InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, currently celebrating its Diamond Anniversary, has represented the best of international and local culinary expertise for the past 75 years. The brand’s acclaimed restaurants and bars around the world delight epicures with approximately 80 million meals every year, with each meal as distinct and inspiring as the destinations themselves.

The InterContinental brand’s signature restaurants and bars, helmed by a roster of Michelin-starred chefs and up-and-coming talent, create gastronomic experiences meant to be savoured – even long after the meal has come to an end. These bucket-list worthy meals reveal the transportive power of food. They whisk us away from the familiar, igniting our appetite for adventure and discovery with new flavours, aromas and textures, all complemented by incomparable service and unforgettable settings.

After two years of putting culinary chops to the test at home or turning to takeout, consumers are looking to return to in-restaurant dining with enthusiasm and, according to Yahoo!, searches for the term “restaurant reservation” are up 134 percent. Drawing diners from every corner of the globe, indulge the senses with these destination meals from InterContinental hotels and resorts that are worth hopping on a flight to experience. Be sure to save room for dessert, too!

AMERICAS

Luce at InterContinental San Francisco

The dynamic menus from Executive Chef Rogelio Garcia at Luce, the award-winning restaurant at InterContinental San Francisco whose name means “light” in Italian, reflect the bounty of the Bay Area’s surrounding farms. The cuisine combines contemporary American fare with global influences, resulting in a menu of eclectic flavours, natural ingredients and inventive flair.

Born in Mexico City and raised in Los Angeles and Napa Valley, the rising star chef and former contestant on Bravo TV’s Top Chef regularly updates Luce’s menu according to freshness and seasonality in collaboration with local purveyors. The eight-course Chef’s Tasting Menu showcases the best of the season, with dishes such as Live Norwegian King Crab with fennel, Yellow Finn potato and Sauce Americaine as well as Pistachio-Crusted White Peking Duck with Sonoma baby beets, Medjool dates and a sauce of Cara Cara Orange.

A distinctive wine program, carrying the prestige of the “Best of Award of Excellence” from Wine Spectator magazine, offers a one-of-a-kind collection of the finest Californian and world labels, encouraging the exploration of new varietals.

Moon Rabbit at InterContinental Washington D.C. - The Wharf

Moon Rabbit, the signature restaurant at InterContinental Washington D.C. - The Wharf, is led by Chef Kevin Tien, nationally celebrated as one of Food & Wine magazine’s “10 Best New Chefs.” With an innovative approach to Vietnamese cuisine, the culinary concept honours history while referencing globally inspired techniques.

His menu was created to be a love letter to his heritage as a first generation Asian-American, showcasing dishes that tell his personal story through a distinct, yet elevated lens. Moon Rabbit’s eye-catching and sophisticated plates include the Lemongrass Pork Blade with Banh Hoi, gem lettuce and a bouquet garnish as well as the Ga Chien fried chicken with chili maple fish sauce, pickled bean sprouts and fried garlic.

Led by Executive Chef Josefina López Méndez, the top-rated Chapulín at InterContinental Presidente Mexico City brings Mexico to life with the traditions of the region’s cuisine presented through a thoughtful array of smells, tastes and textures in its dishes.

Fusion cuisines take centre stage at this gastronomic vanguard with inventive selections, such as the Lacquered Duck Tacos with black mole or the Torta de Cochinita Pibil with rib eye and pork loin that’s been cooked in a banana leaf with spices for six hours in bolillo bread and beans. Of course, as the restaurant’s name suggests – “Chapulin” translates to “grasshopper” – diners can also jump start their meal with the signature fried Chapulines with guacamole.

Chapulin’s union of tradition with contemporary influences does not stop at the menu. It is also woven into the restaurant’s setting through its background music and design aesthetic, which combines handmade clay tiles and basketry elements with wooden wall panels and geometric accents.

