive restaurant on the planet. This multisensory dining ‘experience’ is at once surreal and futuristic, yet thought-provoking and fun. It’s not easy to get a reservation (there’s only one table and 12 seats), but when you’re savouring chef Paco Roncero’s Michelin-starred menu – which might include dessert in balloons or drinks that mix themselves – you’ll be glad you made the effort.
Safari dining at Jamala Wildlife Lodge
Canberra, ACT
Dine underground while wildlife roam just metres away. Jamala Wildlife Lodge is a safari-style, five-star hotel within the National Zoo and Aquarium in Canberra. Starting with pre-dinner drinks on the terrace, perhaps with a white lion or hyena as your companion, the four-course feast takes place in the Rainforest Cave. Fresh, locally sourced ingredients are transformed into exquisite African cuisine, complemented by a selection of premium wines. This unforgettable experience allows you to tantalise your taste buds while supporting vital wildlife conservation efforts. Afterwards, relax in one of 18 African-themed rooms where you can sip on a glass of shiraz while feeding a giraffe from the balcony, or soak in a deep tub while bears laze behind thick glass windows.
Heston’s medieval degustation
London
Most foodies have heard of Heston Blumenthal – the multi-award-winning British chef and owner of The Fat Duck. Now, you can have a behind-the-scenes dining experience at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. While you’re seated at a six-seater chef’s table, the kitchen team will work around you with open rotisseries inches away. The six-course menu has a medieval take: think tipsy cake (c.1810) or hay-smoked trout (c.1730). Don’t miss the meat fruit, a chicken-liver parfait cunningly disguised as a mandarin.
Candle-lit beach banquets
Maldives
For an exclusive dining experience, Heritance Aarah creates bespoke dining packages for its guests. Reserved for your exclusive use, the in-pool dinner for two is a five-course event served with a bottle of champagne from the resort’s extensive cellar. Soft flickering lights, a cool ocean breeze and the calming sound of the waves are the perfect backdrop for a romantic meal. Or the private dining experience on Ranba Beach will be an evening you’ll not forget quickly.
All-inclusive Heritance Aarah redefines the Maldives’ culinary landscape with a diverse collection of seven restaurants and five bars, all curated by Culinary Olympians and award-winning gourmet artists. Sample Asian delicacies, Sri Lankan fusions, Japanese and Thai classics, plus Mediterranean and French-inspired cuisine, all complemented by a premium range of over 70 wines and champagnes, and 80 cocktails.
A modern Australian degustation paired with Hunter Valley wines
Hunter Valley, NSW
The culinary ethos at Esca Bimbadgen is grounded in simplicity and refinement. Think perfectly executed duck breast, kingfish crudo that sings on the plate with mandarin, finger lime and pink peppercorns, and silky leche flan. The modern Australian restaurant is headed by chef Keira Madeley and celebrates outstanding Hunter Valley and Australian viticulture. Opt for the seasonal degustation menu to experience delicately nuanced flavours complemented by a thoughtful wine pairing that showcases Bimbadgen’s museum and current-release wines.
Just minutes away from Esca Bimbadgen and Bimbadgen Cellar Door, The Lane Retreat is the perfect overnight haven to enrich your visit. The property overlooks the stunning Broken Back Range and offers premium studios that feature a sage green palette and nature-inspired designs. Wake up to the sight of ethereal fog hovering over a tranquil lake while kangaroos graze in the distance.
Trust The Chef
Waiheke Island, New Zealand
Embark on a world-class culinary journey with the ‘Trust The Chef’ Dinner at Tantalus, a family-owned estate vineyard on New Zealand’s beautiful Waiheke Island. A curated degustation menu of six courses, each carefully paired with local wine, pays tribute to the estate, the surrounding Waiheke region and valued small producers from Aotearoa. From pale ale-battered oysters served with yuzu marmalade to coast lamb loin complemented by hazelnut and Jerusalem artichoke, each course is thoughtfully designed and plated by the talented culinary team. The exclusive experience has limited reservations on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Dine in a cave
Italy
Set within a cliff-face cave on the coast of Puglia, Grotta Palazzese is an enchanting restaurant that overlooks the Adriatic Sea. Known as one of the best restaurants in Italy, the atmospheric venue has been used for exclusive parties and banquets since the 18th century. Today, the restaurant plates up Apulian cuisine with special care given to aesthetics and aroma. Choose from a selection of multi-course experiences, and expect fresh seafood, classic Italian dishes and desserts topped with gold flakes.
