The experiences our clients ask for most have one thing in common: there are far fewer places than people who want them. A restaurant with 40 seats cannot grow to meet worldwide demand, and neither can a terrace overlooking a Grand Prix.
Restaurants: small rooms, global demand
The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list named Maido in Lima as No. 1, followed by Asador Etxebarri in the Basque Country, Quintonil in Mexico City, DiverXO in Madrid and Alchemist in Copenhagen. A place on that list can bring worldwide demand to a small dining room overnight.
The booking rules show the pressure. DiverXO opens its calendar 90 days ahead, and according to its booking partner CoverManager, each new date sells out within minutes. Forbes Brasil reported in 2025 that waits can run to around 330 days at El Celler de Can Roca and up to a year at Disfrutar.
Events: allocations before public sale
Sporting hospitality works differently, but the result is similar. For the 2027 Formula 1 season, the official Abu Dhabi hospitality page currently offers a waitlist with pre-sale access, and Monaco packages are listed without prices. The best positions are often committed before most people start looking.
What actually works
- Be flexible on dates. One alternative date can double your chances
- Know the rules. Each restaurant has its own release dates, deposit and cancellation terms
- Plan the trip around the booking. For destination restaurants, secure the table first and the travel second
- Use relationships, honestly. A good concierge can ask, follow up and be ready for cancellations, but no one can promise a table
We recently worked on a request for Asador Etxebarri for a client from Turin, for her anniversary. Our Asador Etxebarri listing explains how we approach requests like this.
Sources: The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025; CoverManager case study on DiverXO; Forbes Brasil, August 2025; Formula 1 official hospitality pages, accessed October 2026.
