
dining out for you is as much about ambience as it is about the menu, restaurant location may be they key. And we've got what it takes to whet your appetite.
With this trend in seeking exotic locales to eat out at,
we've compiled a bucket list of the most unconventional, out-of-the-box
restaurants set in a variety of settings, including original bank
vaults, a converted 1950s truck, an old fisherman's house, jail cells,
former churches, a super-yacht marina, and more. Spanning from Chicago
to Mexico, making pit stops in Texas and Brazil, this list comprises
some breathtaking dining venues in stunning locations. Instagram is
calling!
1. 1950s Chevrolet Truck

At Cevicheria at W Punta de Mita,
signature ceviche and craft beers are served straight out of a
converted 1950s Chevrolet 3800 truck. Vibrant Latin American recipes
blend citrus and raw fish or light seafood seasoned together. At the
resort, they believe that food is more than just fuel. It should be
transformative, appealing all of guests' senses. As such, they take food
very seriously. In addition to Cevicheria, foodies can transport to the
streets of Southeast Asia on an unforgettable culinary journey at Spice
Market by Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's or try their hand at making
their own mole at Venazu Restaurant.
2. 120-Year Traditional Mexican Landmark

Ready for a serious cultural lesson? Restaurante Prendes,
one of Mexico City's most historic traditional Mexican restaurants,
reopened its doors this past month at El Palacio de Hierro, Latin
America's largest luxury department store located in the upscale Polanco
neighborhood. With over 120 years of tradition, the restaurant returns
with a revamped modem vibe and a newly designed mural by Pilar Goutas—a
throwback to the original, featuring photos of Prendes' most famous
clients including Frida Kahlo, Che Guevara, Walt Disney, and more. In
its new location at El Palacio de Hierro, Prendes draws in Mexico's
elite, travelers looking for traditional cuisine, local foodies and
cultural enthusiasts. With legendary items still being served, customers
can sample the "steak Chemita," a dish specifically invented for a
loyal patron, or the Maguey worms, made famous by Diego Rivera, who was
the first to order the dish at Prendes.
3. Island in the Middle of a Lake

Mesa1, located at W Punta de Mita
and dubbing itself "the most exclusive restaurant in the world," sits
on an island in the middle of a spring-fed lake and looks like something
straight out of The Notebook. Guests arrive via stepping stones that
emerge from the water and then disappear once seated. The 18-seat
restaurant has only one seating with seven tailored courses on a table
carved out of an indigenous Parota tree trunk that's been repurposed as a
dining table. W Punta de Mita is a nearly 400-acre property with an
adults-only pool, lazy river, spa, and four alfresco eateries, including
two by Richard Sandoval.
4. Old Fisherman's House in Brazil

The Casa da Cachaça restaurant at the newly renovated Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel & Resort
is formerly an old fisherman's house, now offering a colonial
atmosphere within the hotel's vibrant leisure area. The panoramic
seaside views are the star of this cozy, authentic Casa da Cachaça
restaurant, which also offers live music and traditional Brazilian foods
and cocktails. To sweeten your Instagram feeds, they also serve classic
Brazilian cuisine on a terrace with a newly redesigned ambience and
ocean view. Caipirinhas perfectly accompany light meals and Brazilian
appetizers.
5. Original Bank Vault

Opened just this year, Lockbox
is the signature restaurant of 21c Museum Hotel, Lexington, Kentucky's
first luxury boutique hotel. Located on the ground floor of the historic
103-year-old First National Bank Building, Lockbox is committed to
sourcing local, high-quality ingredients around the Bluegrass Region.
Led by executive chef Jonathan Searle, the menus at Lockbox showcase a
deep network of local providers and the bounty of ingredients fed by
Kentucky's limestone-rich soil. For those looking for a truly memorable
experience, the original bank vault, The Safe, provides an intimate
setting for private dining groups of up to 12. One of the hotel's many
art installations is located in the Lockbox bar, where hanging orbs
represent atmospheric molecules and change color and height depending on
the following day's weather forecast. *Just take our money already.*
6. Life-Size Gingerbread House

What's better than food? (Nothing). Great Wolf Lodge
offers the exclusive opportunity to dine inside a life-size gingerbread
house built entirely from scratch and all for charity! Featuring more
than 5,000 candies, 600 pounds of gingerbread dough and 1,320 pounds of
sugar, the gingerbread house is baked, iced, and candied to perfection,
providing the setting for a memorable holiday breakfast, lunch, or
dinner. Up to six individuals can dine in the gingerbread house for a
collective $10 "sitting fee." As if it couldn't get any better, 100% of
sitting fees are donated to the Ronald McDonald House. To date, more
than $65K has been raised through gingerbread house proceeds.
7. Historic Mexican Home

The newly opened Beijing cuisine restaurant MR CHOW
simply exudes luxury. Housed in a historic, baroque-style home in
Mexico City's exclusive Polanco neighborhood and designed by Cuaik
Arquitectos, the stunning two-story restaurant features original iron
railings, lush floor-to-ceiling living walls, a unique indoor/outdoor
layout, and original artwork from acclaimed restaurateur and artist
Michael Chow himself. The glamorous eatery also features a large
terrace, bar, and two dining rooms featuring signature MR CHOW dishes
such as Chicken Satay, house-made noodles, and Beijing Duck, which is
roasted to order and carved tableside. Mexico City marks the eighth
global location for MR CHOW joining the ranks of notable hot spots in
London, New York City, Beverly Hills, Miami, Malibu, and Las Vegas.
8. Superyacht Marina in Miami

