From a $21,000 martini to a gold-leaf salad, these are the most expensive things you can order at hotels
There's splurging on a nice dinner, and then there's splurging tens of thousands of dollars for anything from an over-the-top dessert to a gem-laden cocktail.
For the world's most dedicated gourmands, these extravagant menu items served at hotels and resorts around the world are some of the most expensive menu items you can buy. Some even cost as much as a car.
No matter the size of your wallet, these dishes and drinks might leave you with a little bit of sticker shock. But for a one-of-a-kind dining experience, the price might just be worth it.
Taco at Grand Velas Los Cabos: $25,000

Considering the humble taco originated as street food, the $25,000 taco at Grand Velas Los Cabos' Frida restaurant in Mexico is a true "started from the bottom now we're here" moment. Forget carnitas or al pastor — this is a gold flake-encrusted corn tortilla stuffed full of Kobe beef, Almas Beluga caviar, langoustine and black truffle brie cheese. If you really want to go big, you can pair the taco with a $150,000 bottle of Ley .925 Pasion Azteca Ultra Premium Anejo. The resort requires a $12,500 deposit for each taco order, which must be placed a week in advance of dining.
Diamonds Are Forever Martini at The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo: $21,000

How can a martini cost six figures? By being served with a diamond, of course. That's right — patrons who purchase the Diamonds Are Forever Martini at The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo have their drink served with a one-carat diamond at the bottom of the glass. (Yes, it's inspired by James Bond.) The cocktail itself isn't anything too over the top: it's Absolut Elyx vodka and a splash of lime juice. Its current price tag is 3 million yen, which is roughly $21,000, but keep an eye out on the ever-changing exchange rate.
Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence at The Fortress Resort & Spa: $14,500

Diners with a sweet tooth and deep pockets should head to Galle, Sri Lanka, for one of the world's most expensive desserts. The Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence at The Fortress Resort & Spa comprises an Italian cassata cake, a pomegranate and mango compote, and a Champagne sabayon, propped up by a chocolate sculpture of a traditional stilt fisherman. What takes the price to $14,500 isn't the dessert itself, but the 80-carat aquamarine stone that's served with it. The stones are said "to have special qualities including the ability to soothe, heal and bring about calmness," according to the hotel's website, and have been used as a good-luck charm for fishermen and sailors. If you'd like to place an order, make sure you do so at least 24 hours in advance.
Related: Why I always charge my meals, gifts and spa treatments to my hotel room
Gilded Sultan's Elixir at Ciragan Palace Kempinski: $2,500
It's appropriate that the Ciragan Palace Kempinski, a former Ottoman palace in Istanbul, serves up a cocktail called the Gilded Sultan's Elixir. Unlike some of the other items on this list, it doesn't come with a gemstone, but it is served with edible gold leaves. The drink itself blends Hennessy Richard cognac with coconut-infused pineapple juice, fig bitters and honey syrup, and it's served in one of the most scenic settings on the property: Le Fumoir bar, nestled into the gardens along the Bosphorus.
McCarthy Salad at The Beverly Hills Hotel: $1,912

Leave it to a hotel in Los Angeles to charge nearly $2,000 for a salad. All jokes aside, this is actually the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel's signature salad — and it usually costs around $45. But the famed hotel is serving up a special edition of the salad honoring the 110th anniversary of the hotel this year — and it comes with gold leaf-topped lobster and caviar, and is served with a bottle of Dom Perignon. And you'll get to take home a commemorative Bernardaud French porcelain bowl. Furthermore, a portion of the proceeds from this limited-edition salad will be donated to the Los Angeles Conservancy, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the historic architecture of the city. Get this salad while you can; it's only available through the end of the year.
Related: My life as an A-lister: A review of The Beverly Hills Hotel
Ritz Sidecar at the Ritz Paris: $1,500

There are many pricey things on the menu at the Ritz Paris' famous Bar Hemingway, from $18 mini hot dogs to a $35 Pimm's Cup. (Both worth the cost, truthfully.) But those prices pale in comparison to the $1,500 Ritz Sidecar, made with 19th-century cognac. The cocktail itself originated in England in 1921, but barman Franck Meier, who served the bar's namesake, Ernest Hemingway, created the Ritz's riff on it two years later. In 2001, it entered The Guinness Book of World Records as the most expensive cocktail, though that title has been passed on to a cocktail called The Winston which went for almost $13,000 at a bar in Australia.
Almas Caviar Bar at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong: $800

Located on the 102nd floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, the Almas Caviar Bar is a seven-seat speakeasy-style spot for lovers of sturgeon roe (and Champagne and vodka). The priciest food item on the list is beluga caviar, which comes in at $800 — not a lot compared to some of the other items on this list, but when you consider you're only getting an ounce of caviar for that price, well, that's one expensive treat. The bar is also able to source the world's most expensive caviar, Almas Persicus, which can cost up to $14,000 for about half a pound (250 grams). It does need a month's notice in order to do so.
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The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
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- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
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- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
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Rewards Rate
| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| 5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel |
| 10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Intro Offer
Earn 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200K miles when you spend $150K in the first 6 monthsLIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus milesAnnual Fee
$395Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.740-850Excellent
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
- Top rated mobile app
