Can you imagine savouring afternoon tea at the Palace of Versailles or tasting exquisite Japanese wagyu inside the world’s tallest tower? From record-breaking skyscrapers to transport hubs designed by renowned architects, we've hunted down the destination restaurants inside some of the world’s most incredible landmarks. These unique venues blend architectural marvels with award-winning food – how many will you add to your bucket list?
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the world’s most amazing landmarks you can actually eat inside – counting down to the most iconic of them all.
We've based our ranking on the popularity of the restaurant experience, and on the opinions of our well-travelled (and well-fed) team. The list is unavoidably subjective.
Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of La Antigua Guatemala, Arco de Santa Catalina is a beautiful example of the city’s rich heritage. This famous arch was built in 1694, to allow cloistered nuns to pass unseen between the arch’s adjoining convent and school where the nuns taught. These days the convent is Restaurante del Arco, a cosy spot with the original architecture still intact. The restaurant serves Guatemalan specialities like jocón and plantain cacao mole, grilled meat dishes and international plates.
With chef Chris Gillard now leading the team, The Restaurant at Tate Modern aims to showcase art through food, even drawing inspiration from some of the gallery’s exhibitions. Open for just a few hours at lunchtime and the occasional evening, the elegant spot focuses on seasonal ingredients and contemporary British dishes, such as heritage beetroot with Neal’s Yard goats' curd and stout-braised venison.
Over 590 feet (180m) above Auckland, you’ll find the country’s highest bar serving indulgent pastries with 360-degree views over the city. Try the Sky Tea, a selection of small sweet and savoury bites prepared by award-winning master pâtissiers. Dishes include smoked Akaroa salmon, roast beef quiche Lorraine and raspberry lychee tart. You’ll get complimentary admission to Sky Tower too, so take the time to explore and soak up the views.
Built in 1947, Farol Santander is Brazil’s answer to the Empire State Building and has become a São Paulo landmark. Formerly known as Banespa Tower, it’s now home to an observation deck, exhibition spaces, a skate park and Boteco do 28, a small restaurant combining industrial vibes with cultural décor. The menu puts a gastronomic spin on the city’s traditional dishes, so expect the likes of bolovo, a boiled egg encased in minced meat then fried (pictured), and picadinho, a Brazilian beef stew.
Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa is a gallery space recreated from a former grain silo complex on Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront. The building’s lounge and events space on the sixth floor isn’t only a great place to take in views of Table Mountain, it’s also a relaxing spot for a bite to eat. Known for its friendly service, the lounge offers a small, bistro-style menu with dishes like shakshuka, Cape Malay curry and fish tacos.
Heading to Berlin? Exploring Tiergarten Park is probably high on your list of things to do, so make time to visit this rustic café while you’re there. Nestled on the lake, with an expansive beer garden and towering trees, it’s a relaxing spot to enjoy the park’s atmosphere. The team make their own sourdough and cakes using the tastiest seasonal ingredients, so expect delicious and hearty dishes like salmon flammkuchen, pumpkin risotto and kaiserschmarrn (scrambled sweet pancakes) with plums.
Singapore is famously a melting pot of cuisines. If you want to experience upmarket Cantonese food in the city, visit Sky View Pavilion, an award-winning spot at the base of the Singapore Flyer, a popular landmark that's one of the largest observation wheels in the world. Known for its relaxed atmosphere and breathtaking views of Marina Bay, the restaurant serves traditional Singaporean dishes and Hong Kong classics, with options like steamed barbecued pork buns, lean meat congee and charcoal-salted egg yolk custard buns.
Waiting for a ferry in Auckland? Then pop into The Shucker Brothers, an informal oyster bar and seafood spot located inside the city's historic Ferry Building. The team works with local fishermen and producers, so expect seafood that’s as fresh as it gets alongside locally crafted drinks. Settle down at one of the communal tables outdoors, watch the ferries come in, and tuck into fresh oysters, miso-cured Akaroa salmon and Nelson Bay cockles.
From a hunting lodge in the 17th century to the seat of power and now a museum, the expansive Palace of Versailles estate has become a symbol of French history and culture. If you’re exploring the grounds, this tea room and bistro serves elegant and comforting French classics worthy of their surroundings. Think delicate quiches, club sandwiches and photo-worthy pastries, plus a sensational afternoon tea.
