
It's official: these are the world's most beautiful restaurants right now
Handily, Prix Versailles, a prestigious architecture award, has just unveiled its annual list of the world's most beautiful restaurants, which the secretary general Jérôme Gouadain says 'serves as a tribute to the architecture and overall experience,' according to Forbes.
So, where was included in the shiny new list? One of them is a place called Shell, in Nusa Penida, Indonesia, which sits on a clifftop overlooking Diamond Beach. Bamboo structures help support a huge shell-shaped roof which covers the restaurant, and reclaimed wood from old Javanese houses (known as joglos) has been used to make furniture.
Smoked Room in Dubai was also included, which is a Michelin-star space with a sophisticated, moody aura. Black bricks have been used alongside mirrors and brass mesh, and its intimate semi-circular layout allows only 14 people at a time to enjoy the restaurant's Omakase experience.
In Europe, Bouchon Carême, a restaurant in central Helsinki offering a Finnish take on Lyonnaise bouchon, was included. As was Lobster Club, a sleek, contemporary space in southwest Majorca with a stunning panoramic terrace and lots of wood in a nod to a traditional beach house vibe.
These are the world's most beautiful museums, according to Prix Versailles
Gerbou, Dubai, UAE
Smoked Room, Dubai, UAE
Blackswan, Beijing, China
Ōrtensia, Shanghai, China
Lobster Club, Palma de Majorca, Spain
Bouchon Carême, Helsinki, Finland
Ladurée Rue Royale, Paris, France
Ducasse Baccarat, Paris, France
Julie's, London, UK
Shell, Nusa Penida, Indonesia
Coro, Orvieto, Italy
Seven Island, Busan, Republic of Korea
Kimyoa, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Another Smith, Tha Sai Luat, Thailand
Beefbar, New York, USA
Japón, Miami Beach, USA
Did you see that this South American restaurant was just crowned best in the world for 2025?
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time Out
a day ago
- Time Out
These NYC hotel restaurants are officially among the best in the country
New Yorkers don't always think of hotel restaurants as go-to dining destinations, but that's changing fast. According to a new list from OpenTable and Kayak, hotel dining is having a moment, and two NYC spots just made the cut on the Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in America: The Whitby Bar & Restaurant and Zou Zou's. The announcement comes amid a broader cultural shift: travelers—and locals—are seeking out hotels not just for a place to crash, but for what's on the menu. OpenTable and Kayak's joint data shows a 51% year-over-year spike in the use of KAYAK's 'restaurant' hotel filter, while nearly half of Americans (47%) admit to booking a trip specifically to visit a restaurant. Forget room service; it's all about the food. Representing New York on the list, The Whitby Bar & Restaurant, tucked inside Firmdale's Whitby Hotel in Midtown, blends British flair with downtown energy—its colorful interiors and refined comfort food have long drawn a fashion-meets-finance crowd. Meanwhile, Zou Zou's, the lively Eastern Mediterranean restaurant at the Pendry Manhattan West, is a scene-stealer with wood-fired meats, smoky spreads and one of the city's prettiest dining rooms. 'Hotel restaurants have become formidable players over the years,' said OpenTable's Scott Hudson. 'Many are equally as popular among locals too.' The numbers back it up—38% of survey respondents said they've booked a hotel stay specifically for the restaurant, and 73% said they'd return because of a great dining experience. The full Top 100 includes Michelin-starred legends (like Addison in San Diego), scene-y rooftops (hello, The Roof at Esmé in Miami Beach) and quiet countryside gems (looking at you, Castle Hill in Newport). But the common thread? These spots make the hotel the destination, not just a backdrop. As for the NYC food scene, don't sleep on hotel dining. You might just find your next favorite meal hidden behind a concierge desk. And if you're booking a stay? Maybe check the dinner menu before you check in.


