Buzz
Quirky and out-of-the-box restaurants can be found all over the world. From upscale dining to casual fast food joints, each strives to deliver a one-of-a-kind experience that keeps customers returning for more. While many are situated in conventional shopfronts or purpose-built structures, it’s not uncommon to discover eateries housed in repurposed heritage buildings, former banks, or even old churches.
Yet, there are some truly remarkable places where you might find these eateries. Their locations are so unconventional that they have sparked a trend of unique dining spots. Some are brilliantly creative, others a bit eerie, and some are just plain amusing.
10. Crypts of Churches
Historically, church crypts served as burial grounds, but in modern times, many coffins have been relocated, leaving behind vast, shadowy chambers. These spaces have been creatively repurposed for various uses. In some cases, they've been turned into storage rooms, shelters for the homeless, or even military barracks during times of war.
Surprisingly, many of these former resting places have undergone a fascinating transformation into vibrant restaurants and cafes. In fact, crypt cafes are gaining popularity globally, becoming a trendy dining option in some cities.
Cities like Sydney, Paris, and London are home to successful restaurants within former church crypts. In Paris, St. Madeline’s offers a charitable dining experience in its crypt, providing affordable meals to the elderly and homeless. In Sydney, the crypt cafe at St. James Church has evolved from a quaint courtyard to an upscale dining spot.
In London, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, located at Trafalgar Square, boasts a cafe in the crypt where old tombstones are actually part of the flooring (as shown above). Guests can admire artifacts like an ancient whipping post and various church sculptures, sparking conversation as they dine in such a unique setting.
9. Repurposed Toilet Blocks
A toilet block may seem like one of the last places you’d expect to find a restaurant or cafe, yet this type of abandoned building is becoming a popular choice for culinary ventures. Once neglected, graffiti-covered structures are now being transformed into stylish dining spots.
A famous burger joint in Berlin has preserved the iconic tiling from its past as a public restroom. Staying true to the building’s history, napkins are even handed out from a toilet roll holder, adding a quirky touch to the experience.
In the UK, the trend of converting old water closets into fashionable cafes and bars is on the rise. Many smaller towns are opting to repurpose these former facilities into eateries rather than demolishing the buildings entirely.
In Sydney, the city council is exploring the idea of transforming old toilet blocks into cafes. Many of these former restrooms are located in convenient public areas, making them ideal, if unusual, spots for dining establishments.
8. Abandoned Train Tunnels
Many modern cities hide a network of shadowy tunnels beneath their streets. Some were once bustling train and tram routes, others served as wartime bunkers or drainage systems. These dark, eerie spaces are typically not places people would voluntarily venture into.
Despite their ominous atmosphere, the potential of these underground spaces is now being acknowledged, leading to a rise in subterranean dining spots. While you might expect a quick snack bar or vending machines at a station, restaurant owners are going further below ground to create a truly distinctive dining experience.
In Sydney, a rail expansion project was abandoned during the Great Depression, leaving a pair of tunnels beneath St. James station largely unused. Inspired by similar tunnel restaurants abroad, plans are now underway to transform these neglected spaces into a vibrant hub of bars and restaurants.
In London, you can enjoy a meal inside a decommissioned tube carriage (pictured above), nestled in an underground tunnel. The carriage, originally from 1967, has maintained its vintage décor. Guests can indulge in a four-course menu, with exclusive events held on certain dates each year. Similarly, Paris is working on transforming abandoned Metro tunnels into trendy dining spots and bars.
7. Dining Table in the Sky
Would you dare to dine on a suspended table in the sky? Yes, this is an actual experience for those not afraid of heights.
In 2006, a Belgian communications agency partnered with an amusement park company to create a unique dining concept, Dinner In The Sky, which has since become a global sensation. Up to 22 diners are seated on a platform that’s lifted 50 meters (164 ft) into the air, providing them with a meal in midair.
The idea of a sky-high feast has soared in popularity, with diners in over 40 countries enjoying this airborne dining experience. It’s as thrilling as it sounds, but just be careful not to drop your napkin.