Gourmet picnic in a French vineyard
France
Nestled in the heart of the Baux-de-Provence valley, Château d’Estoublon graces the limestone foothills of Fontvieille, enveloped by sprawling organic vineyards and olive groves. Indulge in the serenity of the French estate with a gourmet picnic nestled amid the vines, featuring delectable treats cultivated on-site. Or opt for the glamorous Château d’Estoublon forecourt affair, a dining experience complemented by the acclaimed 2022 Château d’Estoublon Roseblood Rosé.
Cellar doors on the Mornington Peninsula
Victoria
From its sumptuous cellar door and sculpture park to its award-winning eateries, Pt. Leo Estate on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula alights all the senses. The Pt. Leo Lunch, Wine & Art experience treats visitors to an opulent menu paired with Estate and Reserve wines before progressing to the cellar door, where you’ll enjoy a generous flight of vinos from the vintage collection. Then, guests will take a promenade around the outdoor gallery to marvel at sculptures from major artists. When your tastebuds summon you back, indulge in a set menu at the elegant Laura restaurant, which offers dishes such as flambéed southern rock lobster and cuvée chocolate cremeux. One of only a handful of Australian members to join the Relais & Châteaux fold, Laura at Pt. Leo Estate seats just 40. Named after a seven-metre-tall, cast-iron sculpture that overlooks the dining space, the eatery’s artistic theme is translated on the plate. You can also select from 750 wines from around the globe.
Dine inside Angkor Wat
Cambodia
The temples of Angkor can see thousands of daily visitors descending on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. But you’ll have the site all to yourself when you book Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor Siem Reap’s Bespoke Temple Dinner. The site is particularly beguiling at night when set aglow by candles and tiki torches, the legends coming to life through stories by your host as well as traditional Apsara dancers. Raffles opened in Siem Reap in 1932, and first served a feast among the temples in 1936. While your dinner is bespoke, it takes inspiration from that original meal, delivering a parade of dishes fit for Cambodian royalty.
There’s nothing like Noma
Denmark
You’ll need a good dose of patience if you’re planning to book a table at Noma. Listed as one of the hardest restaurants to get into in the world, it’s not without reason. The Copenhagen dining room has three Michelin stars and has topped the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list five times. Expect dishes like stuffed zucchini with bee larvae; blossoms with lobster; and six layers of raspberry, rhubarb, and cream tarts topped with summer raspberries.
Tali Wiru Indigenous dining
Northern Territory
The Australian Good Food Guide awarded Ayers Rock Resort’s Indigenous-inspired culinary concept Tali Wiru one Chef Hat and a Readers’ Choice Award. It is now the highest-rated restaurant in the Northern Territory and the only outdoor dining experience in Australia to be recognised in the awards. With a refreshed menu and new wine pairings selected by renowned Australian winemaker Penfolds, Tali Wiru is an exclusive four-hour, four-course alfresco occasion set on a dune-top with breathtaking views of Uluru, Kata Tjuta and the vast Australian outback.
Picnic in the snow
Lech, Austria
Visited by some of the world’s most famous people, Lech is a refined ski resort in Austria’s westernmost state, Vorarlberg. At the Kristiania Lech Hotel, you can enjoy any number of curated dining experiences. Our pick is the romantic picnic in the snow arranged by a ski valet, with Moroccan rugs, soft, colourful pillows, candles and warm fur blankets. Snack on Austrian delicacies and sip champagne while you take in that spectacular scenery.
High cuisine at sea
Oceania Cruises
Oceania is well known for serving up the ‘finest cuisine at sea’ across its fleet of eight small, luxe ships – when you have a culinary advisory board that includes the likes of chefs Alexis Quaretti and Eric Barale (both inducted into the Maîtres Cuisiniers de France) and Jacques Pépin, it’s hard to put a foot wrong in the dining room. The line has upped the culinary ante by expanding its ‘relaxed yet refined’ restaurant offerings. Think new sushi and Indian fare at Terrace Café, revamped menus at Waves Grill, and a host of ‘surprise’ gastronomic experiences in specialty restaurants. All this is complemented by mixology and cooking classes in the Culinary Center and the chance to enlist in food-focused tours when onshore.
