☞ THE MOST UNUSUAL RESTAURANTS IN THE WORLD - Unique Restaurants, Exotic, Strange, Weird, Wacky, Odd, Eccentric, Quirky, Peculiar, Themed, Concept, Theme

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updated May 11, 2017

   不寻常的餐厅, ungewöhnlich, ασυνήθιστη εστιατόρια, חריג מסעדות, olağandışı restoranlar, 異常なレストラン, íåîáû÷íûå ðåñòîðàíû, عادي المطاعم, 레스토랑    TRANSLATE

7+ years of research have been put into finding unusual restaurants from all imaginable sources, including local news, blogs, and internet forums in foreign languages,
sorting out non-materialized gimmicks, places that had limited runs or have been closed, and finding websites, addresses, telephones, and GPS coordinates

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 SERVICE, ENTERTAINMENT


Monkeys - waiters

Kayabukiya Tavern

Japan

Utsunomiya


Robot waiters, dancing and serving

Hajime

Dalu Robot Restaurant

Thailand

China

Bangkok

Jinan

Original
The staff are kids

Kinderkookkafé

Netherlands

Amsterdam

dark restaurant, concept
Dining in complete darkness, often with blind waitstaff

restaurants that have only "dark dining" days or events are not included

Nocti Vagus

Unsicht Bar

Zum Blinden Enge

Mondschein

Taste of Darkness

Dinner in the DarkNoir

Blinde Kuh

Ctaste

Dark Waiter

Dans Le Noire?

Dark Side

Dark

Pod Křídlem Noci

Blind Restaurant (closed)

Blackout

Blind

Opaque

Market 17

O'Noir

Dark Restaurant (closed)

Dine in the Dark

Blind Art

Blind Cafe

Dialogue in the Dark

DarkTrojan Fairy

Whale Belly

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Austria

Switzerland

Netherlands

Denmark

France, UK, Spain,

USA, Russia

Ukraine

Poland

Czech Republic

Romania

Israel

Turkey

USA

USA

Canada

India

Thailand

South Korea

Indonesia

China

China

China

Berlin

Köln-Berlin-Hamburg

Munich

Leipzig

Frankfurt

Vienna

Basel, Zürich

Amsterdam

Copenhagen

Paris,London,Barcelona
NYC,Moscow,St.Petersburg

Kiev

Poznan

Prague

Bucharest

Tel Aviv

Belek

LA, San Francisco, San Diego, Dallas, New York

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Montreal, Toronto

Bangalore

Bangkok

Seoul

Bandung

Hong Kong

Taiyuan, Beijing

Tianjin, Beijing-closed

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Deaf waitstaff

Cafe SignesSourdine

Bakery Cafe

Ciak si Mangia

Café Kapish

Lac Thien

Ristorante delle Mitre

Atfaluna Restaurant

KFC run by deaf staff

KFC run by deaf staff

KFC run by deaf staff

KFC run by deaf staff

France

Nepal

Italy

Israel

Vietnam

Philippines

Palestinian N.A

Egypt

Malaysia

Pakistan

Singapore

Paris

Katmandu

Rome

Tel Aviv

Hue

Manila

Gaza

Cairo

Kuala Lumpur

Karachi

 

Waitstaff members have mental disorders

(help for people with disabilities)

Locanda dei Girasoli

Trattoria degli Amici

I ragazzi di Sipario

La Pecora Nera

Gospoda Jaskółeczka

Radnička Café

Vesmírna

SIMPatická kavárna

Kačaba

Italy

Italy

Italy

Italy

Poland

Slovakia

Czech Republic

Czech Republic

Czech Republic

Rome

Rome

Florence

Lucca

Radom

Bratislava

Prague

Prague

Plzen


Meals are prepared by very sophisticated robots

(side projects of the big robotics companies)

Robot Restaurant

Haohai Robot Restaurant

FA-men closed

China

China

Japan

Nanning

Harbin

Nagoya

The staff are 'disadvantaged' youths

KOTO

Fifteen

Café Rozmar

Vietnam

UK, Netherlands, Australia

Czech Republic

Hanoi, Saigon

London, Cornwall, Amsterdam, Melbourne

Prague

Cooking and serving by homeless trainees

Skylight Cafe

UK

London, Newcastle

Assisting people to overcome drug or alcohol addiction

Cafe Therapy

Czech Republic

Prague


The staff are dwarves

Hobbit House

Dwarfs Island

1000 and One Nights

Philippines

Egypt

Afghanistan

Manila

Cairo

Herat


Pay as much as you wish

SAMEComfort Cafe

Cafe 180

One World Cafe

Karma Kitchen

Better World Cafe

Soul Kitchen

Table Grace Cafe

The Front Porch

The Living Room

Ransom Cafe

Common Table

Terra Bite

Perlin • Forum

Der Wiener Deewan

Pay As You Please

Seva Cafe

Indus Valley

Lentil as Anything

Annalakshmi

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

Germany

Austria

Ireland

India

India

Australia

International

Denver, CO

Englewood, CO

Salt Lake City, UT

Chicago, D.C., Berkeley

Highland Park, NJ

Red Bank, NJ

Omaha, NE

Ellsworth, MI

Knoxville, TN

Mobile, AL

Bend, OR

Kirkland - CLOSED

Berlin

Vienna

Killarney

Ahmedabad

Auroville Puducherry

Melbourne

Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Chennai, Coimbatore

Pay only for time. You can bring your food and drinks. Free tea, cofee, cookies, table games

Tsiferblat (Clockfacer)

Russia

Ukraine

Moscow, St.Petersburg, Kazan, Nizny Novgorod

Kiev, Odessa


Dining table is suspended in the air along with patrons

Dinner in the Sky

International

Rental/Catering. Belgium HQ


Feel the full force of a simulated 7.8 Earthquake!

Disaster Café

Spain

Lloret de Mar

Free meal.. if you can finish it :

4.5 lb steak in one hour
4.5 lb steak in one hour
4 lb burger
50 lb burger in 3 hours, with 4 friends
2 lb crab+lb shrimp+lb mussels+flounder, etc
4 lb burger+1 lb bun in 30 minutes
5 lb of pancakes in two hours
4 lb beef noodle soup in one hour
6 lb seafood roll in one hour
50 chicken wings in 30 minutes
8 lb burrito in 1 hour
since 1913: drink 5 malts in half hour
-
only regularly held food challenges, more here

Big Texan Steak Ranch

Country Squire Inn

Burger Shack

Clinton Station Diner

Port Royal Pub

Pig'N-Chik

Seiad Valley Cafe

Pho Garden

Sushi Delight

West End Tavern

Burritos Mexican Grill

Crown Candy Kitchen

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

Amarillo, TX

Warsaw, NC

Coram, NY

Clinton , NJ

Islip, NY

Sherwood, AR

Seiad Valley, CA

San Francisco, CA

Lomita , CA

Boulder, CO

Sarasota, FL

St. Louis, MO


Servers dressed in character, dance on counters, may have amusing 'attitudes'

Ed Debevic's

USA

Chicago

Patrons must obey eccentric etiquette. Swathed in British Royal paraphernalia

The Tea Cosy

UK

Brighton


Entertainingly 'rude' service

Dick's Last Resort

Weiner's Circle

USA

USA

Baltimore, Boston, Dallas, Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, S.Antonio, S.Diego

Chicago

Famous for the behaviour of its waiters, who curse at or otherwise verbally abuse the diners Cencio la Parolaccia Italy Rome
Bipolar chef/owner. No waiters. Foods alleviating bipolar disorder; honesty payment system. All menu items named after famous bipolar people

Van Gogh Is Bipolar

Philippines

Quezon City


Legendary eccentric grouchy chef-owner; eclectic ~800 items (!) menu, ~20 seats

Shopsins

USA

New York

If you don't finish your plate you get a fine

Japan Grillhous

Wafu

Le Spirit Lounge (closed)

Austria

Australia

Canada

Vienna

Sydney

Montreal


Staff throws free bread rolls at patrons

Lambert's Cafe

USA

Sikeston, Ozark, MO

Foley, AL

Patrons may release their anger

Isdaan

Casa Pocho

Rising Sun

Philippines

Spain

China

Gerona

Cullera   Closed

Nanjiing


Restaurant - greenhouse, where dinner is harvested

De Kas

Netherlands

Amsterdam

Food grown or raised on 80 acres around this famous restaurant. No menus

Blue Hill at Stone Barns

USA

Pocantico Hills, NY


Guests may catch fish for dinner

Zauo (1)

Russian Fishing

Fishing Village

Fiesta Fishing Restaurant

Por Kung Pao (prawn fishing)

Mr.99 (prawn fishing)

Geylang Prawn Fishing

Japan

Russia

Philippines

Philippines

Thailand

Thailand

Singapore

14 locations

St.Petersburg

Cavite

Cagayan de Oro

Bangkok

Pattaya


Do-it-yourself cooking

(but not Asian style grills)

De Goljer

Turf Supper Club

Alexander's Steakhouse

Old Spanish Sugar Mill

Slappy Cakes

Arbuzny Sahar

inTable
Grate Stake

Belgium

USA

USA

USA

USA

Russia

Germany
USA

Astene

San Diego, CA

Springfield, Peoria, Normal, IL
DeLeon Springs, FL
Portland, OR
Perm
Bonn     closed
Norfolk, VA    closed

Cook meals tableside on pre-heated stones: Ishi-Yaki - traditional Japanese stone grills, and western 'Rock fondues', often with exotic meats

Rok Bistro

The Grizzly House

Issian Pontocho etc

not common in the West, but available in too many Japanese restaurants to list here

USA

Canada

Japan

Sunnyvale, CA

Banff, AB

Kyoto

Unique Restaurant
Meals are cooked using volcanic heat

El Diablo

Spain

Lanzarote Island


Unique restaurant using only solar energy for cooking

Solar de Villaseca

Chile

Villaseca

Barbarian Meal. Feast on large chunks of meat with bare hands

NG Meat Bar

Israel

Tel Aviv

Eat only with your fingers. Full-service 'Fingerfood' restaurants

(but not ethnic, e.g. Ethiopian, Moroccan, etc.)

