The most unusual and quirky restaurants in London

We go on and on about how great London is as a food city - one of the best in the world, we reckon - but alongside all the great food, we probably don’t talk enough about the unusual dining experiences London has to offer. Going out and enjoying delicious food is one thing, but restaurants are also there to entertain. In fact, providing a full experience is one of the biggest food and restaurant trends we’ve seen this year, and London’s quirky restaurants are delivering just that.

That could mean all sorts of things - you might enjoy a quirky gastropub that’s full of old bric-a-brac and historic memorabilia, or perhaps you want to immerse yourself in a mad night out where chefs spoonfeed you (literally). Believe it or not, there's a niche for all of the above and more in London, so if you’ve ever found yourself searching for ‘unique places to eat near me,’ you’ve come to the right place.

London is packed full of unusual restaurants and quirky places to eat - all you have to do is find them. Some are hidden in plain sight, while others take a little more digging to find. Whatever you desire, this list is home to all the capital’s weird and wonderful eating experiences, from dining in the dark, prison restaurants and kebab tasting menus to restaurants that employ actors and performers to deliver some drama with your steak Diane.

If that all sounds a bit intense, perhaps click on over to our definitive list of London’s cool and trendy restaurants - cutting-edge, pioneering restaurants that are leading the way in London’s restaurant scene.

Some of us, however, are here for the whole production. If being fed grapes by a man in a Roman tunic is exactly what you’re after, scroll down and check out our list of all the quirky restaurants London has to offer.

Sketch: The Gallery, Mayfair

What: There are beautiful restaurants, and then there's Sketch - where something unique and unforeseen is always on show. The Gallery, famous for its ever-changing artistic identity, is one of London's most photographed dining rooms, where museum-worthy installations, contemporary art and playful design collide. Whether you're visiting for afternoon tea, cocktails or an indulgent dinner, expect imaginative cooking served in surroundings that blur the line between restaurant and art exhibition. At the time of writing, you can dine beneath Jonathan Baldock’s worm-like chrysalis sculptures, or head to The Glade for something serene, but just don't leave without visiting the futuristic egg-shaped toilets, which have become almost as famous as the destination itself.
Most unusual feature: Installations in The Gallery, and the futuristic pod toilets
Where: 9 Conduit Street, W1S 2XG
Book now: Sketch: The Gallery

Punk Royale, Mayfair

What: Forget everything you think you know about fine dining. Punk Royale is a gloriously anarchic tasting menu experience where absolutely nothing is off limits. Expect multiple courses punctuated by total madness, smoke machine action, tableside theatrics and plenty of hilarious moments. The kitchen concept, a Stockholm import, revolves around 22+ miniature courses, using premium ingredients and breaking fine dining barriers. After an ice-cold vodka shot and golf ball-sized bump of caviar, it only gets better. For one course, gloves are your cutlery; for another, a chef swans over, spoon in hand, ready to feed you. It’s not for everyone, but if you want to wake up the next day thinking ‘what the heck just happened’, Punk Royale is the place to book.
Most unusual feature: Absolutely nothing here is ‘normal’ - everything, from service to interiors, is a wild ride.
Where: 6 Sackville Street, W1S 3DD
Book now: Punk Royale

The Top Hat Restaurant, Fitzrovia

What: Don your monocle, trim that moustache, and head on down for dinner with a side of nostalgia at The Top Hat Restaurant. Found inside Monopoly Lifesized, this playful restaurant and bar brings the world's most famous board game to life, with Monopoly-inspired cocktails, a menu designed like playing cards and dishes with suitably punny names (‘the cash cow burger’, we’re looking at you). You don't even need to play the game next door to visit, but we'd recommend pairing dinner with a round of life-sized Monopoly for the full wacky experience. Just be warned, despite the theme, Monopoly money isn’t valid here.
Most unusual feature: Monopoly-themed cocktails, menus designed like Monopoly cards
Where: 213-215 Tottenham Court Road, W1T 7PN
Book now: The Top Hat Restaurant

The Murder Express Part Deux Jewel of the Empire, Bethnal Green

What: Equal parts immersive theatre, escape room and dinner, The Murder Express Part Deux whisks guests aboard a fictional train where every passenger is a suspect. As actors weave clues between courses, you'll interrogate characters, piece together evidence and attempt to solve the mystery before the final reveal. It's brilliantly camp, wonderfully interactive and far more entertaining than simply watching the drama unfold from the sidelines.
Most unusual feature: Everyone, from fellow passengers to yourself, is a potential suspect.
Where: Arch 63, Pedley Street, E1 5BW
Book now: The Murder Express Part Deux, Jewel of the Empire

Inamo, Covent Garden

What: Quirks come and go, but Inamo’s unique brand of entertainment dining has stood the test of time for nearly two decades. It’s not difficult to understand why; who could say no to retro table games while you wait for your sushi? You’ll also be able to change the restaurant’s playlist, view a live chef-cam feed, and graffiti your table. As for the food, think fun snake-shaped sushi rolls, bao buns, pan-Asian sharing plates and Wagyu beef parcels.
Most unusual feature: Where do we start! Chef-cam feed, table graffiti, integrated table games?
Where: 11-14 Hanover Place, WC2E 9JP
Book now: Inamo Covent Garden

