The 28 best, most remote, under-the-radar restaurants around the world
- A list of the best "off-map" restaurants in the world has been announced by The World Restaurant Awards.
- The list highlights under-the-radar and off-the-beaten-track culinary gems.
- From a shipping-container fish shack in the UK to a dining experience in the Peruvian mountains, the restaurants may not be easy to find but are all worth a visit.
There are certain restaurants that seemingly everyone visits. Sure, sometimes that's because they're brilliant, but other times, it's just because they've got a highly Instagrammable flower wall.
This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in.Social media and the internet mean it's hard to find a hidden gem nowadays, but there are under-the-radar restaurants to be found if you know where to look.
To give you a helping hand, the World Restaurant Awards has unveiled its list of little-known restaurants across the globe that are worth visiting, from haute cuisine to affordable.
"The Off-Map award is for restaurants in a remote location that are off-the-beaten-track and worth the journey," a representative for the awards told Business Insider.
"They are not required to be a minimum or maximum number of miles away from a city, but the journey should be an uplifting and notable experience."
Read more: The 50 best restaurants in the world in 2018
The list is created by a gender-balanced judging panel of more than 100 experts representing 36 countries. Famous chefs on the panel, which also included journalists and industry influencers, included Clare Smyth, David Chang, Yotam Ottolenghi, René Redzepi, Hélène Darroze, and Massimo Bottura.
The winners of all categories will be announced at the World Restaurant Awards ceremony in Paris on February 18.
Scroll down to see the top 28 off-map restaurants.
1. Slippurinn, Westman Islands, Iceland
This cozy, family-run restaurant serves local, sustainable, seasonal food on a site that was formerly a machine workshop serving the old shipyard.
2. Boca Valdivia, Ecuador
Situated right on the Ecuadorean coast, the restaurant focuses on sustainability and traditional culture.
3. Wolfgat, South Africa
Another coastal spot, Wolfgat is a 20-seat fine-dining restaurant named after a nearby cave, which has huge archaeological and geological significance. It serves up foraged dune spinach and indigenous plants such as soutslaai.
4. The Roots, New Zealand
The Roots specializes in seasonal produce with an ever-evolving set menu, celebrating local ingredients.
5. The Willows Inn, US
The dining room of The Willows Inn features stunning views of Lummi Island in Washington, where guests can soak up the scenery while enjoying the restaurant's "hyper-local" cuisine.
6. Tokuyamazushi, Japan
Few tourists venture out as far as Lake Yogo in Shiga prefecture, but those who do will be rewarded with the celebrated restaurant Tokuyamazushi, which is found in an unassuming and rustic building.
7. Samuay & Sons, Thailand
All the ingredients used by Samuay & Sons, in Udon, northern Thailand, are locally produced; 80% of ingredients come from a nearby organic farm, and the rest are mainly found by foraging.
8. Mil, Peru
Located 3,500 meters above sea level in Peru's Sacred Valley, Mil is an ambitious undertaking by the celebrated chef Virgilio Martínez.
9. Loch Bay, UK
Loch Bay is a seafood restaurant on the Isle of Skye off the Scottish mainland that specializes in the freshest fish possible.
10. Raymonds, Canada
This Newfoundland restaurant is nestled among rugged hills and has views over the harbor.
11. Reale Casadonna, Italy
Niko Romito's three-Michelin-star restaurant Reale was moved to a 16th-century former monastery, Casadonna, in 2013.
12. L'Argine a Vencó, Italy
Not far from the Slovenian border in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, L'Argine a Vencó is found in a renovated mill and has one Michelin star.
13. Longjing Manor, China
Longjing Manor is a garden-style restaurant set among tea plantations in serene Hangzhou, which is known as "Shanghai's back garden."
14. La Marine, France
This Michelin-star restaurant situated on Noirmoutier en l'Ile and run by Alexandre Couillon has sea views and contemporary decor.
15. La Madia, Italy
Hidden away on a narrow street in Licata, this two-Michelin-star restaurant serves Sicilian food inspired by the head chef Pino Cuttaia's childhood.
16. Koks, Denmark (Faroe Islands)
Described as "the world's most remote foodie destination" by The New Yorker, Koks celebrates the Faroe Islands' culinary gems including lobster, Skerpikjøt (wind-dried mutton), and oysters.
17. Franklin, Australia
Franklin champions Tasmania's natural produce, from periwinkles to urchins, and the dining room is housed in a former car showroom from the 1920s.
18. Chez St-Pierre, Canada
Found in a wood cabin on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, Chez St-Pierre serves regional cuisine cooked in a sophisticated manner.
19. The Crazy Pomegranate, Georgia
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This restaurant is situated in the vineyard of a cult Georgian wine producer.
20. Bootshaus, Austria
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Located right on the banks of Lake Traun and surrounded by mountains, Bootshaus is part of the Traunsee hotel — the only hotel with direct access to the lake.
21. Iya Buea, Cameroon
IYA pays tribute to the culture and heritage of Cameroon, and it also showcases musicians and artists from the region.
22. Cuz's Uptown Barbeque, USA
Housed in a 1950s dairy barn on a 3,000-acre family farm, this southwest Virginia restaurant is a rural spot serving BBQ and eclectic fare.
23. Fäviken, Sweden
Named "the world's wildest restaurant," Fäviken is one of the best fine-dining restaurants in Sweden. It's located in the forested province of Jämtland and serves a 32-course tasting menu.
24. Brae, Australia
Set on a hillside on an organic farm in Australia, Brae is a restaurant with guest suites, serving an ever-changing menu using locally sourced ingredients. The farm is managed using regenerative farming techniques to restore the land.
25. Kadeau Bornholm, Denmark
Kadeau is found on the south coast of the small island of Bornholm. It's set in a renovated beach pavilion, surrounded only by the forest, beach, and sea.
26. Bodrum Balıkçısı, Turkey
Bodrum Balıkçısı is part of the Mandarin Oriental and offers stunning views over the sparkling Aegean Sea. The restaurant specializes in Turkish seafood dishes.
27. Riley's Fish Shack, UK
In a set of shipping containers on the beach just outside Newcastle you'll find Riley's Fish Shack, a much-lauded British seaside spot.
28. Sportsman, UK
Named the best restaurant in the UK in 2017, The Sportsman in Kent is a simple seaside pub where the daily menus are written in chalk on blackboards.
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