The world of fine dining has moved beyond white tablecloths and Michelin stars – for those with a sense of adventure, the most unforgettable meals are found far from the usual path.
Whether you’re tucking into reindeer stew under the northern lights or enjoying oysters plucked straight from the sea, here are five dining experiences that serve wilderness on a plate.
Ice Dining Beneath the Northern Lights, Swedish Lapland
In the depths of Swedish Lapland, ICEHOTEL offers a frosty twist on fine dining. Guests are treated to a multi-course Arctic menu served on ice plates inside a frozen chamber sculpted entirely from snow and crystal-clear Torne River ice. Expect delicacies like bleak roe with sour cream, smoked Arctic char, and reindeer tartare – all enjoyed in sub-zero silence. The best part? You might catch the aurora borealis rippling above as you dine.
ICEHOTEL
Marknadsvägen 63, 981 91 Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
Website
Table-to-Tide at Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, Alta, Norway
Deep in Norway’s Arctic wilderness, Sorrisniva takes hyperlocal to new heights. The experience begins with a snowmobile ride across frozen tundra to a riverbank firepit, where chefs cook a traditional Sámi-style meal over open flames. Dishes are shaped by seasonality and Northern heritage – king crab in winter, wild herbs and foraged mushrooms in summer. Everything is paired with wine or aquavit under the midnight sun or star-strewn skies.
Igloo Hotel
Spåkenesveien 281, 9153 Rotsund, Norway
Website
Dinner in the Dunes, The Empty Quarter, Abu Dhabi
Hidden deep within the Rub’ al Khali, also known as the Empty Quarter, lies a Bedouin-style desert camp where privacy meets luxury. Operated by Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort, the dining experience begins with a sunset camel trek followed by a lavish Middle Eastern spread served under lantern light amidst towering sand dunes. Think lamb ouzi, saffron rice, and mezze platters – all seasoned by warm desert winds and silence.
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort, Bateen Liwa, Mahdar Sahab, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Website
Volcanic Feast on Mount Batur, Bali, Indonesia
Perched on the rim of Mount Batur’s ancient caldera, this wild dining experience pairs panoramic views of an active volcano with a fire-cooked Balinese meal. After a sunrise trek guided by locals, guests are treated to breakfast prepared using volcanic steam vents – eggs, bananas, and sweet potatoes are slow-cooked in natural fissures. Later in the day, pop-up dinners organised by Batur Natural Hot Spring feature satay, spicy sambals, and fresh fish, served by torchlight as the mist rolls over the mountain.
Batur Natural Hot Spring
Toya Bungkah Kintamani Desa Pekraman Batur, Songan B, Kec. Kintamani, Kabupaten Bangli, Bali 80612, Indonesia
Website
Rainforest Feasting in the Amazon, Peru
In the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica curates rainforest dinners that redefine exotic. Accessible only by boat, the lodge offers candlelit meals deep in the jungle, often hosted on raised platforms in the canopy. Dishes centre on Amazonian ingredients: grilled paiche (giant river fish), yucca, and camu camu fruits. Monkeys may swing by, and the soundtrack is a symphony of frogs, cicadas, and distant thunder.
Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica
Rio Madre De Dios Km15, Puerto Maldonado, Peru
Website
For more off-grid inspirations, find them here.