If you want to feel like the Bachelorette for a day, this
one's for you. Developer Mehmet Bayraktar of Miami's superyacht marina Island Gardens Deep Harbour,
teamed up with nightlife entrepreneurs Michael Capponi and Eric Milon
to open The Deck at Island Gardens, the first restaurant in North
America where guests can dine with the world's largest yachts (up to 550
feet!) in the background. Upon its late November grand opening in time
for Art Basel, acclaimed Chef Alfredo Alvarez will bring a new concept
to The Deck by fusing Mediterranean flavors and quintessential European
dishes drawing from the yachting circuit's various ports of call, with
menu items sourced internationally and locally. Guests will be able to
savor yachting-infused menu selections, including The Deck Seafood
Casserole: a mix of fresh shellfish, sea bass, and redfish in a tomato
saffron broth, served in a Vulcan clay casserole cooked in the new wood
brick oven; Octopus a la Plancha: fresh octopus topped with mint foam;
Pear Ravioli with gorgonzola cheese, finished with a black truffle
sauce; and Island Gardens Seared Tuna: seared tuna dressed with an
assortment of fruit caviars. Are your mouths watering yet?
9. Tatami Rooms with Shoji & Japanese Architecture

Guests at Hakubai at The Kitano Hotel New York
are transported to Japan as they enjoy authentic Kaiseki cuisine
crafted by Executive Chef Yukihiro Sato whilst surrounded by stunning
Japanese architecture and décor. Groups can book private Tatami rooms,
constructed using shoji (translucent paper dividers), floor seating, and
rice straw mats, where they will remove their shoes to dine as in
Japanese custom. Kaiskei is a multi-course meal, with roots in Zen
Buddhism and the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, served on an
exquisite array of porcelain, pottery and lacquer dishware at carefully
timed intervals.
10. Historic Esquire Theatre in Chicago

Housed on three floors of Chicago's historic Esquire Theatre, guests of Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House Chicago
can indulge in rare cuts of wet-aged steaks, fresh seafood, and an
award-winning wine list while sitting within one of the city's most
prevalent Gold Coast district landmarks. With a lavish interior that was
designed to preserve the theatre's historic architectural elements,
guests sitting at any table in the restaurant can view the incredible
three-story suspended wine cellar while dining. Located near high-end
shopping yet hidden enough on coveted Oak Street to provide an air of
exclusivity, Del Frisco's is a must-see in the Windy City.
11. Jail Cell

We promise you won't feel caged in at this option. Diners at the Calaboose Grille
in Owego, New York (on the southern end of the Finger Lakes region) can
dine in former cell blocks. Originally built in 1910 as the Tioga
County Jail, the restaurant transformed the jail cells into dining areas
and the bed frames into tables. "Calaboose" is the Spanish colloquial
word for "local jail," and the Calaboose Grille is known for serving
locally-sourced steaks, seafood, burgers, wraps, and more. Diners
choosing to experience this unique restaurant can also order locally
crafted Finger Lakes wines and beers such as Hazlit's Red Cat and Ithaca
Green Trail.
12. Middle of the Ski Slopes

Only accessible by skis (or snowboard), the picturesque Morning Star Café at Bristol Mountain
is a slope-side waffle house built mid-mountain between two ski trails.
The remote waffle-only eatery is known for homemade Belgian waffles,
locally-produced maple syrup and an assortment of nourishing drinks and
juices. Built in 2008, the quaint, comfortable and picturesque eatery is
exclusively for those that have mastered the art of winter sports.
Hosting a continuously sold out Valentine's Day dinner, the Bristol
Mountain team transports food from the bottom of the mountain to the
mid-slope restaurant via ski lift.
13. Former Church with Roots of the Underground Railroad

Known for their combination of fresh, homemade Mexican, Southwestern, and South American cuisine, The Mission Restaurant
is located in the former Syracuse Wesleyan Methodist Church in the
heart of Syracuse (a gateway to the Finger Lakes region). Built in the
1840's, the building was an important way-station on the Underground
Railroad. A hidden tunnel underneath the restaurant previously used to
liberate slaves escaping the south features seven striking faces that
were carved into the clay wall by former slaves. With the exterior still
closely resembling a church, diners are immediately transported to old
world Mexico upon entering.
14. Remodeled Historic Texan Brothel

Want something with a little more edge for your next meal? In the true spirit of Texas, guests visiting Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House Fort Worth
will dine in a literal historic brothel and bathhouse—remodeled, of
course. Situated in the town's Hill Half Acre area, the three-story
restaurant boasts restored mahogany-lined walls, vintage ironwork lining
the original catwalk, and traditional stockyards memorabilia. Along
with sheets of the original bath tiles still visible on the floor, Del
Frisco's 10,000 bottle wine cellars are housed within the original brick
from the underground tunnels cowboys used to walk their cattle back
home from the stockyards. Used as a pit stop for their journey home,
rumors say the building was one of the city's most popular in the 1800s.
Today, the restaurant is regarded as one of Fort Worth's best steak
houses showcasing hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood, and warm, genuine
hospitality.
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