Time Out
a day ago
- Time Out
Two celebrated Mexican chefs are now leading the charge at this chic Blue Mountains restaurant
A golden hash brown topped with soft, sweet leeks and whipped n'duja with a karate-like kick. Slow-cooked lamb barbacoa with a savoury consomé and rings of burnt onions. Succulent fried chicken sitting in a fragrant Warrigal greens curry sauce, adorned with zippy pickled jicama and cucumber. These are some of the dishes on the new menu at Blaq – a chic Blue Mountains restaurant found at Kyah Hotel in Blackheath. And if you reckon they'd be delicious, you'd be right. That's because a new executive chef is in charge. His name is Alejandro Huerta, and if that name sounds familiar, it's because he was recently heading up the excellent – but sadly now closed – Comedor in Newtown. The Mexican-born chef, who has also had stints at Noma in Copenhagen and Pujol in Mexico City, has created a bold, produce-led menu that draws inspiration from around the world – with Mexican flavours woven throughout. In even better news, Huerta is joined by his wife, Galia Valadez, in the kitchen, who is heading up desserts. Valadez brings more than two decades of experience to Blaq, including time at Spain's Michelin-starred Lillas Pastia. Her banana and corn cake with crème fraîche, caramelised white chocolate and koji is a beautifully balanced (and yum) ode to her heritage and her partner – Huerta is a big fan of bananas. 'When we met with the team at Kyah, we fell in love with the project and the vision for Blaq,' says Huerta. 'It made total sense for us to move here and be part of this exciting evolution – showcasing the beauty and richness of the region through food.' 'I've always liked doing things differently and I love having different flavours and textures in what I cook, while keeping it always very casual and fun. My Mexican heritage combined with my love for different ingredients makes for a very interesting combo. We want to make sure that everyone that comes to Blaq has the best time while eating delicious food that's unexpected – but in a good way,' Huerta adds. On that note, you can also expect to find dishes like a crisp wontons topped with fresh tuna, chilli crunch and thin shavings of bonito flakes; and Murray cod paired with borlotti beans bathed in a vibrant green sauce spiked with dill and lemon. Cocktails are another standout, thanks to the team collaborating with one of Australia's best bartenders, Jake Down, on the menu. Our picks are the fresh, light Gala Rain, made with apple, cucumber, green tea and gin; and the Mountain Grapefruit with lime and tequila. If you're looking for somewhere to base yourself in the Blue Mountains, Kyah – with its modern and stylish rooms, thoughtful touches, hot tub, tennis court and sauna – is a cracking place to relax, have fun and breathe in the crisp air. Just make sure you book dinner at Blaq. Find out more here.


Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Catherine Zeta-Jones details her and husband Michael Douglas' surprisingly low-key UK staycations to Butlins and Legoland with their two kids - despite their £260million net worth
Catherine Zeta-Jones has detailed her surprisingly low-key family staycations with her husband Michael Douglas and their two kids. The Wednesday star, 55, and the American actor, 80, have been married since 2000 and share two children - Dylan, 24, and Carys, 21. The couple have raised their children amid the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, but also enjoy some very low-key family moments away from the spotlight. Catherine has revealed she and Michael have taken their kids on UK staycations to Butlin's and Legoland - despite their £250million ($360million) combined net worth. She told Radio Times of her kids: 'They've been to Butlin's, Legoland, seen the sights in London, up to Scotland, over to Ireland. They've even been to the Isle of Man, I think.' Catherine added that she insists her children spend two weeks in her native Wales every year to spend time with her parents - David James Jones and Patricia Fair. However, Dylan and Carys have also enjoyed some bucket list trips abroad over the years including to India, Patagonia, Africa and Cambodia, among others. Catherine said she always wanted to be a mother and sweetly described it as one of her biggest achievements. 'Having children is one of the most amazing joys of my life,' she gushed, before reflecting on how motherhood changed her perspective on the world. 'All of a sudden, I saw doom and gloom everywhere,' she quipped. 'My husband would be throwing them up in the air and I'd be thinking, ''We have ceiling fans! They'll be decapitated!'' 'I started to see the worst-case scenarios everywhere. But I think that's just getting older and thinking ''Ooh, what if?''' Catherine added that having children brought home the amount of work her parents put in raising her and her two brothers David and Lyndon in Swansea. 'My mother brought up three kids. She had no help. My brother was judo, my other brother was swimming, I was dancing,' she explained. 'I was part of the amateur dramatics, the Dylan Thomas Theatre, I'm sure there was gymnastics thrown in there at some point… 'Just taking us to all of that, as a parent you think, ''Oh my gosh,'' whereas as a kid you're p****d off that she was five minutes late in picking you up that one time.' Catherine and Michael are both household names in Hollywood and their two lookalike children look set to follow in their showbiz footsteps. Carys recently finished her degree in Film and International Relations from Brown University in Rhode Island and is also a skilled piano player. Carys' has four acting credits so far listed on IMDB, with her work including her taking on directorial roles in short films Shell and August. Her latest film, another short called F*ck That Guy, headed to the PROOF Film Festival in Los Angeles and saw Spike Lee serve as an executive producer. Her brother Dylan is also in the spotlight and hosts Young American - 'Gen Z powered political talk show' - with Dylan Douglas. Catherine has previously opened up about how both her children are determined to get into acting - despite a candid warning from their father. Read Catherine's full interview in Radio Times, out now She said on The Drew Barrymore Show in 2021: 'Their love of the craft of acting is so strong that even when their brains are doing politics and history in school, their passion is acting. 'And they've never done anything professional, but they would like to go into acting.' Acting certainly runs in the family as Michael is also the son of legendary actor Kirk Douglas and actress Diana Dill, though he warned Carys about always being known as 'the daughter of...' in Hollywood. Catherine and Michael have been in a relationship since 1998 after meeting for the first time at the Deauville Film Festival in 1996. They tied the knot in 2000 and celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary in November of last year.