5 Top-Rated Restaurants Worth Travelling For

by Andrew Bartlett

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Generally, we plan our holidays around the destination. Sunshine, beaches and nightlife are some of the few factors we take into consideration before making a booking. Very rarely do we think about which restaurants are worth jumping on a plane for…

However, dining out – eating, drinking, socializing and exploring new cuisine – is undoubtedly one of the best ways to explore a new country. With good, fresh produce and traditional cuisine being at the heart of so many cultures, we think there is no better way to experience a new country than through our taste buds.

But, just how far will you travel for a great meal?

We have compiled a list of 5 restaurants with high-quality food across the globe, from Italian backstreets to an over-water pavilion in the heart of the Indian Ocean.

1. Osteria Francescana, Modena, Italy

Expect the unexpected down this quiet cobbled street, situated in the Northern Italian city of Modena. Owned by renowned restaurateur and chef Massimo Bouttra, an Italian native, Osteria Francescana is truly phenomenal.

Housing just twelve tables, the restaurant is quaint and, as expected from a restaurant of this standard, you will need to book months in advance.

What’s On The Menu?

Inspired by nearby Italian countryside, the menu is a total reinvention of traditional Italian cuisine. A 9-course tasting menu is €220 per person and includes tortellini, eel and Caesar salad. The A La Carte Menu includes Five Ages of Parmigiano Reggiano in a variety of textures and temperatures (€60).

How To Get There:

Modena is 19 miles from Guglielmo Marconi Airport (Bologna, Italy), which has regular direct flights from multiple airports across the UK.

Osteria Francescana, Via Stella 22, 41121, Modena, Italy; 39 059 223912; osteriafrancescana.it

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2. El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain

Boasting a coveted 3 Michelin stars, this restaurant has been impressing diners from across the globe for over 30 years. Owned by three brothers (a chef, a sommelier and a patissier), El Celler de Can Roca will never fail to deliver a spectacular meal.

What’s On The Menu?

A 14-course Festival menu is €165 which is inspired by delicious international cuisine including oysters, gazpacho, mullet and pigeon.

How To Get There:

Several airlines offer direct flights to Girona from across the UK. Alternatively, Barcelona Airport is approximately 100km from Girona.

El Celler de Can Roca, Calle Can Sunyer, 48, 17007 Girona, Spain; 0034 972 22 21 57; cellercanroca.com

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3. The Lighthouse Restaurant, Male, Maldives

Surrounded by azure-blue crystal clear water, diners will eat in style in The Lighthouse Restaurant, part of the Baros Maldives Hotel. Diners can enjoy fresh, local cuisine and watch the fish swimming around below or watch the remarkable sunset on the deck.

The Lighthouse Restaurant has been acclaimed as one of the best restaurant in the whole of the Maldives, for both its high-quality food and spectacular location.

What’s On The Menu?

The A La Carte menu offers a fine selection of freshly-caught seafood and high-quality meat including steak and lamb. There is also a vegetarian menu. Our top picks are Yellowfin Tuna “Rossini” ($49) and Lobster “Wellington” ($34).

How To Get There:

The restaurant is just 25 minutes by speedboat from Maldives International Airport, where regular flights operate from the major UK airports.

The Lighthouse Restaurant, Baros Maldives, PO Box 2015, Male 20-02, Republic of Maldives; 9606642672; baros.com/dining/the-lighthouse-restaurant

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4. D.O.M., Sao Paolo, Brazil

Currently elected the 9th best restaurant in the world and boasting 2 Michelin stars, D.O.M. is a unique restaurant offering an unusual take on the most authentic Brazilian cuisine. Head chef, Alex Atala, is incredibly passionate about Brazil, nature, gastronomy and life. His passions influence his food and he turns his creative energy into truly unforgettable experiences for diners who are lucky enough to have a reservation.

What’s On The Menu?

The tasting menu is the best way to immerse yourself into the true gastronomic experience proposed by D.O.M. ($250).

How To Get There:

Direct flights to Sao Paolo are available from London daily.

D.O.M, Rua Barão de Capanema, 549 Jardins São Paulo, Brasil; 55 (11) 3081 . 4599; domrestaurante.com.br/en/home.html

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5. Narisawa, Tokyo, Japan

Currently boasting the title of the Best Restaurant in Asia, Narisawa is an innovative restaurant with incredible food.

Owner and chef of Narisawa, Yoshihiro Narisawa, focuses on sustainability and gastronomy in his cooking. There is great emphasis on bringing nature to the plate and making use of seasonal produce.

What’s On The Menu?

With great emphasis on making use of what is around us, it is not unusual to be served wood and soil amongst your food! The tasting menu changes according to season and therefore there is no set menu. Lunch is 25,000 JPY (approx. £177.00) and dinner is 30,000 JPY (approx. £212.00).

How To Get There:

Direct flights to Tokyo are available with three major airlines from London.

107-0062 Tokyo, Minato, Minamiaoyama, 2−6−15; 81 3-5785-0799; narisawa-yoshihiro.com

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