They say the best things in life are worth waiting for, but does that include restaurant reservations? Eateries with famous chefs and three-star Michelin menus share one thing: they’re always fully booked!
I enjoy a great dining experience as much as the next person and have been to some unique places, but I’m not sure I’d want to jump through hoops to eat dinner.
I mean, I’d happily wait a month or two to snag a table at a special place…but FOUR YEARS? That’s some next-level dedication to a fancy meal!
Shockingly, some fine food connoisseurs will wait for that one-of-a-kind feast. Here are some of the world’s toughest reservations, with wait times stretching up to years!
The Bank Tavern- Bristol, England
At The Bank Tavern in Bristol, their award-winning Sunday Roast’s wait time is a jaw-dropping four years. This legendary meal, featuring 30-day dry-aged beef, slow-cooked pork belly, and more, was crowned Bristol’s best Sunday Lunch in 2019.
Just a two-and-a-half-hour drive from London, this spot is one of the toughest in the world to get a reservation.
Can’t wait that long? The daily lunch menu offers delicious alternatives like a black bean and beet burger or classic BBQ pulled pork.
Noma- Copenhagen, Denmark
Noma in Copenhagen, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant under Chef René Redzepi, is a five-time winner of the World’s 50 Best list and one of the hardest places to book, with 20,000 people vying for a table on reservations day. Known for its seasonal menus—seafood in winter, veggies in summer, and game in fall—Noma’s brief closures between seasons add to its allure. Join their mailing list for reservation alerts, and watch Chef Redzepi’s Twitter for last-minute openings.
As of 2024, the restaurant is no longer open. According to an interview with the NY Times, Chef Redzepi said, ” the intensive amount of labor required to produce the restaurant’s signature hyperlocal and painstakingly crafted dishes — much of which fell to interns and lower-paid workers — is no longer sustainable. “Financially and emotionally, as an employer and as a human being, it just doesn’t work.”
The restaurant will eventually morph into a “giant lab” that will host pop-ups and/or temporarily open for a season, as well as develop products for the company’s e-commerce arm.
Damon Baehrel- New York, USA
At Damon Baehrel, the owner grows the food, cooks it, and serves it to you in a cozy 12-table setting. Now, that’s what I call farm-to-table! Forget calling a week in advance; people plan their meals here years ahead. Getting a reservation is one of the world’s hardest, with bookings filled until 2025. Diners enjoy a luxurious, multi-course tasting menu lasting up to 5 hours. The experience will run you about $255-$275 per person.
Sukiyabashi Jiro- Tokyo, Japan
Imagine a sushi restaurant that is so exclusive that it doesn’t take online reservations—welcome to Sukiyabashi Jiro in Ginza, Tokyo. Sushi master Jiro Ono, the star of the 2011 documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, runs this popular spot. This legendary 10-seater has served several celebrities, including former president Barack Obama!
Sukiyabashi Jiro used to be a three-star Michelin restaurant but lost it because bookings are too exclusive, and they mostly rely on regulars or people with connections to snag a spot. If you’re visiting Japan and set on trying Jiro, ask your hotel concierge in advance about booking at the Roppongi branch, run by Jiro’s son Takashi. It’s still Michelin-starred and way easier to get into.
Disfrutar- Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is a hot spot for foodies, and Disfrutar constantly ranks high on “World’s Best Restaurants” lists. Everyone wants to experience the amazing Mediterranean seafood and creative dishes they serve. Signature dishes include the “Panchino Filled with Caviar,” a fancy salmon and cream puff, and “Disfrutar’s Gilda,” which mixes salty herring, tangy peppers, chocolate, and coffee beans. With limited tables each night, reservations fill up fast, often a year in advance.
Mesa 1- Nayarit, Mexico
Mesa 1, located on a private island in Mexico, offers just one seating a day for up to 15 guests—an ultra-exclusive dining experience. A dedicated team serves a lavish seven-course tasting menu featuring Mexican specialties. Due to limited seating and a unique menu, reservations fill up months in advance, so securing a table can be challenging. But waiting six months might be worth it for couples seeking a romantic and unforgettable evening!
