While we often celebrate our favorite hotels around the world, we rarely spotlight the spaces within the hotel that make the property shine. Often, these are the areas—the bars, the restaurant, the rooftops and more—that become destinations unto themselves, pulling in a devoted set of locals to help turn a hotel into a place that residents use, too. So, as an extension of our recently released 2024 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world, we are highlighting the best new hotel restaurants, spas, and bars, as picked by our editors. Below, the hotel restaurants that compete with the best places to eat, anywhere—and the dishes you can't miss.
Golden Poppy at La Fantaisie—Paris, France
Artistry, whimsy and a distinctly West Coast approach are all on the menu at beloved chef Dominique Crenn’s latest venture at the new La Fantaisie, a jewel-box boutique hotel in the heart of the 9th. The glowing yellow, Scandinavian interiors by Martin Brudnizki feel distinctly un-Parisian which, in a way, is extremely Parisian. The pescatarian menu takes advantage of the region’s best ingredients and techniques for a France-meets-California alchemy that just works.
The dish to order: A dry-aged whole sea bream, served with white asparagus and drizzled in orange beurre blanc.
Le Pristine at Hotel Toranomon Hills—Tokyo, Japan
There’s no shortage of chef-driven, acclaimed restaurants at high-end hotels around Tokyo, but this one stands out, thanks to Dutch chef and Michelin darling Sergio Herman. His prix-fixe menu at this minimal space with a beautiful big tiled bar inside Hotel Toranomon Hills, is an East-meets-West approach that makes brilliant use of Japanese ingredients, especially seafood. There are three-, four-, and five-course options available for dinner, or you can order á la carte for one of the better power lunches in Tokyo.
The dish to order: The signature Le Pristine lobster pasta, with handmade orecchiette, clams, squid, and fennel flower.
Lowland at The Pinch—Charleston, SC
How many ways can Charleston’s food scene continue to reinvent Southern cuisine, you might ask? Turns out—at least one more, as seen at Lowland Tavern, a nouveau Southern spot from James Beard Award-winner chef Jason Stanhope inside The Pinch, a charming boutique hotel right on King Street. There are still those decadent touches that somehow taste better in a place like this (deviled eggs, biscuits slathered in farmer cheese and pepper jelly), but there are some more elegant and international turns to the menu as well, like chicken skewers dusted in Japanese furikake, or a banoffee pie that would make King Charles himself proud.
The dish to order: An impossibly crispy pork schnitzel, topped with golden beets and smoked roe.
Terrace Restaurant at Izza—Marrakech, Morocco
A 14-room riad in the heart of the Medina, with one of the most elegantly understated roof terraces in town and a killer restaurant, too? Color us interested. Other rooftops in town can feel a little nightclubby or hectic, but the one here is home to a restaurant that offers modern Moroccan fare with international influences—like a whole grilled stuffed sea bass with spiced couscous served in an aromatic langoustine bisque.
The dish to order: Check out the seasonal tagines, of course, but don’t sleep on the vegetables. There’s a charred cauliflower with spiced labneh and toasted buckwheat that’s out of this world.
Singular Restaurant at The Lodge—Mallorca, Spain
On an island that most locals would agree has been transformed by tourism over the last several years, the new Lodge Mallorca offers a slice of tranquil paradise and a glimpse of the way things were. Located on 157 hectares within a UNESCO-protected area of the island, this refurbished 500 year-old farmhouse also offers some of the freshest, most unpretentious Mallorcan cuisine on the island. Pop by after partying in Palma for some pastoral penance and a dinner to remember.
The dish to order: Anything grilled over the open fire, but especially the catch “del día.”
Riviera by Jean Imbert at The Lana—Dubai, UAE
Dubai doesn’t do anything small, so it tracks that the Dorchester Collection’s Middle East debut would feature a splashy chef. And who is splashier at this moment than France’s own Jean Imbert? Here, he channels the best of the French Riviera, with grilled seafood galore, a signature tuna tartare prepared at your table, and a goat’s cheese ravioli with zucchini blossoms that is almost too pretty to eat. Kick back, order some rosé, and take in the glittering glitterati as you overlook Dubai’s picturesque Marasi Bay Marina.