Il Maggiolino

Finger Food Restaurant (closed)

Dips 'n Stix

Carpe Diem

Au bout des doigts

Italy

Italy

Germany

Austria

France

Milan

Arezzo

Hamburg

Salzburg

Lille


Touchscreen ordering

Inamo

La Baracca (iPad menus)

Mundo (iPad menus)

Sakae Sushi

uWink, clo Wine

Bytes

UK

Germany

Australia

Int'l Franchise

USA

UK

London

Munich, Düsseldorf, Hamburg

Sydney

Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam

closed

Canterbury


Meals ordered via touchscreen slide on special tracks to the tables. Gravity. No waiters

's Baggers

Schwerelos & Zeitlos‎ (1)

FoodLoop

Germany

Germany

Germany

Nürnberg

Hamburg

Rust


Mini trains are carrying dishes to the tables. No waiters.

Le Train Gourmand

Fritz's Railroad Restaurant

Choo Choo Johnny's

Niagara

France

USA

USA

Japan

La Valette du Var

Kansas City, MO

Frankfort, IL

Tokyo

Drink prices fluctuate in 25 cent increments based on supply and demand, with a ticker over the bar Exchange Bar & Grill USA New York
Auction-like sale of dishes

El Tintero II (1)

Spain

Malaga

Each table has a telephone to communicate with other tables, to spark up conversations or to ask someone to dance

Restophone

France

Montpellier

Each table has a telephone to call and make an order

Gus's Pizza & Grill

Hamburger King

USA

USA

Edgewood, MD

Shawnee, OK



Singing Waiters and Waitresses

Ellen's Stardust Diner

Victor Cafe

Le ProvençalRoxy’s diner

Miceli's

Max's Opera Cafe

Cafe Italia

Rheinlander

Mel's Hard Luck Diner

The Station House

Black Barts Steakhouse

The Italian Inn

Rino's Italian Restaurant

Vito's Cafe

Bel Canto

Pasta e Basta

DINNERCLUBLu Chi

Teaterkælderen

El Café de la Ópera

La CastafioreLa Favorita

Belcanto (closed)

Punch Line

Song Café @ hotel Leonardo

Sadko

Singing Cooks and Waiters

also at some Johnny Rockets and Joe's Crab Shack locations; many were recently closed

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

France, UK

Netherlands

Germany

Denmark

Spain

Spain

Hungary

Israel

Israel

Russia

Philippines

New York

Philadelphia

Las Vegas, NV

Los Angeles, CA

San Francisco, CA

Indian Wells, CA

Portland, OR

Branson, MO

Chattanooga, TN

Flagstaff, AZ

Fort Worth, TX

Trinidad, CO

Ft. Thomas, KY

Paris, London

Amsterdam

Köln, Brühl

Copenhagen

Madrid

Madrid

Budapest

Tel Aviv

Eilat

St.Petersburg

Manila, Quezon, Pasig, Makati


Run by the North Korean government. Singing and dancing North Korean waitresses.

Pyongyang

Pyongyang

Pyongyang

Pyongyang

Pyongyang

Pyongyang

Pyongyang

Kore/Pyongyang

Cambodia

Thailand

Malaysia

Indonesia

Laos

China

Bangladesh

Russia

Siem Reap, Phnom Penh

Bangkok, Pattaya- closed

Kuala Lumpur

Jakarta

Vientiane

Shanghai

Dhaka

Moscow

Missionary nuns sing 'Ave Maria' to the guests

L'Eau Vive

Italy Peru France Czech Republic Burkina Faso Argentine Mexico New Caledonia

Rome Lima Tolone Marseille Domrémy-la-Pucelle Brno Ouagadougou Bobodioulasso Luján Tepatitlán de Morelos Numea


Candlelit dinner and a Mozart concert in the medieval monastery. 17-18th century dishess

Stiftskeller St.Peter

Austria

Salzburg


Music for patrons is played on a giant vintage organ

Organ Piper Pizza

USA

Greenfield, WI


Dinner theater seating 600 guests

Chanhassen Dinner Theater

USA

Chanhassen, MN

Interactive horror dinner show

La Masia Encantada

Spain

Arenys de Munt

Broadway plays and movies' parodies

The Gaslight Theatre

USA

Tuscon, AZ


Dinner with acrobatics, comedy, etc.

Palazzo

Circus

Netherlands

UK

Amsterdam

London

Puppet Theater Restaurant

See-Join Puppet Theater

Taiwan

Taipei

funny, extravagant
Goats grazing on the restaurant's grass roof

Al Johnson Swedish Restaurant & Butik

Old Country Market

USA


Canada

Sister Bay, WI


Coombs, BC

Restaurant - amuzement park

Casa Bonita (1)

USA

Lakewood, CO

Eclectic fun place with boxing ring and gym

The Duce

USA

Phoenix, AZ


Climb over communal table to your bench to enjoy fondue with a wine from baby bottle

Le Refuge des Fondues

France

Paris

Steakhouse with exotic ambiance and performances, seating 1000 guests

Andrés Carne de Res

Colombia

Bogota, Chia


A circus and chaos at a tower built in 1150, where donkeys may finish your leftovers..

Ciabot

Italy

Rivanazzano

Eccentric music cafe with quirky mechanical tables and hats, singing staff, etc.

Bom-Bane's

UK

Brighton

Famous goofy, eccentric, wacky owner/service, weirdest restaurant

Kagaya

Japan

Tokyo


Walls and the ceiling are tansforming every 20 minutes

Switch

USA

Las Vegas

Guests get three free used books with a meal

Traveler Restaurant

USA

Union, CT


Lunch with an actual NASA astronaut who will brief about space program

Lunch with an Astronaut

USA

Kennedy Space Center, FL

Experimental dinner theater, with food as center of performances

Madeleine Madtheater (closed)

Denmark

Copenhagen


Professional telescope available for diners

Observatory Restaurant

Diner @ Hotel Observatory

Astro Cafe

South Africa

Philippines

New Zealand

Johannesburg

Antipolo City

Lake Tekapo

Foreign films are shown during dinner

Foreign Cinema

USA

San Francisco

Meals from the movies. Each course is accompanied by a scene from a well known film

Hatraklin

Israel

Tel Aviv


BBQ chickens set on fire, catapulted through the air, and caught by a waiter riding unicycle

Ka-Tron Flying Chicken

Thailand

Bangkok

Cook throws fried vegetables to a waiter or customer who has to catch them on a plate

Flying Vegeatables

Thailand

Phitsanulok

Serve peanuts in bowls on the table and you throw the peanut shells on the floor Clearman's North Woods Inn USA Covina, San Gabriel, Miranda, CA
Only serves cuisine from countries that the United States is in conflict with

Conflict Kitchen

USA

Pittsburgh, PA

wacky restaurant
Large beds instead of chairs

B.E.D.

