Canopy lets guests enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Chiang Rai’s lush jungle. — Minor Hotels
Sometimes, dressing to the nines and sitting down for a meal disproportionate to the size of the plate it’s served on is just not a special enough experience. Sometimes, you look for something far more thrilling, more exclusive – especially if you’re forking out a fortune for it.
This is where unique dining experiences come in. Such eateries’ selling point isn’t the foods’ tantalising tastes alone. In fact, it could be said these are supplementary to the real attraction: Location.
To some degree, it’s also the activities served alongside the culinary offerings, such as feeding a giraffe as you feed yourself. But more often than not, it’s the location that’s the “star ingredient”.
Whether feasting in unusual places (deep under the sea, for example) or with atypical companions (wild animals aren’t exactly standard company), there is certainly something that will cater to whichever type of experience seeker you are.
In the treetops (Thailand)
Tilt your head back and train your gaze on a nest-like structure hanging 52m-high above the grasslands, that’s where you’ll be seated soon for your breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Canopy at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort in Chiang Rai is a fairly new dining concept, officially introduced back in August, that offers diners a panoramic view of Northern Thailand’s lush jungle.
Once you’re seated in the open-sided capsule, binoculars in hand, you’ll be immersed in spotting the elephants that wander down below from the nearby camp.
Accompanying this spectacular view is an all-day tasting menu of your choice. Canopy offers three in total: Mekong Discovery for a taste of the region’s culinary heritage, Culinary Adventure for an Eastern-Western fusion and Gourmet Odyssey for local cuisines made with luxury ingredients.
It’s perfect for couples, but families are welcomed too, although only children aged 10 and above are permitted.
This half-submerged restaurant offers diners an underwater view of the North Atlantic Ocean. — Underlindesnes/Facebook
Under the sea (Norway)
For thalassophiles, your love for the sea and ocean will swell even bigger once you’ve experienced dining 5.5m beneath the waves at this Norwegian restaurant.
Located in Norway’s Lindesnes Municipality, Under juts out of the icy waters of Baly at an angle that is not unlike a half- submerged whale. And it is a “whale” of a restaurant too, its sheer size earning it the “largest underwater restaurant in the world” title following its opening in 2019.
Up to 90 guests can be accommodated by its expansive 495sq m dining area, where a large glass wall is installed to offer diners a breathtaking view of the North Atlantic Ocean and the sea life within.
Awarded one Michelin Star since 2020, Under features a seasonally driven menu that include 10 to 12 courses.
A James Bond movie was shot at this mountaintop restaurant in Solden. — OTTO DOMES/Wikimedia Commons
On an icy-cold mountain (Austria)
Retrace James Bond’s steps on the Gaislachkogl, the mountain in Solden, Austria where the Daniel Craig-starring Spectre was filmed in 2015.
First, recharge at the Ice Q Restaurant, so you’ll have the energy to later explore 007 Elements, the museum dedicated to the spy movie. The restaurant is technically divided into two main parts: the gourmet restaurant on the ground floor and the tapas lounge on the upper floor. Reservations for both can be done via Ice Q’s website.
Opening hours differ depending on the season. After a short break following the end of the summer service in early October, it will reopen for the winter season from November 2024 to April 2025.
Food-wise, you may order ala carte from the menu, or go with the full-course meals. There is also a weekly fine dining option called the Summit Dinner.
As Ice Q is located at an altitude of 3,048m, you will need to take the Gaislachkoglbahn – this cable car does conveniently stop right next to the restaurant.
This Spanish restaurant uses a volcano to cook its foods. — MIKE PEEL/Wikimedia Commons
On a volcano (Spain)
It’s no exaggeration, at Spain’s El Diablo Restaurant, you will be eating atop a volcano. Granted, it’s dormant – it last erupted in 1824. But it still generates enough geothermal heat to grill foods to perfection.
This one-of-a-kind cooking method the restaurant employs has kept it buzzing with eager customers since it first opened its doors in 1970.
However, mixed reviews indicate that your experience could either be one filled with perfectly volcano-barbecued meals and scenic views of the park, or one where you feel constantly rushed just so the waiting staff could move on to seating the next customers.
Manage your expectations, and you won’t be left feeling like the devil (what “el diablo” translates to) has a personal vendetta against you.
You’ll probably still feel slighted by the price (it’s fine if you earn in euro but it’s actually almost RM100 a meal), and the typically hour-long queue to enter the restaurant.
But if it’s just the novelty you’re after, then visiting once wouldn’t hurt.
With wildlife (Indonesia)
No, you don’t have to traverse the wilderness to achieve this. Simply visit the Tsavo Lion Restaurant at Indonesia’s Bali Safari Park, where you can dine with lions.
Dine with giraffes at a luxury hotel in Jawa Barat. — Royal Safari Garden’s website
As dramatic as that sounds, your safety is ensured as the glass walls will keep you separated from the pride of lions lounging in the sun. Other than these, there are also meerkats for you to observe as you dine.
For added thrill, go for the Night Safari Premium package that includes a Dinner With Tigers session at Ranthambore (a replica of the fort of the same name in India).
Part of this package will have you going on a Caged Tram Safari, during which you can feed the tigers that will clamber onto the tram’s exterior.
Singapore Zoo has a similar offering, called Breakfast In The Wild. You can keep an eye on its next availability via Mandai Wildlife Reserve’s website.
In the meantime, you can dine with penguins instead at the Penguin Cove Restaurant at Singapore’s Bird Paradise. Other places where you can enjoy this activity is at London’s Chester Zoo, which offers Penguin Breakfast, and Ski Dubai (United Arab Emirates), which has Dinner With Penguins.
Giraffes are another popular dining companion, with Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya being the most well-known destination for this.
But if you’re already in Indonesia for the lions, you can head to Royal Safari Garden in Jawa Barat next. A Dine With Giraffes activity was introduced at its De’savanna Restaurant just last year.
