When nature becomes the architect: extraordinary restaurants featuring original design concepts

Many restaurants owe their atmosphere not to renowned architectural firms and design studios, but to a very special designer: nature.

Caves become dining rooms, rocks become tables, and the sound of the waves provides the soundtrack to your dining experience. Diners here are not only served a fine menu, but also a generous helping of wonder. Welcome to Europe’s most spectacular nature-inspired restaurants, where the décor may be millions of years old, but every selfie is guaranteed to look like a postcard.

ICEHOTEL Restaurant

In the world’s most famous ice hotel, 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, lies Jukkasjärvi – a small place where the sun doesn’t set for 50 days in summer and doesn’t rise at all for two weeks in winter. Here you dine at ‑5°C in a crystalline wonderland of pure ice and snow. The cuisine draws inspiration from the surrounding forests, rivers, and villages: tender reindeer meat, freshly caught Arctic char, locally produced caviar, and golden cloudberries all find their way onto the plates. Prepared with sensitivity and great respect for nature, served in one of the most elegant restaurants – sometimes even on an ice plate.

ICEHOTEL Restaurant

Marknadsvägen 63, 981 91 Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
+46 980 66800 | icehotel​.com

Grotta Palazzese

Built directly into the limestone cliffs of the Adriatic coast, here you dine in a huge, open sea grotto. The view of the turquoise water, the slightly salty sea air, and the sound of the waves create a breathtaking setting. Mediterranean fine dining cuisine with a focus on fresh seafood and Italian classics is given a modern interpretation. The main criteria for the food here is that it is light, fresh, and as spectacular as the backdrop.

Grotta Palazzese

Via Narciso, 59, 70044 Polignano a Mare BA, Apulia, Italy
+39 080 424 0677 | grottapalezzese​.it

Le Bois sans feuilles

In the heart of the Maison Troisgros estate lies the three-star restaurant, the name of which is poetry in itself: Le Bois sans feuilles (‘The Leafless Forest’). The path leading to it begins symbolically in an old barn, passing mysterious cellars and culminating in a glass clearing with a centuries-old oak tree. In the restaurant run by César Troisgros, which combines nature and architecture to sensual effect, a culinary symphony of the seasons unfolds – sometimes under blue skies, sometimes in the rush of the storm. For the first time in its history, Maison Troisgros is now partially self-sufficient. An orchard, beehives, a permaculture vegetable garden, and persimmon and pepper trees form the basis for the cuisine. In Ouches, the kitchen becomes an open studio where nature itself is the most important ingredient.

Le Bois sans feuilles

728 Rte de Villerest, 42155 Ouches, France
+33 4 77 71 66 97 | troisgros​.com

El Far Restaurant

A former lighthouse on a steep cliff on the Costa Brava. It sounds unique, and it is. And it’s also a small (only 9 rooms!) boutique hotel and restaurant called El Far. Here, guests sit almost at eye level with the seagulls and enjoy a dramatic view of the open sea. The restaurant also offers excellent value for money, serving traditional Mediterranean cuisine with fresh produce sourced directly from the Costa Brava. The excellent rice dishes and the fish and seafood from Palamós are particularly noteworthy, as are the regional meat and vegetables from the surrounding area. 

Muntaya de Sant Sebastià, 17211 LLafranc, Girona, Spain
+34 972 30 16 39 | hotelelfar​.com

Akelare Restaurant

High above the Bay of Biscay, this 3‑star restaurant sits like a modern ship about to set sail. Glass walls look out to the endless sea. Here, Pedro Subijana conjures up modern Basque cuisine here – playful, artistic, often almost too beautiful to eat. After gaining professional experience in Tolosa, Hernani, Madrid„ and Estella, he joined Akelare as head chef and restaurant manager. From this enchanting spot on the Cantabrian coast, his artistic talent at the helm of the kitchen and his determined commitment have taken the restaurant to the pinnacle of culinary excellence and have made his cuisine world-renowned.