Silk Bed

Bed Supperclub

Duvet

USA

Germany

Thailand

USA

Miami

Frankfurt

Bangkok

New York      CLOSED

Naked waitresses

Les Princesses

Canada

Montreal

Coffee-Shops, or Espresso drive-through stands with half naked bikini baristas

Hot Chick-a-Latté

Bikini-Baristas

Temptation Cafe

Cafés con piernas

USA

USA

USA

Chile

Denver, CO

Seattle-Tacoma

Santa Ana, CA

Santiago


Naked Sushi (Nyotaimori) - sushi served on a women's body

Geisha House (once a month)

Yoshi

USA

Italy

Las Vegas

Rome

'Aphrodisiac cuisine' restaurant with erotic shows, decor, and names for the dishes

Te Mataré Ramirez

Argentina

Buenos Aires


Breweries with beer baths

Chodovar Beer Spa

Starkenberger Bier. (1)

Moorhof Beer Bath

Hummerower Hof

Czech Republic

Austria

Austria

Germany

Chodová Planá

Terrenz

Franking

Neuzelle


Dine taking foot spa with a bunch of small 'Dr. Fish' (Garra rufa) eating dead skin off your feet

Dr. Fish Cafe

Korea

Seoul

In-house Chinese medicine doctor do the check-up and "prescribe" your meal

Imperial Herbal Restaurant

Singapore



Foot Spa Restaurants. Patrons soak feet in a hot spring bath while dining

Ashiyu

Ashiyu

Naraya café

Paradise

Japan

Kyoto

Hakone

Hakone

Osaka

Cafe - designer's furniture store

Das Möbel

Austria

Vienna

Guests may decorate walls with pasticine

Didu

Russia

Moscow


Guests dine in hammocks strung from the ceiling

Hammock-Cafe

Japan

Tokyo


Guests dine on swings, and may get a massage

Sur un Arbre Perché

France

Paris

Restaurant-Laundromat. Eat, Drink, Do Laundry

Harvey Washbangers

BrainWash

USA

USA

College Station, TX

San Francisco, CA


Recreation of a homely environment in an apartment interior

Derrière

The Apartment

Cafe Apartment

Jan's

Cafe Antonius

V-Meste

Old Apartment  etc

France

Indonesia

Japan

Israel

Finland

Russia

Russia

Paris

Jakarta

Tokyo

Jerusalem

Naantali

St. Petersburg

Samara

Intimate communal seating with open kitchen

Beast

USA

Portland, OR

Restaurants for women only

The Red Lounge

Fontaineblue etc (1)

Princess Heart (closed)

UK

Saudi Arabia

Japan

London

Riyadh

Tokyo

 

 

Dine with Giraffes

Giraffe Manor

Kenya

Nairobi

Cat Cafes. Cat companionship for coffee and snacks

sometimes dogs too..
few 'cat cafes' are serving hot dishes

Cat Café by Purina ONE®

Cat Paradiseest. 1998

HanazonoNational Child

Very EasyBistro O

Calico Cat CafeHapi Cat

Yanmaru

NecorobiCat Room

Curl UpCatsCafePrince

Cat's TimeSpinning Cat Cafe

Neko ManmaPfft!

FelisTama Neko

Cat Cafe Utatane

Cafe Dog ManLucky Cat

Gio Cat

BAU House dogs only

etc.

USA

Taiwan

Taiwan

Taiwan

Japan

Japan

Japan

Japan

Japan

Japan

Japan

Japan

Japan

Korea

Korea

New York

Taipei

Taipei

Taipei

Tokyo

Tokyo

Tokyo

Tokyo

Osaka

Nagoya, Okayama

Utsunomiya, Tama

Miyazaki

Kyoto, Hiroshima

Seoul

Seoul

Reptile companionship. Staff pet lizzards, snakes, and turtles

Reptiles Cafe

Japan

Yokohama


Patrons can pet staff bunnies for small fee

Rabbit Books

Usagi-to-Cafe

Japan

Japan

Tokyo

Nagoya

Yarn shop - knitting cafe. Eat and knit.

Big Knit Cafe

Thailand

Bangkok

3 football fields huge; waterfalls, live crocodiles, seals. No menu. Walk with a waitress along the food to place an order

Tang Du Zoology Restaurant

China

Taiyuan


Restaurants for the dogs

(sometimes owners may dine too..)

Dining Dog Cafe

Doggy Style Deli

Urban Pooch Cafe

Coolbaby

Love Me

etc.

USA

Canada

Singapore

China

Taiwan

Edmonds, WA

Edmonton

 

Beijing

Taipei

200+ years old dead cats, and other odd relicts in a vault of this fabled Dickensian pub

Dirty Dicks

UK

London

creative
Made from shipping container. Foldable concept

RESTO MUVBOX

La Boite

Mooba

Canada

USA

Australia

Montreal

Austin, TX

Perth

Inside 1920s chocolate factory, vintage machinery & chocolate-infused menu

SAID, Antica Fabbrica del Cioccolato

Italy

Rome

Noodles cooled in a stream of water flowing from the kitchen to the tables

Hirobun

Japan

Kibune, Kyoto

Pirate ship with Jazz band floats in live crocodile infested waters inside this restaurant

Dantes Down The Hatch

USA

Atlanta, GA

Sushi served from the little boats that floats around waterway circuit

Afloat Sushi

USA

Pasadena, CA

You order, but get what the guest before you ordered

Ogori Cafe (closed)

Japan

Kashiwa


In working prisons. Staffed by inmates.

Fife & Drum @ NE Correct. Cnr

Fortezza Medicea

Clink

Pollsmoor Mess

Drakenstein A La Carte

USA

Italy

UK

South Africa

South Africa

Concord, MA

Volterra

Sutton

Cape Town

Paarl

'Mermaid' girl swims in the fish tank; 'Hostess Club' where female staff cater to males

Fusion

Japan

Tokyo


'Waitresses' are men in drag, drag shows

Lips (1) (2)

Lucky Cheng's (1)

AsiaSFPalace

Kit Kat Lounge

BJ's Carousel

Gay Nineties

Restaurante Gayedra

PekadoEterna

Barbarela

Union Street Restaurant

L'ArtishowChez Michou

't Sluisje

Caluzzi

New Type etc.

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

Spain

Spain

Spain

N. Ireland, UK

France

Netherlands

New Zealand

Japan

NYC, San Diego, Oakland Prk

New York, Las Vegas

San Francisco, Miami Beach

Chicago

Denver, CO

Minneapolis, MN

Andalusia

Valencia

Barcelona

Belfast

Paris

Amsterdam

Auckland

Tokyo

'Retro-futuristic' Cross-dressing staff, mattresses, etc.

Supper Club

Netherlands UK Turkey USA

Amsterdam, Istanbul, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco

Meals are based on guests blood type
/Japanese ketsueki gata theory/
The Third Floor Thailand Bangkok
Signature cocktail - a drink containing a mummified human toe

Sourdough Saloon at Downtown Hotel

Canada

Dawson City


Unique non-commercial dining halls

Amundsen-Scott station galley

Harvard Annenberg Hall

Antarctica

USA

South Pole

Cambridge, MA

Government subsidized 'communist nostalgia' cafeterias, super-cheap good quality meals

Familijny Bar Mleczny

Poland

Warsaw

Table will pop-up at attractive city location, that would be revealed via SMS one hour ahead of time

Street Dinner

Italy

Ferrara

'Secret' restaurants without signs, or disguised as other businesses

private house Tony Angello's

book club First Hungarian Literary Society

drycleaners Tintoria Dontell - closed

souvenir shop Chi Ton

USA

USA

Spain

Spain

New Orleans

New York

Barcelona

Barcelona

'Underground' restaurants a.k.a. 'supper clubs' or 'guestaurants'. Often apartment based and unlicensed, with reference/ invitation/ membership required. Some are very popular, with long waiting lists

Casa SaltShaker

Orange Arrow

Ghetto Gourmet

Paladar Temescal

LES SalonnieresCity Grit

The Whisk & Ladle

Anemochory

Supper Underground

din din supper club

The Endless Meal

Pret A Diner

Little Paris kitchen

Hidden Kitchen

Le Salon Anglais

Mama Isa

Secret Ingredient

The Underground Restaurant

Nomad Chef Secret Restaurant

The Shy Chef

Kokun

Zingara Cucina

etc.

Argentina

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

Canada

UK & others

France

France

France

Italy

UK

UK

UK

Germany

Spain

Australia

Buenos Aires

Washington, DC

Oakland, CA

Oakland, CA

New York

New York

Boston, MA

Austin, TX

Portland, OR

Vancouver

London, etc.

Paris

Paris

Lyon

Padova

London

London

London

Berlin

Barcelona

Melbourne

'Smoking Point' - holes in the wall for the guests to sticks head and hands outside, and beat smoking ban

Maltermeister Turm

Germany

Goslar

Cafe serving smokers ONLY!

Cafe Tobacco - closed

Japan

Tokyo

Open-air restaurant inside the building. No walls and doors - to accomodate smokers

La calle del libre albedrío

Spain

Cadiz

Three robot waiters take orders

Patrons observe patrons via cameras

The staff are twins

Restaurant for anorexics

Staffed by ex-convicts

Light therapy

Staff with giant anime costume heads

Robot Kitchen

Remote Lounge

Twins

Sehnsucht

Conviction

Igloo Light Cafe

Kigurumi Café Aokazetei

China

USA

USA

Germany

Canada

Sweden

Japan

Hong Kong       CLOSED

New York

New York

Berlin

Toronto

Stockholm

Tokyo

many unusual restaurant concepts found on the internet were never materialized, or had limited run, ..or just too cheesy :)


   THEME

toilet restaurant
Toilet themed

likely the weirdest restaurants

Modern Toilet

House of Poo Poo

T-Bowl

Klo

W-Duck

Taiwan, China

China

Malaysia

Germany

Portugal

Taipei Kaohsiung Tainan Changhua Pingtung Hong Kong Shenzhen

Beijing

Penang, K. Lumpur, Petaling

Berlin

Matosinho     CLOSED

wacky restaurants in Tokyo

Cosplay cafés. Maids are treating guests as 'masters'; butler cafés for the ladies, etc.

