My great pal and foodie friend Molly Mogren knows a thing or six about great eats, so I turned to her to talk about some of the world’s most unusual dining venues. Sure, I’ve supped upon cricket tacos in Mexico City, and I’ve luxuriated at The Fat Duck, profiled below, but what other eateries should be on the global gourmet radar? And good golly, Miss Molly has certainly come up with a stellar list of restaurants that really push the envelope.
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| The underwater digs at the glorious Ithaa restaurant at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. Photo courtesy of Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. |
Maldives
The food is great, but patrons rave about the atmosphere at a certain spot in Maldives. Ithaa, the world’s first underwater restaurant, encases diners in a transparent cylinder five meters below the water’s surface. The contemporary Maldivian menu boasts spicy-sweet island seafood specialties, like king fish with kataifi langoustines and coconut curry. However, if dining under the watchful eye of your meal’s friends and family makes you uneasy, order the steak. Stay at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island—it’s the only option on this private island.
England
At chef Heston Blumenthal’s fabled house of gastronomy, eating is an adventure for the senses. The Fat Duck focuses not only taste, but aromas, texture, sights and sounds. Prepare for downright Tate Modern-worthy dishes: The Sounds of the Sea course arrives with an iPod housed in a conch shell. Listen to waves breaking while digging into a plate of sand (a gritty mix of tapioca and fried eels), seaweed and slices of raw fish. Spend the evening in idyllic Bray-on-Thames at the Monkey Island Hotel, accessible only by boat or footbridge.
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| The stunning exterior of Dubai's Burj Al Arab hotel. Photo courtesy of Burj Al Arab. |
Dubai
Dinner in the sky is not for the acrophobic: Twenty-two patrons, hoisted 50 meters in the air, dine while dangling over opulent Dubai. Take in views of the Persian Gulf, man-made palm tree-shaped islands and an endless sea of skyscrapers. Continue the high-altitude theme at Burj Al Arab, one of the world’s tallest hotels. If Dubai isn’t your bag, Dinner in the Sky is offered in more than 30 countries. And, yes, there are bathroom breaks: The table lowers to the ground in under a minute.
South Africa
Carnivore is a meat-lover’s dream. Hungry diners receive a white flag to stand at attention—beckoning an onslaught of waiters wielding meats impaled by Maasai spears. Slabs of charcoal-grilled antelope (the specialty), giraffe, elephant and even hippo are carved right onto your plate. Surrender by removing the flag when you’ve had enough. Sure, it’s touristy, but the only other place you’ll see this much animal diversity is in a zoo. Stay at the adjacent Misty Hills Country Hotel, tucked into the Zwartkop Mountain foothills.
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| A festive meal courtesy of Dinner in the Sky! Photo courtesy of Dinner in the Sky. |
Switzerland
To experience Chez Vrony, you have to earn it. This restaurant, situated in an old Swiss Alps farmhouse, is accessed from Zermatt’s ski slopes or via an hour-long hike. The seasonal and local menu holds its own (with some meats and cheeses even procured onsite), and you can’t beat this view of the majestic Matterhorn. Take it all in from Chez Vrony’s deck—just watch the time. After sunset, getting back to civilization is all on you. For a change of pace, drop your bags at the ultra-modern Omnia Hotel.