Hotel Dining

Restaurant Hot List: 10 Dining Experiences Worth Traveling For

by Ramsey Qubein

Photograph by Ramsey Qubein

whale bar at st regis maldives vommuli dock with tables leading to water

Plan your trip around a stunning restaurant view like that at the Whale Bar at The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort. (Photo: Marriott International)

One of the most fun parts of travel is trying new cuisines, exploring exciting new restaurants, and earning perks in the process. When it comes to seeking out a delicious meal with gorgeous, luxe surrounds to match, there are plenty of world-renowned options in Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of participating hotels around the world.

Even better, you can earn Marriott Bonvoy points when charging meals to your room. And if you’re not a guest when dining at a hotel restaurant, some Marriott Bonvoy hotels still allow you to earn points by providing your account number when paying the bill.

Read on for top dining outlets that are so incredible, they’re seriously worth planning a trip around. As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.

The Whale Bar — The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli

This stunning overwater lounge at The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is all organic curved lines framing endless sea views, serving Mediterranean cuisine with a heavy focus on Spanish tapas. Also on offer at The Whale Bar is the resort’s signature bloody mary (did you know each St. Regis has its own local recipe?).

From this vantage point, the fresh breeze and sunset draw guests from the beach for an unbelievably lovely evening.

Toro — The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya

toro restaurant st regis kanai resort
(Photo: Marriott International)

Chef Richard Sandoval brings his famous creativity to The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya with Toro, an oceanfront slice of paradise suspended over a mangrove forest. On the Latin-inspired menu are numerous fresh and tasty dishes paired with colorful and hand-muddled mojitos and margaritas.

Snagging a reservation here is a treat to dine under the stars, beneath rustling palms, to taste the TV personality and cookbook author’s delectable dishes, and earn points through your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, too.

Aqua — The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg

ritz carlton wolfsburg aqua restaurant
(Photo: Marriott International)

Boasting three MICHELIN Stars, this dining room at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg is awash in natural elements and decor, which match the fresh ingredients found on its farm-to-table menu.

The refined dinner-only Aqua overlooks a serene private garden with a large, shell-shaped water feature that evokes a Zenlike atmosphere. Each delightful dish is a work of art in its own right, as is the ethereal glass chandelier above, ensuring all senses are satisfied.

LAB by Sergi Arola — Penha Longa Resort, Portugal

restaurant with floor to ceiling windows in portugal ritz carlton penha longa
(Photo: Marriott International)

Now with a MICHELIN Star, LAB by Sergi Arola is known for true culinary entertainment in an intimate, 22-seat room awash in soft blue light, with a towering glass wine cellar as its centerpiece.

At this Penha Longa Resort restaurant, choose meal pairings from a list of 550 wines from around the world to accompany one of three different tasting menus spanning different types of intricate flavors. The Catalan chef follows both culinary art and science mindsets in crafting these menus, which include a full vegetarian option.

Hanagatami — The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka

sushi bar at hanagatami restaurant in osaka
(Photo: Marriott International)

This Japanese restaurant serves multiple styles of cuisine: kaiseki, sushi, tempura, teppan-yaki, and Sumibiyaki in an airy, minimalist space with a glass wall backed by a beautiful traditional Japanese garden.

Covering the foodie bases, the in-demand dining room offers set menus as well as a la carte options at the sushi counter or teppan-yaki tables. With a MICHELIN Star, no matter what you order, it will surely be an artistic masterpiece and a delicious way to maximize your Marriott Bonvoy points during a stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka.

Akira Back Tenerife — The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama

On the Canary Island of Tenerife, Akira Back Tenerife is a striking venue that prepares authentic recipes fusing Japanese tradition and modern techniques. Order sushi a la carte or lean into the feeling of a special night out by selecting one of the tasting menus.

Views from the restaurant and its terrace, located at the top of The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama, are as wonderful as the cuisine — think blue Atlantic waters for days and rainbow sunsets.

Marqués de Riscal Gastronomic Restaurant — Hotel Marqués de Riscal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Elciego

red walled interior with view of old town at marques de riscal restaurant
(Photo: Marriott International)

Hotel Marqués de Riscal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Elciego is famed for its wine country surroundings and excellent views from its top-floor dining room, Restaurante Marqués de Riscal.

As impressive as the undulating, Frank Gehry–designed exterior architecture is, it’s the world-famous, MICHELIN-Starred menu that is the star of the show here. Though the room, with its whimsical red walls bathed in golden light from soaring floor-to-ceiling windows, is a more than worthy costar.

Jin Xuan — The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong

night views of city from jin xuan restaurant
(Photo: Marriott International)

Whether you sit in the main dining room, tea lounge, or one of the many private rooms, Jin Xuan Chinese Restaurant is exceptional.

Reserve early to score one of the window seats overlooking The Bund from this softly lit 53rd-floor perch, surrounded by lavish red and gold decor with plush velvet seating. If it’s opulence and view for days you seek, this eatery at The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong your spot.

Saint June — The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman

water views from restaurant on grand cayman ritz -carlton
(Photo: Marriott International)

Saint June, a sophisticated seaside restaurant in elegant shades of cream, evokes refined luxury in a relaxed setting at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman — a perfect backdrop for its stylish drinks and local and South American-inspired cuisine.

Lunch and dinner menus are fresh and flavorful, but those that don’t want to miss out on a single moment of sunshine can also order dishes by the pool or on the beach. Sipping Saint June’s signature piña colada as the sun sets over the Caribbean is not to be missed.

Bayview by Michel Roth— Hotel President Wilson, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Geneva

president wilson hotel bayview restaurant plate of caviar
(Photo: Marriott International)

Chef Michael Roth’s MICHELIN-Starred Bayview by Michel Roth knows its audience. And true to its name, the windows at this upscale spot frame beautiful lake views. Inside, deep blue aquariums in the walls house delicate jellyfish.

To cater to the business market, an executive lunch menu means the Hotel President Wilson, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Geneva eatery is power-deal-central. Why not maximize your points earning when entertaining clients or enjoying a romantic vacation meal overlooking Lake Geneva?