Taste something special at the world’s most unusual restaurants
From costumed waiters to themed menus, these days it’s not hard to find a dining experience that’s out of the ordinary.
All over the world unusual restaurants are gaining more and more attention from diners who want to try something a little bit different the next time they eat out.
While once reserved for only the wealthiest patrons in the busiest cities, today unusual restaurants can be found all over the globe and range in price and style from casual budget meals to opulent gourmet dining experiences. If you’re thinking of trying somewhere new on your next special occasion, these types of restaurants can be a great choice – not only can you expect a great meal, but you’ll also enjoy the special memory of eating somewhere unlike anywhere else.
Unusual dining experiences
All over the world creative restaurant owners are taking the dining experience up a notch with their weird and wonderful ideas about everything from strange menu items to themed restaurants. Some of the strangest – and most decadent – include:
- Le Refuge des Fondues – In a city famous for its food, Le Refuge des Fondues is serving up something slightly different in Paris. This cosy restaurant in Montmarte serves up a selection of Swiss-style fondues and has been popular with tourists for decades. The strangest part, though, has to be the wine glasses – when you order a drink it comes served in a baby’s bottle, a feature that apparently came about as a way to avoid paying a tax on wine served in regular glasses.
- Aux Deux Canards-This is a tiny restaurant in Paris with an amazing history as the cellars were used for a quick getaway for journalists writing underground newspapers for the French Resistance in the Second World War. They serve wonderful meals plus incredible fruit honey which they make themselves. All this and an incredibly interesting owner who can tell you about the whole amazing history of the “Two Ducks Restaurant”. A great experience at 8 Rue du Faubourg Poissonniere!
- Noma – Consistently rated among the best restaurants in the world, the two Michelin-starred Noma restaurant in the heart of Copenhagen proves unusual dining can still be delicious. Head chef René Redzepi’s approach to food is simple; he uses only seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, with an emphasis on foraging. Expect to taste everything from soft green moss to live Fjord shrimp on the restaurant’s eclectic – and ever-changing – menu.
- Ithaa Undersea Restaurant – Nestled on the paradise hideaway of Rangali Island in the Maldives, this restaurant takes fresh seafood to a whole new level. Dine on the catch of the day in this underwater restaurant – the dining room has a glass roof and sits six feet below sea level, offering an unparalleled view of everything from octopus to tropical fish.
- Dinner in the Sky – If you’re after a bird’s eye view with your main, dinner in the sky is just the ticket. The suspended dinner experience raises a group of diners 150 feet above the city and is suspended while the chef prepares a meal right before your eyes. Since its first meal in Brussels in 2004, the events team who developed the concept have expanded to offer it in 22 countries around the world.
Find a new restaurant
If you’re feeling adventurous and want to eat something out of the ordinary next time you dine out with family or friends, the first thing you’ll need to do is choose a restaurant. Online guides like Zagat can be particularly useful as you begin your search; you can read reviews from eateries all over the world and chose from a curated list by the experts of the best each city has to offer. Similarly, Urbanspoon can point you in the direction of great restaurants in your area, but emphasises reviews and photos from ordinary people who have tried eating there before. Both websites provide information about where to find the restaurant and how to book a reservation either online or by phone.
Newspapers can also be a great source of information – the Telegraph and the Guardian each have a dedicated section of restaurant reviews to help you keep up with the most interesting and unusual restaurants that are exciting diners today.
Latest posts by Sally - Silversurfer's Editor (see all)
- Freezing this Christmas, a charity single could hit the number one spot - December 20, 2024
- Theatre tickets from £10 for 50+ London shows with See It Live in 2025 - December 19, 2024
- Should Waspi women be entitled to compensation? - December 17, 2024
- What was your favourite childhood toy? - December 17, 2024
- It’s never too late to play bridge - December 15, 2024
