Ten Unique Dining Experiences Around the World

We are sure the fine dine restaurant round-the-corner in your city serves the best Italian food. Or the momo stall near your office has lip-smacking dumplings. But it’s more than just food when it comes to the best dining experience that stays with you for a lifetime. When it comes to dining experiences, there are several quirky and unusual ideas that have been popping up all over the world. It seems that we aren’t solely interested in just enjoying a delicious meal anymore. We want an experience! Restaurant owners are challenging themselves to create unique experiences you can’t find anywhere else in the world. Sure, there are plenty of restaurants with 360-degrees views, but how many are perched in a waterfall? You'll find countless seaside restaurants around the world, but how about one where you can dine under the sea? These ten unique dining experiences are some of the most memorable meals you'll have anywhere. Just be sure to book ahead!

Ithaa Undersea Restaurant – Rangali Island, Maldives

Located at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort is a gorgeous and intimate (seating capacity is 14 people) underwater restaurant that is five metres below sea level. Opened in 2005, the all-glass restaurant has a menu consisting of fresh seafood, beef rib eye, veal, and other gourmet items. With a transparent acrylic roof above, the restaurant offers its diners a 270-degree panoramic view of sea creatures swimming in the Maldives’ crystal clear waters. A zinc paint coating protects Ithaa’s steel structure from corrosion. Ithaa means "mother-of-pearl" in Dhivehi, a subtle nod to its oceanic address. Watch vibrant fish, stingrays, and the occasional shark swim all around you—without ever having to putting on a wetsuit. Don’t miss out on this experience during your next holiday to Maldives and include it in your Maldives couple package plan!

Peacock Rooftop Restaurant, Jaipur

The Peacock Rooftop Restaurant stays true to its name with a culturally unique experience of the heritage city of Jaipur. Serving everything from Indian to non-Indian, the Peacock Rooftop Restaurant Jaipur is definitely the place to be if you’re looking for places to eat in Jaipur. Be it enjoying a cup of chai or admiring the old Hathroi Fort situated metres away, this rooftop restaurant in Jaipur offers experiences like none other in the city. Also, did you know that Jaipur was recently declared the UNESCO World Heritage City? What better time to book a trip to this culturally rich city. Book your Jaipur tour package now with this itinerary.

Dinner in the Sky, Dubai

Ever dreamt of dining in the sky? Head to Dubai with its restaurant in sky. The City of Dubai presents yet another opportunity experience the surreal with the Dinner In The Sky Experience. Dinner in the Sky is a concept that originated in Belgium and has travelled the globe to cities like Kuala Lumpur Tower, Villa Borghese in Rome, Athens, Copacabana Beach, and Cape Town before reaching Dubai in 2018. In Dubai, there’s no dearth of fancy dining options with a view. Get a chance to dangle your feet 50 meters above the ground while relishing a grand meal prepared by internationally acclaimed gourmet chefs. Dinner in the Sky is located at the Dubai International Marine Club and allows for 22 guests to be hoisted at a time for this one-of-a-kind epicurean journey. While you await your meal, soak in the breathtaking views of the glittering skyline. You can see the Dubai Marina, Atlantis, Burj Al Arab, Burj Khalifa while enjoying the peppy tunes and the delectable feast. The table also rotates 360 degrees round so that you can experience every angle of the splendid views! Straight out of the magical lamp, this Arabic land of future, lures every soul with its corny nature, which is why we suggest you to book your Dubai tour package now!

The Labassin Waterfall Restaurant, San Pablo City, Philippines

Ever dined under the waterfall? You might think that’s an impossible thing to do but not when you are in Philippines. The unique surrounding is all natural and barely touched by people. Visitors enjoy authentic local cuisine and dine at the bamboo tables. Their feet are rinsed by the crystal clear water. What could be more refreshing in this humid climate! Guests are also provided with some entertainment right from traditional dance and music shows and activities like hiking and bird watching.

