London is home to some of the most unique and unforgettable dining experiences in the world. From themed restaurants to unusual locations, the city’s eateries are imaginatively one-of-a-kind.
Quirky concepts include pitch-black dining, surgical theatre meals, and retro American diners. Double-decker buses, canal boats, distilleries, and underground venues also host distinctive culinary adventures.
So, read on for eight of London’s most extraordinary and innovative restaurants that let you dine in settings thrillingly different from the norm.
1. Dans le Noir? – Dine in Complete Darkness
Dans le Noir? in Clerkenwell offers a completely unique dining experience – you eat in complete darkness, guided by blind waiters. With no idea what’s on your plate, you rely purely on your other senses to taste the food.
It’s a strange but intriguing concept that enhances appreciation of the flavors and textures. The surprise menu promises meat or fish dishes, depending on whether you choose the red or blue menu.
A weird but wonderful experience and probably London’s darkest restaurant! With such an unusual concept, Dans le Noir? Needs minimal restaurant marketing – the novelty factor draws plenty of attention already.
2. Bustronome – Dine Aboard a Double Decker
Bustronome offers a moveable feast aboard a glass-roofed double-decker bus! Enjoy a 6-course menu while touring iconic London sights like Big Ben, Tower Bridge, and more. It’s a fabulous way to dine and sightsee at the same time. Offering delicious food and incredible views, Bustronome is one of London’s most unique dining experiences.
3. The Clink – Dine at HMP Brixton
For a truly unique restaurant location, visit The Clink inside Her Majesty’s Prison Brixton! Staffed by inmate trainees working towards hospitality qualifications, it’s also a worthwhile social enterprise. Diners can enjoy high-quality meals that support rehabilitation. With no alcohol and airport-style security, it’s not your average restaurant setting!
4. Gingerline – Secret Underground Dining
Gingerline hosts immersive underground dining events in secret locations, which are revealed only to ticket holders. Guests are led on a journey through mysterious chambers before being seated for a theatrical multi-course menu. With different themes like haunted houses, factories, and more, it’s a dramatic and thrilling dining experience.
5. The Breakfast Club – Diner Style Retro Vibes
The Breakfast Club channels old-school American retro diner vibes across its locations in London. With checkerboard floors, leather booths, and neon signs, they nail the aesthetic. Their menu embraces the classics: pancakes, milkshakes, wings, and burgers, done excellently.
From all-day breakfasts to hangover brunches, it’s the perfect spot for eggs and bacon at any time. Wearing an edgy 80s leather jacket outfit perfectly complements the retro decor and ambiance. For authentic diner favorites in a throwback setting, The Breakfast Club is a must-visit.
6. The Avon Gorge – Dine in a Canal Boat
For a uniquely British dining experience, enjoy afternoon tea or dinner aboard a vintage canal boat at The Avon Gorge in Little Venice. The narrow boat gently cruises along the scenic Regent’s Canal while you tuck into sandwiches, scones, and more.
With cozy booth seating and decorative details, it evokes old-world canal charm. Blankets keep you warm as you float by canal-side pubs and houseboats. A memorable dining experience showcasing classic London waterways.
7. East London Liquor Company – Dine in a Distillery
Based at a working distillery, the East London Liquor Company offers diners drinks freshly created on-site. The restaurant sits amidst their huge copper stills, so you can watch the distilling process up close while enjoying modern British sharing plates.
With its own spirits used in cocktails and seasoning, it provides a unique farm-to-glass dining experience. It’s an atmospheric, industrial setting for date nights, drink lovers, and groups.
8. The Old Operating Theatre – Dine in a Surgical Theatre
For a macabre setting, dine in the renovated surgical theatre atop the Old St. Thomas Church. This all-wood anatomical theatre hosted gruesome operations from 1822 to 1862. Today, it makes for beautifully gothic fine dining, with dramatic architecture and displays of surgical tools.
Settle in the church’s herb garret for 3 courses of classic British fare under chandeliers, next to jars of medicinal herbs. An intriguingly spooky space rich in dark history.
So, there you have 8 of London’s most wonderfully unique and memorable dining experiences. From pitch-black meals to distilleries, retro diners to canal boats, London’s quirky restaurant scene has something for every taste.
These imaginative eateries let you dine in settings thrillingly different from the norm. Why not ditch the boring restaurant chain and try one of London’s most extraordinary and innovative dining destinations?