Cure Maid Cafe@home

JAM AkihabaraCos Cha

Cafe DollMaiDreamin
OK Bokujyo

M’s MelodyAkiba Usagi

LabyrinthPinky Cafe

Mai:lishNagomiMaid-san

Moe Maid

Fuwa loose Cafe Moe

Swallowtail (butlers)

Butlers Cafe (foreign butlers)

e-Maid

Fatimaid, Moe Point

MeiDolls Cafe

Tenshi no Cafe

Kirameki Cafe

Royal/T Café

Akibanana

etc.

Japan

Japan

Japan

Japan

Japan

Japan

Japan

Japan

Japan

Japan

Japan

Japan

Taiwan

Philippines

Malaysia

Malaysia

USA

Singapore

Tokyo

Tokyo

Tokyo

Tokyo

Tokyo

Tokyo

Tokyo

Kanagawa

Sapporo

Fukuoka

Nagoya

Osaka

Taipei

Manila

Kuala Lumpur

Kota Kinabalu

Culver City, CA

Grandmother theme, cuisine and decor

Le bistrot de Mémé

France

La Rochelle


Alice-esque waitresses, oversized tale décor, playing card menus, etc.

Alice in Wonderland

Japan

Tokyo

Theme of troll & hippopotamus like characters from Swedish-Finn comics/books

Moomin Bakery & Café

Japan

Tokyo

Forest with strange trees, fairies, gnomes

El Bosc de les Fades

Spain

Barcelona


Teddy bears wait at the table for the dinner companions

Teddy's Kitchen

Buffet (few T-bears :)

China

Russia

Wuhan

Moscow

Simulated old-fashioned drive-in movie theater, old sci-fi movie clips shown on the big screen

Sci-Fi Dine-In

USA

Orlando, FL

1950's family kitchen theme. Tables with TV sets broadcasting 50's sitcoms clips

50's Prime Time Cafe

USA

Orlando, FL

School cafeteria theme

Kyushokutoban

Japan

Tokyo

School theme. Only serving guests born 1980-89

After 80

China

Beijing


'Masochism themed' cafe

devoted to the memory of Sacher-Masoch, born in Lvivv

Masoch Cafe

Ukraine

Lviv

Sex theme restaurant

To Kouklaki

Greece

Chalandri

Dracula's theme

Count Dracula Club

Draculas

Romania

Australia

Bucharest

Melbourne, Gold Coast

Vampire theme

Vampire Cafe

Japan

Tokyo

Horror theme

Donny Dirk's Zombie Den

La Posada Maldita

Le Cercueil Coffin/may be closed

The Hellfire (closed)

Yurei Ghosts

USA

Spain

Belgium

UK

Japan

Minneapolis, MN

Barcelona

Brussels

Manchester

Tokyo

Opera themed with opera performances

Sarastro

UK

London

'Speakeasy gangsters' dinner theater

Tommy Gun's Garage

USA

Chicago


Old Jewish quarter themed cafe

Once upon a time in Kazimierz

Poland

Krakow

Recreates RMS Titanic voyage

Titanic Dinner Theatre

Australia

Melbourne

Caveman / Prehistoric themes

Stone Age (Pravěk)

Jurassic Restaurant

Czech Republic

USA

Prague

City of Industry, CA


'Medieval Tournament' dinner theater

Medieval Times

USA, Canada

Atlanta, Baltimore, Buena Park, Chicago, Dallas, Lyndhurst, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Toronto - Canada

Condom themed restaurants promoting safe sex and family planning.

Cabbages & Condoms (1)

Banana Restaurant (1)

Thailand

Taiwan

Bangkok, Pattaya, etc.

Taichung


Hospital themed. Nurses. Wheelchairs

D.S. Music (closed)

Heart Attack Grill

L'Urgence Bar

Clinic Cafe

Clinic -closed

Hospitalis -closed

Taiwan

USA

France

Malaysia

Singapore

Latvia

Taipei

Las Vegas, NV

Paris

Penang

 

Riga

Church themed restaurant

Christon Cafe

Japan

Osaka


Prison themed restaurants

AlcatrazLockup

Bollesje

VIP-Zona

Butirka

Jailbird (in the frm. prison)

Kobe Beef

Alkatraz

Japan

Germany

Russia

Russia

Finland

China

Taiwan

Tokyo

Rüdesheim

Magnitogorsk

Moscow

Helsinki

Wuhan

Taipei, Taichung   CLOSED

weird
Cultural revolution themed restaurants. Staff dressed like Red Guards.

Genjudi

Shaoshan Chong

No. 1 Production Brigade

Commune Mess Hall

Red Sun

Da Feng Shou

House of Mao

China

China

China

China

China

China

Singapore

Beijing, Dalian, Qingdao

Nanning

Shenzhen

Guangzhou

Wuxi

Harbin

 

weird sexy Best Soviet themed restaurants

(erotic kitsch, nostalgia, 'Soviet food', etc. )

Lenin's mating call

Petrovich

Traktir Black Cat (1)

Spetsbuffet No. 7

Antisovetskaya

Spotykach

Epoch

Russia

Russia

Russia

Russia

Russia

Ukraine

Kazakhstan

St. Petersburg

Moscow

Moscow

Moscow

Moscow

Kiev

Astana

Ninja theme

Ninja (1)

USA, Japan, Taiwan

New York, Tokyo, Taipei

Mine shaft theme, exterior and interior

Wausau Mine Company

USA

Wausau, WI


Cars theme often with cars inside

P.S. Bu Bu (Austin Mini)

Auto Passion Café

Ô Bolides

The Car. Das Auto

Quaker Steak & Lube

Dream Car Restaurant

etc.

Taiwan

France

France

Austria

USA

Indonesia

Taipei

Paris

Angers

Obertrum

35 locations

Surabaya

Nautical theme; amazingly decorated rooms, portholes, whale skeleton, etc.

Ocean Pacific's

Chile

Santiago

Aviation theme with a lot of planes on display
see also 'Airplanes converted into restaurants'

Proud Bird Restaurant

56 Fighter Group Restaurant

Ikarus (amazing architecture)

USA

USA

Austria

Los Angeles

Farmingdale, NY

Salzburg


Airbus A380 themed

DC Stateroom

A380

China

Taiwan

Chongqing

Taipei

Subway / Metro theme

Metro

Silver Metro

Russia

India

Moscow

Bangalore, Hyderabad

amazing restaurant
UFO themed McDonald's

McDonald's

USA

Roswell, NM

Spy themed restaurant

Safe House

USA

Milwaukee, WI

Mars, Space, sci-fi theme

Mars 2112 (closed)

USA

New York

Some themes may seem mediocre or tacky. They are listed for completeness' sake.

stupid

Star Trek theme

Pol Pot era theme

War theme

Death theme

Quark's

Khmer Rouge Cafe

Buns and Guns

Eternity

USA

Cambodia

Lebanon

Ukraine

Las Vegas           CLOSED

Phnom Penh

Beirut

Truskavets

  WORLD RECORDS


Oldest restaurants in the world

dates of establishment or continuity of operation sometimes may be arguable.
Botin is listed as the oldest restaurant in the Guinness Book of Records. The term 'restaurant' was introduced only in 1765

900
1273
1284
1345
1421
1465
1447
1518
1582
1673
1686
1696
1720
1722
1725

Sean's Bar  oldest pub

Piwnica Świdnicka

Antica Trattoria Bagutto

La Couronne oldest Inn

Zum Franziskaner

Griechenbeisl

Owariya

La Campana

La Tour d'Argent

The White Horse Tavern

Le Procope

Boeucc

Det Lille Apotek

Mankamero

Botín

Ireland

Poland

Italy

France

Sweden

Austria

Japan

Italy

France

USA

France

Italy

Denmark

Japan

Spain

Athlone

Wrocław

Milan

Rouen

Stockholm

Wien

Kyoto

Rome

Paris

Newport, RI

Paris

Milan

Copenhagen

Kyoto

Madrid

Most expensive restaurants in the world

p/p price indications are mostly prix fixe based, and are subject to changes; see also 'BEST' section below, e.g. L'Arpège, French Loundry, etc.

*- Michelin stars 2012.

$400-600
~$500
up to ˆ320
$240-$395
up to ˆ245

Masa***

Aragawa*

Alain Ducasse***

Joël Robuchon***

Guy Savoy***

USA

Japan

France

USA

France

New York

Tokyo

Paris

Las Vegas

Paris

Most affordable Michelin star restaurant
US$1.3-2.6 dishes

Tim Ho Wan*

Hong Kong

Most spectacular & expensive restaurant failure – huge unfinished UFO-shaped restaurant suspended over the bridge

Zhivopisny Bridge restaurant

Russia

Moscow

Highest grossing independent restaurant. $59,292,345 in 2009

TAO Las Vegas

USA

Las Vegas

Highest restaurants in the world
1. 17,519ft/5,421m
2. 17,090ft/5,208m

1. Gaststube at frmr Chacaltaya ski resort chalet
2. Tea House at Everest South Tourist (Tent) Base Camp

Bolivia

China

near La Paz

near Everest

Lowest restaurants in the world. On the Dead Sea beaches, ~1,350 ft below sea level.

at Leonardo Club Hotel

at Moevenpick Resort & Spa

etc.

