A unique restaurant concept is essential to complement food quality and good customer service. An attractive and exclusive concept can exceed customers’ expectations, making them live an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re a restaurant owner looking for some inspiration or a foodie looking for something different, this article is for you! Here are a few restaurants with a touch of extravagance for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
1. Dinner in the Sky
This one-of-a-kind restaurant concept has brought patrons up in the air since 2006. The idea of a flying dinner table was developed by Hakuna Matata, a communication agency specialized in food, and The Fungroup, a company of amusement park installations. Together, they designed a flying dinner table that can accommodate up to 22 diners and three servers. Over the years, Dinner in the Sky has been installed in more than 60 countries, including Australia, Japan, India, South-Africa, Brazil, Mexico, and China. The flying table flew over some of the most magical places, such as the Strip of Las Vegas, the Marina of Dubai, the hills of the Villa Borghese, the beach of Copacabana, Cape Town bay, and many other exclusive locations.
2. El Diablo
El Diablo (meaning “the evil” in Spanish) is a restaurant located on top of an active volcano in the Spanish island of Lanzarote, off the coast of Morocco. Using grills and skewers, chefs at El Diablo cook directly on top of the volcanic hole in the ground at 450-500 degrees of geothermal heat. The idea was developed in 1970 by Cesar Manrique, and since then, it has amazed its guests with its delicious meals and surrounding breathtaking views. Indeed, the restaurant is surrounded by mountains created in 1824 (the year of the last eruption) which have been subject to minimal erosion.
3. O.NOIR
O.NOIR is a “dine in the dark” restaurant concept where guests experience a full meal without the use of sight, grasping an idea of how it feels to be blind. While enjoying their food in complete darkness, patrons are served by visually-impaired staff… And complete darkness means no cellphones, lighters, matches, flashlights, and luminous watches. The concept was created by Jorge Spielmann, a blind pastor in Zurich who wanted to design something committed to a social cause. The first restaurant of this kind opened in Montreal in 2006, followed by a bigger location in Toronto in 2009. In 2011, the restaurant was purchased by its current owner Dr. J. R. Feng, an entrepreneur, and award-winning scientist. Still today, the restaurant educates people to understand and appreciate others.
4. Chillout Ice Lounge
If you want to dine at Chillout, suit up with a winter jacket, gloves, and a wool hat! This ice lounge located in Dubai was opened in 2007 by the Sharaf Group. Renovated in 2014, it now includes ice sculptures, ice seats, and ice tables in a unique interior design. The lighting is also very suggestive: It changes its colors at specific intervals, and filters through blocks of ice. The menu includes hot soups, sandwiches, hot chocolates, coffee, tea, and various desserts and confectionery. Additionally, each guest receives a complimentary drink as soon as they enter the lounge. The venue accommodates families, couples, friends groups, as well as corporate events.
5. Redwood Treehouse Restaurant
Located in Warkworth, New Zealand, the Redwoods Treehouse is a world-class restaurant featuring a dining room 10 meters above the ground, with amazing views of the surrounding Redwood forest. Guests enter the restaurant using an elevated walkway. The restaurant was built in 2008 in only 66 days by Pacific Environments Architects. Originally created for the advertising campaign “Yellow Pages,” the intriguing setting has been featured in magazines and books all around the globe, including “The Great Food Race” television show. Today, the Redwoods Treehouse currently welcomes only private parties and private events.
6. Napa Valley Wine Train
The Napa Valley Wine Train takes its customers to an elegant journey through the Napa Valley vineyards in California. Guests can choose between a 3-hour lunch experience starting at 11.30 a.m. or a shorter 2-hour dinner experience starting at 6:20 p.m. Additionally, guests can choose between two different types of refurbished antique Pullman rail cars. This sophisticated experience brings customers back in time, allowing them to enjoy the luxury and romance of the golden age of the early 1900s. Most of the cars on the train were built in 1915 by the Pullman Standard Company as first class coaches for the Northern Pacific Railway for use on their premiere trains, the North Coast Limited and the Northern Pacific Atlantic Express. They were then purchased by the Napa Valley Wine Train and restored. Today, the restaurant offers a varied menu that changes seasonally, crafted by Executive Chef Donald Young and his culinary team in one of three onboard kitchens. All guests are welcome to explore the kitchen cars and see the chefs in action.