Akelare Restaurant

Padre Orcolaga, 56 (Igeldo) 20008 San Sebastián, Spain
+34 943 311 209 | akelarre​.net

Restaurant Barbouni

Located directly on the kilometre-long sandy Dunes Beach in Costa Navarino, the spectacular restaurant Barbouni is an architectural masterpiece that fascinates not only with its cuisine but also on account of its visual appeal. Barbouni has become famous for its undulating canopy roof, which sways hypnotically in the Messinian wind above the heads of the guests. Thanks to its natural materials – wooden columns, rope nets, and walls made of sand – the restaurant blends seamlessly into the coastal landscape and looks like a modern interpretation of a sandcastle. The architects speak of a ​‘multi-sensory experience’ that harmoniously combines nature and design. The result is a building that dances with the landscape, providing shade without obstructing the view of the sky and sea. Barbouni impressively demonstrates how architecture, sustainability, and aesthetics can intertwine. The restaurant is also worth a visit for its cuisine: fresh fish, Mediterranean flavours, and a focus on regional products make Barbouni an all-round experience for all the senses.

Barbouni
Navarino Dunes Costa Navarino GR-ML 24001, Greece
+30 2723 097000 | costanavarino​.com

Gigi Restaurant

The Gigi Restaurant in Saint-Tropez is the epitome of Riviera chic – with a stylish interior, a beautiful terrace, and breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea. The design combines classic French elegance with modern style, characterised by a colour palette of soft natural tones and accents of blue that reflect the surrounding landscape. The architecture is open and light-filled, with flowing transitions between the indoor and outdoor spaces – inspired by the laissez-faire attitude of the south and the Mediterranean way of life. Natural materials such as wood, stone, and linen create a harmonious connection to the surrounding coastal landscape. The menu offers Mediterranean-inspired dishes prepared using the freshest regional ingredients and presented with a touch of sophistication. Under the open sky, Gigi promises a relaxed yet luxurious culinary experience in a dreamlike setting, surrounded by nature.

Gigi Restaurant
1050 chemin des Barraques, 83350 Ramatuelle, Saint Tropez, France
+33 4 22 40 00 30 | gigi​-restaurant​.com

Selene

A culinary love story that began exactly 40 years ago – with a singular vision. In 1985, Giorgos Hatzigiannakis and his wife Evelyn decided to rewrite the gastronomic future of Santorini. Their goal: to bring the soul of the island to the plate – with rare local ingredients and almost forgotten recipes from this wild, unspoilt landscape. Today, the Selene restaurant is experiencing perhaps its most exciting era – in a former 18th-century Catholic monastery, where some clergy still live. Since 2021, Michelin-starred chef Ettore Botrini has been shaping the culinary concept and leading Selene’s legacy into a new era. Yiannis Karakasis, one of just 400 or so Masters of Wine worldwide, has been responsible for creating the wine list ever since. In this unique atmosphere marked by medieval charm and quiet luxury, fine dining becomes a sensual experience.

Selene
Thira 84700, Santorini, Greece
+30 2286 022249 | selene​.gr

AlpiNN by Norbert Niederkofler

AlpiNN – Food Space & Restaurant by Norbert Niederkofler is much more than a classic restaurant: it is a cultural space where cuisine, design, and alpine identity merge into one. The visions of Norbert Niederkofler (‘Cook the Mountain’), designer Martino Gamper and the Kronplatz tourist region have come together to create a place where food is celebrated as a unifying element – far beyond its nutritional value. High up in the Dolomites, large panoramic windows offer breathtaking views of the Alps. The new interior design by Uno Più – boasting comfortable lounge sofas and warm materials – emphasises a feeling of cosiness and openness at the same time. Chef Fabio Curreli brings the ​‘Cook the Mountain’ philosophy to the plate with creative, regional dishes – from innovative tapas and sandwiches to seasonal à la carte compositions. In the ​‘Food Space’, the lively bistro area, sharing is established as a culinary principle. Live music and carefully selected wines round off the experience – enjoyment and community in the midst of alpine tranquillity.

AlpiNN by Norbert Niederkofler
Kronplatz, 39030, Brunico BZ, Italy
+39 0474 431072 | alpinn​.it

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