With its clocktower and dramatic interiors, The Ferry Building has become one of San Francisco's most famous landmarks. Built in 1898, it’s brimming with history, having started life as a ferry terminal before being converted into offices. Today, the refurbished building is home to the Marketplace, where you’ll find a selection of local, artisanal vendors, restaurants and cafés. Don’t miss the award-winning A16 La Pala for a slice of authentic Neapolitan-style pizza, or El Porteño Empanadas for handmade Argentinian specialities.
A hilltop terrace with an enchanted garden and panoramic views of Florence. If you think that sounds idyllic, this restaurant will be right up your street. Built in 1641, Villa Bardini is now a museum and cultural centre. Located in the former stables, La Leggenda dei Frati celebrates Tuscan gastronomy, so expect timeless classics alongside modern dishes like risotto with Jerusalem artichoke and red shrimp with candied lemon.
The ride up Danube Tower gives you a taster of what's to come at Turm Restaurant. After climbing 557 feet (170m), you’ll be greeted with 360-degree views over Vienna from the rotating dining room. The menu reflects the Danube region’s historical and cultural influences, so expect classic and modern dishes like Austrian trout ceviche, tafelspitz (boiled veal in broth) with apple horseradish, and curd cheese dumplings with plum and verbena.
When you arrive at One World Trade Center, the tallest tower in the USA, you’ll be whisked up in the Sky Pod Elevator to One World Observatory. Here you’ll find ONE Dine restaurant, where the food is as impressive as the extensive views over New York City. The fine dining menu includes seasonal, gourmet dishes such as togarashi yellowfin tuna and lobster fusilli, but you can also get more humble plates like hot honey wings and a mortadella sandwich.
It doesn't get much more opulent than afternoon tea in the glittering Emirates Palace. Episodes is located in the heart of the hotel’s grand lobby and includes a tea apothecary, gourmet deli counter with artisanal sandwiches and pastries, a cake shop and a gelateria. The best way to soak it all in? Afternoon tea, complete with seasonal finger sandwiches, mini cakes, freshly baked scones and a huge selection of white, black, green, herbal and rare teas from around the world.
Floating over the Golden Horn, Istanbul’s Galata Bridge links the old and modern parts of the city. It’s a hive of activity and lined with traditional restaurants and cafés, most of which serve fresh catch from local fishermen. Fish Port is open throughout the day, but it’s worth going for the sunset views. Dishes include hot and cold appetisers and grilled seafood served with typical garlic sauce and garnishes.
Glasgow’s historic train station is also Scotland’s busiest. It’s even popular with people who aren’t catching a train and offers guided tours of its underground vaults. Also hidden below the station is this fabulous steakhouse, named after the former main street of Grahamston Village, which was demolished when the station was built in the mid-1870s. Unsurprisingly the menu is heavy on the meat, showcasing the best of Scottish beef, but you’ll also find dishes like crab linguine and spiced monkfish kebabs.
James Beard Award–winning chef Jonathon Sawyer is at the helm of this buzzy skyscraper restaurant, which opened in 2023 in Chicago's Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower. As its name suggests, Kindling is all about live fire, with the open kitchen's sizzling grill taking centre stage in the restaurant. Expect wood-fired, chargrilled plates like confit chicken wings with charred jalapeño, blackened mahi mahi tacos and a selection of steaks and chops.
One of several Guggenheim affiliated museums, Bilbao’s iconic landmark has become known for its innovative design. So it’s not surprising that it’s home to Nerua, an equally edgy restaurant with plenty of artsy flair. The menu focuses on seasonal, local ingredients and changes three times a year. Veggies and fish take centre stage, so expect the likes of artichoke with aromatic herbs, sea bass with saffron, and octopus with black butter.
If you’re visiting Seattle’s Space Needle, carve out time for lunch or dinner in this rotating restaurant, which boasts a glass floor. Located 500 feet (152m) above the city, it offers spectacular views. But diners rate the food, theatrical presentation and service equally as highly. Think floating plates, spinning bowls and smoky, nitro-cooked dishes. You’ll pre-select a menu – seafood, meat or vegetarian – with small plates served on a multi-course tower.
Not to be confused with Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree is a broadcasting and observation tower and the tallest tower in the world. It’s also home to one of the city’s top restaurants with incredible views. On a clear day, you can even catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji while savouring seasonal Japanese ingredients inspired by classical French techniques and cooked on the teppan. Expect plates like Tochigi black beef and smoked Pacific saury galette.
You might be familiar with this luxury Bangkok hotel’s rooftop bar, which provided the backdrop for scenes in The Hangover Part II. The tower is home to several restaurants, but the two Michelin-starred Chef’s Table is a standout spot. The open kitchen forms the heart of the restaurant and the experience is as much about the theatrical performance as it is the food. Expect contemporary French dishes like grilled oysters and foie gras. Oh, and the views from the 61st floor are pretty special, too.
