There’s something magical about sharing a meal while watching the world roll by outside your window. Train travel brings back the romance of a slower pace, where the journey matters just as much as the destination.
The gentle sway of the rails, the ever-changing landscape, and the clink of fine china create an atmosphere that no restaurant on solid ground can match. Modern luxury trains have elevate onboard dining to an art form, blending gourmet cuisine with breathtaking views.
Here is a list of 20 train routes that offer some of the most spectacular dining experiences on rails.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Europe
This legendary train recreates the golden age of travel with its restored 1920s carriages and white-gloved service. The dining cars feature marquetry panels, crystal glasses, and menus crafted by top European chefs, who change seasonal ingredients based on which countries you pass through.
You might enjoy French champagne while crossing the Swiss Alps, then switch to Italian prosecco as you approach Venice.
Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
The glass-domed dining cars on this route offer 360-degree views of the Canadian Rockies while you feast on locally-sourced ingredients. Chefs prepare dishes like Pacific salmon and Alberta beef right onboard, timing each course with the most scenic stretches of track.
The two-level cars mean you can enjoy your meal upstairs while watching eagles soar overhead.
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Glacier Express, Switzerland
Known as the ‘slowest express train in the world,’ this route gives you eight hours to savor both the food and the Alpine scenery. The dining car windows are positioned perfectly to frame the Matterhorn while you enjoy traditional Swiss dishes like rösti and local wines.
The train’s unhurried pace means your meal becomes a meditation on the passing peaks and valleys.
Blue Train, South Africa
This luxury train treats dining like a fine art, with each meal served on bone china with silver cutlery while the African landscape unfolds outside. The chefs specialize in contemporary South African cuisine, featuring springbok, ostrich, and local wines from the Cape region.
The observation car extends your dining experience into the evening with cocktails under the Southern Hemisphere stars.
Royal Scotsman, Scotland
The mahogany-paneled dining car serves traditional Scottish fare with a modern twist while you traverse the Highlands. You’ll taste locally-sourced venison, fresh Highland salmon, and single-malt whiskies from distilleries visible from your window.
The train stops at remote locations where local suppliers bring fresh ingredients directly to the kitchen car.
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Maharajas’ Express, India
This train redefines luxury dining with two restaurants onboard, serving both Continental and authentic Indian cuisine in carriages decorated with silk and gold leaf. The chefs adapt regional specialties based on which Indian state you’re crossing, so you might enjoy Rajasthani dal while passing through desert landscapes, then Kerala curry as you enter the tropical south.
Each meal comes with traditional music and dance performances in the lounge car.
Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian, Russia
The dining car on this epic journey across Russia serves hearty Russian cuisine alongside international dishes during the week-long crossing. You’ll sample fresh caviar, borscht, and vodka tastings while watching the endless Siberian taiga roll past your window.
The train stops in remote towns where local babushkas sell homemade bread and preserves directly to the kitchen staff.
Coast Starlight, California
Amtrak’s most scenic route features a dining car with floor-to-ceiling windows perfect for watching the Pacific coastline. The menu highlights California’s farm-to-table movement with fresh seafood, local wines, and seasonal produce sourced from communities along the route.
The southbound journey times dinner service perfectly with the sunset over the Pacific Ocean near San Luis Obispo.
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Shongololo Express, Southern Africa
This train combines multiple Southern African countries into one culinary journey, with menus changing to reflect local cuisines as you cross borders. You might enjoy Cape Malay curry in South Africa, then switch to Namibian game meats while crossing the Kalahari Desert.
The dining car’s large windows provide perfect game viewing during meal times, so don’t be surprised if elephants photobomb your lunch.
The Ghan, Australia
Named after Afghan camel drivers, this train crosses the entire Australian continent while serving modern Australian cuisine in its elegant dining cars. The menu features kangaroo, barramundi, and native Australian ingredients like wattleseed and finger lime while you traverse the Red Centre.
The train’s three-day journey allows for elaborate multi-course dinners under the Southern Cross constellation.
The Canadian, Canada
VIA Rail’s transcontinental service features a classic dining car with white tablecloths and views of the Canadian Shield, prairies, and Rocky Mountains. The menu celebrates Canadian ingredients like Arctic char, prairie-raised beef, and maple syrup desserts while you cover nearly 3,000 miles from Toronto to Vancouver.