Israel

Jordan

Dead Sea

Dead Sea


Highest restaurant in the building. 122 fl. 1,450ft/442m high

At.mosphere at Burj Khalifa

UAE

Dubai

Highest revolving restaurant in the building 1,404ft/428m

Canton Tower

China

Guangzhou

Deepest bar in the world. In the silver/gold mine 1,050ft/320m deep

Mina Club Bar

Mexico

Zacatecas

Deepest restaurant in the world. In the salt mine 410ft/125m deep

Underground Restaurant

Poland

Wieliczka


Most unusual mountain setting. 12,605ft/3,842m

Altitude - Aiguille du Midi

France

near Mont Blanc

Highest rotating restaurant. 11,483ft/3,500m

Three Sixty (fmr Drehrestaurant Allalin)

Switzerland

Saas Fee

galley
Northernmost restaurants in the world

Mellageret Kafe / Canteen

Airport Cafeteria

Norway

Norway

Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard

Longyearbyen, Svalbard

Southernmost restaurants in the world

at Lakutaia Lodge

'Faraday Bar'

Chile

Antarctica

Puerto Williams

Vernadsky Station


Largest restaurants in the world

Damascus Gate

~6,014 seats ~1,800 staff

Royal Dragon

~5,000 seats ~1,200 staff

Damascus

Thailand

Syria

Bangkok

Largest buffets in the world

Costa Verde >400 dishes

Carnival World Buffet >300

Peru

USA

Lima

Las Vegas, NV


Largest floating restaurant for up to 4,300 guests

Jumbo

China

Hong Kong

Largest drive-in restaurant in the world, can accommodate 600 cars

Varsity

USA

Atlanta, GA

solo cafe
Smallest restaurants in the world. One table, two chairs

Solo Per Due

Peperino

Dinner for 2

Holzknechthütte

Kuappi

Kiliaen

Italy

Italy

Austria

Austria

Finland

Netherlands

Vacone

San Miniato

Salzburg

Patergassen

Iisalmi

Hasselt

World's most packed restaurant

Koyo-shi Sushi

Japan

Osaka

Fastest restaurant in the world. Record serving within 13 seconds after the order was made

Karne Garibaldi

Mexico

Guadalajara, 5 places

Largest restaurant wine collection: ~90,000 bottles, starting from 18th century

Bern's Steak House

USA

Tampa, FL
jimg72 flickrFour-story/42ft largest in the world, glass and steel, wine tower with ~10,000 bottles; Pond with swans..

Aureole

USA

Las Vegas

Most (1,810) items on the menu

Mófarguru

Hungary

Budapest   CLOSED

 

   FOOD

Molecular gastronomy and other highly acclaimed avant-garde cuisines

see also Fat Duck, Pierre Gagnaire, Mugaritz, Alinea, Arzak, etc. in the 'BEST' section below

*- Michelin Stars

MotoNext

Shwa*L2O***

Minibar Café Atlántico

ClioGargoyles On The Square

Hugo's

Gilt**wd~50*

AdaraPiccolo

Baumé*COI*Benu

The BazaarVu

AnQiNine-Ten

Lounge ON20

L'Enclume*

Midsummer House**

Comerç24*Espai Sucre

Alkimia*Cinc Sentits

De Godevaart

Amador***

RemakeMaremoto

L'Air Du Temps**

Clos des SensAphrodite

Marc VeyratSur Mesure

Combal Zero**Mistral*

Amber Room

Fenix

Tapas*Nihonryori Ryugin**

Aronia de Takazawa

JaanSaint Pierre

etc.

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

UK

UK

Spain

Spain

Belgium

Germany

Germany

Belgium

France

France

Italy

Poland

Australia

Japan

Japan

Singapore

Chicago IL

Chicago IL

Washington DC

Boston, Somerville MA

Portland ME

New York

Montclair NJ, Minneapaollis MN

Palo Alto, S.Francisco CA

LA, Marina del Rey CA

Costa Mesa, La Jolla, CA

Sacramento CA

Cartmel

Cambridge

Barcelona

Barcelona

Antwerpen

Langen

Berlin

Noville-sur-Mehaigne

Annecy-le-Vieux, Nice

Veyrier-du-Lac, Paris

Rivoly, Bellagio

Warsaw

Richmond

Tokyo

Tokyo

 

Guests select wine first, and the chef offers dishes in agreement with the wine chosen

Il Vino

France

Paris, Courchevel

'Food Design' concept

Proef

Netherlands

Rotterdam

Mittelalterlich Essen Authentic medieval cuisine and ambiance

efforts are made not to include numerous medieval themed restaurants serving potatoes, tomatoes, tea, ..forks, etc... although some may be slipped through :)

Bors Hede

L'Auberge du Dragon Rouge

Vallicella

Le Relais Médiéval

Taverne Médievale

L'Auberge du Chat Pitre

Le Chaudron Magique

Restaurant Burg Vischering

Anno Domini

Knight's banquet

Rittermahl

Mittelalterliches Büffet

Welser-Kuche

Cenas Medievales

Gallo Nero

Sjätte Tunnan

Clematis

Den Gyldne Svane

Anno Domini 1471

Olde Hansa

Archaion Gefsis (ancient)

USA

Canada

France

France

France

France

France

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Spain

Italy

Sweden

Sweden

Denmark

Czech Republic

Estonia

Greece

Carnation, WA

Montreal

Gence

Nozeroy

Paris

Rennes

Moncontour

Lüdinghausen

Dresden

Nurenberg

Longuich

Annweiler-Queichhambach

Munich, Augsburg

Madrid

Siena

Stockholm

Visby

Nykøbing F

Prague

Tallinn

Athens

Only dish - Särä, mutton roasted by 1000 yo recipe

Kippurasarvi

Finland

Lemi


Serves paleolithic stone age cuisine

Sauvage

Germany

Berlin

Fish and Onion restaurant of the Old-Believers sect of the Russian Orthodox Church

Kolkja kala

Estonia

Kolkja

Cod tongues and other traditional Newfoundland dishes are served in the Viking themed sod hut

The Great Viking Feast

Canada

St. Anthony

191 yo; choice of 250 'smørrebrød' open sandwiches

Restaurant Ida Davidsen

Denmark

Copenhagen

Tacos with Bison, Shark,Ostrich, Gator, and ..Lion

Taco Fusion

USA

Tampa

Lion (!), Armadillo, Buffalo, Crocodile, Grasshoppers, pre-Hispanic Aztec dishes

Chon (likely closed)

Mexico

Mexico City


All exotic African game you can eat

Carnivore

South Africa

Kenya

Johannesburg

Nairobi

Noodles with combination of beef from Japan, US, Australia, and Brazil; up to $340

Niu Ba Ba (may be closed)

Taiwan

Taipei

Inuit dishes made from narwhal & beluga, seal soup, etc.

Roklubben etc.

Greenland

Kangerlussuaq

Occasionally serving meat of polar bears shot in self defense

Longyearbyen restaurants (1,2)

Norway

Svalbard

medioevale, ristorante
Meals made from animal penises

Guo-li-zhuang

China

Beijng

Zoo based restaurant (!) - farm-raised venison, bear, cangaroo, peacock ... reportedly hippo meat

Bin Feng Tang

China

Beijng

Famous for its rabbit heads

Shuang Liu Lao Ma Rabbit

China

Beijng

Famous for its goat and sheep heads

Otjikaendu Den

Namibia

Windhoek


Serving flying foxes - large fruit bats since 1973

l'Houstalet

Vanuatu

Port Vila

Surströmming - strong odor herring fermented over a year in barrels and tins

restaurant-museum Fiskevistet

Sweden

Arnäsvall

Menu dedicated to the fatty livers, pork et al.

Au Pied de Cochon

Canada

Montreal

snake wine
Various dishes made of snakes

Le Mat restaurants

Istana Raja Kobra pythons, lizards

Snake Restaurant est. 1885

Snake Street shops

Vietnam

Indonesia

China

China

Hanoi

Jakarta

Guangzhou

Hong Kong

£90 seagull eggs omelette (seasonal)

Boisdale of Bishopsgate

UK

London

Exotic menu includes chocolate covered scorpions, bees, peacock, etc.

Archipelago

UK

London


All-cheese restaurants

Baud & millet

La Cloche à Fromage

Pain Vin Fromage

Cheese Society Cafe

La FromagerieL'art du Fromage

Juusturestora St.Michael

Cheese Me

GPO Cheese and Wine Room

Cheese Room etc.

