The world's leading hotels are also home to some of the finest restaurants, serving the most exquisite cuisine. Natasha Faruque takes her place at the table of 17 gourmet greats in her search for gastro heaven
1 SUKA, Sanderson, London
It sounds confusing: a New York chef with an Italian name, Zak Pelaccio, opening a minimalist Malaysian restaurant using French cooking techniques, in London's so-cool-you're-likely-to-get-frostbite Sanderson hotel. The menu encompasses starters like Singapore black pepper mussels or tangy green papaya salad, followed by main courses that include Vietnamese mint-glazed lamb, beef rendang and Sarawak peppered steak. Funnily enough it all works - although the prices might force you into dining-out hibernation for the next month. Make sure you get a table on the terrace in summer even if it's chilly, as sitting indoors is like being banished to social Siberia. www.sandersonlondon.com
2 WAKIYA, Gramercy Park, New York
Uber-chef Nobu Matsushita praised the Chinese-influenced Yuji Wakiya so highly that Ian Schrager decided to let him open the flagship restaurant in this achingly cool hotel, much loved by New York's A-list. Wakiya heads up a Nobu-trained team and serves up Shanghai, Szechuan, Canton and Beijing cuisine, concentrating on fresh and healthy flavours and the balancing of the key five tastes: bitter, sweet, sour, savoury and spicy. Unusually for a Chinese restaurant, there are no clichés when it comes to its décor, although the dark woods, tapestried walls and red accents allude to the cuisine. www.gramercyparkhotel.com
3 ASIATE, Mandarin Oriental, New York
Blessed with the most spectacular view of any New York restaurant, out over Central Park from the restaurant's 35th-floor vantage point at Columbus Circle, Asiate is a breathtaking dining experience. The Tony Chi-designed restaurant is accessed from the hotel's lobby via a wall of wine (containing the rarest vintages from Napa and Sonoma). Afterwards it's all about the view through the floor-to-ceiling windows and the unpretentious cuisine, which shows dashes of Cantonese, Japanese and Californian. You might linger long into the night over a Caesar salad soup and a sea urchin miso glazed wild salmon, sipping a glass of Kistler Chardonnay. www.mandarinoriental.com
4 LE CINQ, Hotel Georges V, Paris
To earn the accolade of being among the very best restaurants in the gourmet capital of the world is no mean feat. This three Michelin-starred restaurant exceeds even the most gushing superlatives. Gracious service, a light, airy and spacious powder-blue room devoid of too many frills gives chef Phillipe Legendre free rein to shine. The food is surprisingly approachable for such a temple of gastronomy: we enjoyed a simple but sublime fillet steak in jus with foie gras, accompanied by a delicious Barbaresco wine. www.sheraton.com
5 BUDDHA BAR, Grosvenor House Hotel, Dubai
Sheikhs, supermodels and those aspiring to belong to Dubai's society set all head for this destination-of-choice for those seeking to impress and be impressed. The décor cannot be faulted. Rich red chandeliers, sumptuous burgundy, velvets, dark woods and gold give an illusion of intimacy despite the sheer scale of this bar, restaurant and lounge; a mammoth Buddha gazes benevolently down on diners. One wall of the restaurant is floor-to-(very high) ceiling glass, giving heart-stopping views of the twinkling marina outside. The menu is extensive and takes an already well-trod journey into fusion cuisine. Stick to simple choices: sushi is fresh but unremarkable (and will ensure that an already hefty bill soars); the Thai green chicken curry a safe bet. Those used to eating at the existing Taos, Buddha Bars and other Asian-inspired venues around the world might not be as jaw-droppingly surprised as those virgin to Indo-Chinese restaurants, but rubbernecking opportunities abound and its always fun to be where the glitterati hold court. www.buddha-bar.com
6 SPOON, Byblos, St Tropez
Alain Ducasse's maximalist temple to all things excessive typifies larger-than-life, jet-set St Tropez (where else can you see jeroboams of champagne being sprayed, yachts that can be mistaken for cruise ships or cars that sounds like rockets?). Those who don't like concept menus, who yearn for traditional French fare, should stay away; the food here has worldwide influences, from the Med to China. Mere mortals may also feel slightly embarrassed when ordering the 'Very Glamorous Salad', topped with lobster and served with red and green tomato 'essence'. Those wanting to see and be seen, and those who believe that the pumping sound system is as intrinsic to a dining experience as the food, should immediately book their table, don their Cavalli, pick up their Fendis and hotfoot it. www.byblos.com
7 SI JI XUAN, Four Seasons, Shanghai
Don't let the slightly too extensive menu at this Cantonese cuisine stalwart startle you. Make sure you opt for their signature dish, sweet caramelised scallops atop slivers of bacon and garnished with a cube of crunchy bacon. www.fourseasons.com/shanghai
8 NEW YORK GRILL, Park Hyatt, Tokyo
