Top 13 Most 'Unusual' Restaurants Around the World

Tokyo is booming with quirky themed restaurants, and Alcatraz ER stands out as one of two prison-themed izakayas in the famous Shibuya district. The Lock-Up, with several branches across Japan, shares a similar concept. At Alcatraz ER, however, you’re cuffed and escorted to your cell, giving a twisted hospital-prison vibe. The eerie decor features steel tables and haunted prison aesthetics, with fake graffiti and old hospital TVs adding to the unsettling atmosphere. To enter, you must press a large red button that corresponds to your blood type—A, B, AB, or O—before heading down a corridor to your personal dining cell. Waiters in nurse uniforms present an English menu filled with strange offerings like beer served in urine sample bottles and sausages shaped like intestines. The prison-medical theme extends to colorful cocktails, and during your meal, lights may flicker, alarms go off, and emergency red lights flash, depending on your seating position.

Hidden beneath the streets of Kabukicho in Tokyo's Shinjuku district, the Robot Restaurant takes dining to a whole new level, breaking the boundaries of traditional restaurants with its unique entertainment. A must-see attraction for tourists, Robot Restaurant blends robots, dragons, ninjas, neon lights, giant drummers, and loud music into an unforgettable spectacle. Two of the restaurant's massive robots can often be seen parading through the streets of Tokyo.

Once you've obtained your ticket or mobile voucher, you’ll be guided through a series of doors and into a venue where the show begins. At the Robot Restaurant, you'll encounter a bar area adorned with dazzling lights, neon signage, and mirrors stretching from floor to ceiling, followed by a descent down vibrant stairways that make you feel as if you've entered a gigantic, colorful funhouse. This whimsical atmosphere excites guests like kids in a candy store. The performance unfolds over the course of an hour, divided into four segments, and the room is filled with LED screens displaying anime-style graphics, illuminated by flashing lights, laser beams, and electrifying effects.

Located in Montreal, the restaurant Diner Entre Ciel et Terre (Dinner Between Sky and Earth) offers a unique dining experience 50 meters above the ground. A platform capable of holding 22 guests, several chefs, and staff is hoisted up by a 120-ton crane. The security systems and cables are reinforced multiple times to ensure safety, and every detail of Diner Entre Ciel et Terre adheres to the strictest industry standards. Guests sit in comfortable race car-style chairs, securely fastened with seat belts. Both the staff and chefs work in the middle of a large oval table.

Patrons spend a full hour dining in the air at Diner Entre Ciel et Terre, with the first and last courses served on the ground in a reception tent. No food is prepared at the launch site, but electricity is available to keep things warm. Cold appetizers are typically served first, while the main course is heated and presented later. Though the concept of dining at this height is new to Montreal and Canada, it originated in Belgium a decade ago and has since spread worldwide.

Witches In Britches offers a unique dinner theater experience that combines high-quality dining, live entertainment, dancing, and strong potions, all set in Melbourne's only medieval castle located in the city center. Stepping into this restaurant will instantly put you in a playful mood. As you enter the castle-like venue, you'll be greeted by a group of witches straight out of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Their extravagant costumes perfectly match their larger-than-life personalities, quickly immersing you in a whimsical and mysterious world.

Located at the corner of King and Dudley Streets in Melbourne, Witches In Britches is the perfect spot to end a day of sightseeing. For over 30 years, this restaurant has been delighting guests with a three-course menu paired with highly entertaining live comedy performances. The seasoned actors and actresses provide a humorous, adult-themed show that tackles bold pop culture references and delivers plenty of laughs, making it a must-see for both locals and tourists alike.

Fangweng Restaurant, located in Hubei Province, China, is situated about 12 kilometers north of Yichang City, near the Sanyou Cave, also known as the 'Cave of Three Travelers.' The restaurant is nestled within the Happy Valley of the Xiling Gorge, an area surrounded by cliffs, caves, and a park offering stunning views of the Yangtze River. The entrance to Fangweng Restaurant is a plain gray brick building, but once you cross a narrow concrete bridge, you’ll find the restaurant set into the cliffside, its floor suspended several hundred feet above the ground. From here, diners can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Yangtze River flowing below.