The heartland of Italian food
Milan
Learn about the ingredients used in Michelin-starred restaurants at the farms of origin on this three-day chauffeured tour by Mandarin Oriental, Milan. Starting with dining experiences at the Italian hotel, the itinerary continues to the bucolic countryside between Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. On The Heartland of Italian Food: Heritage Producers, guests lunch at a biodynamic farm operated by the same family since 1700, visit a lauded producer of culatello, the region’s renowned cured meat, and join a private tasting of Barolo and Barbaresco wines.
Sequoia Lodge’s exclusive dining experience
South Australia
Take an epicurean journey through the Adelaide Hills at three-hatted Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant, celebrating South Australia’s finest produce. The culinary star at boutique Mount Lofty House has a menu featuring seasonal plates such as Hahndorf venison with caramelised Jerusalem artichoke, pickle, black garlic and cabbage jus – served under a cloud of wood-fired smoke in a glass cloche. The 170-year-old wine cellar has also been quietly aging duck, served with rich blackberry sauce, witlof salad, parsnip puree and swede pickle. Finish with crème brulee, inspired by winter citrus fruits and served with native lime and salted coconut sorbet. Choose the Estate’s exclusive adults-only Sequoia lodge. After you dine at Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant, return to your suite for wine beside the fireplace.
New Zealand’s world-class wine destination
New Zealand
Tucked away in Arrowtown on the scenic outskirts of Queenstown, Ayrburn is New Zealand’s newest food and wine precinct. While the original Ayrburn Farm was established in 1867, the 12-hectare estate has been reimagined into superb restaurants and bars. Ayrburn’s keystone dining venue is the Woolshed, where guests can warm up with carnaroli risotto beside a central steel-clad fireplace. The newly opened Barrel Room is a charming underground wine cellar and piano bar that offers premium dishes and drops.
Underwater dining experiences
Norway
In Lindesnes, in the southernmost district of Norway, you can plunge five metres below the surface of the ocean and dine on a 12-course menu. Under is an exclusive restaurant partly submerged in the North Atlantic Ocean with massive acrylic windows offering a rare chance to view the marine ecosystem in this remote corner of the world. Designed to be an artificial reef, the structure welcomes limpets and kelp to inhabit it.
One&Only Reethi Rah
Maldives
Elevated among the treetops with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean, One&Only Reethi Rah’s Reethi Ah-Li dining experience offers spectacular sunset dining followed by a stargazing experience in the heart of the Maldives. Translating to ‘beautiful light’ in Dhivehi, the private dining experience takes place atop a wooden platform and dishes up a personalised menu prepared by the resort’s culinary experts, paired with world-class wines. If a treehouse was your childhood wish, opt for the timber treehouse private dinner, where guests delight in a seven-course menu in the embrace of a lush jungle.
Chauffeurs and Champagne houses
France
Stay at the Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa and sit back in style while you’re chauffeured to some of France’s best Champagne houses. Expect personal engagements with winemakers and festive tastings with passionate artisans. Then, if you want to get active, you can hire electric bikes to tour the vineyards or explore wine and castles on a buggy excursion. Wind down with dinner at the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Royal.
Hatted dining at Josef Chromy Wines
Tasmania
Tucked away in the semi-rural locale of Relbia in northern Tasmania, the manicured grounds of Josef Chromy Wines is just a 10-minute drive from Launceston city centre. Housed within an original 1880s lakeside homestead that overlooks the rolling green hills of the vineyard, Josef Chromy Wines is famous for producing exceptional Tasmanian drops.
Gastronomes must dine at the Josef Chromy Restaurant, awarded one chef’s hat by The Australian Good Food Guide every year since 2017. Led by executive chef Nick Raitt, the seasonal menu showcases premium local ingredients from small farms and artisanal producers. Raitt constructs dishes that reflect Tasmania’s culinary heritage and echo the seasonal cycles of the estate’s wine growing. Following principles of sustainability and regenerative agriculture, Josef Chromy Wines delivers an authentic Tasmanian food and wine experience.
High-country dining with The Rees
New Zealand
New Zealand’s South Island is wildly spectacular. And when you book The Rees Hotel’s ‘Explorer High Country’ tour out of Queenstown, your helicopter’s landing site – a windswept, high-country station – is one breathtaking example. When you touch down after a scenic twirl over the Southern Alps, your backdrop is a unique stone cottage built in 1865 by pioneering gold miners. Here you’ll savour a chef-prepared barbecue with NZ’s finest wines. The meal is sublime, but the real luxury is revelling in the many postcard-worthy glimpses of NZ perfection.