The dining car becomes a social hub where passengers from different sleeper cars meet and share travel stories.
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Palace on Wheels, India
This former royal train serves cuisine fit for maharajas in dining cars decorated with mirror work and traditional Indian textiles. Each meal reflects the royal heritage of Rajasthan, with dishes once served in actual palaces along the route.
The train stops at heritage hotels where renowned chefs board to prepare special regional meals using recipes passed down through royal families.
Pride of Africa, Southern Africa
Rovos Rail’s luxury train features dining cars with Edwardian elegance, serving five-course meals on fine china while crossing some of Africa’s most spectacular landscapes. The menu combines South African wines with international cuisine.
Still, the real star is the timing – breakfast arrives just as you’re crossing Victoria Falls, and dinner coincides with African sunsets over the savanna. The train’s slow pace means you can actually watch wildlife while enjoying your meal.
Al Andalus, Spain
This luxury train touring southern Spain serves Andalusian cuisine in belle époque dining cars while you visit historic cities like Seville and Granada. The menu features traditional tapas, Iberian ham, and sherry pairings that change based on which Andalusian province you’re exploring.
The train often stops at local markets where chefs personally select ingredients for that evening’s dinner.
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Eastern & Oriental Express, Southeast Asia
This train connects Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore with dining cars serving both Asian and Western cuisine while you traverse rice paddies and tropical forests. The menu changes daily to reflect local ingredients, so you might enjoy Thai curry while passing through Bangkok’s outskirts, then Malaysian rendang as you cross the peninsula.
The observation car extends into the evening, offering cocktail service with views of illuminated temples and night markets.
Empire Builder, USA
Amtrak’s northern transcontinental route features dining cars with panoramic windows perfect for viewing Glacier National Park and the Columbia River Gorge. The menu emphasizes Pacific Northwest ingredients like wild salmon and Washington wines while you traverse some of America’s most dramatic landscapes.
The train’s two-day journey means you experience both sunrise and sunset from the dining car windows.
Royal Canadian Pacific, Cana
This luxury train uses restored 1916 coaches to serve gourmet meals while exploring the Canadian Rockies from Calgary. The dining car recreates the elegance of early 20th-century rail travel with crystal, silver, and linens while you enjoy locally-sourced Canadian cuisine.
The train’s custom routes mean the dining car windows are positioned to showcase specific mountain vistas during meal service.
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Belmond Andean Explorer, Peru
South America’s first luxury sleeper train serves Peruvian cuisine at 12,000 feet above sea level while crossing the Altiplano. The menu features quinoa, alpaca, and other Andean ingredients prepared by Lima’s top chefs while you traverse landscapes that haven’t changed since Inca times.
The dining car’s oxygen-enriched environment means you can enjoy your meal comfortably despite the extreme altitude.
California Zephyr, USA
This Amtrak route from Chicago to San Francisco features dining cars with wraparound windows perfect for viewing the Colorado Rockies and the Sierra Nevada. The menu highlights regional American cuisine with Colorado lamb and California wines timed to coincide with the most scenic portions of the track.
The train’s three-day journey means you experience the changing landscape through breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the same dining car.
Eastern Express, Turkey
This overnight train from Ankara to Kars serves traditional Turkish cuisine while crossing Anatolia’s vast steppes and heading toward the Armenian border. The dining car features copper details and Turkish carpets, while you enjoy dishes such as kebabs, baklava, and Turkish tea, served in traditional glass cups.
The train’s route follows ancient Silk Road paths, so you’re literally dining along one of history’s most important trade routes.
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Rails Through Time
Dining cars can therefore be classified as rolling time machines rather than mobile restaurants because they certainly transport the traveler back to the golden age of traveling while providing the perfect modern culinary experience. In an age where airlines reduce service to almost zero, and all beauty and romance are stripped from the highways in favor of speed in travel, it is trains that remind us sometimes it is better to experience a journey one course at a time.
The next time you’re planning a trip, consider trading your window seat on a plane for a table by the tracks, where every meal comes with a side of adventure and the dessert is always the view.
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