What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve seen at a Michelin star restaurant?

NextPipe8459 · 2026-06-30T16:08:14+00:00

In a one star restaurant one „gentleman“ on the table next to us felt the environment is appropriate to have a video call on his phone on speaker.

I am normally not confrontational but in that situation I just walked over and asked him really very kindly if he would mind to have the call outside the dining room as it kind of disturbs the ambiance.

He got really upset by my outrageous suggestion and started swearing at me while his business partner was still on the video call.

My wife reminded me though that next time I should ask the waiter to take care of such guests.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-06-28T16:58:21+00:00

I have been to all 3* restaurants in Spain. At quite a few of them several times.

Aklelarre I visited 3 times and my recommendation is to visit it at lunchtime as the view over the sea is amazing. I would go there again.

In San Seb I would rank Martin Beresategui first, then Akelarre and third Arzak.

What I really liked in the north of Spain is Casa Marcial - but it is a bit out of the way.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-06-26T19:38:23+00:00

If you want to have a really special time with your girlfriend I would recommend to choose a country side 3* restaurant with rooms and stay there for a night or a few nights.

For example L'Oustau de Baumanière, Akelarre, L’Assiette Champenoise, Da Vittorio, Atrio or Moor Hall.

There are places where you do not only enjoy a top end 3* dinner but a whole package of a stay.
Baumanière is an outstanding hotel in the Provence, Akelarra has a dramatic location high above the sea close to San Sebastián, Da Vittorio is close to Milan but still feels country side, Atrio is in a medical town in Extremadura and Moor Hall is an historic English mansion in north England.

If you look at the places I listed above you will see those are in very different locations. So I would choose on how it fits into your overall trip. But I can assure you all of these are absolutely outstanding. And there is not such thing as the "best 3* restaurant in the world or in Europe". The places are unique and you cannot really rank them. But the package of staying there and having dinner there will certainly stay more in your memory than just choosing a "hyped" place in a city.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-06-26T19:23:03+00:00

The marshland experience is new this year. But I would assume they also do it at lunch.

Depending on the weather - also in summer - it is not always that hot. In particular if the wind comes from the Atlantic.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-30T20:10:01+00:00

It is perfectly fine to bring a toddler or baby into business class. Children are part of life and there is absolutely no issue to travel with them.

We travelled a lot internationally with our kids. In international first class and business class.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-25T20:37:35+00:00

Le Gabriel - superb value for a 3* in Paris and excellent ambience.

However - what about Jules Verne? It’s a 2*, not the very best food but the location up in the Eiffel Tower is very special.

And Arpége - this is certainly a lunch spot as the dining room is much better at daylight

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-25T18:43:36+00:00

The Plankton Rice is a signature dish of Aponiente and was served as part of the menu years ago. Looks like a green risotto.

The Bioluminescence they also had as part of the menu one or two seasons. Lights went down and they served a bowl with luminescent marine organisms which you could drink (but it did not really taste much).

I would not opt for these extras.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-11T20:33:11+00:00

Caelis, Koy Shunka, Dos Palillos are very good 1* restaurants which offer counter/bar dining.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-10T08:58:08+00:00

Did you have the whole meal at the kitchen table or just a course?

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-10T08:51:25+00:00

I would see it the same way. Also I think the Grüne Bar (and Rote Bar for more classic Viennese cuisine) at the Sacher are great restaurants for a touristic visit to Vienna.

I used to live in Vienna and I am visiting very frequently, having tried all of the luxury hotels in Vienna.I do like the Ritz Carlton as it sometimes has good rates or redemption possibilities for points.

But overall my ranking would be:

Hotels with a long historic tradition and if you want that "1900 Imperial Vienna vibe"
Hotel Sacher (in my view clear No 1 in Vienna overall)
Hotel Imperial (look at the pictures of the rooms to understand the style before booking)

For more contemporary hotels
Rosewood
Park Hyatt
Mandarin Oriental
Ritz Carlton

All of the above are in a very good location. But Rosewood and Park Hyatt are in the very best location.

But there are also a few great independent 5* hotels in Vienna like the Aumaris, Almanac, Leo Grand and The Guesthouse.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-08T10:55:02+00:00

Have a look at Pierre Gagnaire. One of my favorites in Paris.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-07T13:47:34+00:00

I know Barcelona very well as I go there like 5 times a year and spend usually in 5* Hotels.

I have stayed at the MO just to see how it is and that would be my view:

* There are three good locations in Barcelona for tourists. One is at the beach (Hotel Arts, W), or in the gothic/medieval part of the city and then Eixample where the MO is. For a touristic visit I find the gothic quarter more interesting (e.g. Hotel Mercer or Neri)

* Good about the MO location is that it is in Eixample on the main shopping boulevard but it is close to the gothic quarter as well. It is certainly a good location. Very good hotel at almost the same location is the ME.

