CNN highlights 9 restaurants that are worth planning an entire trip around. A common thread among these establishments is their cuisine, which is deeply rooted in local ingredients and culture.

**Vermejo, New Mexico, United States**

Vermejo is located within a private nature reserve in southwestern New Mexico, near the Colorado border.

What sets Vermejo apart is that dining is not confined to a restaurant space. Guests can enjoy breakfast by a campfire, dine by a lake, or take a picnic while exploring the reserve, which spans over 2,000 square kilometers.

The menu heavily utilizes ingredients sourced directly from the area, including bison meat, greenhouse-grown vegetables, and trout. Fish can even be prepared from a guest's daily catch. This approach integrates dining into the nature experience, rather than it being a separate meal.

**Puna, Costa Rica**

Puna is part of the Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve resort on the Papagayo Peninsula, Guanacaste province, in northwestern Costa Rica. The area lies on the Pacific coast and is known for its beach resorts.

Peruvian chef Diego Muñoz crafts the menu around Latin American flavors and indigenous ingredients. The restaurant makes many of its breads, sauces, and spices in-house, rather than using pre-made products.

A highlight is the ceviche made from grilled shrimp, served with a lime juice-based sauce, offering a spicy kick and seafood flavor characteristic of Peruvian ceviche. The menu also features Italian-style risotto with grilled baby corn and desserts made from local tropical fruits.

**Marias, Forte dei Marmi, Italy**

Marias is located in Forte dei Marmi, a coastal resort town in the Tuscany region of central Italy, about a three-hour drive from Milan. The restaurant is part of the Principessa Forte dei Marmi hotel and is just steps from the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Its coastal location largely dictates the culinary style. Seafood is brought daily from the market in the nearby port city of Livorno and prepared with minimal elaborate seasoning to preserve the natural flavors of the ingredients.

Langoustine is grilled over a wood fire and served with confit garlic and lemon. Another option is handmade linguine with local clams. Diners enjoy their meals by the pool in a resort setting near the sea.

**Bonheur by Matt Abe, London, England**

This restaurant is located in Mayfair, central London, and is run by Australian chef Matt Abe. It focuses on modern French cuisine but heavily uses British ingredients, such as beef from the Lake District, fish caught in Cornwall, and domestically produced wines. Bonheur was awarded two Michelin stars less than one year after opening.

**La Grande Table Marocaine, Casablanca, Morocco**

La Grande Table Marocaine is situated on the 23rd floor of the Royal Mansour Casablanca hotel in Casablanca, Morocco's Atlantic coastal city.

The experience here centers on Moroccan cuisine within a space featuring local handmade carpets, lamps, metalwork, and mosaic patterns. From their tables, guests can overlook the coastal city.

Familiar Moroccan ingredients like saffron, argan oil, and preserved lemons feature prominently on the menu. A signature dish is tagine, a popular North African stew, prepared with free-range chicken, preserved lemons, and olives.

**Joy, Paris, France**

Joy restaurant is located within the renowned Barriere Le Fouquet's Paris hotel, near the Champs-Elysees in the heart of Paris. The dining area overlooks the hotel's interior garden.

Chef Claudia Rivera creates a seasonal menu. Dishes include green vegetables served with herb yogurt and cashews; and sea bass with tomatoes, basil, and lemon. The restaurant is ideal for guests seeking a modern French culinary experience.

**Yong Fu, Shanghai, China**

Yong Fu is situated on the 56th floor of a building in Shanghai, China, offering views of the Huangpu River and the city skyline.

The restaurant's focus is Ningbo cuisine, originating from the port city of the same name in Zhejiang province. It specializes in fresh seafood prepared to retain the ingredients' natural flavors. The menu changes seasonally. Razor clams, a seasonal seafood, are used by Yong Fu in its Ningbo-style dishes. Clams from Ning Hai are typically in season from March to May. The restaurant holds one Michelin star.

**Kontrast, Oslo, Norway**

Kontrast is a two-Michelin-star restaurant in Oslo, Norway's capital, specializing in modern Nordic cuisine.

Chef Mikael Svensson prioritizes organic and local produce, with a menu that changes seasonally. Familiar ingredients are combined in unconventional ways, such as oysters served with sour cream and pickled rhubarb.

The restaurant emphasizes maximizing ingredient usage and minimizing waste during preparation, a common trend in modern Nordic restaurants.

**Argiano, Montalcino, Italy**

Argiano is located in Montalcino, in the Tuscany region of central Italy, an area renowned for its Brunello di Montalcino wine. The restaurant is nestled among vineyards on an estate with a history dating back to the 16th century.

Meals are served in a courtyard overlooking rolling hills and vineyards. The pairing of food and wine is central to the experience. Guests can enjoy dishes with various wines made from Montalcino grapes.

By Mai Phuong (According to CNN)