We know that you don’t need much to hop on a plane – a top restaurant has you booking a ticket, like, yesterday. For a list like this, though, the destination has to be a place you wouldn’t necessarily put on the list. Of course New York, Paris, Rome and Tokyo, for example, are places that as a world traveler, are already firmly on the circuit. Even Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami have their virtues and conveniences for work. In these cities, it’s hard to say that one restaurant makes it a destination. So, for this list of restaurants that are worth a plane ticket, we really mean that the restaurant is more of a draw than arguably the city itself. Not that you need a reason to hop on a plane, but these are the destination restaurants that are a reason to travel this 2026.
The Restaurant: Maido
Destination: Lima, Peru
Lima is more than a stopover city on your way to Macchu Picchu. One of the reasons is that Maido is a destination restaurant that defines the city. One thing is for sure: when you have the chance to eat at Maido — Japanese and Peruvian are a combination of cuisines that bring out the best in each other. Maido takes it next level though than your standard cevicheria. Food is art and flavors that have not been combined come together like smoked ice cream and macambo seeds. Unlike other tasting menu restaurants, Maido is a place you would put on your circuit anytime as a place to return.
The Restaurant: MIL Centro Lab
Destination: Sacred Valley, Peru
MIL is serious about its destination as a source for its ingredients. In its remote location of 11,700 feet above sea level next to an Inca archaeological site, some would say that’s a necessity. MIL takes it next-level with on-staff anthropologists who work with local Indigenous communities to learn about rare ingredients and ancestral foodways . The tasting menu features alpaca, tree tomatoes, various tubers, and even edible clay.
The Restaurant: Asador Etxebarri
Destination: San Sebastián, Spain
San Sebastián is a destination for food. But when you inspire foodies to head to Atxondo about 45 minutes away, you have Asador Etxebarri — a destination restaurant unto itself. Set in a rustic 18th-century Basque farmhouse 25 miles outside Bilbao, they smoke the milk with old wine barrels and fire grill the prawns. The result is one of the most memorable meals of your life.
The Restaurant: Hisa Franko
Destination: Slovenia
Self-taught chef Ana Roš has almost single-handedly turned Slovenia into a culinary destination. Even within Slovenia, it takes around two hours from the capital of Ljubljana to arrive at Hisa Franko — so you can say that this defines “destination restaurant.” Hisa Franko sits in a tiny village and treats alchemy in the kitchen with a mix of Central, Southern, and Eastern European influences.
The Restaurant: Three Chimneys
Destination: Isle of Skye, Scotland
You know a place is special when seafood specialists from Japan helicopter in from Edinburgh just to experience the food. It makes sense though, when the specialty of Three Chimneys is seafood. In this cuisine, they can throw down with any chef in the world. Local fishermen still deliver their catch to the door, continuing a tradition that stretches back to the restaurant’s earliest days.
The Restaurant: Klein Jan
Destination: Tsawalu, South Africa
When you go past the pride of lions and turn down the red earth Kalahari desert road, you’ll find an old South African farmhouse. That’s when you know you’ve arrived at the destination restaurant of Klein Jan, set within the Tswalu safari lodge. Your journey doesn’t end there. It actually starts in the cellar of Klein Jan. To begin the culinary journey, you’ll sample jars of pickled vegetables and local farm cheeses. From there, it’s all surprises along the way, stopping at an antique stove for a warm cup of soup before sitting down to the meal. Klein Jan is one of those experiences that you live for as a foodie.
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FAQs
Q: Do I need a reservation to eat at MIL Lab in Sacred Valley, Peru?
A: Yes, you absolutely need a reservation to eat at MIL in the Sacred Valley. MIL operates on a fixed tasting‑menu format with limited seating and is open only for lunch, so they require advance booking for all visitors.
Q: What is the nearest airport to Asador Etxebarri in Spain?
A: The nearest major airport to Asador Etxebarri is Bilbao Airport (BIO), about 26–27 km away.
Q: What is the best way to get to Three Chimneys restaurant on the Isle of Skye?
A: The best way to reach The Three Chimneys on the Isle of Skye is to drive, as the restaurant sits in a remote part of northwest Skye with limited public transport.