Upon entering Fangweng Restaurant, you descend a staircase into a natural 'cave hall.' On the right, a 30-meter wooden boardwalk runs along the cliffside, leading to another natural cave transformed into a dining room. Warm lighting from the ceiling bathes the space in a golden glow, and traditional Chinese-style furnishings blend harmoniously with the surroundings. Part of the dining area extends outward from the cave, where a few tables are set up, offering diners a high vantage point to enjoy the scenic view of the river below.

Guests enter Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant through a modest whitewashed facade, before descending 33 feet underground to dine in an ancient coral cave with a vast opening above that offers a stunning view of the stars. This restaurant is set within a cave believed to be between 120,000 and 180,000 years old, taking outdoor dining to a whole new level. In the evenings, the restaurant comes alive with candlelight, and diners are naturally drawn to the twinkling stars overhead.

Founded in the 1980s by George and Jackie Barbour and named after the tale of 'Alibaba and the Forty Thieves,' Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant was designed to preserve the natural elements of the cave, with only the kitchen and bathrooms modified for modern use. The restaurant's menu features a variety of international dishes, with seafood being the specialty. Guests can enjoy fresh seafood caught from the Indian Ocean, just a few steps away from their tables and near sea level. The restaurant opens daily at 6:30 PM, with a 'smart-casual' dress code (no beachwear allowed).

Redwoods Treehouse is an extraordinary creation designed by architects Peter Eisinger and Lucy Gauntlett of Pacific Environments Architects. This stunning pod-like structure is built high up in a 10-meter-tall Redwood tree near Warkworth, just north of Auckland. Access to the Treehouse is via a raised walkway made from locally milled Redwood timber. Unlike traditional restaurants, Redwoods Treehouse doesn’t cater to casual dining but instead offers a versatile space for corporate events and private functions. The venue can accommodate up to 30 guests, whether seated at tables or standing for more casual gatherings.

Rental for the Redwoods Treehouse venue is priced at 3,000 USD, with additional charges for items like glassware, cutlery, crockery, and staff services, which are arranged through the catering provider. From canapés to exquisite desserts, all catering at the Treehouse is exclusively provided by Gatling's. Gatling's team is known for their culinary passion and unwavering commitment to excellence. The menu is fresh and seasonal, allowing clients to tailor their dining experience to suit any event style.

Perched at an impressive 3,080 meters above sea level on the Austria-Italy border, the Top Mountain Star restaurant offers panoramic vistas from its glass-walled observation platforms atop Wurm Kogel in Hochgurgl. The sleek steel-and-glass dome provides a 360-degree view of the breathtaking landscape. The structure, anchored by steel cables, blends seamlessly with the mountainside, resembling a tree growing out of the rock. From this lofty peak, diners can take in sweeping views of the Ötztal Alps and Italy’s Dolomite mountains.

Combining a scenic overlook with a mountaintop bar, the Top Mountain Star offers more than just great food. It’s a place to enjoy exceptional views of the Alps and Dolomites. A panoramic railing provides information about nearby peaks and the distances to cities in every direction. Swarovski crystals glimmer throughout the “star bar,” adding a touch of sparkle to the already extraordinary setting.

Kayabukiya Tavern is a traditional Japanese sake house located in Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo. The tavern’s unique twist comes from its staff—two macaque monkeys, owned by the tavern’s owner, Kaoru Otsuka, who help serve guests. Yat-chan, a 12-year-old macaque, is dressed in a shirt and shorts and serves drinks, while Fuku-chan, a 4-year-old monkey, brings hot towels to guests before they order. While Fuku-chan is still relatively new to the job, Yat-chan has been working here for much longer.