Behind-the-scenes visit to a French vineyard, by helicopter
France
The French Riviera doesn’t shy away from excess and exclusivity. And Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel, fits right in with its behind-the-scenes visit to a French vineyard. You get there from your lodging via helicopter, enjoying a sky-high tour of the French Riviera, before touching ground at private Château de Selle. Vintners will welcome you with a glass of the estate’s highly applauded rosé, followed by a flight of vintage wines and a picnic prepared by Four Seasons’ Michelin-starred chef.
Cuisine de caviar
France
In the picturesque Dordogne region, take a private tour to a sturgeon farm and see the prized ‘black gold’ caviar. Luxury French travel company Exclusive France Tours tailor-makes tours to Caviar de Neuvic and Perle Noire, where you can learn how the delicate eggs are harvested. End with a culinary workshop and tastings, including one of the world’s most expensive and sought-after delicacies – caviar, but of course.
A gastronomic voyage along the Danube River
Central Europe
Set sail on a gastronomic voyage along the Danube River, where gourmet delights await in the heart of Central Europe. Avalon Waterways’ Danube Dreams itinerary takes guests to the enchanting city of Passau, renowned for its German delicacies, the vineyards of the Wachau Valley, and onwards to the vibrant culinary scenes of Vienna and Budapest. With cooking classes, foodie tours and a master of wine onboard for special culinary highlights throughout the sailing, you’ll sample regional specialties with tastings as well as a special bespoke dinner at sea.
Treetop dining at Soneva Kiri
Thailand
Make like well-fed birds and find a perch among the treetops in Thailand’s tropical jungle. Nestled on Koh Kood, Soneva Kiri offers visitors a sky-high culinary treat. Guests are suspended in a bamboo pod and raised into an ancient rainforest canopy, the vantage point offering exceptional views of the crystalline waters and white-sand shores of the coastline. The meal includes chilled delicacies, inspired small plates and curated beverages to be delivered via a gravity-defying waiter on a zipline.
Wine and dine on the Orient Express
Italy
From Rome and Venice to Sicily and Tuscany, La Dolce Vita Orient Express traverses Italy on a journey of decadence. Known for its resplendent suites and stunning carriages, the train also delivers exceptional gastronomy. The day starts with breakfast in the Dining Car, an affair of Sicilian brioche, artisanal jams, aromatic Italian coffee and sweet and savoury delicacies. Come nightfall, visit the Lounge Bar for an aperitivo with a sublime buffet of antipasti and signature cocktails. Then, devour the evening’s menu, a showcase of seasonal delights reflective of your destination.
Experience Canada’s coolest cuisine
Vancouver
There are few dining experiences quite as cool as the Shangri-La Vancouver’s exclusive new ‘Ice Caves Heli Adventure’. Jump in your private helicopter for a sky-high transfer to the Head-line Mountain Holidays base camp on an ice cap. If that doesn’t take your breath away, then the zippy snowmobile tour to the Whistler Ice Caves surely will.
Explore a labyrinth of azure underground chambers before sitting down to a chef-prepared five-course meal in a cathedral of blue, with each mouthful crafted to highlight British Columbia’s most remarkable produce. Cocktails are also served, using ice collected from the day’s journey. Before departing this postcard-perfect pocket of Canada in your chopper, practice your golf swing in the snow using biodegradable golf balls.
Chocolate champagne
Purchase Australia-wide
There are more than 100 billion neurons in the human brain. They’ll all be triggered trying to process what you’ve just sipped from a champagne glass when you pour Chocolate in a Bottle. It looks like bubbles. Tastes like chocolate. The genius who invented this drink deserves a Nobel, Grammy, Academy, Palme D’Or and Pulitzer. The drink’s creator is Tom De Bruyn, a Belgian sommelier who experimented and imagined (correctly) that French blanc de blancs could be enhanced with chocolate and a hint of hazelnut. Chocoholics and wine lovers are in a very happy place with this glass in hand. The first sip, front of palate, is chocolate. On the second taste, you’ll savour the wine. Take three and the team comes together – wine front, chocolate back. It’s an extraordinary mouthful. Your 100 billion neurons will be very happy.
