How to Enjoy the Best Gourmet Dining Experiences Around the World

September 29, 2025

How to Enjoy the Best Gourmet Dining Experiences Around the World

From Kyoto’s kaiseki to San Sebastián’s pintxos and Parisian palaces with three stars, Luxury Dining Abroad is more than a meal—it’s a passport to place. In this guide, we show you how to curate Michelin moments, insider-led tastings, and chef’s-table surprises that feel personal, effortless, and utterly delicious—where every journey begins with you. Recent updates from the MICHELIN Guide (including new star announcements and its hotel “Key” ratings) make it easier than ever to target the world’s most exciting dining-and-stay combinations, and we’ll use those to help shape your plans. 


Why Luxury Dining Abroad Is Having a Moment


Food is now the headline act, not the afterthought. Travellers are booking trips around reservation drops, chef collaborations, and wine-harvest calendars. Major authorities continue to expand coverage—MICHELIN’s global selections and hotel “Keys” help diners navigate both the table and the room, while premium hotel groups spotlight in-house starred restaurants for seamless dine-and-stay experiences. Meanwhile, specialist operators offer hands-on itineraries—think market walks, pasta workshops, and vineyard lunches—that turn great meals into immersive stories. 


Planning Your Trip: The Smart Way to Book Luxury Dining Abroad


Start with the plates, then layer the place. Shortlist restaurants using respected curators like the MICHELIN Guide for current stars and editor notes; then choose hotels that either host those restaurants or sit within easy reach, ideally with concierge teams used to hard-to-get bookings. Many hotel brands now publish guides to their own starred venues—helpful when syncing dining times with spa slots and late check-outs. 


Build experiences between meals. Pad your itinerary with guided food tours, cooking classes, or vineyard days to balance tasting menus. Reputable providers run small-group workshops that go beyond photo ops—perfect for understanding technique and terroir before you sit down to dinner. 


Time it right. Follow local culinary calendars—truffle season in Piedmont, oyster season in Brittany, sakura in Japan—and look for destination programmes (like France’s Vallée de la Gastronomie trail) that bundle tastings, classes, and Michelin dining across a region. 


Add something unforgettable. From chef residencies to at-sea tasting journeys, limited-run concepts sell out fast; having a travel specialist on your side can surface spots you won’t find on booking apps. 

Paris: Palace Hotels & Michelin Legends



Le Bristol Paris

Paris remains the epicentre of Luxury Dining Abroad, with a density of Michelin stars unmatched almost anywhere else. The city blends timeless institutions with new-wave chefs who push culinary artistry into theatre.


Where to stay & dine:


  • Hôtel Plaza Athénée – Home to Jean Imbert’s reimagined haute cuisine, this palace property continues its legacy as a temple to French gastronomy. The dining room’s mix of gold leaf and modern design mirrors plates that pay homage to Escoffier while embracing contemporary flair.
  • Le Bristol Paris – With three Michelin stars at Epicure, chef Éric Frechon’s truffle macaroni and Bresse poultry are the kind of creations worth flying for. Le Bristol also pairs its dining with lush garden views and intimate wine tastings.


Awake & Wander Tip: Let us coordinate reservations with late check-outs, spa treatments, and even a private pâtisserie masterclass to complement your Parisian feast.

Tokyo: Kaiseki, Sushi, and Sky-High Stars

Mandarin Oriental

Tokyo is a mecca for food lovers, holding more Michelin stars than any other city. Here, Luxury Dining Abroad means precision, tradition, and innovation—all woven into dining that feels ceremonial.


Where to stay & dine:


  • Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo – With seven in-house dining venues, the hotel delivers everything from sushi omakase to French fine dining with city views. Tapas Molecular Bar offers an avant-garde, 8-seat tasting that feels more like a performance.
  • Hoshinoya Tokyo – For a more intimate ryokan-style stay, Hoshinoya elevates traditional kaiseki dining, drawing on seasonality and ritual. Meals here unfold in hushed tatami rooms, where each dish is explained with reverence.


