We all need to eat, but going to the same restaurant week after week gets boring. There is a big world out there with lots of places more interesting to dine than your kitchen table. Plus, eating local foods is a great way to learn about different cultures and customs.
From caves deep underground in Iceland to the treetops of the jungle in Indonesia, we found some of the most interesting places to break bread on all seven continents. You may find a new favorite dish in the process. The only downside about checking out one of these incredible places to dine is that it will be hard to get excited about your local pizza joint once you return home.
Mysterious Caves In Hella, Iceland
Vikings get all the credit for settling Iceland. However, there is evidence that Celtic monks from Ireland came to the inhospitable island centuries before the Vikings arrived. These monks built a series of underground caves where it is believed they lived, worshipped and dined below the Earth’s surface.
Few of these caves are open to the public, but guests of Hotel Ranga, can book a traditional Viking feast in the mysterious Caves of Hella. The candlelit dinner is prepared by the hotel’s gourmet chef and eaten with a single utensil, just as the Vikings would have done. Guests feast on gravlax (salmon), lamb shank and a traditional Icelandic skyr dessert. The meal is accompanied by local beers and a curated selection of wines. While feasting, guests can choose to hear live Icelandic music from a local artist, hear traditional Icelandic ghost stories, or have their fortune told by an Icelandic witch.
Lava Tunnels In Galapagos, Ecuador
The Galapagos Islands in Ecuador are renowned for their unique wildlife and diverse landscape. Go underground to explore the islands’ network of hidden lava tunnels and grab dinner while you are there. The Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection by Hilton is home to the only fine dining establishment inside a lava tunnel on the island. Guests travel 70 feet underground to reach the restaurant. The journey begins at one of the Galapagos’ historic buildings, followed by a guided tour through lava tunnels before finishing at the volcanic vault where dinner is served. The menu varies but is always based on local culture and seasonal ingredients.
A Beautiful Bridge In Southern Africa
The Seven Wonders of the World draw visitors from around the globe. Many people simply stand and stare in awe. However, guests of Yellow Zebra safaris can have an immersive experience at the famed Victoria Falls, while staying dry. These falls, the largest in the world, straddle the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. The experience starts with a ride on a historic steam train that takes passengers onto the famed Victoria Falls Bridge at sunset; then they enjoy a gourmet five-course meal.
Vertical Dining In Brisbane, Australia
Head to Brisbane to experience one of the world’s only vertical dining experiences. Guests of Vertigo ascend to a high rooftop where they don a safety harness, which is a mandatory part of the restaurant’s dress code. After climbing off the roof and into their seats on the edge of the Brisbane Powerhouse, guests are served a locally inspired meal for brunch or dinner. Once their meal is over, adventurous guests can repel down the building.
A Treetop Gazebo In Bali, Indonesia
Many visitors to Ubud, Bali, wander through the region’s lush green hills. Guests of Hoshinoya Bali can fully immerse themselves in the jungle while enjoying a scrumptious meal at the resort’s Café Gazebo. This treehouse café has incredible views of the 550-foot-deep valley below. Enter the treetops to enjoy a sunrise breakfast accompanied by the sounds of native birds and the river rushing far below your feet.
Surrounded By The Himalayas In Bhutan
Head to Bhutan to visit the fabled Tiger’s Nest Monastery. Some of Mountain Kingdoms’ tailor-made itineraries and small group tours include dining in a tent on a pasture high above the Paro Valley. The menu varies, but usually includes ema datshi, the cheesy chilis that are Bhutan’s national dish. Guests enjoy a camp-cooked meal while taking in views of the sweeping terraced fields below and the snow-tipped Himalayan mountains rising into the sky. Getting to this bespoke dining location isn’t easy and normally requires a hike of several hours.
Under The Sea In The Maldives
The Maldives is better known for its overwater bungalows, but its underwater restaurants are an incredible place to dine. One of the best is the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant at the Conrad Maldives, Rangali Island. Located more than 16 feet under the sea, the restaurant has panoramic coral garden views with an up-close look at sharks, fish, turtles and other ocean life. The lunch, dinner and cocktail menus fuse Maldivian flavors and Western influences.
Dine In The Dark In Denmark
The Alchemist isn’t just a two-star Michelin restaurant. It’s a fully immersive dining experience that takes visitors across several sets including a balcony, a play area, and a spectacular planetarium-like dome. The restaurant has no windows, doors are hidden, and the roof’s dome blocks out all light. Images that sync with each course are projected onto the ceiling. When caviar is served in a giant glass eye, it is accompanied by thousands of eyes looking down at you. When fish is served, animations of sea animals float above. For levity, dinner ends in a giant ball pit.
Sand Dunes In The Sahara, Morocco
Stepping into the Sahara is an otherworldly experience. Many visitors to Morocco head to the desert to ride a camel and watch the sunset perched high atop a sand dune. It’s also a great place to have a memorable meal. Many Intrepid Travel tours of Morocco include a traditional Moroccan feast of tagine, fresh fruit and mint tea among the Sahara’s sand dunes.
An Expedition In Antarctica
Head to the continent of Antarctica for a meal with an unforgettable view. Passengers on Lindblad Expeditions - National Geographic ships feast on gourmet meals with unparalleled views of the land of snow and ice, and the wildlife that calls Antarctica home. Head to the ship’s glass igloo for incredible 360-degree views of the White Continent while savoring lunch or dinner.
Visit The Ocean Floor In New Brunswick, Canada
The Bay of Fundy in the southern part of New Brunswick boasts the highest tides in the world. This natural phenomenon helped create the Hopewell Rocks, one of the most unique rock formations in the world. With the rocks as their backdrop, at low tide, visitors can dine on the ocean floor and enjoy a private three-course meal with wine pairings from a local winery. The experience includes a seafood feast and the opportunity to learn about the foods that grow in the area from a forager.
Inside An Icelandic volcano
Enter a crater deep inside Iceland’s Thríhnúkagígur volcano. During the Inside the Volcano experience, visitors descend deep into a dormant lava chamber. After hiking over a lava field to reach the volcano, or arriving in style by helicopter, visitors are lowered into the lava chamber to explore this one-of-a-kind destination. Before heading back to civilization, explorers are treated to a meal of traditional Icelandic lamb soup (or a vegan alternative) along with a hot beverage.