Food is an essential part of travel – whether it’s sampling new dishes, indulging in old favourites or kicking back with a meal in a gorgeous setting and let’s face it, dining al fresco is a tad nicer.
Restaurants around the world are setting the bar higher than ever before with menus, settings and views designed to blow you away – and what better way to dine than en plein air and in some of the world’s most beautiful locations? That’s why we’ve pulled together the world’s best outdoor dining experiences.
So here are a few more places you’ll definitely want to add to your bucket list;
1. In the treetops
This dining experience is the more grown up version of your childhood love of climbing trees. Thailand’s Soneva Kiri takes dining to new heights, with comfortable bamboo pods and views over the rainforest. The waiters even deliver by zip-line!
2. Inside an Italian grotto
Take in the surroundings and hear the waves crashing at the Grotta Palazzese at Polignano a Mare. The magnificent cave restaurant is open from May through October.
3. On a private river boat in Zambia
Looking for a bit more privacy? Head to the Tongabezi Lodge for dinner on your own private sampan, anchored out in the Zambezi River. Each course arrives by canoe!
4. With birds-eye views of Bangkok
Bangkok’s famous Sirocco at the Lebua Hotel boasts great cityscapes and top notch Mediterranean fare. Head up to the 63rd floor and enjoy the view!
5. Under the Australian desert sky
Meaning “beautiful dune” in the local Anangu language, the Tali Wiri experience offers 360-degree views of the heart of Australia’s outback including Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Once the sun goes down, the sky lights up with millions of stars – amazing!
6. In a wildlife conservation area
Tanzania’s &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge contrasts Victorian furnishings against an African backdrop, resulting, as they say, in a “Versailles meets Maasai” style. Enjoy drinks and nibbles while looking out over awe-inspiring wildlife reserve.
7. While hanging off the side of a cliff
To add a bit of adrenaline to your meal, head to Fangweng in Yichang, China. Built into the side of a cliff, the restaurant hangs several hundred feet above ground. Take in views of the Yangtze River or even go for a base jump (recommended before you eat!)
8. With a full serving of mountain air
It might be a bit chilly, but we’ll guess that a meal at Le Panoramic in Chamonix, France is well worth it. As its name suggests, you can expect spectacular views of Mont-Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps. Seriously, those views…
9. Next to two volcanoes
Enjoy a menu of fresh native ingredients from island farmers and neighboring plantations at Dasheene in St. Lucia. The restaurant has unobstructed sea views flanked by St. Lucia’s signature twin volcanic peaks.
Check out the full list here