Another year and I’m still in shock that I didn’t end it five stone heavier than I began… there’s been plenty of great dining this year and here are some of the best.
1. Le 1947, Courchevel
I’m no Andy Hayler but I have made a decent attempt to visit as many three Michelin star restaurants as possible and when I saw there was a very special restaurant near our hotel in Courchevel, I immediately made a booking. Le 1947 was an incredible gastronomic experience taking place in the most gorgeous dining room at the Cheval Blanc hotel. 
2. Don Julio, Buenos Aires, Argentina
It was high on my list to go to a traditional Argentinian perilla during our time in Buenos Aires and after I found Don Julio was the best, I booked it as a surprise for meat loving Mr S. 
The restaurant served some of the best steak and red wine that I’ve tried in my life and the bill was actually very reasonable! Don Julio has even made it to the World’s Best Restaurants list appearing at No.55. But Buenos Aires has no shortage of top restaurants as we also visited Chila and Elena (ranked 19 and 32 respectively) on the list of best restaurants in Latin America.
3. 1884 Restaurante Francis Mallman, Mendoza, Argentina
Considered one of the best restaurants in Mendoza and owned by one of Argentina’s most famous and highly regarded chefs, Francis Mallman. 1884 serves the most spectacular food that is known for being cooked over wood fires and in clay ovens using Argentine cooking techniques.
Needless to say, this is an unmissable restaurant choice when visiting Mendoza.
4. Boragó, Santiago, Chile
With only one full night in Santiago, the restaurant choice had to be a good one so once again I referred to the World’s Best Restaurant list and chose Boragó. Number 27 on the list and officially the best restaurant in Chile.
Chef Rodolfo Guzmán champions Chilean ingredients and techniques with an emphasis on the importance of native products from the sea, forest, valley and mountain so the five course menu that we sampled was a real journey of discovery.
5. Zass / La Sponda
Though these are two different restaurants located at different hotels on the Amalfi Coast, I’ve put them together as they’re very similar. Zass, the Michelin-starred restaurant at Il San Pietro di Positano was probably the most romantic restaurant I’ve ever been to in my life.
Both at lunch and dinner, we ate from the most incredible menu of Italian food whilst taking in a gorgeous view and being serenaded by an Italian opera singer.
La Sponda at Il Sirenuse also has a Michelin-star and serves incredible Italian food with a view. 
By night this simply stunning restaurant is lit up with 400 candles and we were once again serenaded with live music.
These two restaurants may not have served the very best food I’ve ever had in my life but I will remember that incredibly special atmosphere forever!
6. Hide, London, England
There’s a notable absence of UK restaurants on my list and that’s honestly because I didn’t visit that many. One exception was Hide, the new restaurant by Ollie Dabbous, an all round incredible restaurant for food and interiors.
It came as no surprise to me when Hide was awarded a Michelin star in this year’s listings.
7. La Grande Table Marocaine at the Royal Mansour, Marrakech, Morroco
One of the most beautifully lavish hotels I’ve ever visited, it was no surprise that La Grande Table Marocaine at the Royal Mansour was fittingly exquisite. We ate the most incredible tasting menu surrounded by a gorgeous dining room with utterly flawless service. 
8. Spondi, Athens, Greece
For one of our nights in Athens, I opted to booked two-Michelin star Spondi, on the recommendation of some of my favourite bloggers. It turned out to be utterly perfect with a gorgeously romantic atmosphere and a gorgeous menu of discovery paired with a Greek wine. 
The food is influenced by French cuisine but makes use of the very best in local produce.
9. Aroma, Rome, Italy
This one restaurant in this list that is actually a revisit, I ate at Aroma when I visited Rome three years ago with Mr S and I booked in for lunch again knowing Laura would love it. The Michelin-starred restaurant has the most perfect view of the Colosseum, and the food is some of the best I tried in the city. 
10. ice Q, Sölden, Austria
Ice Q is an incredibly special restaurant is basically a glass box located at over 3000 metres of the peaks of the Austrian Alps. A place so unique that is was chosen to feature in the James Bond film, Spectre.
These sort of places can often be a little style over substance but actually the food was excellent too!
What was the best restaurant that you ate in this year?
