The most expensive restaurant in the world isn’t just about the price tag-it’s about an experience that costs more than a weekend getaway, a new smartphone, or even a used car. As of 2026, that title belongs to Urasawa in Beverly Hills, California, where a single meal for two can exceed $1,500 per person before tax, tip, or wine. But if you’re asking this question because you’re planning a trip to Dubai, you’re not wrong to look there. Dubai is home to some of the most extravagant dining experiences on Earth, and one of them comes shockingly close to beating Urasawa at its own game.
Urasawa: The $1,500 Sushi Experience
Urasawa, run by chef Masa Takayama, is a 10-seat omakase counter tucked inside a quiet Beverly Hills building. No menu. No pictures. No reservations unless you’re on a waiting list that stretches months ahead. You get 20 courses of fish flown in daily from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market, served on hand-carved ceramics, with rice cooked in a 100-year-old pot. Each piece of fish is brushed with a sauce made from a secret blend of fermented soy, mirin, and a single drop of truffle oil. The chef doesn’t just serve you food-he performs a ritual. The cost? $1,500 per person, not including tax or wine. It’s not just expensive-it’s a performance art piece you eat.
Al Fassia: Dubai’s $1,200-per-Person Rival
While Urasawa holds the official crown, Dubai’s Al Fassia at the Burj Al Arab is the only restaurant outside the U.S. that consistently challenges it. Al Fassia isn’t a restaurant in the traditional sense. It’s a private dining suite on the 27th floor, accessible only by private elevator. The experience lasts six hours. You start with a tea ceremony using 200-year-old silverware, followed by 18 courses of Persian and Emirati delicacies prepared by a team of chefs flown in from Iran, Morocco, and Oman. The centerpiece? A whole black truffle-stuffed camel saddle, slow-roasted for 14 hours over charcoal, served with saffron-infused couscous and gold-leafed dates. The price? $1,200 per person. Add a bottle of 1945 Château Mouton Rothschild, and you’re looking at $2,500 total. It’s not just dining-it’s a cultural immersion with a six-figure budget.
Why Do People Pay This Much?
It’s not about hunger. It’s about exclusivity. At Urasawa, you’re one of 120 people worldwide who’ve eaten there in the past year. At Al Fassia, you’re one of 30 guests per month. The food is extraordinary, yes-but so is the access. You’re not just paying for ingredients. You’re paying for silence. For privacy. For the chef’s full attention. For a waiter who knows your name, your allergies, your favorite tea, and your birth year before you even sit down. These restaurants don’t serve meals. They sell memories.
Other Contenders Around the World
Urasawa and Al Fassia aren’t alone. Here are three other places that make the top 10:
- Sublimotion in Ibiza: A 20-course dinner that turns into a multimedia show with projection mapping, live performers, and scent delivery systems. $2,300 per person.
- Le Calandre in Italy: A three-Michelin-starred spot where the tasting menu includes edible flowers picked at dawn and a dessert made from 30-year-old balsamic vinegar. $850 per person.
- Arpège in Paris: Chef Alain Passard’s vegetable-focused tasting menu includes carrots aged for 18 months and a soup made from 12 types of mushrooms. $700 per person.
None of these come close to the raw exclusivity of Urasawa or Al Fassia. But they all share one thing: they’re not restaurants. They’re experiences designed for people who don’t just want to eat-they want to be transformed.
Is It Worth It?
Some people say yes. Others call it ridiculous. But here’s the truth: if you’re asking whether it’s worth $1,200 for one meal, you’re asking the wrong question. The real question is: do you want to be one of the few people on Earth who’ve had this experience? Because once you’ve eaten at Urasawa or Al Fassia, you’ll never look at a $50 steak the same way again. You’ll understand why someone would pay more for a single meal than most people spend on groceries in a month.
And if you’re in Dubai? You don’t need to fly to Beverly Hills. Al Fassia is right there-on the Burj Al Arab’s highest floor, waiting for someone with the nerve to book it. The only thing harder than getting a reservation? Getting over it after you leave.
What You’ll Actually Get
Let’s break down what you’re paying for:
| Component | Urasawa (Beverly Hills) | Al Fassia (Dubai) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Courses | 20 | 18 |
| Duration | 3.5 hours | 6 hours |
| Seating Capacity | 10 | 8 |
| Staff per Guest | 1 chef + 2 servers | 1 chef + 4 servers + 1 sommelier + 1 cultural host |
| Ingredients Sourced From | Tokyo, Hokkaido, Kyoto | Iran, Morocco, Oman, Dubai Desert, Red Sea |
| Wine Pairing Included | Optional ($500-$1,200 extra) | Yes, curated by master sommelier |
| Reservation Wait Time | 6-12 months | 3-6 months |
Who Books These Meals?
It’s not just billionaires. It’s CEOs who want to impress clients. Couples celebrating 25 years of marriage. People who’ve saved for years to tick this off their list. Some book it as a birthday gift. Others do it after surviving cancer or losing a loved one. One guest told the staff at Al Fassia: "I’m here because I want to remember what joy feels like."
These restaurants don’t cater to the rich. They cater to the rare. The ones who understand that the most valuable things in life aren’t things you can buy-they’re things you can only feel once.
Is Al Fassia really the most expensive restaurant in Dubai?
Yes. While Dubai has many luxury dining spots like At.mosphere or La Petite Maison, Al Fassia at the Burj Al Arab is the only one that costs over $1,000 per person and includes a full multi-sensory, multi-cultural experience. No other restaurant in the city offers the same level of exclusivity, staff-to-guest ratio, or ingredient sourcing.
Can you book Urasawa without being a celebrity?
Yes. Urasawa doesn’t require celebrity status. But you need to be on their waiting list, which opens once a year. You can’t book online. You call the restaurant directly and provide your full name, contact info, and a brief reason for your visit. They don’t ask for your income, but they do screen for genuine interest. Most people wait 8-10 months just to get a slot.
Is there a cheaper alternative in Dubai?
Yes. If $1,200 is out of reach, try Zuma or Al Mahara at the Burj Al Arab. Both offer exceptional seafood and stunning views for $200-$350 per person. Or go to Yardbird in DIFC for world-class yakitori at $120 per person. You won’t get the same level of exclusivity, but you’ll still have one of the best meals in the city.
Do these restaurants accept credit cards?
Yes, but they prefer wire transfers. Many high-end restaurants like Urasawa and Al Fassia ask for payment in advance via bank transfer. Credit cards are accepted, but they may charge a 3-5% processing fee. Some guests pay in cash-especially those who prefer total anonymity.
What’s the dress code?
Smart formal. No jeans, no sneakers, no shorts. At Urasawa, men wear suits. Women wear evening dresses or tailored suits. At Al Fassia, the dress code is even stricter: no open-toed shoes, no bold perfumes, and no visible logos. The goal is to remove distractions and focus entirely on the experience.
Final Thought
The most expensive restaurant in the world isn’t the one with the most gold leaf or the rarest truffle. It’s the one that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a different reality-where time slows down, silence is respected, and every bite carries meaning. Whether it’s in Beverly Hills or Dubai, that’s what you’re paying for. And for some, it’s worth every penny.