La Mesita de Almanza- Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Tucked away on Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “the end of the world,” this tiny 18-seat, family-run restaurant offers fierce competition for a table. Since it’s right on the water, they’re famous for fresh shrimp, crab, and scallops—all prepared with love and served with amazing attention to detail. Top it off with their legendary chocolate cake for an unforgettable meal. Reservations are by phone only, and the wait can be up to 6 months!
Quintessence- Tokyo, Japan
At Tokyo’s Quintessence, Chef Shuzo Kishida has maintained three Michelin stars for many years with his exquisite French-inspired cuisine. Using fresh, seasonal ingredients, he crafts a constantly changing 13-course meal. People book tables two months in advance, and even then, it’s tough. Some say they favor local business people, but don’t give up! Photography is forbidden in the main dining room—maybe it’s to keep the surprise alive, or maybe they just want you to focus on savoring the moment (and the food!).
The Fat Duck- Berkshire, England
Eating at The Fat Duck is like attending a fantastical dinner party hosted by Willy Wonka. This three-Michelin-star restaurant, led by the renowned Heston Blumenthal, serves creatively playful dishes that surprise and delight. Getting a reservation here is like finding a golden ticket, with tickets released three months in advance. At its peak, it received 30,000 calls a day for reservations!
The Cove Club- London, England
There’s a secret club in London where foodies line up for months to snag a seat—that’s The Clove Club, a two-star Michelin restaurant! Located in an old town hall in East London, it offers a cool, classy vibe with white walls, wooden tables, and candles. The menu changes daily, featuring wild British vegetables and unexpected flavor combos. Patience is key, as reservations can take about three months. Book ahead, especially for special occasions!
Next- Chicago, Illinois, USA
Forget calling for reservations—at Next, you buy tickets online like a concert. Run by top chef Grant Achatz, this Chicago hotspot changes its theme every few months, offering anything from a fancy 1906 French meal to something totally unexpected. When they open, their website crashes from demand, and some people wait months for a table. Follow their Facebook page closely for ticket sale announcements, and be ready to act fast—they sell out in seconds!
Brae- Birregurra, Australia
Brae, located an hour and a half from Melbourne, offers an idyllic dining experience surrounded by rolling hills. With a 30-acre farm, it grows its own vegetables, raises chickens, and keeps beehives, ensuring the freshest seasonal ingredients.
Ranked among the top 50 restaurants globally, Brae’s chef Dan Hunter creates cozy dishes highlighting these ingredients, like their signature roast duck flavored with grass smoke. Reservations can take up to two months to secure!
The French Laundry- Napa Valley, California, USA
The French Laundry in Yountville, California, a three-star Michelin restaurant run by Chef Thomas Keller, is a must-try for serious food lovers. Known for French cuisine with American influences, like smoked salmon cornets inspired by Baskin-Robbins, it’s a pilgrimage spot for foodies worldwide.
Reservations open two months in advance and fill up fast. People use all sorts of tricks to try and snag a spot, like setting phone alarms and refreshing the booking website like crazy!
Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare- New York City, USA
Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare is a 3-Michelin-starred locale known for its crazy-long wait to book a table. Chefs Max Natmessnig and Marco Prins create a 2.5-hour tasting menu blending French and Japanese flavors. Forget stuffy formalities—this Brooklyn gem used to be BYOB! Scoring a table is tough, with reservations opening six weeks in advance and often booked months out. But at least it’s better than the old system where you just left a message and hoped for a callback!
Schwa- Chicago, Illinois, USA
Located on the edge of Chicago’s Wicker Park, this elusive spot is unforgettable. Scoring a reservation here is like trying to win back an ex—call multiple times, leave messages, and hope for a callback. If you miss the call, start all over. But the wait is worth it for a meal by Chef Michael Carlson and his team, who create dishes that fully engage the senses.
Which of these restaurants sounds like they’re worth the wait to you?
Let us know in the comments!