Awake & Wander Tip: Pair a night of Michelin sushi with a private sake tasting tour or arrange for us to book you a seat at one of Tokyo’s hidden 6-seat counters.

San Sebastián: Pintxos and Culinary Pilgrimages

Akelarre Hotel – Pedro Subijana

On Spain’s Basque coast, San Sebastián is the city where chefs are heroes. Its cluster of Michelin-starred restaurants combined with casual pintxo culture makes it one of the world’s most democratic food capitals—where street bites and tasting menus coexist beautifully.


Where to stay & dine:


Hotel María Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel – Steps from the old town’s pintxo bars, this Belle Époque landmark offers refined suites and a direct line to the city’s dining scene. Its concierge arranges tables at hard-to-book spots like Arzak or Martín Berasategui.

Akelarre Hotel – Pedro Subijana’s three-starred restaurant crowns this clifftop retreat. Guests move seamlessly from a chef’s tasting menu to ocean-view suites designed for lingering.


Awake & Wander Tip: Combine pintxo hopping with a guided Basque cider house evening, arranged as part of your tailored itinerary.

Tuscany: Truffles, Wine, and Villa Feasts

Belmond Castello di Casole

For travellers seeking Luxury Dining Abroad with a countryside backdrop, Tuscany is the dream. Here, dining is woven into the land itself: rolling vineyards, ancient olive groves, and rustic villas where meals are both elegant and elemental.


Where to stay & dine:


  • Belmond Castello di Casole – A restored 10th-century castle that fuses heritage with modern elegance. Its fine-dining restaurant, Tosca, celebrates Tuscan produce with dishes such as handmade pici pasta and Chianina beef, paired with wines from the estate’s cellar.
  • Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco – Surrounded by vineyards in Montalcino, this property pairs luxury suites with exclusive tastings of Brunello di Montalcino wines. Its Michelin-starred restaurant, Campo del Drago, creates dishes that honour seasonal ingredients while elevating them to haute cuisine.


Awake & Wander Tip: We can combine truffle hunting with a chef-led cooking class, then arrange a private dinner under the Tuscan stars.

New York: Skyscrapers and Star Power

The Mark Hotel

No city mixes ambition and artistry like New York. Here, Luxury Dining Abroad means headline chefs, theatrical tasting menus, and a cultural mash-up that makes the city’s culinary scene uniquely dynamic.


Where to stay & dine:


The Mark Hotel – Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s The Mark Restaurant offers seasonal French-inspired cuisine in a chic Upper East Side setting. Combine this with the hotel’s art-filled interiors and curated experiences for a true Manhattan statement stay.

Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown – Wolfgang Puck’s CUT delivers a refined take on the modern steakhouse, while the hotel itself offers spacious rooms overlooking the skyline, plus a wellness programme that balances indulgence with restoration.


Awake & Wander Tip: Let us secure your spot at Eleven Madison Park or Per Se and combine it with a private helicopter transfer over the city at night.

Bangkok: Spices, Skies, and Surprises

Vertigo and Moon Bar,

Bangkok has emerged as one of Asia’s leading fine-dining capitals, blending Thai heritage with cutting-edge technique. For travellers seeking Luxury Dining Abroad, the city offers both authentic street-side gems and sky-high Michelin venues.


Where to stay & dine:


  • Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok – Its riverside location is iconic, but the dining steals the show. Le Normandie by Alain Roux (two Michelin stars) serves refined French cuisine with a panoramic Chao Phraya backdrop.
  • Banyan Tree Bangkok – Famous for Vertigo and Moon Bar, this rooftop restaurant offers modern grill dishes under the open sky, creating a dinner setting that feels cinematic.


Awake & Wander Tip: Pair a rooftop dinner with a guided evening street food tour for the best of Bangkok’s high-low culinary culture.

Napa Valley: Wine Country Meets California Cuisine

Auberge du Soleil

Across the Atlantic, California’s Napa Valley offers a distinctly American take on Luxury Dining Abroad—one that revolves around the perfect marriage of vineyard terroir and pioneering farm-to-table cuisine.


