Photo: Hard Rock Ibiza Hotel

Have you heard about Sublimotion? I hadn’t. Not until I was prepping for my first trip to the magical island of Ibiza, Spain.

My hosts informed me that we were being treated to dinner at the “world’s most expensive restaurant,” and I thought, “Really?” But it only took a quick search to confirm that Sublimotion by Paco Roncero — the one-of-a-kind theatrical dining experience located inside the Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza — costs 1,700 euros ($1,900) per person. My excitement and my expectations immediately skyrocketed.

Related: Outrageous Travel Gifts for the 1 Percent

Apparently, the less I knew about the meal, the more fun it would be. So when we arrived for our reservation, I was as blissfully ignorant as the rest of my fellow 11 diners.

We were greeted with a warning: We could share the mind-blowing details of tonight — if we wanted.“But no one will believe you,” said our hostess.

Here’s what really happened:

View photos

Sublimotion-branded Land Rovers escorted us to the restaurant. (Photo: Jackie Strause)

Our 15-course, multi-sensory journey began with a kick-off drink at Estado Puro (the other restaurant by the double Michelin-starred chef at the Hard Rock. Michelin stars at the Hard Rock? Only in Ibiza!). We were only around the corner, but a fleet of Land Rovers escorted us to Sublimotion.

We were soon standing outside a nondescript door, where a woman clandestinely communicated our arrival. We packed into a small reception area that had an old-Hollywood vibe, with a man standing behind a dimly lit desk.

View photos

My edible admittance ticket into Sublimotion. (Photo: Jackie Strause)

He handed us personal tickets that were paired with a shot. “The tickets are edible,” he said. After a pause for reassuring looks around the room, we gnawed at the paper and bit into the envelope’s sweet raspberry seal.

I noticed a gold paper inside my envelope. “Ah, you have the golden ticket,” he said with an air of mystery. “Hold on to that for later.”



The fun was already beginning!

He herded us through the next door and into an even smaller room, which — complete with a video intro — doubled as an elevator ride that fittingly blared “Hey, Ho/Let’s Go” by The Ramones.

View photos

The doors opened to reveal a futuristic dinner table, with virtual doors functioning as nametags. (Photo: Jackie Strause)

When we reached our stop, it felt like we had traveled through time. The dining room contained a white, communal table with 12 grand chairs and floor-to-ceiling screens that served as walls, giving the space 360-degree projection capability. Our names were in neon lights above our designated seats.

Once in our places, we swallowed our second course, which was a fruity pill (a symbolic precursor?) that melted in my mouth like sorbet. My senses and curiosity heightened, I decided to check my inhibitions at the virtual door.

