At restaurants, creativity need not be restricted to the plate! These uniquely theme dining and drinking spots, in all corners of the globe, have boldly ventured into unchartered territories to create spectacularly off-beat spaces. From enjoying a meal at the Eiffel Tower to slurping ramen from miniature toilets in Taipei to being served by ninjas in Tokyo, and cosying up with Barbie and Ken in New York – take your pick of the world’s most uniquely themed restaurants!
The Rock Restaurant, Zanzibar
Sitting atop a lone rock amid the aquamarine waters of Michamvi Beach, in Zanzibar, the Rock Restaurant makes for a cosy and unique nook. You can travel offshore on a rickety boat that gets you to the wooden stairs that lead to the white-washed restaurant that’s complete with a thatched roof. Snag a spot by a window and feast your eyes on the endless waters of the Indian Ocean as they serve up homely Italian fare.
🍽️ To make a reservation: Click here!
Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, Maldives
There’s a reason the Maldives is on every serious and not-so-serious traveller’s wishlist! And the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant does its bit to underline the scenic country’s ‘must-visit’ status. Part of Conrad’s Rangali Island property, the restaurant sits serenely six metres below the blue, blue waters of the sea. Encased in a glass dome, you’ll be able to watch schools of fish and observe coral reefs as you toast the good life in this exclusive 14-seater restaurant. The food served is a delicious sampling of global cuisine but we won’t surprised if you have trouble deciding whether to look at your gorgeous plate or eye the toothy shark casually swimming by above you.
🍽️ To make a reservation: Click here!
Dinner In The Sky, Dubai
Given its endless skyscrapers, it’s only obvious that Dubai serves up a soaring Dinner in the Sky experience. Perfectly matched to those who love to get their heart pumping before they eat, this outing will have you strapped into a seat that’s attached to a table. This open-air table then jets up 50 metres into the sky. Suspended in the air and surrounded by Dubai’s skies, you can dig into culinary delights like Arabic Mezze, Angus Beef Short Rib, and Pan Seared Salmon. Best enjoyed with a bunch of friends, this experience can add punch to a birthday celebration or a bachelorette.
🍽️ To make a reservation: Click here!
Grotta Palazzese Hotel Ristorante, Italy
History, romance and nature come together to charm you at this renowned Italian restaurant in Southern Italy. Around since the 1700s and immortalised in a Desprez painting, this restaurant is couched in the jagged caves of Polignano a Mare and is surrounded by the aquamarine waters of the Adriatic Sea. The rocky caves exude warmth as you sit by table lamps and feast on Italian food and wine.
🍽️ To make a reservation: Click here!
Ninja Akasaka, Japan
In a brooding setting in Tokyo, you can witness a slice of Ninja magic. Make your way through an adventure pathway paved with waterfalls, ponds, and rocky walls to arrive at a recreated, underground Ninja village that promises plenty of action. Once seated, you can indulge in a menu packed with Japanese, Italian and French offerings while you watch ninjas unleash a few tricks during a table-side show.
🍽️ To make a reservation: Click here!
Vertigo Moon Bar, Thailand
Vertigo Moon Bar is a rooftop bar on steroids! Surrounded by skyscrapers, the open-air bar sits 60 floors above ground and is the scene of many a thrilling party. Revellers also swing by for the spectacular sunsets and the heady cocktails served here and, of course, to rub shoulders with the who’s who of Bangkok.
🍽️ To make a reservation: Click here!
Bang Bang Bangkok, New York
One of Brooklyn’s buzzing new hotspots, Bang Bang Bangkok recreates a slice of the neon-lit Thai capital. The interiors are of a brightly lit bus, completed with checked seats and snazzy lighting. As you dig into a deliciously curated 10-course, Thai meal, you are also taken on a tour of the city with Bangkok’s landmarks flashing past you on giant screens.
🍽️ To make a reservation: Click here!
Treepod Dining, Thailand
Part of the swanky Sonevakiri getaway in the Trat province of eastern Thailand, Treepod dining makes for an Insta-grid-worthy experience! You’ll make your way into a suspended bamboo pod that serves up views of thick rainforests surrounded by unspoiled beaches and blue, blue waters. That itself should satisfy any craving you have! In case it doesn’t, a server ziplines his way to your pod and carries in baskets full of small eats paired with handpicked beverages.
🍽️ To make a reservation: Click here!
Friðheimar, Iceland
A charming, earth-friendly restaurant in Reykholt, Iceland, Friðheimar is dedicated to the humble tomato. Run by a family, whose patriarch is a horticulturist, the restaurant is surrounded by greenhouses where tomatoes grow through the year and, then, make it the tables of curious visitors and food lovers. Fresh off the branches, the tomatoes feature in soups, pastas and, salads. You can finish up with tomato ice cream or cheesecake topped with slathering of tomato jam.
🍽️ To make a reservation: Click here!
Le Jules Verne, France
A Michelin-star restaurant that sits on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower, Le Jules Verne ticks a lot of boxes for those looking for a one-of-kind Parisian experience. Dressed in your elegant best, you and your well-heeled shoes can step into a ‘monumental’ world of fine dining. Perched around 410 feet above the ground and surrounded by the iron grids that make up the tower, you can look out to the most romantic city in the world while the chef regales you with perfectly crafted gastronomic creations.
🍽️ To make a reservation: Click here!
Modern Toilet, Taiwan
One of the best-rated restaurant chains in Taiwan celebrates, well, the john! Even in Taiwan where bizarrely-themed restaurants are the norm, Modern Toilet, we are sure, gets a few questioning looks. But that hasn’t stopped this restaurant from serving up au gratins in miniature bathtubs, swirls of ice cream that look like poo, and cold drinks in urinal-shaped drinkware. Modern Toilet is especially popular with kids and those looking for a fun way to live life before it all goes down the drain!
🍽️ To make a reservation: Click here!
