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In this article:
- For most people, fine dining is pretty much a foreign concept. We may go out to eat at a nice Italian or Thai restaurant for a special occasion, but the world of Michelin stars and Haute cuisine is something we may never get to experience.
- And, while can pretty much assume that these ultra-fancy restaurants charge a pretty penny, it might surprise you just how much the most expensive restaurants in the world actually charge.
- Here are the 7 most expensive restaurants in the world. Some of these joints serve the world’s greatest sushi while others incorporate music, aromatherapy, and virtual reality into their dining experiences. However, they all have one thing in common: they’re crazy expensive.
For most of us, the luxury of eating out at nice restaurants is a treat that’s reserved for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, or graduations. And, on top of that, those of us in the middle and lower classes tend to dine at restaurants where the entrees have double-digit price tags. However, for the upper-class gourmands of the world pulling in massive yearly salaries, there are some restaurants out there that’ll cost you several times what you’d pay at your local Applebee’s.
The most expensive restaurants in the world have multi-Michelin star ratings, some of the best chefs in the world, creative and kooky menus, and eye-popping prices. Some of these restaurants are about much more than just food too. One of these restaurants incorporates virtual reality into its dining concept and another one is a meeting point for some of the biggest celebrities in the Western hemisphere. These restaurants span different continents and different cuisines, but they all have one thing in common: they’re all absurdly expensive.
So, unfortunately, most of us will never make enough money to justify going to any of the restaurants on this list. But, at least we can dream, right? Let’s take a look at how the other half lives (and eats). These are the 7 most expensive restaurants in the world.
1. Sublimotion
First opening its doors on the Spanish island of Ibiza in 2014, Sublimotion quickly gained a reputation for its creative dining experience and its exorbitant prices. This restaurant is far more than just dining out, it’s an all-encompassing experience that plays upon your senses and brings you to an entirely new world with each of the 20 courses that are included. Yes, if you want to dine at Sublimotion, you’ll need to pay 1,500 euros per person. However, many think that that price tag is well worth it for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The 20-course meal takes place in a “capsule” with blank walls. For each different course, the walls are flooded with different images to match the food on the plate. Sublimotion is the result of collaboration between engineers, illusionists, screenwriters, and double-Michelin-star chef Paco Roncero.
2. Ultraviolet
If you want to dine at Ultraviolet in Shanghai, you’ll need to make a reservation, meet at Mr. & Mrs. Bund Restaurant in Shanghai, and then be taken to an undisclosed location. Yes, the official location of Ultraviolet is listed as “somewhere in Shanghai” on the Michelin website. This restaurant is headed by chef Paul Pairet (who is also the chef of Mr. & Mrs. Bund Restaurant) and has received three Michelin stars.
Ultraviolet only has one table with 10 seats. And, if you want to put your butt in one of those seats, you’re going to need to pay $900. However, considering what your beliefs about dining are, that price tag may be worth it for the outstanding food you’ll get to sample as well as the amazing visual and audio effects that accompany it and heighten the overall experience.
3. Per Se
First opened in 2004, Per Se is master chef Thomas Keller’s second three-Michelin-star restaurant (after the legendary restaurant The French Laundry). Located in New York City, Per Se made headlines in 2021 for raising the price of its tasting menu to $800, making it one of the most expensive restaurants on the planet. While there’s a more affordable dining option for those who don’t want to pay that much, you’ll have to pay the whole $800 (plus wine, tip, and tax) if you want to get a full taste of Thomas Keller’s ability.
Unlike some of the other restaurants on this list, Per Se doesn’t feature any high-tech gimmicks or hidden locations, just top-notch French cooking. Per Se’s tasting menu features classic French fare as well as more progressive dishes that combine the new and the old, all paired with the finest wines the world has to offer.
4. Masa
Also located in New York City, Masa is the sushi restaurant of your dreams. Headed by chef Masa Takayama (who studied under one of the world’s most well-respected sushi masters at Tokyo’s Ginza Sushi-ko), this restaurant is known for its simplicity. The decor is minimalistic and the dishes contain no more than a few ingredients. However, Masa’s attention to detail has earned the restaurant three Michelin stars.
There’s no menu at Masa. You can simply choose to pay either $950 for the “Hinoki Counter Experience” or $750 for the Omasake. Then, you will be served a full tasting menu incorporating whatever ingredients that chef Masa sees fit on that particular day.
5. Kyoto Kitcho Arashiyama
Kyoto Kitcho Arashiyama is another extremely expensive, three-Michelin-star restaurant dedicated to Japanese cuisine. However, this one is actually located in the Japanese city of Kyoto. This restaurant dates all the way back to 1948 and was built in the traditional style of a Japanese tea house. While you dine, you’ll enjoy calming views of the outdoor garden with its beautiful trees and moss-covered statues.
The dining experience, curated by third-generation chef Kunio Tokuoka, is true to the ancient tradition of the Japanese tea ceremony. All of the dishes served make use of the freshest seasonal ingredients presented in eye-catching and artistic ways. You can also enjoy a wine tasting or a geisha performance in addition to your meal. The meal alone will probably cost you around $500 and adding on any of these other entertainment options will raise your bill considerably.
6. Guy Savoy
There is now a Guy Savoy location in the city of Las Vegas; however, if you want to dine at one of the most expensive restaurants in the world, you’ll have to travel to the French capital of Paris. This restaurant, named after its world-renowned head chef, serves up Haute French cuisine presented in intriguing and imaginative ways. Guy Savoy is responsible for many major shifts and innovations in culinary culture, so you never know what you’re going to get when you dine at his restaurant.
If you want a seat at Guy Savoy in Paris, you’ll need to make a reservation far in advance. Then, you’ll be required to pay 630 euros per head to enjoy the 13-course tasting menu. If you want to get a sense of what that menu includes, they have a full breakdown on their website. Some of the highlights include black truffle artichoke soup with truffled mushroom brioche, lobster cooked in coral and green curry sauce, and a pure chocolate tartlet.
7. Aragawa
Here is yet another super-expensive restaurant serving up Japanese cuisine. Aragawa, though, is located in the basement of an old office building in the heart of Tokyo. And, instead of being famous for its sushi, Aragawa is the home of some of the world’s finest Kobe beef. This is the name for a special kind of wagyu raised in the Kobe region of Japan. The cows are said to be treated well as they believe that happy cows produce better meat. Once slaughtered, the meat is constantly massaged and treated with sake.
Aragawa first opened its doors back in 1956 under the direction of chef Jiro Yamada, who died in 2011. Since then, the restaurant has been led by his son Mitsuya Yamada, who hasn’t let the quality slip even a single iota. Aragawa has an a la carte menu, meaning that you can pick and choose what you want to eat. However, no matter what you choose, you should be prepared to pay some exorbitant prices.
