8 of the best hotel restaurants in Asia that are worth traveling to
As 2023 draws to a close, there’s no better time to catch up with your loved ones and discover Asia’s finest dining destinations. This attractive area is now home to many of the world’s most sophisticated places to eat and drink; Authentic restaurants that blend tradition, innovation and art to create truly extraordinary epicurean experiences.
Check out these eight exceptional hotel restaurants in Asia, and a selection of their signature dishes or travel-worthy set menus.
Oco, Regent Phu Quoc – Phu Quoc, Vietnam
Oku is an innovative restaurant serving delicious Japanese-French cuisine, showcasing the finest techniques and ingredients from these two global centers of gastronomy. In a sophisticated Art Deco setting, guests can sample premium beef at Salon de Boeuf or fresh sashimi at Omakase Atelier. Each dining experience can be complemented with wines selected by the sommelier, and special events come to life in the private rooms.
Must try
Oku’s Salon de Boeuf offers the most tender cuts of Wagyu beef, cooked to perfection. Choose from a dry-aged Australian Wagyu ribeye steak, Australian Wagyu steak, Australian Wagyu beef short ribs, or upgrade to the tender A5 Japanese Wagyu steak, served with roasted king trumpet mushrooms stuffed with bone marrow, also accompanied by mushrooms. Black stuffed with umami. Tosazu garlic sauce (traditional acidic soy sauce from Japan, then finished with black garlic butter) is contrasted with a sauce of parsley, herbs and sautéed vegetables. There is also a choice of exciting six- or ten-course omakase menus.
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Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill, Sunway Resort Hotel – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Gordon Ramsay Bar and Grill marked the debut of this world-famous chef in Malaysia when it opened its doors in 2022. Since then, it has become one of the most sought-after places in Kuala Lumpur for lunches, dinners or intimate occasions. Born in London, the concept reflects British sophistication with black-and-white images of 1960s icons such as Twiggy, Jane Shrimpton, Sean Connery and Mick Jagger, while floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of Sunway Lagoon. There are three elegant private dining rooms.
Must try
A new menu has been unveiled at lunchtime with delicious European dishes, such as bone marrow with beef, truffle and quail eggs, and classic fish pie with lemon and herb puree and smoked cod roe. Chef Gordon Ramsay’s legendary Beef Wellington is also on the menu, and in the evening, guests can now sample a stunning 600g Angus Chateaubriand steak.
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Sala Thai, Santiburi Koh Samui – Koh Samui, Thailand
Set in lush tropical gardens on Samui’s peaceful northern shore, Sala Thai is one of the finest Thai restaurants on the island. Guests can relax in style and sample a selection of classic recipes that celebrate the freshest local and seasonal ingredients, carefully prepared by our talented chefs. A sharing menu allows guests to sample a wide range of delicious dishes, and a dedicated sommelier is on hand to prepare the perfect wine pairings to accompany this culinary journey through Thailand.
Must try
From December 9 to 11, Chef Chumpul Jangprai of two-Michelin-starred Thai restaurant R-Haan in Bangkok will present an exciting 12-course Southern Thai menu at Sala Thai. The “From Michelin Stars to Samui Skies” exhibition will showcase local and sustainable products, such as oysters and squid from Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat Angus beef, and fresh lobster from the Gulf of Thailand.
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Bottega at Carna, Mondrian Singapore Duxton – Singapore
Discover premium cuts of meat, cooked to perfection by Dario Cecchini, hailed by The New York Times as “the world’s greatest butcher.” Bottega di Carna is a lively, contemporary restaurant that looks back to the future with classic meat dishes, handmade pastas and wood-fired steaks, presented in bold, playful and interactive ways, including table side dishes and serving carts in a light-filled room. A restaurant overlooking the Mondrian Singapore Duxton Garden.
Must try
Meat lovers will enjoy Dario’s signature cuts of beef, dry-rubbed with Profumo del Chianti, including a 180g Hokkaido A5 Wagyu Beef, or a 1.2kg Rangers Valley Porterhouse Bistecca alla Florentina. Bottega di Carna has also recently revised its à la carte menu and now offers a set lunch on weekdays, a daily aperitif hour and a Sunday roast special.
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Seaview, Chatrium Grand Bangkok – Bangkok, Thailand
Located in the heart of Bangkok, Seaview has become a hugely popular dining destination since its opening in late 2022. Celebrating the best of classic and contemporary cuisine with a theme of ‘East Meets West’, this lively venue features floor-to-ceiling windows . Stunning art installations and live cooking stations. Families and friends are invited to attend a selection of lively events, from relaxed lunches to elegant evening dinners and abundant weekend brunch.
Must try
Taking place every Sunday from now until December 17, the “Sumptuous Chinese Sunday Brunch” will immerse guests in the culinary wonders of the Middle Kingdom. This authentic Asian twist on the traditional social brunch concept sees Chef Natthawt Siha visit each table to serve his signature Peking duck, while personalized dim sum carts will roam around.
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Swan Boa, Centara Grand Osaka – Osaka, Japan
Opened in July, the new Centara Grand Osaka hotel elevates authentic Thai cuisine in Japan’s culinary capital. Bright, vibrant and inviting, with a selection of casual seating options and a life-sized tuk tuk taking center stage, Chef Suan Bua transports diners to the streets of Bangkok. Guests can embark on a multi-sensory journey that elevates street food to five-star levels. Choose from attractive à la carte dishes, three set menus, or enjoy the all-you-can-eat Chim-Chim buffet.
Must try
The joy of Suan Bua is that he takes traditional Thai recipes and enriches them with skill and premium ingredients. For example, the “khao kha moo German” features Thai rice with crispy pork, while the “rad na hoi shell” is a classic rice noodle dish served with juicy scallops in a rich sauce, and the restaurant’s “gaeng runjaun” (noodle soup Beef) Enhanced with Wagyu beef.
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La Maison 1888, InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort – Danang, Vietnam
Housed in a charming colonial-style mansion designed by Bill Bensley, La Maison 1888 immerses guests in the luxury and elegance of a bygone era. The first restaurant in Vietnam to be run by a three-Michelin-starred chef, this exciting dining destination offers three-, four- and five-course menus that fuse French flavors with an unmistakable Vietnamese influence. Couples and friends can discover these delights while enjoying stunning sea views and sipping award-winning wines.
Must try
For discerning food lovers looking for a truly exceptional experience, French culinary legend Pierre Gagnaire offers his “Esprit Menu”, which includes red crab with mayonnaise, lemon, cucumber and dill, Japanese amberjack with French oysters, and Chef Pierre’s signature “Sketch” beef tartare, which consists of From prime beef, red tuna, French duck foie gras, and Pierre Gagnaire’s Grand Dessert.
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Sa Nga, Centara Samui Reserve – Koh Samui, Thailand
Authenticity meets innovation at Sa-Nga, the intimate Thai restaurant at Centara Reserve Samui where the Kingdom’s signature cuisine is given an exciting, modern twist. The contemporary Thai tapas concept allows diners to sample a series of highly original and creative small plates. This makes it the perfect place for special occasions, with amplified flavors that will dance on your taste buds and culinary artistry that will ignite every Instagram feed.
Must try
Settle in and order a series of stunning small plates. Signature creations not to be missed include the colorful shrimp salad with watermelon, pineapple, green apple, cucumber and lemon, and the lamb with burrata, yellow curry sauce, crispy yellow noodles and pickled cabbage. Sa-Nga’s original take on the classic mango sticky rice is a joy to watch!
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