EUROPE

Hugos at InterContinental Berlin

Honoured with a prestigious Michelin star for 21 years, Hugos is the elegant, minimalist-style restaurant perched atop the 14^th floor of InterContinental Berlin. Executive Chef Eberhard Lange has been with Hugos since 1998, contributing to the restaurant’s success in acquiring a Michelin star before becoming the restaurant’s head chef in 2015.

Chef Lange and his culinary team have created a menu of approachable gourmet cuisine, where high-quality local ingredients are carefully handled in a way that the original taste is strengthened. Guests can choose to experience a six or eight-course tasting menu, featuring dishes such as Miéral Pigeon with Périgold truffle, pistachios and black currant jelly in addition to Venison Calf from Schorfheide Forest with beetroot, juniper, cabbage, sorrel and buckwheat. Awarded “Best of Award of Excellence” by Wine Spectator magazine, Hugos’ German and regional-inspired cuisine is enhanced by an exceptional selection of international wines.

Theo Randall at InterContinental London Park Lane

Acclaimed chef Theo Randall carefully blends the best local ingredients with hand-picked imports to elevate simple Italian dishes that continue to attract rave reviews at his namesake restaurant nestled within InterContinental London Park Lane.

The revolving daily menu is inspired by the chef’s regular trips to Italy and influenced by the best seasonal finds available from the market each day. Comforting dishes bursting with flavour include the signature Cappelletti di Vitello, which features homemade pasta stuffed with slow cooked veal and pancetta with porcini mushrooms and Parmesan, and the Orata, a roasted sea bream fillet with Roseval potatoes, Datterini tomatoes, capers, Taggiasche olives and white wine.

To create the restaurant’s ever-changing regional tasting menu while not being able to physically visit his favourite areas of Italy, Chef Randall was inspired to retrace his steps, developing dishes from his personal memories of each region. The entire menu is complemented by an extensive wine list that features 90% Italian varietals, personally overseen by Chef Randall himself.

Le Pressoir d’Argent Gordon Ramsay, InterContinental Bordeaux - Le Grand Hotel

The two Michelin-starred Le Pressoir d’Argent Gordon Ramsay, situated within the InterContinental Bordeaux - Le Grand Hotel, takes its name from the dining room’s centrepiece – a rare Christofle solid silver lobster press that is one of just five in the world. Like culinary composers, Gordon Ramsay and the Le Pressoir d'Argent culinary team reveal the full potential of carefully selected ingredients to deliver an unforgettable gastronomic experience.

The menu at Le Pressoir d’Argent uses exceptional local produce such as Gironde black truffles, foie gras from the Charente region and the iconic Brittany Lobster « A la Presse » that pay tribute to the richness of French culinary heritage. Origins, the restaurant’s five-course tasting menu, showcases dishes with a profound respect for ingredients and provenance, including Clams with sea lettuce, jurançon sweet wine and mariniére and Aged Beef Rib Eye with shallots, sucrine and Bordelaise sauce.

Perfectly complementing the cuisine is a grand and elegant setting. Sumptuous floor marquetry and vivid mauve-orange hues create a partly warm, partly intimate atmosphere that highlights the grandeur of this fine dining Mecca.

MIDDLE EAST

Marina Social, InterContinental Dubai Marina

Michelin-starred British chef Jason Atherton’s Marina Social at InterContinental Dubai Marina is designed to inspire creativity, conversation and comfort. The restaurant’s relaxed, social atmosphere is set against a backdrop of panoramic views overlooking buzzing Dubai Marina.

A contemporary menu of British-Mediterranean-inspired fare features dishes meant to be shared, creating a pocket of London right in the heart of Dubai. Not to be missed on the menu is the famous Beef Wellington with "cheesy chips," Cafe de Paris butter and a red wine sauce. An open kitchen and separate dessert bar allow guests to watch and interact with the chefs during their meal, while those seated at the exclusive ‘Social Table’ can enjoy a bespoke tasting menu. Five service trollies serving champagne, digestives, cigars, teas and “Social Sweets” complete the indulgent experience.