Rather than employing human servers, Kayabukiya Tavern has trained these monkeys to assist with service, creating an experience that’s both entertaining and memorable. The monkeys are rewarded with boiled soybeans from customers as tips for their service. In line with Japan’s animal rights regulations, the monkeys are allowed to work only two hours a day. The tavern became famous after appearing in the third episode of the second season of 'I Survived a Japanese Game Show.'

Located in Lainio, deep within the forests near the Ylläs and Levi ski resorts, the Snow Village restaurant in Lapland, Finland, is a marvel of ice and snow sculpture. Local ice sculptors transform their craft into intricate ice houses and dining establishments, creating a magical atmosphere throughout the 20,000-square-meter village. LED lighting and stunning ice carvings decorate the walls and open spaces, adding to the village’s enchanting ambiance.

Inside the Snow Village restaurant, visitors will find incredible ice furniture, including tables and even churches, all made entirely of ice. With temperatures hovering around -5°C, the village offers guided tours, overnight stays in ice rooms, and the chance to dine at the Ice Bar. Guests can even receive a certificate for spending the night at the Snow Village Hotel, which boasts an ice bar, church, game area, and restaurant—all crafted from real ice.

Located within the Soneva Kiri Eco-Resort in Thailand, the Bird's Nest Restaurant offers one of the most unique dining experiences in the world. The restaurant is perched over 5 meters above the ground, and meals are delivered via a pulley system by the staff, making it a truly memorable and fun experience. The restaurant offers stunning views of the surrounding beach and lush tropical forest, and each nest accommodates up to four guests.

This distinctive dining spot allows guests to enjoy a meal while seated in a private bamboo nest, suspended high among the trees. The nests offer a perfect view of the tropical landscape, allowing diners to relax and enjoy their meal while being immersed in nature. The food is exceptional, and the experience is one-of-a-kind with world-class views and gourmet cuisine.

Cabbages and Condoms is a quirky restaurant with a unique theme focused on condoms. The founder believes that "contraceptives should be as easy to access and purchase as vegetables at the market!" The restaurant uses humor and playful visuals to break the stigma surrounding topics like sexual health, family planning, and HIV/AIDS. Set in a lovely courtyard with lush greenery and vines, the restaurant is decorated with hundreds of whimsical condom-themed lights that adorn trees, tables, and even bathroom flowers.

From the outside, Cabbages and Condoms resembles a typical Thai restaurant, beautifully decorated with sparkling lights hanging from trees and intricately set tables. The attentive staff ensures a pleasant dining experience, and dishes are often presented in an eye-catching, colorful way.

Beyond the restaurant, there is a bar called The Captain Condom, where condoms are the central theme in the decor. Lights, flowers, and even boat-shaped designs are all made from condoms, making for a fun and unique ambiance. Cabbages and Condoms is an unconventional but effective way to spark conversations about development, contraceptive use, and safe sex, topics that many restaurants shy away from. The restaurant works closely with a local family planning clinic to promote contraception awareness.

Dans Le Noir? (French for "In the Dark") is a unique dining concept where customers are served in complete darkness, a style known as blind dining. Founded in 2004 in Paris by French entrepreneur Edouard de Broglie, the restaurant has since expanded to major cities like London, Barcelona, New York, St. Petersburg, Melbourne, Nairobi, and New Zealand. In addition to dining, Dans Le Noir has diversified into other services, including shops and spas.

The founders, Edouard de Broglie and Etienne Boisrond, believe that food is best enjoyed when all of your senses are engaged. At Dans Le Noir?, guests dine in total darkness to heighten their senses, allowing them to fully experience the flavors, textures, and temperatures of the food. To support this concept, the staff members are often visually impaired. It's highly recommended for anyone who has never tried such a unique dining experience! Head Chef Laurent Hoffman offers a gourmet menu featuring fresh ingredients and fine wines, catering to any dietary needs or allergies.