6. Dining Inside an Airplane
Airline food is often criticized for its lackluster taste, making an airplane the last place you'd expect to find fine cuisine. However, old airplanes are being creatively transformed into unique dining spots. Some offer gourmet meals, while others feature quirky, themed restaurants.
In Malaysia, you can indulge in a three-course meal inside a repurposed Boeing 737 (pictured above). The menu stays true to the aviation theme, with options ranging from Economy to Business and First Class. Likewise, in Colorado, you can dine inside a former US Air Force jet, and in Costa Rica, you can enjoy a meal beneath the wings of an abandoned military plane.
5. Dining in Caves
When you think of a cave, you probably picture stalactites, stalagmites, or perhaps exploring to uncover underwater treasures. Caves have long been ideal spots for picnics and parties, and now, cave restaurants are becoming an increasingly popular trend.
The Grotta Palazzese cave restaurant in Italy is thought to have origins dating back to the 1700s, with evidence found in a watercolor from 1783. Today, it offers guests a luxurious dining experience overlooking the beautiful Adriatic Sea.
Along China’s Yangtze River, brave diners cross a nerve-wracking 30-meter-long (100 ft) walkway, perched high on a cliff, leading them to a mountain cave where they can enjoy a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Luxury cave restaurants are becoming a trend near many popular resorts in Asia as well.
4. Laundrobars
For many, Sunday afternoons at the laundromat are a dreaded chore. However, a new café trend is making wash day a little more bearable.
Laundromat restaurants, cafés, and bars have become quite the phenomenon. Innovative laundromat owners worldwide are transforming the time their customers spend waiting for laundry into an enjoyable experience. Gone are the days of mindlessly munching on vending machine snacks while you wait for your clothes to finish.
The concept first gained popularity in Germany, where laundromat owners began offering premium coffee and snacks to their customers. The idea quickly spread across Western Europe and beyond to the US and Australia. These revamped laundromats now resemble trendy nightclubs and eateries, with some offering fast food, coffee, full bars, and even live performances and dance parties to accompany the spin cycle.
3. Dinner In A Tree?
Ever imagined dining in the treetops? A growing number of adventurers are taking their meals to new heights by enjoying dinner in the branches of trees.
In Costa Rica, a restaurant and café has been built around the sprawling branches of a giant ficus tree, where you can simply climb a staircase to access your table. Meanwhile, in Thailand, guests are lifted into the treetops in private dining pods, with meals delivered via a pulley system from the ground below. In Queensland, Australia, a spa resort offers an elevated dining experience in the tree canopies for guests seeking a truly unique meal.
Let’s hope the local wildlife in these trees have mastered the art of table manners.
2. Graveyard Restaurant
Cemetery-themed restaurants aren’t too unusual. Many large cemeteries feature cafes where visitors and mourners can stop for a break. Some eateries are even located next to sprawling graveyards, catering to those who come to pay their respects. However, one restaurant in India takes the concept a little too far for many people's comfort.
The New Lucky Restaurant in Ahmadabad, India, is situated on the grounds of an old Muslim graveyard. Rather than disrupting the peaceful resting places, tables are arranged around the graves, with metal fences enclosing the raised coffins. Diners sit by the gravesides, enjoying their coffee and curry in this rather unconventional setting.
1. Former Mental Asylums
Gone are the days of dark, institutional mental health care, and many large insane asylums now stand deserted. The eerie history embedded in these buildings lends them a naturally creepy and somber ambiance. However, their vast size, striking architecture, and strategic locations have made them perfect candidates for conversion into luxury hotels and dining venues. As a result, many of these grand, former hospitals have been transformed from places of care to sites of leisure and fine dining across the globe.
New Mexico and New York are home to historic asylums that have been reimagined as upscale hotels and restaurants. One such 18th-century asylum in Edinburgh is now among numerous similar buildings throughout Europe that serve as the perfect romantic retreat for a weekend getaway. In Tasmania, an old asylum's dormitory has been repurposed into a unique restaurant setting.
For some, the idea of dining in a former psychiatric institution may be unsettling, but the transformation of these old buildings serves as an excellent example of how abandoned structures can be creatively repurposed.