France

France

France

UK

UK

Estonia

Spain

Australia

Thailand

Bordeaux

Strasbourg

Paris

Lincoln

London

Tallinn

Barcelona

Sydney

Bangkok

All menu items are from one animal, that is changing every few weeks

Djuret

Sweden

Stockholm

Pig-themed restaurant. Pork only menu

La Tête de Goinfre

France

Paris

Cultural Commons license; credit Mike Licht
Specialized horse meat restaurants

De Kuiper

Hot Horse (1)

Tygyn Darkhan

La Palette not specialized

Jeju Mawon

Suganoya  etc.

Belgium

Slovenia

Russia

Canada

Korea

Japan

Vilvoorde

Ljubljana

Yakutsk

Toronto

Jeju

Kumamoto

Potato-themed restaurant. Everything is made from potatoes

Kartoffelkeller (1) (2) etc.

Germany

Berlin, Dresden, Hamburg

Gulasch in at least 12 varieties

Gulasch Museum

Austria

Vienna

Everything is made with Blueberries

Blueberry Cafe

New Zealand

Mamaku

Apple-themed restaurant. Everything is made with apples

Pomze

France

Paris

outrageous
Everything is made with garlic, sometimes even ice cream

Garlic Queen

Stinking Rose

Garlic Rose Bistro

Garlic and Shots


Ninniku-Ya

Garlic Jo's

Arin Krin

Krazy Garlik

Garlic's of London

Knoblauchrestaurant

Ķiploku Krogs

Balthasar

Kynsilaukka etc.

Netherlands

USA

USA

UK, Spain

Sweden

Japan

Japan, USA

Japan

Philippines

Canada

Germany

Latvia

Estonia

Finland

Amsterdam

San Francisco, LA

Madison, Cranford, NJ

London, Palma

Stockholm

Tokyo

Yokohama, Newport Bch

Okinawa

Makati, Pasay

London

Berlin

Riga

Tallinn

Helsinki


Eggs only restaurants

Eggs&Co.

eggsunday!

Egg Factory

Yolkshire

France

India

India

India

Paris

Mumbai

Bangalore

Pune

Every dish, from appetizers to desserts, contains coriander

Paxi House

Japan

Tokyo

Every dish is made from pork fat or bacon

restaurant-museum Salo

Ukraine

Lviv


Dessert: pork fat covered in chocolate

Tsarskoye Selo

Ukraine

Kiev

Only cereals and cereal-related items

Cereality

USA

Dallas TX, Mankato MN, Dayton OH, Morgantown WV

Whale meat only

Kujira-ya

Japan

Tokyo

Famous for ~20 lb roasted tuna heads, etc.

Kurobatei

Japan

Miura

Fugu - toxic blowfish
Ikizukuri - fish served alive
Sakuraniku - raw horse meat
Irabu - sea snake soup
Tuna eyes - raw, steam or fry
Raw chicken sashimi

 

many specialized restaurants

Japan

Squirrel meat is more like periodical curious advertising gimmick, than a regualar menu item..

often reported to be available at some UK restaurants

UK

 

* various establishments that are serving dogmeat, bushmeat, etc., as well as rats, worms and insects are not included

 LOCATION

Ithaa restaurant
Undersea restaurants

Ithaa

Red Sea Star

Maldives

Israel

Rangali Island

Eilat

Inside natural tuff cone or 'fairy chimney'

Hanodasi

Turkey

Göreme


Inside ~1500 yo huge underground Roman water storage cistern

Sarnıç

Cistern Café

Turkey

Turkey

Istanbul

Istanbul

Ñonverted 2000 yo Roman quarry

La Fornace di Barbablù

Italy

Vado Ligure


Basement rooms are set inside arcades of Pompey's 55 BC theater

Da Pancrazio

Italy

Rome

Inside underground chalk quarry

Les Crayères des Montquartiers

France

Issy-les-Moulineaux


'Troglodyte caves' restaurants in tuff quarries

Cathédrales de la Saulaie

Le Caveau

Les Caves De La Genevraie

Les Pieds Bleus

Le Faux Saulnier

Le Clos des Roches

Caves de Marson

France

Doue La Fontaine

Doue La Fontaine

Montsoreau

Preban

Grézillé

Grézillé

Marson


Inside caves carved out of rock

BaccantiSan Pietro Barisano

NadiOi MariRegia Corte

Osteria del Tempo Perso

Le Grotte del Funaro

La Cueva de la Ramblera

Tagoror

La Gruta

The Marsden Grotto

Altinocak

El Grotte

Italy

Italy

Italy

Italy

Spain

Spain

Spain

UK

Turkey

Tunisia

Matera

Matera

Ostuni

Orvieto

San Miguel de Salinas

Gran Canaria

Almeria

Tyne and Wear

Avanos

Monastir

Inside underground ancient Berber 'troglodyte' dwelling filmed in the 'Star Wars'

Sidi Driss Hotel Restaurant

Tunisia

Matmata

exotic restaurant
In natural underground caves, caverns

Alux

Meson de la Cava

Underground Lunchroom

La Gruta

La Cueva Caprichosa

La Cueva

Grutas

Triton

Cave Restaurant

Mexico

Dominican Rep.

USA

Spain

Spain

Spain

Portugal

Czech Republic

Libya

Playa del Carmen

Santo Domingo

Carlsbad, NM

La Vall d'Uixó

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Los Abrigos, Tenerife

Faial, Madeira

Prague

Shahat


In natural open caves

Grotta Palazzese

Cova d'en Xoroi

Ali Barbour's

La Gruta

at Caves resort

El Palenque de los Cimarrones

Rattlesnake Saloon

Italy

Spain

Kenya

Mexico

Jamaica

Cuba

USA

Polignano

Minorca

Diani

Teotihuacan

Negril

Viñales

Tuscumbia, AL

'Dugout' underground restaurants in the opal mining city with extreme heat climate

Soft Rock Cafe etc.

Australia

Coober Pedy


Built onto the mountain, with Alpine panorama, and nearby Neanderthal caves

Aescher

Switzerland

Wildkirchli, Weissbad

In a historical cave 100 ft above the river

The Cave

USA

Richland, MO


Amazing 'Hanging Restaurant' is fastened to the cliff above the river, and built into the cave

Fangweng

China

Nanjin Guan of Yichang


Built on stilts on the shallow sand bank ~1/3 mile far in the ocean

Pelican Bar

Jamaica

Parottee Bay


Built on a huge rock in the ocean. 'Most picturesque ?'

Rock

Zanzibar

Pingwe


Built ashore on high stilts

The Point

Mexico

Puerto Penasco


Inside net fishing huts 'trabocco' built on stilts

Punta Punciosa

Pesce Palombo

Italy

Rocca San Giovanni

Fossacesia


Set against waterfall, with water running over diners feet

Waterfalls Restaurant

San Pablo City

Philippines

Graveyard restaurant, tombs adjacent to tables

New Lucky

India

Ahmedabad

unusual restaurant
On top of huge municipal hot water tanks

Perlan

Iceland

Reykjavik


Located in the water towers

Ofak

Le Phare

Wieża Ciśnień

Svampen

Belvedere water tower

Il Fungo

Red Tower

etc.

Kuwait

France

Poland

Sweden

Germany

Italy

Belarus

Kuwait City

Montpellier

Wroclaw

Örebro

Aachen

Rome

Bobruisk

strange cafe
Revolving restaurant on the chimney tower of a waste incinerator

Star Tower

Taiwan

Taipei


Inside former sewage pump station. Seat next to huge 130yo boilers and wheels

Alte Pumpe (Old Pump)

Amsterdam

Berlin

Amsterdam

Germany

Netherlands

Inside former hydraulic power station

Wapping Food

UK

London

Inside former electric power plant. 1900's theme. Seat near huge electric generators

The Edison

USA

Los Angeles, CA

Inside former bank vault with a gargantuan steel door. Seat around safe deposit boxes

The Bedford

Trinity PlaceBobby Van's

The Broker Restaurant

The Crocker Club

Del Frisco's

Metals Sports Bar & Grill

Selah

USA

Chicago, IL

New York, NY

Denver, CO

Los Angeles, CA

Philadelphia, PA

Butte, MT

Struthers, OH

Inside former infamous courtroom, with genuine judges' bench, witness stand, etc.

Silk

UK

London

Restaurant inside car dealership

Twin Creeks Cafe

USA

Fort Worth, TX


Three-story restaurant on top of the incredibly advanced bridge in Northern Siberia, 66°N Lat.

