Hotel Dining 101

This October, Tasting Table is getting away from it all. Come away with us as we explore the world of travel.

Gone are the days when hotel guests would rather go to a nearby restaurant than dine at the hotel.

Why bother leaving when hotel restaurants have gotten so good? We've compiled a list of top spots around the world that truly stand on their own. And we're not the only ones who think so: All of these selections have garnered high honors from critics and publications around the globe.

The Restaurant at Meadowood, St. Helena, California
Consistently ranked as one of the best restaurants in the world, The Restaurant at Meadowood is only one of three American restaurants outside of New York that holds a highly prestigious three-star rating from the Michelin Guide. It's no surprise why the tasting menu, artfully prepared by chef Chris Kostow, is set at $225, while the counter menu is a cool $500.

Epicure at Le Bristol, Paris, France
Here, chef Eric Frechon cooks what might be considered "progressive French." That is, classic French flavors that are deeply rooted in terroir and seasonality. Though the three-Michelin-starred restaurant is world renowned, it was omitted entirely from San Pellegrino's World's Best 50 Restaurants this year.

The NoMad at The NoMad Hotel, New York, New York
Very few hotel restaurants find the balance between being sleek and chic while serving a menu that will please just about anyone. It's no surprise it all happens at the restaurant under the supervision of Daniel Humm and Will Guidara, who also serve as chef and restaurateur of New York's critically acclaimed, three-Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park. They may be serving the most-talked-about roast chicken in the world.

Siete Fuegos at The Vines Resort & Spa, Uco Valley, Argentina
Legendary fire starter Francis Mallmann is one of Argentina's most celebrated chefs. The name of his resort restaurant means "seven fires" in Spanish, which serves to only further emphasise the professional pyromaniac's love for cooking over the flame. Expect to see a lot of roasted meats and vegetables.

Nahm at Metropolitan by COMO, Bangkok, Thailand
At Nahm, which is regarded as one of the greatest Thai restaurants in the world, chef David Thompson chooses culinary tradition instead of over-the-top plating. Meals usually begin with small snacks before moving into dishes that cover the wide spectrum within Thai cuisine, from the grand palaces to the street foods of Bangkok. Nahm has consistently been ranked in the World's 50 Best Restaurants and Asia's 50 Best Restaurants lists.

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El Motel Restaurant at Hotel Empordà, Figueres, Spain
Don't be fooled by the simple interior: For more than 50 years, El Motel in Northeastern Spain has been using local ingredients to showcase the best of Catalan cuisine. The restaurant's four-course tasting menu falls just under $50, making it by far the cheapest on this list. In addition to tasting menus and a market menu, the restaurant offers à la carte options.

Matsalen at Grand Hôtel, Stockholm, Sweden
Chef Mathias Dahlgren won the gold medal at the Bocuse d'Or in 1997. It wasn't until 10 years later that he opened his two-Michelin-starred Matsalen. The restaurant's daily-changing menu is dictated by what's in season, keeping true to the basic mantra of the Nordic movement, and is characterized by the delicate flavors of Sweden's flora and fauna.

Restaurant Emiliano at Emiliano, São Paulo, Brazil
São Paulo may not be the first destination that comes to mind when you think of pasta, but José Barattino can change that with dishes like lamb ravioli and homemade spinach tagliatelle with prawns. At Emiliano, Barattino works with a network of small producers to source local ingredients.

Mikla at The Marmara Pera, Istanbul, Turkey
It's easy to get distracted at Mikla: The stunning view of Istanbul's Golden Horn takes you back in time. Finland-born chef Mehmet Gürs is often credited to bringing a more contemporary feel to Istanbul's dining scene, and the Turkish Scandinavian menu reflects just that. The restaurant offers both an à la carte option, as well as a tasting menu, but no matter what, don't miss the the lamb manti with yogurt and sumac.

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, England
When Dinner opened nearly five years ago, people expected chef Heston Blumenthal to bring his multisensory cooking to the stage. And though the restaurant was immediately met with praise from diners and critics, Blumenthal and head chef, Ashley Palmer-Watts, decided to take the menu in a slightly different direction by working with food historians to bring back forgotten dishes inspired by the last 700 years of Britain's past.

Man Wah at Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, China
Standing high on the 25th floor, Man Wah dishes Michelin-starred Cantonese food. In addition to dim sum, the restaurant offers a tasting menu and à la carte options, where chef Man-Sing Lee's signature dishes like stir-fried lobster with egg and scallop mousse shine.