Wade to a working oyster farm
South Australia
Shuck and slurp oysters straight from the pristine waters of Coffin Bay in South Australia. In Oyster Farm Tours’ private, personalised experience, you will wade out to a semi-submerged dining deck in the middle of a commercial oyster farm. Farmer Ben will explain how oysters grow, and learn the history of the region before a hands-on shucking lesson. Add in a bottle of sparkling wine and a platter of fresh seafood – kingfish sashimi, bluefin tuna, scallops and Spencer Gulf king prawns.
Private dining in AlUla
Saudi Arabia
See sunburnt sands, sandstone monoliths and breathtaking desert sunsets in Saudi Arabia. Watch the moon rise with a private dining experience in Dove Canyon or take in the spectacular views of Ashar Valley with a private picnic, both hosted by Banyan Tree AlUla. For cultural immersion, groups can experience the Bedouin lifestyle with a tent barbecue. Savour traditional dishes made from native ingredients while a storyteller regales you with Saudi legends to a soothing soundtrack of the oud and Arabian drums. When all is done, cool down with a dip in the infinity rock pool or unwind in the Banyan Tree Spa before bedding down in one of the incredible dune villas.
Amazónico Monte-Carlo
Monaco
Monte-Carlo’s Place du Casino is now home to acclaimed Latin American restaurant Amazónico Monte-Carlo. Established in Madrid in 2010, Amazónico Monte-Carlo plates up traditional Brazilian dishes and cachaça cocktails in London and Dubai. The Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer restaurant showcases a vibrant rainforest aesthetic by award-winning designer Lázaro Rosa-Violán, transporting guests to the Amazon through taste, colour and texture.
Raffles’ Dom Pérignon experience
Singapore
Butcher’s Block at Raffles Singapore is an avant-garde wood-fire restaurant led by Hawaiian chef de cuisine Jordan Keao. The restaurant has unveiled an exclusive dining experience with Dom Pérignon to celebrate its induction into the exclusive Dom Pérignon Society. The summer ‘IMUA’ menu takes inspiration from the Hawaiian phrase, which means ‘moving forward with strength and spirit’, and features select vintages from the esteemed champagne house.
Feast in Antarctica
Prefer your drinks on ice – literally? We’ve found the best place to do it. Antarctica’s White Desert eco-camp has six heated, polar pods with expansive floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the dramatic landscape. Dine on a five-course sensory ‘South Pole’ tasting menu and, if you choose, have a picnic at the base of a nunatak with champagne chilled in 10,000-year-old glacial ice. The experience is for a minimum of three-nights from December and then the camp will be dismantled without a trace.
Dinner in the sky
Belgium-born concept, Dinner in the sky sees guests dine on a platform dangling from a crane in the sky. Now available across 60 countries, you can take it to the next level with the 2.0 experience where you can sip whisky while enjoying opera, or play a round of baccarat while being entertained by French can-can dancers – all at 50 metres above the ground. Belgium’s capital of Brussels has a two-week event in June 2023. But with only eight sittings you’ll need to get in quick – this unique dining event is a sell-out.
Tasmanian dining experiences by private jet
Board a private chartered jet with Captain’s Choice to visit artisan food and wine producers in Australia’s remote southern islands. A business-class tour for a maximum of 35, you’ll jet off from Sydney and head to Tasmania’s tiny isles of King and Bruny Island, before calling in at Kangaroo Island. This exclusive tour departs in October and includes a stop in Mildura, where you’ll board a private vintage paddle steamer to reach Trentham Estate winery.
Aman’s sailing and dining experience
Italy
Hop aboard Aman Venice’s historic sailing boat Edipo Re for four courses inspired by Michelin-starred chef Norbert Niederkofler, while you float along the Venetian Lagoon. The carefully crafted menu incorporates spices and seasonings from the Far East and uses seasonal produce available at the market on the day – from fresh fish from the lagoon to vegetables from the surrounding islands. Sleep in spacious suites at the hotel, housed in Palazzo Papadopoli, one of the city’s eight monumental palazzos on the Grand Canal.
Join the exclusive Core Club
New York
The exclusivity of the Core Club begins as soon as you enter – that’s if you can find it. Entry to the Manhattan club is via a secret entrance tucked in the side of a building. Once inside, expect carefully curated cultural experiences ranging from private concerts to conversations with global leaders. Joining requires a recommendation by a current member, a US$50,000 joining fee and a US$15,000 annual fee thereafter. But you never know who you might run into – word has it billionaire fashion entrepreneur J. Christopher Burch and former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci are members.