Fakel

Russia

Salekhard

Nomadic deer skin conical tents on the hotel's roof

Winter Mint

Russia

Tyumen


On the 277 ft pylon of the bridge over the Danube river

Taste / UFO

Slovakia

Bratislava

Located on the crater rim of an active volcano

Ka Ohelo Dining Room

USA

Hawaii   temp.closed

quirky
Dining in the 'private capsule' of the world's largest observation wheel

Singapore Flyer

Singapore

 


Spectacular poolside rooftop view at ~$6 billion resort

KU DÉ TA

Singapore

 

Peculiar Restaurants
On the open-air roof of Bangkok's 2nd tallest building. 794 ft

Cirocco

Thailand

Bangkok


Glass box sits (temporary) atop Europe's landmarks

Electrolux CUBE Pop-Up Restaurants

Europe

Paris, Brussels, Stockholm, Italy, Russia, Switzerland

ðåäêèéRestaurant crossed by the border. You may finish your dinner in another country

Kalin

Slovenia/ Croatia

Bregana

On the border of Netherlands, Belgium and Germany

Taverne de Grenssteen

Netherlands

Vaals


At the top of Burj Al Arab, sail-like hotel. 656 ft

Al Muntaha

UAE

Dubai

In Stalin's genuine underground bunker. Group reservation required

Stalin's Bunker

Russia

Moscow


Original 'Bistro' - as shouted by Russian cossacks in 1814

La Mère Catherine 

France

Paris


Located in an ndsıpǝ poʍu or twisted buildings

Jin-Tun House

Upside Down Guesthouse

Ñafe del Arte [?]

Kabachok na bochok

The Crooked House

Wonder Works

Katmandu

Pan de Amerikana

Japan

Japan

Poland

Ukraine

UK

USA

Spain

Philippines

Osaka

Matsumoto (closed)

Sopot

Kiev

Himley

Orlando FL, Pigeon Forge TN

Magaluf, Mallorca

Quezon City

wikimedia by Ash
14th century castle converted into restaurant

Carn Brea Castle restaurant

UK

Carnkie

In the crypt of the former 12th century chapel

La Table des Gourmets

France

Paris



Inside working churches

(menus with hot entrées)

Kingdom Men’s Café

Franktuary

La Crypte Polska [?]

La Mosquée de Paris (mosque)

Café in the Crypt

Café Below

Michaelhouse Café

Refectory Cafe

Cafe at All Saints

Spurriergate Centre

St. Columba’s restaurant<ç> Vysokopetrovsky Monastery

USA

USA

France

France

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

Russia

Detroit, MI

Pittsburgh, PA

Paris

Paris

London

London

Cambridge

Chester

Hereford

York

Bradford

Moscow



In the deconsecrated old churches

(often beautiful historic Gothic buildings)






Glückundseligkeit

Church Brew Works

Mark's American Cuisine

Old Stone Church Restaurant

Grace

The Church

Calcutta BrasserieHubbub

Zizzi pizzeria (oven altar)

The Church Restaurant

Pitcher & Piano

Freud

Ballyhennan

The Parish • The Spurriergate

SamSara Café BarChurch

The Spire

Chez Hans

Cafe Olivier

Glückundseligkeit

Heilig Geist

Kruisherenrestaurant

Eklisia

Il Gattopardo Café

Ristorante Natalino

The Old Church

Bazar former mosque

Chijmes, White Rabbit
etc. etc.

USA

USA

USA

USA

Canada

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Belgium

Germany

Germany

Netherlands

Netherlands

Italy

Italy

New Zealand

Netherlands

Singapore
 

Pittsburgh, PA

Houston, TX

Castle Rock, CO

Portland, ME

Stratford

London

Cheltenham

Northampton

Nottingham

Oxford

Tarbet

York

Dublin

Duleek

Cashel

Utrecht

Bielefeld

Mainz

Maastricht

Valkenburg

Milan

Florence

Hawkes Bay

Amsterdam

 

Canteen at Hindu Temple

Ganesh Temple Canteen

USA

New York


In the Buddhist monastery 'City of 10,000 Buddhas'

Jyun Kang

USA

Ukiah, CA

Converted old theatre with kitchen on stage

Flo

France

Nice

In the Orthodox monastery

most unusual Russian restaurant outside of Russia

The Royal Eagle

USA

Harper Woods, MI


Old windmills converted into restaurants

not mockups, with sails, inside

De MolenDe Molen

De Jonge Dikkert

Pannenkoekenmolen

Schelvenaer

De Bernisse Molen

De Noordmolen

Veski

Adavere Tuulik

Šeduvos Malūnas

Mecklenburger Mill

Moli d'es Racó

Skanskvarn

Wiatrak etc.

Netherlands

Netherlands

Netherlands

Netherlands

Netherlands

Netherlands

Estonia

Estonia

Lithuania

Germany

Spain

Sweden

Poland

Kaatsheuvel, Sluis

Amstelveen

Burg-Haamstede

Krimpen ad IJssel

Geervliet

Schiedam

Kuressaare

Põltsamaa

Seduva

Mecklenburg

Menorca

Stockholm

Chojnów

Inside working or well-preserved watermills

Pantan Restaurant

Dusty Miller's

De Molen (closed)

Croatia

UK

South Africa

Trogir

Gleaston

Swellendam


Converted public toilets that has been in business since 1933 and 1920s

Puutorin Vessa

Pink Palace

Finland

USA

Turku

Boston

Guests are transported 32 min, 1,000 vertical feet up the mountain by custom snow-cat-pulled sleigh. Winter only. Scandinavian cuisine

The Viking Yurt

USA

Park City, UT



The only Hot Air Balloon restaurant in the world

CuliAir

Netherlands

Velp, etc.


Onboard a cable car

Stuckli Sky Dining

Sky Dining

Switzerland

Singapore

Sattel


Dining aboard an authentic 1890's horse drawn omnibus carriage

Horse Drawn Restaurant

Australia

Windsor

ridiculous
Onboard a moving bus

Alex'Cellent

Resto'bus (closed)

Aioliwood @stops only

BUStaurant/Worldfare @stops

Hijackk

etc.

France

France

France

USA

India

Reims

Paris

Entressen

Los Angeles

Ahmedabad


In operational tramcars

Fondue-Tram

Dante Schuggi

Rolling Café

WonderBus Cook'in

Tram Experience

Tram Ristorante

Tram Jazz

RistocolorATMosfera

Chicken on Wheels KFC

Colonial Tramcar

Christchurch Tram (closed)

Annushka

Switzerland

Switzerland

Sweden

France

Belgium

Italy

Italy

Italy

Sri Lanka

Australia

New Zealand

Russia

Zurich

Basel

Stockholm

Hossegor

Brussels

Rome

Rome

Turin, Milan

Colombo

Melbourn

Christchurch

Moscow - closed

Rex Gray FLICKR
WW2 DC-3 fuselage converted into a mobile cafe

Space Shuttle Cafe

USA

Oxnard, CA


4 diners elevated 16ft up the tree by a system of winches

The Dining Pod (closed)

Thailand

Koh Kood Island


Most unusual treehouse restaurants

Tree House Restaurante

Tree House Restaurant

Treehouse Restaurant

Redwoods Treehouse

Costa Rica

UK

South Africa

New Zealand

Monteverde

Alnwick

Port Elizabeth

Warkworth

Bar inside huge 6,000 y.o. baobab

Big Baobab

South Africa

Limpopo Province

Original
Restaurant on a realistic huge concrete tree

Naha Treehouse Diner

Japan

Naha


Dinner Trains

little known outside of US and UK

Dining Trains around the World

Original & likely complete list of 54 specialized full-service
dining trains, operating with certain regularity

Converted old cargo ship with three storey aquarium

Cargo Hold

South Africa

Durban


Airplanes converted into restaurants

- currently operational;
- original & likely most complete research

Solo’s [Boeing KC-97]

Aero Dogs [Convair T-29A]

Parachute Inn [Boeing 737]

DC-6 Diner (closed) [DC-6]

Air US Cafe [Airbus A310]

F-BACC [Breguet 763]

Mich. Da Vinci [DC-6/TU-134]

Ristoaereo [Convair CV-440]

Cafe Aeroplano [DÑ-3]

Carpas Chic [Boeing KC-97C]

Silbervogel [Vickers 814]

IL-62 Cafe [IL-62]

Runway 34 [IL-14]

Air Restaurant [Boeing 707]

Pizzaria do Aviao [NAMC YS-11]

Rumba Nautica [Fokker F-28]

El-Avion [Fairchild C-123]

Cafeteria [IL-62M]

Airpark [L-1011 TriStar]

May Bay [Boeing 707]

Air Restaurant 737 [Boeing 737]

DC3 Café [DC-3]

McDonald's [DC-3]

Air Lekkerbek [NAMC YS-11]

Aviones [DC3]

Air Curacao [NAMC YS-11A] closed

Asas D`Avião [Constellation]

Restauracja [Tu-134A]

Odlot Nonstop [IL-18]

Pod Samolotem [IL-14]

Pod Skrzydłami [SP-FNM]

Reštaurácia Lietadlo [IL-14]

Letka [TU-104]

Air Restaurant [TU-104]

Jet Rest [IL-62]

La Aeroport [DC3/LI-2P] closed

Avion [DC3/LI-2]

Sheremetyevo-4 [L410]

Samolet An-24 [An-24]

Flying Pot [Vickers Viscount]