ASIA

La Maison 1888, InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula

La Maison 1888, tucked inside InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula, was the first restaurant in Vietnam to feature a world-renowned three Michelin-starred chef. The cuisine is French in soul and flavour, tinged by an unmistakeable Vietnamese influence. Chef Pierre Gagnaire’s vision is beautifully expressed in a distinguished menu and executed to perfection by the culinary team.

Guests are invited to curate their culinary journey, selecting from a three, four or five-course tasting menu. The decadent dishes featured on each change seasonally to highlight the finest local ingredients. For the perfect finish, peruse the Pierre Gagnaire Grand Dessert menu, where French classics meet Vietnamese flavours in a rotating assortment of unique desserts. With one of the largest wine collections in Vietnam, oenophiles can immerse themselves in a private wine tasting experience led by the restaurant’s Sommelier in the hidden Wine Cellar.

La Maison 1888’s setting is just as remarkable as its food – Architectural Digest magazine appointed it one of the “Top 10 Most Beautiful Restaurants in the World.” Star architect Bill Bensley imagined the space as an antique mansion, the residence of a fictional Eurasian family whose vividly portrayed characters inspired each dining niche: from the sensible Accountant’s Room, to the thrill-seeking Traveller’s Room and the risqué Le Boudoir de Madame.

For those wishing to tantalise tastebuds with more from Chef Pierre Gagnaire, visit Pierre’s Bistro at InterContinental Dubai Festival City offering authentic French delicacies and outstanding mixology; Pierre Gagnaire at ANA InterContinental Tokyo, awarded two Michelin stars for 12 consecutive years; or the one Michelin-starred Pierre at InterContinental Osaka.

Atelier at ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa

Savour exceptional French cuisine amidst lush mountaintop views at Atelier, the exclusive dinner-only venue at ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa featuring 21 counter-only seats. Under the direction of Head Chef Kenji Kudo, Atelier’s skilled team of chefs showcases cutting edge culinary creativity from the restaurant’s modern open kitchen, blending elements of French and international fare with ingredients native to the region.

Guests may choose to experience a six or eight-course tasting menu, highlighting the finest local flavours of Oita and Kyushu and designed personally by the chef with the utmost attention to taste and detail. Atelier also features a vast wine collection comprised of more than 200 selections. Its talented sommeliers will work hand-in-hand with guests, recommending pairings to enhance the menu.

AUSTRALIA

The Fireplace at InterContinental Sanctuary Cove

InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort’s standout dining destination, The Fireplace, showcases wood-fire cuisine at its finest. Executive Chef Matt Hart has designed an a la carte menu that infuses locally sourced ingredients, including produce from the restaurant’s herb garden, with The Fireplace’s signature smoky flavour after leaving the onsite wood-fire oven.

An open kitchen and earthy stone flooring create a warm and intimate ambience to indulge in dishes such as Smoked Ricotta with roasted cherry tomatoes, grilled baby carrots, rosemary honey, bread croutons and lemon mayonnaise or Queensland Barramundi with compressed cucumber, silverbeet, fennel and red ball pepper sauce. The Fireplace’s 200-strong wine library offers the perfect accompaniment for any palate. The wine list is curated to spark curiosity, stretch imaginations and ignite true passion in wine choices and has been the proud recipient of Two Glasses in Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards for five years.

Discover more with the InterContinental 75^th Diamond Anniversary content series:

• Growing up at The Grande: Living at the world’s first InterContinental hotel
• From Roosevelt to Rome: InterContinental at 75
• Designing luxury: How InterContinental pioneered some of the world’s most iconic hospitality designs
• Ahead of the curve: Style glow-ups from InterContinental
• 5 InterContinental Hotels & Resorts with diamond standard views
• Ringing in the changes: How InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has been the setting and inspiration for global change for 75 years
• Keys to the city: Elite concierge teams across InterContinental Hotels & Resorts unlock the best of local experiences the world over
• Share a toast with celebratory cocktails from InterContinental Hotels & Resorts

About IHG^®

IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.

With a family of 17 hotel brands and IHG Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,000 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a further 1,800 in the development pipeline.

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