Where to stay & dine:


  • Auberge du Soleil – Known as “Napa’s first fine-dining restaurant,” it’s also a luxury resort overlooking olive groves and vineyards. Menus spotlight Mediterranean-inspired dishes crafted from local produce, paired with California’s top vintages.
  • Meadowood Napa Valley – With its three-starred dining programme, Meadowood has long been a culinary icon. Guests enjoy private wine experiences, garden tours, and chef’s menus designed around the best of each season.


Awake & Wander Tip: Add a private vineyard helicopter tour or a sommelier-led tasting to deepen your Napa immersion.

Booking with Confidence


When you book your Luxury Dining Abroad experience through Awake & Wander, you’re never just booking tables and rooms. You’re investing in peace of mind.


Every trip we arrange is covered by ATOL protection and our Supplier Failure Insurance, so you can travel knowing your holiday is financially secure. From securing those impossible-to-get reservations to arranging last-minute schedule tweaks, our team ensures the only surprise you’ll experience is the one delivered on your plate.

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Our Take:

“You deserve reservations that feel inevitable, not impossible. We blend coveted tables with characterful stays and meaningful tastings, so your memories aren’t just of plates—
but of places.”


Why Choose Awake & Wander for Your Next Culinary Journey


Luxury travel isn’t just about where you go—it’s about how you feel every step of the way. At Awake & Wander, we believe your holiday should be as unique as your palate. That’s why we listen first, tailoring every itinerary around your tastes, timing, and appetite for discovery.


Whether you dream of dining under Kyoto lanterns, savouring truffles in Piedmont, or raising a glass on a Bangkok rooftop, our specialists will design a journey that blends unforgettable dining with luxurious stays and seamless travel.


We’ll also handle the logistics—flights, transfers, VIP experiences—so all you need to do is savour every bite.


📞 Call us on 01495 400011 or use our online enquiry form to start planning today. Or, if you’re still exploring ideas, try our website’s search tool to design a bespoke holiday as unique as you are.


At Awake & Wander, where every journey begins with you, luxury isn’t just promised—it’s delivered.

Send an Enquiry

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is meant by “Luxury Dining Abroad”?

    It refers to high-end dining experiences in international destinations, often involving Michelin-starred restaurants, unique culinary events, and immersive cultural gastronomy.

  • Which cities are best for Luxury Dining Abroad?

    Paris, Tokyo, San Sebastián, New York, and Bangkok are world leaders, but emerging hotspots like Copenhagen, Lima, and Singapore are also worth exploring.

  • Do I need to book restaurants far in advance?

    Yes. Many Michelin-starred restaurants release tables months ahead. Awake & Wander can assist with priority reservations.

  • Can Awake & Wander help with dietary preferences?

    Absolutely. We coordinate directly with restaurants and hotels to ensure menus are tailored to your preferences.

  • What’s the difference between Luxury Dining Abroad and a food tour?

    Food tours often focus on casual, local experiences, while Luxury Dining Abroad highlights the pinnacle of gastronomy in settings where dining and ambience are an art form.

  • Is Luxury Dining Abroad suitable for families?

    Yes—many fine-dining venues offer family-friendly options or private dining rooms. We can curate child-friendly menus and activities.

  • How expensive is Luxury Dining Abroad?

    Costs vary widely—from €200 tasting menus to once-in-a-lifetime £1,000+ chef’s table experiences. Awake & Wander will match options to your budget.

  • Are wine pairings included in Luxury Dining Abroad packages?

    Often yes, but we can arrange bespoke pairings, vineyard visits, and sommelier-led tastings to enhance your journey.

  • Do I need to speak the local language?

    No. Most fine-dining venues abroad cater to international guests. We’ll provide concierge notes, translation support, and private guides where helpful.

  • Why book Luxury Dining Abroad with Awake & Wander?

    Because we combine ATOL-protected travel with insider dining access, ensuring your culinary holiday is seamless, secure, and unforgettable.


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