If you think 30 minutes is a long wait, imagine spending months—or even years—trying to get a table. It sounds crazy, but at the world’s most exclusive restaurants, it’s a reality. Restaurants like Noma often have waitlists over three months long.
Snagging a reservation at these renowned restaurants isn’t easy, but they’re worth the wait.
Damon Baehrel – Earlton, New York
Wait time: 6 years
Roughly 130 miles north of New York City in the Upper Hudson Valley lies Damon Baehrel, one of the country’s most exclusive eateries. For decades, its founder has served unconventional dishes that captivate amateur and professional foodies.
Baehrel doesn’t just serve food at his restaurant—he curates immersive dining experiences spanning 20 courses in five hours or more. Expect unique ingredients like tree sap and preserved plants served on hand-carved wooden platters and bowls sourced from his 12-acre property.
For a meal of this caliber, you must be ready to wait. According to PIX11, Damon Baehrel will not accept new reservations until 2030. However, you may get lucky and snag a last-minute spot by calling the restaurant to inquire, as it occasionally adds extra seats 1-16 weeks in advance.
The Bank Tavern – Bristol, England
Wait time: 1+ year
Contrary to what you might think, England’s most exclusive reservation isn’t at a flashy London restaurant at all. The Bank Tavern’s Sunday roasts are so famous that some wait up to four years to experience them. This Bristol pub has been a beloved local staple serving British classics since the 1800s.
Every Sunday, it offers a hearty meal of roasted meat (there’s also a vegetarian option) with Yorkshire pudding, crispy potatoes, and other tasty sides. The Sunday roast experience is fully booked through 2024, so regularly check The Bank Tavern’s website to see if any spots open due to cancellations.
Disfrutar – Barcelona, Spain
Wait time: 10+ months
Since 2014, Disfrutar has been redefining the gastronomic world with innovative, Mediterranean-inspired dishes. It boasts two menus, Classic and Festival, each comprising roughly 30 courses.
The most unique offering is the Living Table, an interactive meal for up to six people. Reservations for Disfrutar open 290 days in advance—the restaurant is booked through July 2025, so check the website regularly for updates. If you can manage to snag a reservation, stop by one of Barcelona’s rooftop bars first for an unforgettable night out.
La Mesita de Almanza – Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Wait time: 6+ months
According to Reporter Gourmet, the wait for a reservation at La Mesita de Almanza can be over six months. The family-run Argentinian restaurant serves mouthwatering seafood that attracts guests from far and wide. If you’re lucky enough to get a table at La Mesita de Almanza, you’re in for an unforgettable meal.
The French Laundry – Yountville, California
Wait time: 1+ month
While there are many exceptional Yountville restaurants, The French Laundry stands above the rest. This award-winning establishment was created by Thomas Keller, the only American chef with multiple three Michelin-starred restaurants.
The French Laundry’s tasting menu is seafood-driven, with courses of oysters, caviar, lobster, and other decadent items. Given its global reputation, it could take months for you to snag a table at this popular fine-dining spot. The restaurant releases reservation times on the first of every month, so set a calendar reminder.
Quintessence – Tokyo, Japan
Wait time: 3 months
Quintessence is one of the world’s most exclusive restaurants. Located in the heart of Tokyo, it currently has three Michelin stars—the most a restaurant can have.
Quintessence specializes in contemporary French cuisine, and the chef-selected menu changes daily. Reservations are limited and challenging to score, as you must call the restaurant to book three months in advance.
Noma – Copenhagen, Denmark
Wait time: Not accepting reservations
L’Officiel ranks Noma in Copenhagen among the most challenging restaurants to get a reservation worldwide. Most people have to wait at least three months for a table at Noma, which sources over 90% of its ingredients within a 60-mile radius.
Sadly, Noma will close its doors in 2025, so it’s no longer accepting new reservations. However, you can join the waitlist for Noma’s culinary pop-up in Kyoto, Japan.
