Zagat's Top-Ranked Hotel Restaurants

Have you ever stayed in a hotel that you thought you loved... until you decided to dine in the hotel restaurant, that is? Zagat went to work on a list of restaurants that won't yield the same results—these have expanded menus, specialty offerings, and a list of accolades that set them apart. Just because you are staying in a fine luxury hotel doesn't mean that you're guaranteed the same class of meal, Zagat points out, but they've done the legwork in order for you to avoid the less-than-amazing experiences.

Hotel Restaurant Suggestion #1:
MGM Grand's L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon

The MGM Grand's Las Vegas location puts you in the heart of the action, with easy access to nightlife, gambling, spectacular city sights, and entertainment that only Las Vegas can provide. As the MGM Grand puts it, they deliver “Maximum energy. Maximum indulgence. Maximum escape,” and that indulgence can be found on L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon's menu, too. Zagat called the New French cuisine at the MGM Grand hotel restaurant “stunning,” adding that the small-plate dinners are best enjoyed when eaten at a U-shaped bar, where you can see the action in the open kitchen, too.

Hotel Restaurant Suggestion #2:
Four Seasons Hotel Houston's Quattro

It's not just the food at Quattro that made the Four Seasons Hotel Houston's restaurant arrive on Zagat's list, but the price. Quattro is considered the most affordable hotel restaurant on their list, at around $46 per person for dinner. Quattro's dining concept involves a “small plates” meal experience that changes weekly, and one can go for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or for their antipasto feast. If you have a taste for Italian favorites, then you might want to indulge in tiger shrimp, expertly-finished risotto, calamari, or the lamb tenderloin.

Hotel Restaurant Suggestion #3:
SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills' The Bazaar

Zagat chose The Bazaar at the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills for its internationally-known chef working magic in the kitchen: SAAM at the Bazaar by José Andrés is an exciting fixture, but you'll need to be prepared with a slightly higher budget than for Houston's Quattro restaurant. The modern meals at SLS' SAAM employ modern techniques, improving upon traditional-style tastes. As the website describes, “Pristine but not pretentious service guides guests through a memorable evening of innovative fare. Set in an elegant, hidden dining room designed by Philippe Starck, SAAM offers a quiet retreat from the bustle of the Bazaar, where the chef's creations and world-class wines take center stage.” Is your mouth watering yet?

Zagat's other hotel restaurant favorites include T. Cook's, at the Royal Palms Resort and Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona; The Lobby at The Peninsula in Beverly Hills, California; and the Addison at the Grand Del Mar in San Diego. Zagat's full list of luxury hotel restaurants is here, so you can easily locate the restaurant to dine at—and a hotel room to book—when you are planning business travel.