A real life fairy tale at Glenapp Castle
Scotland
Sweep up a long tree-clad drive through a manicured private estate to the grand, 19th- century five-star Glenapp Castle – a 17-suite Relais & Châteaux hotel in Scotland’s historic county of Ayrshire. Here, you’ll find all the romance you’d expect in a Scottish Baronial style-castle – magical towers, turrets and crenellations. Dine in The Azalea, a glasshouse set among walled gardens with grapevines and peach and fig trees. Sound like a fairy tale? It may as well be.
Dine in the world’s oldest restaurant
Spain
Pull up a seat and dine in the world’s oldest restaurant, listed in the Guinness World Records. Spanish restaurant Botín, in central Madrid, was founded in 1725. This institution of a restaurant has been referenced by novelists and journalists for centuries, including Ernest Hemingway. Run by the local González family since the 20th century, it is frequently listed as one of the world’s top restaurants. Don’t miss the specialty: roast suckling pig.
Afternoon tea at The Ritz
London
For a taste of Britain, it doesn’t get glitzier than afternoon tea at The Ritz London. The institution opened its doors in 1906, and is the only hotel in the United Kingdom to have a certified Tea Master. Alongside 20 different types of loose-leaf tea, you can also sip champagne while you savour finely cut sandwiches. Enjoy freshly baked scones with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry preserve, and exquisitely presented pastries and teacakes made by the talented in-house chefs.
Sri Lanka’s culinary treasures
Sri Lanka
Set out on a captivating journey through Sri Lanka with andBeyond, where each city reveals its culinary treasures. Begin the exploration by immersing yourself in Colombo’s lively street food milieu, navigating through the bustling Pettah Bazaar to procure fresh ingredients for an enriching cooking session. Traverse the enchanting Hill Country next, partaking in the revered Ceylon Tea Trails Tea Experience, which delves into this timeless craft while at picturesque plantations. Culminating in the fortified enclave of Galle, indulge in epicurean delights, and refine your expertise in the art of preparing local delicacies.
The gourmet express
California
Embrace slow travel aboard an elegant vintage train through California’s famed Napa Valley. Savour gourmet meals crafted by a culinary team in one of the three onboard kitchens from your refurbished antique rail car, with windows offering uninterrupted views of the surrounding vines. Stay on track by packaging it up with a stay at a luxury suite at River Terrace Inn, where you can sit at the bar and sip more of those world-class wines. Afterwards, retire to your room with its hot tub, fireplace and private balcony with Napa River views.
Levantine Hill Estate indulgence
Victoria
Helicopter over the verdant hills of Victoria’s oldest wine region, the Yarra Valley, to Levantine Hill Estate. Here, you’ll spend the day being wined and dined, before returning to Melbourne. Priced at $25,000 for six people, the ‘Chairman’s Ultimate Package’ includes vintage sparkling on arrival and a Mediterranean-inspired lunch menu at the Chairman’s Table, normally exclusively reserved for the owner. You’ll also receive beluga caviar and four glasses of Levantine Hill wine. Once you return home from your exclusive experience, a curated cellar pack of 12 premium award-winning Levantine wines valued at $17,500 will be delivered to you, anywhere in Australia. So you can open a bottle in the privacy of your own home and relive the memories of your once-in- a-lifetime experience.
Dine the dark
Paris
A short distance from Paris’ Louvre Museum, a unique dining experience awaits. Dans Le Noir? (French for ‘in the dark’) is a unique, sensory experience where you dine in complete darkness. Lead by guides, you’ll be treated to a surprise organic menu using seasonal ingredients, matched with wine or champagne. Carefully created to heighten your sense of taste, this unique meal sees the restaurant regularly ranked among the 10 most original eateries in the world.
The best of the best in Japan
Japan’s foodie scene is legendary, from its Michelin-starred sushi restaurants to hidden izakayas. Open Virtuoso’s little black book of dining experiences and you’ll find the ‘best of the best’ – places most people can’t even get reservations at. This is your entrée to the Culinary Tour of Japan, a private expedition between Tokyo, Kanazawa, Yamanaka Onsen, Kyoto and Osaka. Cooking classes, market tours and exclusive tastings are all on the agenda. And when you’ve had your fill, bed down in some of Japan’s most luxurious hotels and traditional ryokan inns.