This contemporary restaurant is perhaps best known for its afternoon tea, served with a side of panoramic views from the iconic Gherkin, London’s first ecological tall building. That ethos carries over into the restaurant, where dishes are made using local ingredients sourced from British farmers and producers. Don’t fancy afternoon tea? There’s also a bar menu and set menu with dishes like coronation chicken terrine and Norfolk sea bass.
Fancy dining in the world’s tallest building? It’s not only impressive views on offer here. Sitting a cool 122 floors above Downtown Dubai, this fine dining restaurant serves up modern French and international dishes, including Dubai’s only Kobe beef experience and a 13-course tasting menu. Start with lobster carpaccio, follow with wagyu tomahawk and finish with a selection of French cheeses – or tiramisu adorned with 23-carat gold. For something more chilled, you could also settle in for a three-course afternoon tea.
Even if you’re not departing from Gare de Lyon train station, it’s worth heading to this opulent restaurant. What started as the station buffet in 1901 is now an iconic restaurant whose lounges, passageways and décor are listed as historical monuments. The dining room is as theatrical as the kitchen, with meat carved and dishes flambéed at the table. Regional produce from locations found along the Paris-Lyon-Marseille railway line feature heavily, with dishes like Provençal octopus stew and gravlax-style salmon.
Arguably one of Asia’s most photographed buildings, Marina Bay Sands needs no introduction. But did you know it’s also home to a Michelin-starred restaurant? Waku Ghin by Tetsuya Wakuda showcases seasonal ingredients from around the world, but with an artistic, Japanese spin. Whether you’re indulging in a set menu at the chef’s table or sitting in the dining room, you’ll can enjoy dishes like tartare of Tasmanian ocean trout with yuzu, wagyu beef menchi katsu burger, and a truffle and Parma ham toasted sandwich.
The clue’s in the name at this revolving restaurant, which offers sweeping views over Toronto while you dine on regional Canadian specialities. If you’re conscientious about what’s on your plate, this is the place for you. The menu features Ocean Wise-certified seafood as well as ingredients sourced from local Ontario producers and the restaurant’s own kitchen garden at the base of the tower. Expect dishes like wild mushroom mafalde pasta and octopus terrine, plus Indigenous recipes like braised bison short rib.
This contemporary restaurant atop The Shard is split in two. On one side, you’ll find a bar and lounge serving afternoon tea and dinner with views of the east. On the other side is a sophisticated dining room with an open kitchen looking out over West London. Both sides serve innovative dishes, but for something unique, try the night brunch, which includes a chef’s sharing menu of starters, mains and desserts.
Located at the base of one of the world’s most famous landmarks, this elegant restaurant specialises in classic American dishes cooked in a modern way. Recipes are inspired by market ingredients sourced from across New York, from the Hudson Valley to the North Fork. Expect dishes like shrimp cocktail and New York strip steak, as well as vegetarian dishes like mushroom pipette pasta. End your meal with a trip up to the Empire Observation Deck on the 102nd floor, or visit one of the landmark’s numerous exhibitions.
Dinner in the Eiffel Tower? Mais, oui! And it doesn’t get more Parisian than Le Jules Verne. The restaurant was awarded its second Michelin star in 2024 with Frédéric Anton at its helm. Besides giving you an incredible view of the city from 410 feet (124m) up, this intimate spot offers lunch and dinner menus showcasing refined French dishes, including mushroom tortellini with hazelnut oil consommé, veal sweetbreads and warm chocolate soufflé.
Named after the formation of oyster shells discarded by First Nations people around Sydney Harbour, Midden celebrates the rich history and heritage of Australia and is located right inside the iconic Sydney Opera House. Indigenous chef Mark Olive leads the kitchen team, with a menu inspired by native ingredients like bush honey and succulents. Dishes include wild thyme hummus with Tasmanian pepper leaf flatbread, crispy skin Humpty Doo barramundi and bush pavlova with roasted wattleseed cream.
If you’re a seafood lover, make a beeline for this legendary 440-seater restaurant, the largest in Grand Central Station. It opened in 1913, just three weeks after the station itself opened, and is still considered one of the best seafood spots in the country. Designed by renowned architect Raphael Gustavino, the dining room features arched and vaulted ceilings covered in terracotta tiles, under which you can tuck into a daily changing menu of fresh picks from the Fulton Fish Market.
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