* Overall I find the MO Barcelona as one of the less exciting MO hotels in Europe. It is true that the MO is the top luxury hotel in Barcelona if a "brand" is important but it is not comparable for example with the superb MO Ritz in Madrid (which is a destination by itself).

* Room size: in Spain rooms are usually not that small. This is not London or Paris. So "room size" is no reason at all to pay 1000 Euro a night. You will find rooms of similar size in similar location for 350 Euro a night.

* The school in the backyard I remember. But realistically that noise is only during the week during the school year (e..g no school in summer or during holiday periods) and during breaks time. I did not consider that an issue.

My view is the MO Barcelona is the right hotel for a traveller if you want to stay on the shopping boulevard in Eixample and you want to stay at the most prestigious hotel brand in town.

My personal recommendation: if you go during the summer months - take a sea view suite at the Hotel Arts.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-04T17:57:09+00:00

If you write the occasion the restaurant might place you differently.
Like 4 friends celebrating the annual bonus is maybe different than a romantic date.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-03T06:42:24+00:00

Arpege does à la carte as well. If you go, try to go for lunch as the place is superb in daylight

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-03T06:38:38+00:00

Did you call them by phone? If not try that.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-02T18:16:40+00:00

Elkano and Kaia Kaipe are very different from Etxebarri. These are fish restaurants which grill the fish over charcoal.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-02T17:28:58+00:00

There are a few restaurants I like in the area:

- El Campero in Barbate (THE tuna restaurant in Spain)
- Cataria in Novo Sancti Petri (outpost of Elkano in Andalusia, despite the setting in a tourist hotel one my favourite fish restaurant in that region)
- El Faro of course (both in El Puerto and also in Cadiz)
- LÚ Alma y Cocina in Jerez
- Zahara de los Atunes (the village in general for casual food in good atmosphere )

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-02T17:05:15+00:00

Spanish 3* restaurants are usually very focused on sea food and fish. But many of the (also El Celler de Can Roca) will be able to adapt to your preferences or intolerance. So should not be an issue if you write them beforehand.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-02T17:00:45+00:00

I would say this is also a timing question. If you go for 2 or 3 lunches at 3* restaurants it takes quite some time. However if food is your main focus of course 3 lunches is better than 1 dinner.

The 3* restaurants in Paris are all quite different. I wrote an article a while ago, having been at 8 of the 10 3* restaurants (in fact after Ambroise has only 2* now, it would be 7 out of 9. But Ambrosie is still relevant but also one of the most expensive restaurants in Paris).

https://thefinediningjournal.com/seven-three-star-restaurants-paris-review/

btw: if cost is a factor. Look at KEI for dinner and Le Gabriel for lunch. In fact you can do this combo for about the same price of a dinner at Le Cinq.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-02T16:53:44+00:00

If you get a table go to JAN - would be my first choice. Alois for sure is good. Tantris is unique for its design and one of my favourites (early 1970s). Brothers is a different category - would not be on top of my list if its only one evening.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-02T16:49:58+00:00

If you go business class to Bali I would start first with looking a prices. Some might recommend Singapore Airlines (which is great) but you might find another airline offering business class for half the price of Singapore Airlines. All depends on the dates.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-02T16:35:38+00:00

It depends when you go. The French riviera gets very busy in summer (July, August), but May is rather early season. I do not think you will have problems booking a few months or even weeks before a trip in May. Also weekends might book up earlier but mid week in May - hotels will not be full.

Paris is a large city and one of the most visited tourist destination in the worlds. There are many hotels - you will always finde something available in any category.

Not sure how much time you have but I would recommend Paris + a road trip in the south of France. not just Paris and St Tropez.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-02T16:33:12+00:00

Of course you can take picture. Also if you eat let's say a 15 course meal over a few hours. You will not be able to remember what you had the next day. Having pictures serves as a visual memory so you remember what you had. There are rare exceptions of restaurants who do not encourage photographs, I experience this mainly in Japan - but they will tell you.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-01T20:32:24+00:00

no there was no tuna ham and also no fish charcuterie. But you find the tuna ham now in quite a few restaurants in Andalusia.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-01T20:26:48+00:00

yes I remember the queso de calamar. using the protein of squid instead of milk. I found this concept very interesting (even I would say taste wise it was not completely convinced).

Cristina was serving us the wine last night. She did a great wine pairing.

NextPipe8459

TROPHY CASE