Some dining experiences are worth travelling miles for – quite literally. From hidden mountain lodges to underwater dining rooms, the world’s most remote restaurants offer more than just a meal.
They combine extraordinary settings with unforgettable flavours, turning dinner into an adventure. Whether you’re trekking through snow, sailing across turquoise waters, or landing by seaplane, these remarkable destinations prove that distance only makes fine dining more rewarding.
This article is for general informational purposes only. Travel availability, prices, and restaurant access may vary depending on location and season. Photos are for illustrative purposes only.
1. The Rock Restaurant, Zanzibar
Picture a tiny white building sitting on a rock in the middle of the Indian Ocean, accessible only by foot at low tide or by boat when the water's up. That's The Rock Restaurant in Zanzibar, where the journey is half the adventure.
Fresh seafood dominates the menu here, caught daily from the surrounding waters and served with Swahili spices. The views are absolutely cracking, with turquoise waves lapping at your dining room's foundation whilst you tuck into grilled lobster or octopus curry.
2. Wolfgat, South Africa
Nestled in a fishing village two hours from Cape Town, this humble cottage earned the title of World Restaurant of the Year in 2019, which is quite the achievement for a place with only 20 seats. Chef Kobus van der Merwe forages ingredients from the surrounding beach and fynbos, creating what he calls 'strandveld cuisine.'
Expect dishes featuring sea lettuce, dune spinach, and fresh line fish caught metres from your table. The setting feels wonderfully unpretentious, like dining in someone's seaside cottage.
3. Furneaux Lodge Restaurant, New Zealand
Tucked deep within the Marlborough Sounds, you'll only reach this spot by boat or seaplane, which immediately sorts the dedicated diners from the casual tourists. The lodge sits right on the water's edge, surrounded by native bush and the kind of silence you simply don't get in cities.
Fresh green-lipped mussels and locally caught salmon feature heavily, paired with wines from nearby Marlborough vineyards. The kitchen champions sustainable practices, with much of the produce grown on site.
4. Refuge Du Plan De l'Aiguille, French Alps
At 2,317 metres above sea level, this mountain refuge requires a cable car journey from Chamonix, dangling above glaciers and rocky outcrops. It's the sort of place where mountaineers refuel before tackling Mont Blanc, but you don't need crampons to enjoy the experience.
Hearty Alpine fare like tartiflette and fondue keeps climbers and tourists warm against the biting cold. The terrace offers jaw-dropping views of the Aiguille du Midi, making your cheese-laden lunch taste even better.
5. Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, Maldives
Five metres beneath the Indian Ocean, this all-glass dining room lets you eat surrounded by reef sharks, stingrays, and tropical fish going about their business. It's properly surreal, like being inside an aquarium whilst tucking into your starter.
The contemporary European menu features Maldivian lobster and caviar, though honestly, the fish swimming overhead steal the show. Reaching it requires a speedboat to the Conrad Maldives resort, followed by a descent through the overwater spa.
6. The Irish Pub, Namche Bazaar, Nepal
At 3,440 metres in the Himalayas, this is quite possibly the world's highest Irish pub, serving trekkers on their way to Everest Base Camp. The juxtaposition of Sherpa hospitality and Irish décor makes for a brilliantly odd experience.
Yak burgers and momo dumplings sit alongside hearty stews on the menu, providing much-needed calories for altitude-weary hikers. The views of Kongde Ri and Thamserku peaks from the outdoor seating area are genuinely spectacular, even if you're gasping for breath.
7. Treepod Dining At Kiri Private Reserve, Thailand
Fancy eating dinner whilst dangling from a rainforest canopy? This treepod experience at Soneva Kiri hoists you up into the jungle using a complex pulley system, leaving you suspended amongst the treetops. It's equal parts thrilling and bizarre.
A dedicated zipline delivers each course from the kitchen below, which is both practical and entertaining. Thai fusion cuisine arrives in courses, accompanied by bird calls and the rustle of leaves rather than traffic noise.
8. The Three Chimneys, Isle of Skye, Scotland
On Skye's wild northwestern coast, this converted crofter's cottage has been serving exceptional Scottish cuisine since 1984, long before remote dining became trendy. Getting here involves winding single-track roads and dramatic Highland scenery that'll have you pulling over for photos every few minutes.
Expect locally landed langoustines, Skye crab, and lamb from neighbouring crofts, all prepared with serious skill. The intimate dining room feels wonderfully cosy when Atlantic storms batter the windows outside.
9. Seven Glaciers, Girdwood, Alaska
A tram ride 2,300 feet up Mount Alyeska delivers you to this glass-walled restaurant with views of, you guessed it, seven glaciers. The ascent takes just seven minutes, but the scenery shifts so dramatically you'll feel like you've travelled to another planet.
Alaskan king crab and halibut feature prominently, alongside locally foraged ingredients that change with the seasons. Sunset dining here is particularly magical, with the glaciers turning pink and gold.
10. Mount Huashan Teahouse, China
Reaching this teahouse requires navigating one of the world's most dangerous hiking trails, including vertical ladders and narrow planks bolted to sheer cliff faces. It's not for the faint-hearted, but the noodles and tea waiting at the top taste infinitely better when you've genuinely earned them.
The simple menu focuses on warming broths and dumplings, prepared in a kitchen that seems to defy gravity. Views stretch across misty peaks that inspired countless Chinese paintings.
11. Ice Q, Sölden, Austria
Perched at 3,048 metres on the Gaislachkogl peak, this ultra-modern glass cube doubled as a villain's lair in the James Bond film Spectre, which tells you everything about its dramatic setting. Cable cars whisk skiers and tourists up from Sölden village far below.
Tyrolean specialities like Wiener schnitzel share menu space with lighter contemporary dishes, all served with floor-to-ceiling views of snow-covered peaks. The architecture alone is worth the journey, all sharp angles and gleaming surfaces.