The dish to order: The creamy marinated cucumbers with herbs—simple, but so good.
Zaytinya at Ritz-Carlton South Beach—Florida
Following successful locations in New York City and Washington, D.C., James Beard Award-winning chef José Andrés brings his new vision of modern Mediterranean to Collins Avenue. Combining Greek, Lebanese, and Turkish influences, the menu spans shareable mezze, fresh seafood, and plenty of Mediterranean wines to wash it all down.
The dish to order: The perfectly-grilled Octopus Santorini, sprinkled with marinated onions and capers over a dramatic yellow split pea purée.
Nookies at Silver Sands Motel & Bungalows—Greenport, New York
A major renovation breathed new life into this iconic 1950’s North Fork motel, and luckily the twenty-two seat Nookies still captures all the nostalgia of a midcentury roadside diner. There’s still a tuna melt and decadent milkshakes on the menu, but there are some welcome additions to appeal to twenty-first century travelers, too.
The dish to order: The aubergine melt, on rye with globs of gruyère cheese, yellow tomato jam and Calabrian chili.
LAVO at The BoTree—London, UK
With locations in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Singapore, and Mexico City, Tao Group’s Lavo manages to feel as fun and relevant as ever with its latest opening at the BoTree in Marylebone. No detail is overlooked, whether it’s a tray of garnishes brought out to accompany your water, to decadent mounds of truffles atop the pasta, to expert sommelier pairings to enhance your experience. It’s one of the neighborhood’s larger dining rooms, but it manages to feel sceney and exuberant without being excessive.
The dish to order: “The Meatball,” which comes with 500 grams of Wagyu beef and Italian pork sausage.
Théa at The Global Ambassador—Phoenix, Arizona
Named after the Greek goddess of light, Théa, the standout at a gleaming new resort with a food-focus, offers a truly transporting experience, because, as it turns out, a Mediterranean menu lends itself beautifully to a rooftop setting in sunny Phoenix. The flavors are big, but this bacchanal never skews overly indulgent: the kofta skewers are fragrant with sumac; the Moroccan roasted carrots come drizzled in Aleppo pepper honey; and the “Goddess of all Dips” platter is a perfect shareable platter if you’re looking to kick back with a spritz and watch the sun set.
The dish to order: A fresh and flavorful Spring Tabbouleh salad with pea tendrils, mint, pistachio dukkah, and preserved lemon vinaigrette.
Fysh at The Singapore EDITION
“Lofty” is a great way to describe this new restaurant by multi-award-winning Australian chef Josh Niland inside the Singapore Edition. First, the decor: vaulted ceilings lend a sense of occasion, an abundance of greenery feels quintessentially Singaporean, and an expansive open show kitchen proves that cooking, too, can be a form of theater. Second, the menu: Niland offers a “modern-age fish steakhouse,” which treats ethically-sourced seafood with the same sense of scale, indulgence, and reverence as a steakhouse treats its beef. There are some “land-based proteins” on the menu, too, but the real stars are the swordfish and yellowfin tuna steaks, sourced from Mooloolaba, Australia and dry-aged (yes, you can dry-age fish) to perfection.
The dish to order: Murray Cod, sustainably sourced and grilled over charcoal, then finished with an Andean BBQ corn humita, coriander, and lime.
Il Ristorante - Niko Romito at Bulgari Hotel Roma—Italy
This is Rome done right, from the elegant dining room, to the sweeping views over the adjacent Mausoleum of Augustus, to the menu designed by Nico Romito, one of Italy’s superstar chefs. At the restaurant inside this Hot List winner, the menu offers through-and-through Italian classics that range from the familiar (a perfect spaghetti pomodoro) to the innovative (crispy suckling pig with orange caramel sauce). Sure, it will cost you—but can you really put a price tag on a perfect fine dining experience in the Eternal City?
The dish to order: Melt-in-your-mouth roasted tuna belly topped with a light and bright fennel and citrus salad.