The Redwoods Treehouse, Auckland, New Zealand

Remember those childhood days when you craved for a treehouse in the backyard to snuggle into? We are not sure about living in one, but we can give you an option to dine in one. New Zealand's The Redwoods Treehouse, just north of Auckland, lets you dine while completely immersed in nature, but don’t expect to just show up. This private restaurant — a nest-like pod built from milled redwood that sits 131 feet above the forest floor—is available exclusively for groups, so you and your closest friends can have it all to yourselves. The pod itself accommodates 30 guests, and access is provided by a 60-meter (197-ft) elevated tree-top walkway. The architectural component embodies a simple pod-like form that appears to be organically wrapped around the tree trunk. If you are looking for restaurants in Auckland, New Zealand, you cannot miss this one for its unique experience. Book your Auckland Tour package now for a surreal trip.

Bird’s Nest Restaurant, Thailand

If treehouses are not your thing, try dining in a bird’s nest. Have you heard of the Soneva Kiri Eco Resort in Thailand? If you haven’t, google it now! Perched upon the greeneries of an island, this resort is the home of the Bird’s Nest Restaurant, one of the finest and most unique restaurants in the world. Those who choose to dine here are amazed by its uniqueness and positioning. Why? Because the restaurant is literally a bird’s nest – with tree nests in actual trees, 16 feet above ground level.

Not only will you enjoy every bit of the food here, but you will surely like the spectacular view from the height, as well. To deliver your meals and drinks, the waiters use a specially-designed zip line! Don’t forget to click pictures and videos to make your friends jealous back home.

Snowcastle Restaurant, Finland

How does dining inside a castle made of snow sound to you? Shivering and chilly? Find out at the Snowcastle restaurant in Finland. If drinking and grabbing a bite to eat while sitting in a castle made entirely out of snow and ice sounds like fun, make sure to add the SnowCastle Restaurant to your next itinerary. The restaurant is situated inside the SnowCastle, which has been dubbed the largest snow fort in the world. Open from January until mid-April, the entire structure, located near the sea in the Finnish town of Kemi, was first built in 1996 and consists entirely of snow and ice made from seawater.

Hajime Robot Restaurant, Bangkok, Thailand

Geek’s the word in this restaurant of Thailand where robots run the show. The future of robots running the world is perhaps closer than we’d like to believe, and Hajime Robot Restaurant is testament to this. Ideal for those with children or those who are looking for something a little geeky, Hajime has robots that take orders, serve the food, bus tables and even have been known to dance. The place, located in Bangkok’s Monopoly Park Plaza, serves up Japanese fare, either buffet or a la carte, including teppanyaki grills.

Northern Lights Bar, Iceland

Watching the Northern Lights in all its glory is one thing common in most travellers’ wishlist. And what if you can relish mouth-watering food under these Northern Lights? Set against a backdrop of mountainous lava fields, the panoramic view from the Ion hotel’s Northern Lights Bar makes a cozy spot from which to view the elusive northern lights. The hotel is nestled amidst the diverse Icelandic landscapes in the heart of the Mt. Hengill region, offering guests the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the spectacular aurora borealis or midnight sun, depending on which time of the year it is.

The Rock Restaurant, Zanzibar

The popular island of Zanzibar is known for its turquoise views of the Indian Ocean from all sides. Beach lovers do not miss this one for its crystal clear water and sandy white beaches. The trip to captivating resorts and pleasant climate is incomplete if you haven’t planned a meal at The Rock Restaurant. You can’t miss it – the rock is positioned right there in the water on the Michanwi Pingwe Beach. You can reach it by canoe, walk, or swim to it. Its appearance isn’t the only reason why people visit this restaurant – the food is amazingly tasty, as well!

Written by: Aashima Kadakia

Creative ninja and a true follower of ‘Work, Save, Travel, Repeat’, I love to travel, experience places and bring back stories for a lifetime. Born and brought up in Ahmedabad, I like to visit the same old places, the same cliched tourist spots and destinations, but choose to see the unexplored in the old places. Always inclined towards the mighty mountains in their debate with the beaches!