TOP 7 MUST-TRY DINING EXPERIENCES AROUND THE WORLD
Ever fancied eating dinner under the sea? Or how about in the midst of foliage, atop a tree in the rainforest? Believe it or not, you can. Read on for seven dining experiences you’ll never forget…
1. Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, The Maldives
Five meters below the Indian Ocean sits the world’s first ever under sea restaurant. Rated “the most beautiful restaurant in the world” by the New York Daily News in 2014, the restaurant is part of the Conrad Maldives hotel on Rangali Island. Ithaa (which means ‘mother of pearl’ in the local language) sits five metres underwater, offering 180-degree panoramic views of coral gardens.
2. Ninja New York, New York City, USA
If you’ve got an appetite for dining amongst warriors (otherwise known as waiters), take a trip to the Big Apple to try out Ninja New York. The restaurant is designed with the feel of a Japanese feudal village from the 15th century, and the waiters roam around performing tricks, all while serving world-class sushi and sake.
3. Dinner in the Sky, worldwide
Dinner in the Sky brings diners’ taste buds to new heights as they float 50 metres above ground to enjoy a whole new perspective (and some good food, naturally). Originating in Belgium, a crane hoists its guests – securely strapped to their chairs – up into the air at destinations around the world, along with a table, staff, and the most important ingredient – dinner. If dining at high altitudes is your thing, check out this list of other high-flying spots.
4. Dans le noir, London
Dans le noir is French for ‘in the dark’. And that’s exactly where you’ll be eating dinner, if you take a trip to London’s Clerkenwell to this pitch-black restaurant. Served and guided by blind staff, you’ll dine in total darkness – and change your perspective as a result. The idea is that your other senses – taste, smell and touch – become amplified when you can’t see.
5. Labassin Waterfall Restaurant, the Philippines
Set in untouched natural surroundings, diners at Labassin Waterfall Restaurant eat lunch on bamboo dining tables, while feeling their feet in a few inches of crystalline running water from the sparkling falls. You’ll choose from a buffet of local dishes at the restaurant, which is part of the sprawling Villa Escudero resort. After lunch, you can even experience rafting in traditional bamboo rafts (maybe that one’s best on a slightly emptier stomach).
6. SnowRestaurant, Finland (pictured)
You’ll need to wrap up warm for dinner at the SnowRestaurant, as the temperature is set to a chilly -5 degrees Celsius. But what you’ll experience makes the cold worthwhile, as this restaurant is made entirely of snow – and rebuilt every year. It’s open now in the SnowCastle of Kemi.
7. Soneva Kiri, Bangkok
It’s the stuff childhood dreams are made of – climbing high up to a leafy canopy and taking refuge in a wooden shelter. At Soneva Kiri’s treepod restaurant, you’ll be hoisted up high into the tropical foliage of Koh Kood’s ancient rainforest, where you can admire sea and tree views. Treepod dining at its finest.
