Planning a big dinner with your loved ones? We’ve got some spots for you that one could just dream of. Yup, money alone can’t buy you a seat at these exclusive restaurants. We’re not just talking about popular spots; we’re talking about culinary legends with year-long waitlists and secret booking methods. These 15 restaurants have redefined what it means to be exclusive. You might want to try and get into their long list of reservations and get a table on your birthday for next year!
15. Tsuke Edomae – Texas, USA
Ever encountered a sushi counter so intimate, it only seats eight people a night! Welcome to Tsuke Edoma, where Chef Michael Che not only prepares a 21-course tasting menu but also educates his guests on the history and technique behind each piece of Edomae-style sushi. The catch? Reservations are released months in advance and gone in seconds. It’s actually a six-month wait to even get on the list, but for those who make it, all they can say is that it’s worth it.
14. The Bank Tavern – Bristol, United Kingdom
Believe it or not, this restaurant holds a four-year waiting list just for its Sunday roast. The Bank Tavern has gained international acclaim for its award-winning take on the classic British meal. Here, you’ll get a combination of limited seating, the best food, and an affordable price. Exclusivity doesn’t always mean five-star; sometimes it’s about a tradition, which The Bank Tavern boasts of being around for centuries.
13. Mugaritz – Gipuzkoa, Spain
If you want to eat in the Basque countryside, then Mugaritz is the place to be (or not). The two-Michelin-starred restaurant is known for their 20-course tasting menu. Chef Andoni Luis Aduriz heads the management of the place that boasts a six-month waiting list. If you’re planning to visit Gipuzkoa, Spain, soon, then make sure to get a reservation at one of the best culinary places in the country.
12. Pujol – Mexico City, Mexico
Chef Enrique Olvera’s Pujol belongs to the heart of Mexican cuisine. They consistently ranked among the world’s best as it’s one of the most difficult restaurants to get to. Still, don’t let that long wait keep you from tasting their signature dish of Mole Madre, Mole Nuevo, which is a dish with a mole aged for thousands of days. Note that getting a table requires booking months in advance, and even then, you’ll need luck on your side.
11. La Mercerie – Marseille, France
If you’re having a hard time choosing where to dine for your Paris trip, then consider La Mercerie. However, there are only a handful of tables available, which feels like winning a lottery. They gained attention for their inventive and market-driven cuisine featuring fresh and local ingredients. Still, the demand for a seat far outweighs the supply.
10. Damon Baehrel – New York, USA
Damon Baehrel is a unique restaurant of its kind as it’s located on a 12-acre farm in upstate New York. Also, it’s a one-man restaurant where Damon Baehrel himself gets all the ingredients and cooks every dish. Of course, he also serves them at every table! His “Native Harvest” cuisine is a celebration of the land, with every element of the meal coming from his property. With a waiting list that is rumored to be years long, getting a table at Damon Baehrel is a near-impossible feat.
9. El Celler de Can Roca – Girona, Spain
If you want a family-run restaurant, then El Celler de Can Roca is the perfect dinner destination. It’s actually run by three brothers, also sporting three Michelin stars. The restaurant’s tasting menu is a journey through the brothers’ memories and travels, with each dish telling a story. With a waitlist that is nearly a year long, getting a table at El Celler de Can Roca requires serious planning of your trip.
8. House of Prime Rib – California, USA
Located in San Francisco, House of Prime Rib has been serving up classics since 1949. It’s an old-school steakhouse that’s famous for its tableside service, where huge carts of prime rib are wheeled through the dining room and carved to order. Waiting list can take up to a year, but the patience is worth the restaurant’s quality ribs.
7. De Librije – Zwolle, Netherlands
Three-Michelin-starred restaurant De Librije is housed in a former prison. But don’t let it stop you from trying Chef Jonnie Boer’s innovative cuisine that focuses on locally sourced ingredients. A waiting list is said to be stretched for years, but it’s understandable since it’s one of the most exclusive restaurants in Europe.
6. Noma – Copenhagen, Denmark
Chef René Redzepi’s restaurant has been a global sensation for over a decade, as it’s known to redefine Nordic cuisine. But despite its announced closure, Noma remains one of the toughest reservations to get, with tables being resold for over $1,300. Still, the restaurant earned three Michelin stars and the title of “World’s Best Restaurant” multiple times. That’s more than enough to get yourself a table!
5. The French Laundry – California, USA
Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry is a legendary three-Michelin-starred restaurant that features tasting menus that celebrate the seasons. The ingredients used in their dishes are sourced from the restaurant’s own garden. With that, reservations are being resold for over $2,000 if you really want to score a table. It’s one of the most expensive and exclusive tables to book in the world.
4. Sukiyabashi Jiro – Tokyo, Japan
Probably the most famous sushi restaurant in the world is located in a Tokyo subway station. Interestingly, it’s just a tiny 10-seat counter. Jiro Ono is the patriarch and is a living legend when it comes to sushi. A meal at Sukiyabashi Jiro involves each piece being prepared and served with a level of precision and care. Reservations are difficult to get, with the restaurant no longer accepting them from the general public. You need to be a regular, be introduced by a regular, or book through a top hotel concierge. Yup, it’s that exclusive.
3. Disfrutar – Barcelona, Spain
Disfrutar, which means “to enjoy” in Spanish, is a restaurant that lives up to its name. This three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Barcelona is run by three alumni of the legendary El Bulli. Named the “World’s Best Restaurant” in 2024, Disfrutar has become one of the most sought-after reservations with a waiting list that is over a year long.
2. Rao’s – New York, USA
This legendary Italian-American restaurant in East Harlem has been serving up classic red-sauce dishes since 1896. With only 10 tables, Rao’s is one of the most exclusive restaurants in the world, but not because of Michelin stars or fancy tasting menus. The tables at Rao’s are “owned” by a loyal group of regulars, who have been dining at the restaurant for decades. Getting a table is not about who you are, but who you know.
1. The Lost Kitchen – Maine, USA
The Lost Kitchen is the idea of chef Erin French. The restaurant is only open from May to October, and there’s only one way to get a reservation. Ready? It’s by sending a postcard. Each year, the restaurant receives tens of thousands of postcards from hopeful diners, and a lucky few are chosen at random. Don’t you just want to have dinner surrounded by postcards from all over the world? Try your luck today.