The Culinary Delights Hiding Below, Inside, and Above Government Buildings

When visiting a government institution, you’d be entirely justified to not expect too much, food-wise. A dank hallway lined with vending machines or a fluorescent Subway counter most likely awaits you.

But at these six halls of government, the food is much more exciting than a Hershey bar you scarf down while lining up to pay a parking ticket. Instead, government employees, locals, and even tourists flock to these spots below, inside, and above their political institutions. In the basement of the town hall in Bremen, Germany, wheelers and dealers have been wining and dining since the 15th century. If you have 10 friends, a reservation, and the requisite funds, Stockholm’s city hall restaurant will treat you to a banquet worthy of a Nobel Prize winner. And in Tokyo’s soaring Metropolitan Government building, you can dine on katsu among the clouds. It’s a civic cookout around the world, and you’re invited.

Editor’s note: Visit each restaurant’s website or social media to get the latest information on openings, closures, and how to support them. If you do choose to venture out, please follow all guidelines, maintain social distance, and wear a mask.