Next Restaurant – Chicago, Illinois
Wait time: 2+ months
Many food lovers’ bucket lists include Next Restaurant, a high-end eatery at the forefront of Chicago’s vibrant food scene. The menu changes several times a year—in 2024, for instance, it launched a tribute series dedicated to American chefs Julia Child, Bobby Flay, and Charlie Trotter. Next Restaurant releases reservations 21 days in advance, though you may need to try several times before successfully scoring a spot.
Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare – New York, New York
Wait time: 1 month
New York has a renowned restaurant scene, and Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare is among the city’s best. You’ll find this unassuming dining spot in the back of Hell’s Kitchen grocery store. Don’t be fooled by the casual setting—you’re in for a one-of-a-kind meal at Chef’s Table.
Its 14-course menu changes daily and incorporates seasonal flavors, from fresh seafood and meat to indulgent desserts. To snag a reservation at this exceptional restaurant, you must plan weeks, if not months, ahead.
Mesa 1 – Nayarit, Mexico
Wait time: 6 months
The W Punta de Mita hotel is home to Mesa 1, which promises an unforgettable dining experience. It sits on an intimate island in the center of a lake and is only accessible by stepping stones that rise above the water for guests before disappearing once seated.
Mesa 1’s dinner includes seven courses, with delicacies like king crab, lamb, and foie gras. According to the New York Post, the waitlist for a reservation is at least six months. You must call the hotel directly to inquire about booking a table.
Brae – Birregurra, Australia
Wait time: 2+ months
Brae is a luxurious farm-to-table restaurant specializing in Australian cuisine. The on-site farm spans 20 acres and produces organic fruits, vegetables, nuts, honey, and more. Brae’s culinary offerings highlight fresh items picked daily at the farm and other nearby vendors.
One day, you might be served a chicken-and-thyme broth; the next, you might see roasted duck on the menu. Brae releases reservations two months in advance, so set an alarm for 9:00 a.m. when bookings open for the best chance to secure a table.
The Fat Duck – Bray, England
Wait time: 3+ months
The Fat Duck is no ordinary English pub—it was once voted the world’s best restaurant. Chef Heston Blumenthal is known for his quirky, out-of-the-box menus that engage every sense.
One of his most iconic dishes is the Sound of the Sea, a plate of seafood and edible sand designed to look like an ocean coastline alongside an iPod playing wave and seagull sounds. Seats at The Fat Duck are in high demand, and the restaurant has already begun booking for January 2025.
yam’Tcha- Paris, France
Wait time: 1 month
A husband-and-wife duo runs yam’Tcha, a restaurant with a unique French-Asian fusion menu. Every dish bursts with unexpected flavors and textures you won’t find elsewhere.
After head chef Adeline Grattard was featured in the Netflix show “Chef’s Table: France,” yam’Tcha became an even more sought-after dining spot. The waitlist for a table at this Parisian icon is at least a month long.
Sukiyabashi Jiro – Tokyo, Japan
Wait time: 1+ month
You can indulge in some of the world’s best sushi at Sukiyabashi Jiro. The already-renowned restaurant skyrocketed to new levels of fame after the 2011 release of “Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” a documentary about founder and former head chef Jiro Ono.
Sukiyabashi Jiro has only ten seats and serves an omakase menu of around 20 sushi pieces sourced daily. Tables here are notoriously hard to secure—customers in Japan can call to inquire, but foreign visitors must ask a 5-star hotel concierge to book a table on their behalf. The restaurant accepts new reservation requests on the first day of each month for the following month.
Mirazur – Menton, France
Wait time: 1+ month
Mirazur is a gorgeous three-Michelin-starred restaurant at the base of a seaside cliff in the French Riviera. Its four distinct menus—the Roots Universe, Leaves Universe, Flowers Universe, and Fruits Universe—take diners on a mouthwatering journey through the natural world.
Mirazur’s seafood, produce, and meat are locally sourced to deliver the freshest flavors possible. Booking a spot at Mirazur will likely take a month or more, but many agree it’s worth the wait.
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Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
