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.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide.§ *Eligible charges vary by property.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.