For many a traveler, dining at a hotel restaurant is more a matter of convenience than quality. Restauranteurs around the world are seeking to change that by upping the quality of on-site restaurants. The foodie team at the Daily Meal compiled a list of 101 excellent hotel restaurants from all corners of the globe. Here are our 10 favorites (in no particular order).
1. Al Mahara at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, UAE
When you dine at the opulent Al Mahara, a seafood restaurant housed in an aquarium inside the iconic Burj Al Arab in Dubai, you're dining alongside sheiks and oil tycoons. You pay for the atmosphere – fish swimming past your table as a harpist serenades you – as much as for the food.Al Mahara — Photo courtesy of Burj Al Arab
2. Le Cinq at the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris, France
Not only is Le Cinq one of the best hotel restaurants in France and in the world, it might very well be the best restaurant in Paris, a city known for its cuisine. Classical French preparations are served in the stunning Baroque dining hall, where the only thing that matches the food in quality is the service.Le Cinq — Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Paris
3. Man Wah at the Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong
Man Wah, a Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant located within Hong Kong's Mandarin Oriental Hotel, offers panoramic views of Victoria Harbour from its dim, elegantly appointed dining room. Stop by for dim sum at lunch or reserve a table by the window to see Hong Kong's skyline come to life with the Symphony of Lights.Man Wah — Photo courtesy of Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong
4. Altitude at the Shangri-La in Sydney, Australia
Altitude's floor-to-ceiling windows look out over Sydney Harbour, giving diners the best view in town. Executive Chef Steven Krasicki cooks up a menu of decadent contemporary Australian cuisine to accompany an extensive boutique wine list. It's utterly romantic.Altitude — Photo courtesy of Shangri-La Sydney
5. Jean Georges at the Trump International Hotel & Tower in New York City, NY
Located on the ground floor of the Trump International Hotel & Tower, Jean Georges has been awarded three Michelin Stars for its French, American and Indochinese dishes served in the Upper West Side dining room. Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten is one of only five chefs to have received three Michelin Stars.Jean Georges — Photo courtesy of Jill Shih
6. Blue Duck Tavern at the Park Hyatt in Washington, DC
Rated at one of the top restaurants in Washington, DC, the Blue Duck Tavern in the Park Hyatt Washington serves dishes prepared in their open kitchen using a beautiful wood-burning fire place. The classic American fare cooked up by Executive Chef Sebastien Archambault keeps locals coming back for more. Some say the french fries are the best in the country.Blue Duck Tavern — Photo courtesy of Park Hyatt Washington
7. Loggia Restaurant at Villa San Michele in Florence, Italy
Life doesn't get much better than dining on fresh Italian cuisine and sipping a glass of red while overlooking the hills of Tuscany from a fifteenth century Franciscan monastery. That's exactly what dining at Florence's Loggia is like, and the Tuscan menu served here is one of the best in the city.Loggia — Photo courtesy of Genius Loci – Villa San Michele
8. Proof on Main at 21C Museum Hotel in Louisville, KY
Housed in one of the best hotels in the South, Proof on Main wins points for its farm-to-table dishes prepared with artistic flare. Everything from the octopus to the bison burger hits the spot, but be sure to save room for the freshly made cotton candy. You'll find Proof on Main at Louisville's 21C Museum Hotel. Proof on Main — Photo courtesy of stlbites.com
9. Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons Restaurant at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Great Britain
The French food served at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons comes from the restaurant's 2-acre kitchen garden. It doesn't get much fresher than that. The wine list tops out at over 1,000 varieties, so there's something for everyone. If you're interested in learning to cook like the masters, you can even enroll in the Raymond Blanc Cookery School on-site.Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons — Photo courtesy of Adrian Houston – Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
10. GB Roof Garden Restaurant & Bar at Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens, Greece
Hotel Grande Bretagne's rooftop restaurant offers unobstructed views of the Acropolis, Parliament and Lycabettus hill with Athens extending off into the distance. Chef de Cuisine Asterios Koustoudis believes in serving simple, flavorful foods made from fresh, whole ingredients, and consequently, his new Mediterranean dishes shine.GB Roof Garden Restaurant & Bar — Photo courtesy of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide