Photo Courtesy of Grand Hyatt Shanghai
With One World Trade Center taking over as the tallest building in New York City this week, it seems only appropriate to take a look at the other skyscrapers that top the list of the tallest in the world — and consider their dining options.
When the planned construction is complete, One World Trade Center will take its place as the third-tallest building in the world. Of course, the widely acclaimed Windows on the World restaurant epitomized skyscraper dining before the events of 9/11, making the news about restaurants opening in the new building even more hotly anticipated.
At.Mosphere, the restaurant located on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (currently holding first place as the tallest building ever constructed) holds the Guinness World Record for "highest restaurant from ground level." Meanwhile, The Four Seasons Hotel, on floors 74 through 98 of The Guangzhou International Finance Center in Guangdong, China, is scheduled to open in the next few months with several fine dining restaurants. (Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons/Craigboy)
Take a look through this collection of skyscraper restaurants and fantasize about enjoying a meal while taking in some of the most spectacular views in the world — even if you’re afraid of heights.
Located in the tallest building in the world (standing at 2,700 feet), At.Mosphere sits on the 122nd floor of Burj Khalifa in Dubai — two stories below the observation deck. Guests can choose to relax in the lounge, overlooking stunning views of the city, or enjoy a finer dining experience in The Grill. The restaurant holds the Guinness World Record for "highest restaurant from ground level." (Photo Credit: At.Mosphere)
On the 86th floor of the Taipei 101 (named after the building’s 101 stories, and standing nearly 1,700 feet tall), is Ding Xian 101, a fine dining restaurant specializing in Taiwanese seafood dishes. The restaurant also includes a banquet hall that’s elaborately decorated with deep red and gold furnishings. (Photo Credit: Flickr/http2007)
The restaurants and food court in the Shanghai World Financial Center may be located in the world’s third-tallest building (that is, until One World Trade Center surpasses it, according to construction plans), but they’re certainly not among the tallest standing restaurants in the world. The building stands at 1,614 feet tall, however all the restaurants are located between the second basement and the third floor. Some of the dining highlights at the Shanghai World Financial Center include Aka Sakatei, serving teppanyaki and traditional Japanese fare; Ippoh, a tempura spot; and South Beauty, a restaurant specializing in Sichuan and Cantonese cuisines. (Photo Credit: Hyatt)
This restaurant located on the 16th floor of the Trump International Hotel and Tower offers majestic views of downtown Chicago (the building stands at 1,361 feet and has 92 stories). Sixteen is known for having a lengthy wine list and offering ultra-luxurious new American fare. Or, sip on rum-infused cocktails and enjoy small plates like marinated beef and shrimp skewers, mango-glazed pork belly sliders, and tuna ceviche at the rooftop lounge, The Terrace. (Photo Credit: Facebook/Sixteen)
The Metropolitan Club at Willis Tower is located on the 66th and 67th floors of the building (which stands at 1,450 feet with 110 stories in total). Until very recently, the club was open to members only, but now the public is invited to enjoy a meal at the restaurant and take in the spectacular views of Chicago. The club includes a handful of rooms offering different specialties, from a breakfast room to a banquet hall. (Photo Credit: The Metropolitan Club)
Although the building completed construction in 2010, the Four Seasons Hotel, located on floors 74 to 98, will not be fully finished for a few more months still. The hotel will occupy the highest floors in the building, except for the observation deck on floors 99 and 100 (the building stands at 1,435 feet). The Four Seasons will open with six restaurants, ranging in cuisine from traditional Cantonese to Italian. (Photo Credit: Four Seasons Hotels)
Located on the 86th floor of Jin Mao Tower in the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Club Jin Mao offers traditional Shanghainese fare in a fine dining setting and an outstanding view of the city skyline. The restaurant also includes a number of private dining rooms that can be rented out for parties of up to 40 people. Jin Mao Tower stands at 1,380 feet with 93 stories. (Photo Credit: Hyatt)
The Ritz-Carlton occupies the 102nd to 118th floors of the International Commerce Centre in Hong Kong, making it the highest hotel in the world (for the time being). The finest dining establishments in the building (which stands at 1,607 feet with 118 floors) are in the Ritz-Carlton, specifically Tosca, an Italian restaurant, and Tin Lun Heen, a restaurant serving authentic Cantonese cuisine and dim sum. (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons/WiNG)