USA

USA

USA

UK

Belgium

France

Italy

Italy

Greece

Spain

Germany

Germany

Switzerland

Iran

Brazilia

Equador

Costa Rico

Cuba

Korea

Vietnam

Taiwan

New Zealand

New Zealand

St. Maarten

Puerto Rico

Curacao

São Tomé

Poland

Poland

Poland

Poland

Slovakia

Czech Republic

Czech Republic

Czech Republic

Romania

Romania

Russia

Russia

Zimbabwe

Colorado Springs

Tulare, CA

Walnut Ridge, AR

Coventry

Gilly

Fontenay-Trésigny

Villamarzana

Fiumicino

Aiginion

Sant Cugat

Hanover

Merseburg

Zurich

Tehran

Tijucas

Coca

Manuel Antonio NP

Havana

Daego

Ho Chi Minh

Taipei

Rangitikei

Taupo

Philipsburg

Barranquitas

Saliña

Aeroporto

Chłapowo

Kościelec

Lutcza

Boguchwała

Podlipníky

Olomouc

Petrovice

Chvalovice

Buzias

Făget

Poselok Shepsi

Perm

Chegutu

original restaurantIn 2500 y.o. tower on a small islet in the Bosphorus straits

MaidensTower

Turkey

Istanbul

On a floating island with a lighthouse and palm trees

Forbes Island

USA

San Fancisco

weird,surprising,ñàìûå íåîáû÷íûåWhere the Atlantic ocean meet the Indian ocean and baboons try to steal food from the tables

Two Oceans

South Africa

Cape Point

strange'Astronomy' supper in a desert near the Uluru rock

Sounds of Silence

Australia

Ayers Rock

    DECORATION, INTERIOR, ARCHITECTURE

courtesy Willis LuceroCafe in the form of 2 huge copulating grasshoppers(!)

probably the most bizarre restaurant design...

Grasshopper's Dream

Korea

Jeongseon

ice cafe Made of snow / ice

sometimes seasonal/temporary;
ice bars usually serve drinks only
often - tourist traps
many other places found on the internet are in fact closed

Snow Restaurant

ICEBAR by ICEHOTEL

@Icehotel (Absolute IceBar) Laksestua

Ice Kube Bar

Xtracold IceBar

Ice Club

Ice Bar Madrid

@Hotel of Ice

Chillout

Ice Bar @Ice Space

Minus5 Ice Bar (1)

Ice Bar Orlando

Blu Ice Bar

Ice Bar @Hôtel de Glace

IceQube

Chill On

Bar Ice Samui

Ice

Finland

Sweden, Denmark, Norway, UK, Japan

Sweden

Norway

France

Netherlands

Italy

Spain

Romania

UAE

Israel

N.Zealand, USA

USA

USA

Canada

India

Australia

Thailand

Russia

Kemi, Rovaniemi, Lainio, Kakslauttanen

Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, London, Tokyo

Jukkasjärvi

Alta

Paris

Amsterdam

Rome

Madrid

Fagaras

Dubai

Eilat

Queenstown, Las Vegas

Orlando, FL

Two Harbors, MN

Quebec

Mumbai

Melbourne

Samui

St. Petersburg


Decorated with bombs, rockets and other unexploded ordinance

Craters

Laos

Phonsavan

Entire restaurant can be watched from the bathroom through one-way mirror

Peep

USA

New York

peculiar restaurantsMany interior elements made out of gold

Dolce&Gabbana Gold

Italy

Milan

Decorated with hundreds [often freaky] toys

La Jugueteria

Colombia

Bogota


Huge taxidermy collection decor, often with game and venison menu

Foster’s Bighorn

Clark's Fish Camp

Antlers

Buckhorn Exchange

Joe's Bar

Pub 199  etc.

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

USA

Rio Vista, CA

Jacksonville, FL

Sault Ste Marie, MI

Portland, OR

Ligonier, PA

Mt. Arlington, NJ

Decorated with bras and panties

Grumpy's Goat Shack

USA

Victor, ID


Walls, floor and ceilings are made out of 10 tons of raw salt crystals

Salt Cave (likely closed)

Ukraine

Kiev


Decorated with $ bills worth approx.:

$750,000

$550,000

No Name Pub

McGuire's Irish Pub   etc.

USA

USA

Big Pine Key, FL

Pensacola, FL

Decorated with over 30,000 business cards, notes and thousands of bills

Linda Vista (1)

Hippari Dako

Costa Rica

Japan

Cartago

Tokyo

óíèêàëüíûéMedieval butchers' hall decorated with hams hanging from ceilings

Het Groot Vleeshuis

Belgium

Ghent

Mix of taxidermy and antiques, handbags suspended from the ceiling

Les Trois Garçons

UK

London

Tables made from bathtubs converted into fish tanks with glass tops, etc.

Fallen Angel

Peru

Cusco

wackiest
80 ft tall sculptural Tree House inside shopping mall

Mastro's Ocean Club

USA

Las Vegas, NV

Eclectic odd decorations, homely atmosphere

Rimsky-Korsakoffee House

CAV

USA

USA

Portland, OR

Providence, RI

óäèâèòåëüíûé
Airborne structure inside furniture mall

Bakerstreet

Netherlands

Amsterdam

Bizzare bicycle / antiques setting

't Velootje

Gaston's White River

Belgium

USA

Ghent

Lakeview, AR

Decorated with hundreds of musical instruments

Rab Ráby

Hungary

Szentendre

Mike Stuartwood
Peculiar decor with seating around real tractors

Zetor

Finland

Helsinki

Wacky decorated; bicycles, bed with tiger hang from the ceiling, swings, etc.

Bombay Bicycle Club

South Africa

Cape Town


Psychedelic / Alien interior

Smoke House Room

India

Delhi

Packed with twisted kitsch fantasy, fmr maharaja's bed, 1927 vintage Fiat, etc.

Chor Bizarre Restaurant

India

Delhi


Alien’ sceleton interior made by the Alien movie designer

HR Giger Museum Bar

Switzerland

Gruyères

Amazing exterior and interior design made of stone, driftwood, welded metal, antiques, etc.

Fifty Cents Deck Ship (1) (2)

Taiwan

Taipei, Taichung, Tainan


Antique interior + batmobile, etc.

Deja Vu

Taiwan

Taipei



Spectacular Antoni Gaudi architecture

Gaudí Garraf Restaurant

Spain

Garraf

Gaudi-esque architecture with interiors overwhelmed by amuzing retro trash

Stariy Mlin

Ukraine

Ternopol


Dining rooms are suspended outside of the building

Divinatio (closed)

Netherlands

Utrecht

Award winning modern/ancient birch log design

Tusen

Sweden

Ramundberget ski resort

Outlandish wood-carved architecture

Casa Bosque

Chile

Cajón del Maipo

amazing
Built in 1940 inside a 28 ft tall black woman's skirt

Mammy's Cupboard 

USA

Natchez, MS


Inside giant barrel

Bochka

Russia

Nalchik


Inside giant milk bottles

Hood Milk Bottle

Milk Bottle Restaurant

G&S Pizza

Mary Lou's Milk Bottle

USA

USA

USA

USA

Boston, MA

Raynham, MA

New Bedford, MA

Spokane, WA


Giant longhorn skull entrance

Longhorn

USA

Amado, AZ

some unusual architectural designs found on the internet were never completed

 

   BEST RESTAURANTS IN THE WORLD

First 20 top Restaurants in the World in 2013, as voted by 837 members of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy :

  * - assigned Michelin Guide stars. There are only 105 *** restaurants in the world in 2013

Thomas Ardill / flickr

1  El Celler de Can*** Girona, Spain

2  Noma** Copenhagen, Denmark

3  Osteria La Francescana** Modena, Italy

4  Mugaritz** Errenteria Gipuzkoa, Spain

5  Eleven Madison Park*** New York, USA

6  D.O.M. Sao Paulo, Brazil

7  Dinner by Heston Blumenthal* London, UK

8  Arzak*** San Sebastian, Spain

9  Steirereck** Vienna, Austria

10 Vendome*** Bergisch Gladbach, Germany

11 Per Se*** New York, USA

12 Frantzen/Lindeberg** Stockholm, Sweden

13 The Ledbury** London, UK

14 Astrid y Gastón Lima, Peru

15 Alinea*** Chicago, USA

16 L’Arpege*** Paris, France

17 Pujol Mexico City, Mexico

18 Le Chateaubriand Paris, France

19 Le Bernadin*** New York, USA

20 Narisawa** Tokyo, Japan

The following 10 restaurants are also among '50 Best Restaurants', and also have *** Michelin stars as of 2013 :

23 L’Astrance*** Paris, France

24 L’Atelier De Joel Robuchon*** Paris, France

25 Hof van Cleve*** Kruishoutem, Belgium

27 Le Calandre*** Rubano, Italy

29 Daniel*** New York, USA

30 Aqua*** Wolfsburg, Germany

33 The Fat Duck*** Berkshire, UK

41 Piazza Duomo*** Alba, Italy

42 Schauenstein*** Fürstenau, Switzerland

47 French Laundry*** Yountville, USA


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This original research began in 2005.
There are some parasiting, uncredited compilations based on our work :(
Please kindly provide link to unusual-restaurants.com if you are using information from this site for your post, article, blog, etc.
You are welcomed to make short lists of the most facinated restaurants found here, with the link to our site. Thank you !


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