Travelling today is no longer just about ticking off destinations – it’s about creating memories that linger. Nowhere is this shift more evident than in Asia, where dining has become an integral part of the journey. Whether it’s dining in mystical mangroves, tasting hyper-local produce under the stars, or boarding a luxury train for a moving feast, today’s experiences fuse culture, nature, and storytelling.
At the heart of this movement is a group of Michelin-starred world-renowned chefs who each bring their culinary expertise to serve the most unique dining experience for the conscious travellers, from locally-sourced ingredients to energy-saving restaurant space/building.
JAMPA, Where Fire Meets Philosophy
Led by Chef Rick Dingen, JAMPA champions a zero-waste, farm-to-table approach. Guests begin with a guided stroll through the on-site organic farm, where seasonal produce is nurtured. Then, they gather around the open-fire kitchen for a 10-course tasting menu where every dish is kissed by flame and celebrates the rhythm of the land.
It’s dining that goes beyond taste. The crackle of firewood, the scent of charred herbs, and the warm night air all combine to create an experience that is as sensorial as it is sustainable. In an age where discerning travellers seek meaning in every journey, JAMPA stands as Phuket’s most purposeful dining destination – proof that sustainability and luxury can coexist beautifully.
46/6 Moo 3 Thep Krasatti, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Lunch); 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Dinner)
Contact: +66 76 342 122
Website
Gourmet Journeys Aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express
Imagine gliding through Southeast Asia’s verdant landscapes, your dinner served on crisp white linen inside a restored colonial carriage. The Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train, elevates the romance of train travel with a culinary programme led by Michelin-starred Chef André Chiang.Here, menus are inspired by the markets and flavours of the region, drawing on Malay, Peranakan, and Asian influences, paired with European finesse. The experience is further heightened by special guest appearances from acclaimed chefs like Vicky Cheng and Jungsik Yim, who join for exclusive four-hands dinners. It is like a theatre – where every meal is part of the story.
Contact: +0845 077 2222
Website
TA’AKTANA: from Farm to Cup in Flores
For coffee lovers, TA’AKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in Labuan Bajo, offers an unparalleled experience. Guests can visit its in-resort Coffee Roastery, where beans are sourced directly from local farmers and roasted on-site in small batches to maintain freshness.
Sustainability lies at the heart of TA’AKTANA’s approach. By working with local farmers and operating a zero-waste roastery, the resort preserves both the land and the livelihoods of the community, offering guests a coffee experience that’s truly rooted in Flores’ fertile soil.
Labuan Bajo, Pantai Wae Rana, Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, 86763 Indonesia
Opening Hours: 24 hours
Contact: +62 385-2381888
Website
Dining Above the Trees at Soneva Fushi
If dining on solid ground feels too ordinary, Soneva Fushi offers Flying Sauces – a one-of-a-kind zipline dining adventure. Guests soar 200 metres through the treetops before arriving at an elevated dining tower, perched 12 metres above the ground with sweeping views of the Indian Ocean.
Menus change with the seasons and often feature dishes crafted by Michelin-starred guest chefs like Tim Raue and Julien Royer, turning the entire experience into a celebration of flavour, thrill, and wonder.
Kunfunadhoo Island, Baa Atoll, Maldives
Opening Hours: Daily, 6:00 p.m. onwards (Dinner)
Contact: +960 660 0304
Website
Dining by the Mangroves at The Residence Bintan
Closer to home, The Residence Bintan invites travellers to dine under the stars with its signature Dining by the Mangroves experience. Here, guests enjoy a private BBQ prepared by a personal chef, accompanied by a curated bottle of wine, while fireflies flicker along the water’s edge.
This is more than a romantic evening – it’s an opportunity to give back. Each dinner contributes to the resort’s mangrove reforestation initiative, allowing guests to plant saplings and support local marine ecosystems.
Kampung Galang Batang, RT.005/RW.003, Gn. Kijang, Kec. Gn. Kijang, Kabupaten Bintan, Kepulauan Riau 29151, Indonesia
Opening Hours: Daily, 6:00 p.m. onwards (Dinner)
Contact: +627786000888
Website
The Future of Travel Tastes like This
These experiences prove that culinary travel is no longer about fine dining alone – it’s about connection, sustainability, and storytelling. They’re setting a new benchmark for what it means to dine consciously. As travellers continue to seek deeper meaning from their journeys, such immersive experiences will become the true measure of luxury.
For more dining experiences, head here.