When you arrive at Narita airport, head straight for the New York Grill, perched on the stratospheric 52nd floor of Japan's coolest hotel. This Tokyo favourite features an enormous open kitchen that consistently turns out perfectly cooked steaks and seafood; match the excellent food with heart-stopping, panoramic views of Shinjuku from the floor-to-ceiling windows and a sophisticated jazz band, to ensure a night to remember. Movie trivia buffs will also love the fact that Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation was shot here. www.tokyo.park.hyatt.com
9 DOC CHENG'S, Raffles, Singapore
"When in Singapore, feed at Raffles," said Kipling. This colonial themed restaurant, the best pick of a plethora of eateries at the Raffles hotel, features a fabulous fusion menu, with daring dishes like a melt-in-the-mouth spit-roasted beef tenderloin with a vindaloo jus or a Szechuan rack of lamb. Despite being named after a mythical hedonist known for his socialising, complete privacy for cosy tête-à-têtes will be guaranteed if you bag one of the booths, complete with white curtains to keep away prying eyes. Wash it all down with a Riesling from Raffles' own vineyard. www.raffleshotel.com
10 THE RESTAURANT, The Setai, Miami
The Setai has drawn the A-list out of nearby Nobu at the Shore Club. This is the most visually arresting restaurant in Miami. Low, flattering lighting, an abundance of natural materials including dark woods, slate, brick and natural stone, an enormous reflective pool set in a central courtyard, and tightly bound bouquets of 500 roses all combine to create a jaw-dropping, moody, sexy vibe. Shockingly attractive patrons provide the rest of the decoration. The pan-Asian food, dished up by the Australian-led kitchen, is a secondary consideration; good, consistent and inventive but not the best in the city. www.setai.com
11 BABA, Sri Panwa, Phuket
Tangy Thai flavours are on the menu at this sleek hotspot within this chic boutique hotel. Favourites like Pad Thai and Tom Yum Ghoong soup sit aside the more adventurous tiger prawns with a passion fruit sake sauce and duck breast with lychee soy sauce. Make sure you nab a rocking chair for pre-dinner cocktails and parnoramas of the surrounding islands and Andaman Sea below before heading upstairs for a five course fine dining menu. www.sripanwa.com
12 AUREOLE, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vega
There's nothing that draws in Vegas' well-heeled crowds like a good gimmick and Aureole's stunningly beautiful 'wine angels', which fly up its 42ft, four storey, glass wine tower centrepiece, housing 9,500 bottles, totally steal the show. Incidentally, chef Charlie Palmer's food, which emphasises seasonal American produce, is superb, as are the service and wine. Make sure you save space for his dazzling desserts; opt for the bittersweet chocolate soufflé served with a tangerine creamsicle and candied kumquat. www.aureolelv.com
13 BROWNES RESTAURANT, Brownes, Dublin
Ireland: stereotypically known for its friendly folk, green golf courses and Guinness. But rarely do critics rave about the food. Luckily, those in search of sustenance can do no better than seek out Brownes. Executive chef David Willock has tweaked traditional Irish comfort food recipes (anyone for crispy fried braised pork cheek on potato and chive salad and salsa verde, followed by a chocolate and banoffee fondant that oozes rich chocolate?) and given them a contemporary twist. Another huge draw is its central location on picturesque St Stephen's Green; the place to check out Dublin's buzzing scene. www.brownesrestaurant.com
14 SIERRA MAR, Post Ranch Inn, California
Definitely a contender for the dining room with the most beautiful winter sunsets in the world. High up in the ridges among the fearsome cliffs, nestled unobtrusively in the forests, with the elephant seal, whale and sea otter-filled Pacific below, those in the know dine on a four-course seasonal prix fixe menu made with local ingredients at the now legendary Sierra Mar. Feast on butter-poached Maine lobster with sweet pea puree, saffron seafood soup with fresh grilled prawns and wild salmon, or Alaskan halibut with potato rosti, Pernod-poached oysters, topped with Sevruga caviar. www.postranchinn.com
15 LE CALANDRE, Hotel Maccaroni, Italy
Sample superlative Italian cooking from the youngest winner of the Michelin two and three star accolade, Massimiliano Alajmo. The saffron riosotto is to die for. www.calandre.com
16 LANGTRY'S, Cadogan, London
Tucked away discreetly near the shopping mecca of Sloane Street, fashion folk already gush over this Carrera marble, velvet chaired and crystal chandelier-bedecked Edwardian brasserie, made famous by impeccable patrons including the riotous Oscar Wilde and notorious Lillie Langtry. Alongside the prime Knightsbridge location and the fact that this is a real insider's hotspot, the food served up by head chef Robert Lyons also impresses, with an emphasis on simple ingredients cooked well; the stuffed roast guinea fowl melts in your mouth. The perfect place to refuel before giving your black Amex another workout. www.langtrysrestaurant.com
17 BUKHARA, The Maurya, New Delhi
A carnivore and critic's delight, and a regular haunt of Bill Clinton during his Indian trips, Bukhara specialises in the clay tandoor cooked cuisine of the North-West Frontier. Forget the silverware; tuck into the melt-in-the-mouth lamb kebabs, mutton chops and creamy rich chicken malai kebabs. Décor is basic, with stone, wood and copper used to create a Flintstones-like interior. www.sheraton.com