Every jet-setting foodie knows there’s no lack of great restaurants to visit when travelling around the Asia-Pacific region. From authentic Cantonese cuisine to lip-smacking grilled seafood, the discerning diner has plenty of choice when it comes to scouting out the best restaurants to quell hunger when on holiday. But often, it’s not just about settling in for the place that serves up the best local eats.
With only a few days to discover a new destination, you’ll want to plan your meals around restaurants that combine great food with exceptional ambience, paired with a side of stunning views. Whether you’re travelling to Seoul or Sydney, or making the rounds in Southeast Asia, these are the restaurants that should definitely be on your radar for outstanding food and even better views.
KayuPuti, The St. Regis Langkawi
Nestled on the Andaman Sea, KayuPuti at The St. Regis Langkawi is a stunning coastal retreat in itself. Decorated entirely in white by Bangkok-based architect Bill Bensley, KayuPuti (translating to ‘white wood’ in Indonesian) stands out for its simple yet elegant design featuring both indoor and outdoor seating, allowing you to enjoy sea views while you dine. Culinary aficionados can soak in the backdrop of the Indian Ocean and marvel at the picturesque natural beauty while savouring local island cuisine.
The bespoke dining experience here involves a reinterpretation of classic Asian dishes, incorporating tapas, innovative mains and reconstructed desserts. The restaurant’s signature ‘Journey’ and ‘Discovery’ menus feature dishes such as Andaman lobster tail with homemade sambal and Wagyu beef with purple sweet potato mousseline — all backed by a hand-picked wine list with fine regional varietals. In the evening make your way to the roofed sundeck, where you can lay back and star gaze with plenty of cosy hammocks and sun beds.
KayuPuti, The St. Regis Langkawi, Jalan Pantai Beringin, Langkawi, Malaysia, +60 4960 6666
The Margaux Grill, JW Marriott Seoul
Evoking a secret garden inspired by a European aesthetic, this restaurant on the seventh floor of the JW Marriott Seoul is a visual treat. Designed by US-based architectural firm Olson Kundig, the space celebrates nature in all its glory with plenty of flora and fauna, complete with seating in elegant glass houses. A striking feature of the restaurant is a grand display of over 60 designer knives, forged by skilled craftspeople, which greet diners on arrival.
The open kitchen lets diners soak in the aromas of food being cooked on a wood-fired grill, creating a wholly immersive dining experience. The premium grill restaurant offers some of the finest steaks along with vintage rare wines (over 4,000 to choose from) and exotic cocktails at the adjacent MOBO bar. If you’re visiting during the warmer months, take a seat on the outdoor terrace where you can savour the exotic grill cuisine surrounded by beautiful landscaping and outdoor gardens, sheltered from the buzz of the city.
Margaux Grill, JW Marriott Seoul, 176 Sinbanpo-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea, +02 6282 6759
The Gantry at Pier One, Sydney Harbour
Time seems to stand still at this waterfront restaurant; the pace is unhurried, and chefs regale you with the stories behind each dish as you sip slowly on a refreshing craft cocktail, with the sea breeze and harbour lights adding to the ocean-side ambience. Boasting one Chef Hat from the Good Food Guide (equivalent to Australia’s version of the Michelin Guide), this restaurant hones in on modern Australian cuisine and takes pride in its sustainable, locally sourced ingredients.
Diners can choose from a 6-course tasting menu with vegan and vegetarian options, à la carte, set lunch, truffle tasting menu and even a pre-show menu (the restaurant is a popular option among the theatre crowd). The view of iconic Sydney Harbour and the Harbour Bridge in the distance provide an ideal setting as you slurp fresh oysters and pick out the succulent meat of local crayfish. Interiors by Bates Smart, one of Australia’s oldest design firms, reflect a coastal-chic aesthetic while staying true to the heritage hotel’s century-old industrial roots.
The Gantry, Pier One Sydney Harbour, 11 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay, Sydney, Australia, +61 2 8298 9999
Tin Lung Heen, The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong
Awarded two Michelin stars for seven consecutive years, Tin Lung Heen helmed by chef Paul Lau Ping Lui is one of the best places in town to taste local delicacies while enjoying unparalleled views of the city skyline. Perched on Level 102 of the International Commerce Centre, guests enjoy stunning bird’s-eye views of both sides of Victoria Harbour, while inside, the restaurant is framed in tasteful Oriental décor with grand chandeliers, plush furniture and a glass-encased wine cellar.
Chef Lau brings over 40 years of experience in Cantonese cuisine to the kitchen and is recognised as one of the city’s leading authorities on traditional Cantonese cuisine. His signature dishes include a sumptuous version of char siu using Iberian pork glazed with honey, soothing Canto soups such as double-boiled chicken with fish maw in baby coconut, and flavour-packed mains including sautéed Wagyu beef and asparagus in XO sauce and fried rice with diced abalone. Don’t miss the dim sum menu on the weekends, where baskets of steamed turnip cake, rice rolls and dumplings are made by deft hands.
Tin Lung Heen, 102/F, Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, ICC, 1 Austin Road, West Kowloon, Hong Kong, +852 2263 2270
The ‘Top 52 Restaurants and Bars’ by Marriott Bonvoy highlights the one-of-a-kind F&B experiences available at Marriott properties across the Asia-Pacific region. For more information on Top 52 events, experiences and workshops, visit the website here.
Staff Writer
Most Popular
