Tiny, exclusive, unforgettable: these mini-restaurants show how great an intimate setting can be.
Size certainly does matter – and these establishments have decided that less is more. While many restaurants are expanding or conquering new markets with pop-ups, some are opting for a radically different approach: They are getting smaller. Much smaller.
Some seat just over ten, some as little as four – and in some extreme cases, there are even only two seats available. Whether hidden in a backstreet, on a bridge, in old gondolas or behind a cake counter, these micro-restaurants are proof that great taste doesn't need much space.
In the middle of the rolling hills of Lazio, just under an hour north-east of Rome, lies the “Solo per Due”, a restaurant that lives up to its name: “Just for two”. There is room for no more than two here – nor should there be. The historic country house, once said to have been the retreat of the Roman poet Horace, now offers a culinary experience that is deliberately slow-paced. Surrounded by a palm trees with views of olive groves and vineyards, the house welcomes couples who want to share nothing but space, time and good food. The service is discreet: the waiter only appears when the guests ring a little silver bell. The food is seasonal, with an Italian touch and regional products. The menus vary, accompanied by carefully selected wines.
SOLO PER DUE
Via Villa di Orazio, 2, 02040 Vacone RI, Italy
soloperdue.it
With just 3.6 square meters, Kuappi in Iisalmi, Finland, is officially the smallest restaurant in the world – and holds the Guinness World Record to prove it. The building originally dates back to 1907 and once served as a rest area for railroad workers. Today it houses a fully licensed restaurant with a single table for two, a mini-bar – complete with mini bottles – and a terrace with a view of the lake. The food is not cooked on site, but in the neighboring restaurant Olutmestari, where they prepare classics such as fried vendace, schnitzel or the popular Hunter's Steak Sandwich with mushroom sauce.
Kuappi
Veikonkatu, 74100 Iisalmi, Finland
olutmestari.com
Once serving to measure the water level of the Elbe, the Pegelhäuschen at Zollenspieker Fährhaus, was built around 1880 and is one of the smallest restaurants in the world. The tiny building directly above the water can accommodate a maximum of four guests – that's all you need for an unforgettable evening. A seasonal 4-course surprise menu is served, including wine accompaniment, aperitif and coffee.
Old Zollenspieker gauge house
Zollenspieker Hauptdeich 141, 21037 Hamburg, Germany
zollenspieker-faehrhaus.de
What once transported skiers now offers culinary flights of fancy: the Fonduegondel (“fondue gondola”) on the panoramic terrace of the Jagdhof spa hotel in Neustift im Stubaital offers fine dining for up to five people – with a view of the peaks and valleys. Alpine fondues are served – with either cheese, meat or chocolate – accompanied by wines from the hotel's own award-winning cellar. The experience is truly magical, especially in winter, when snow is falling outside – private dining with a unique Tyrolean flair.
In the historic Tyrolean town of Kufstein, the buildings containing the traditional tavern Auracher Löchl and the boutique hotel Träumerei #8 have stood across from each other for centuries. Their connection goes a lot farther though. A footbridge connects the two, which also hosts is one of the most romantic restaurants in the world: the Brückenrestaurant (bridge restaurant). With just 15 square meters, there is only space for two guests at most; but that's all you need for an exclusive five-course meal with a view over the historic Römerhofgasse. Between candlelight, soft music and nostalgic service at the ring of a bell, dinner here is a personal event. Culinary delights of alpine sophistication are served, from freshwater prawns to elderberry crème brûlée.
Hidden away on the 9th floor of Los Mochis London City is a culinary secret: “LUNA Omakase”, London's highest omakase restaurant. This intimate room can only seat twelve – and yet, it offers a whole world of Japanese culinary art. Under the direction of Executive Chef Leonard Tanyag, a 12-course menu unfolds that changes daily according to the rhythm of the moon: Inspired by the cycles of nature, characterized by fresh, seasonal ingredients and Sosaku-Edomae techniques such as maturing, pickling and marinating.
Luna Omakase
9th Floor, 100 Liverpool Street, London, EC2M 2AT, UK
thesleffgroup.com
In the middle of Tokyo's Nippori district, hidden behind a seemingly inconspicuous pastry shop, you will find what is probably one of the smallest ramen joints in the world: Ura Sablon, with room for just four guests on 2 square meters on plastic crates instead of chairs. On the menu? Just one dish: tsukemen, i.e. dipping ramen with noodles served separately. Although the room is barely larger than a storage closet, the taste is great. An experience for purists, foodies – and anyone who is not afraid a little claustrophobia.
Ura Sablon
5 Chome-1-2 Higashinippori, Arakawa City, Tokyo 116-0014,Japan
x.com/urasablon
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