Barge East, Hackney Wick

What: This moored Dutch barge in Hackney Wick is home to a sustainable restaurant where the menu is made using ingredients grown in its very own gardens, just adjacent to the main boat. You can enjoy street food and drinks in its gardens throughout the year, or for a sit-down affair, hop on board to enjoy its sustainable menus, from salt cod croquettes with preserved lemon aioli, to Ethical Butcher onglet steak with wild mushroom fricasee and smoked bone marrow peppercorn sauce.
Most unusual feature: We’d say dinner on a boat is pretty unique
Where: White Post Lane, E9 5EN
Book now: Barge East

Dear Jackie, Soho

What: Fabulously flamboyant in every way, Dear Jackie is a dinner-only restaurant where Italian opulence is embraced with aplomb. Whacky interiors take their cues from dolce vita elegance, plus a splash of disco, from sumptuous red silk walls to plush patterned booths. Art-lovers will enjoy browsing the walls lined with works by celebrated artists, although you don’t have to be a die-hard fan to appreciate the level of detail in the decor. Everything from hand-painted ceramics to seductive Murano lighting creates an atmosphere of luxury and splendour. To eat, choose from traditional Italian dishes, including a veal cheek and parmesan risotto with shaved truffle, and Cornish monkfish with anchovy and chilli.
Most unusual feature: Flamboyant, crimson interiors
Where: 20 Broadwick Street, W1F 8HT
Book now: Dear Jackie

Bob Bob Ricard, Soho and City

What: Famously blingy and caviar-strewn Bob Bob Ricard makes the list for the Gatsby-esque dining room, as well as for being ‘that restaurant with the Champagne button.’ The Soho original emerges as the picture of the Orient Express, with every detail referencing the glitzy Golden Age of travel. The City of London counterpart is just as shimmery, this time taking cues from the Royal Yacht Britannia, but delivering the same fun and penchant for excess. We’re talking sub-zero degree vodka shots, degustation of three caviars, and truffle and Champagne pies.
Most unusual feature: ‘Press for Champagne’ buttons
Where: 1 Upper James Street, W1F 9DF; 122 Leadenhall Street, EC3V 4AB
Book now: Bob Bob Ricard Soho; Bob Bob Ricard City

The Little Neon Door, Shoreditch

What: The Little Neon Door is less a bar than a very well-appointed flatshare where the house party never ends. Spread across two floors near Old Street, this immersive venue channels Shoreditch's loft-living aesthetic with five playful rooms, from the sofa-filled Sitting Room to the Kitchen, where DJs soundtrack a full-blown kitchen disco. Elsewhere, you can sing karaoke from a bathtub, play Nintendo 64, table football and ping pong, or raid the costume cupboard in the Dressing Room. Cocktails arrive in everything from disco balls to trophies, naturally.
Most unusual feature: The bathtub karaoke room
Where: 91-93 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HZ
Book now: The Little Neon Door

Sarastro, Covent Garden

What: If maximalism had a spiritual home, it would probably be Sarastro. Inspired by the world of opera, every inch of this flamboyant restaurant is covered with velvet drapes, gilded balconies, theatrical props and elaborate stage costumes, making dinner feel like you've wandered backstage at the West End. Live music only adds to the drama, while Mediterranean dishes such as grilled seafood, meze and lamb kofta keep everyone happily fuelled between curtain calls.
Most unusual feature: Theatrics and props at every turn
Where: 126 Drury Lane, WC2B 5SU
Book now: Sarastro

Mamma Mia! The Party, North Greenwich

What: Few restaurants can promise dinner and a West End-worthy performance in one sitting. Mamma Mia! The Party transforms a corner of London's O2 into a sun-drenched Greek taverna where a live cast performs around your table as you enjoy a four-course Mediterranean feast. Expect singalongs, dancing, plenty of ABBA classics and an atmosphere that only gets livelier as the evening unfolds.
Most unusual feature: ABBA singalongs and Mamma Mia immersion
Where: Unit 6.05, The O2, Peninsula Square, SE10 0DX
Book now: Mamma Mia! The Party

Mercato Metropolitano, Mayfair

What: Chances are you’ve walked past Mercato Metropolitano a thousand times and not realised you were mere moments away from a converted church serving up global street food and a hidden roof terrace. Wander inside St Mark’s Church on North Audley Street from noon any day of the week and you’ll be greeted by a palpable buzz as hungry Londoners enjoy a drink with some street eats under its vaulted ceiling. Vendors include Pad Thai House, Pizzeria Napoletana, Molo, Club Mexicana, Steamy & Co, amongst others, serving everything from Asian fusion to lobster and oysters. You can also catch more traders down at Mercato Metropolitano Wood Wharf, if you happen to find yourself in the Docklands.
Most unusual feature: The grand vaulted ceilings and stained glass panels are truly jaw-dropping
Where: St Mark’s, North Audley Street, W1K 6ZA
Book now: Mercato Metropolitano Mayfair

Bustronome, Embankment

What: Aside from, perhaps, sailing down the Thames, the next best way to see the city is via bus. Bustronome combines fine dining and sightseeing, kitting out a double-decker with a kitchen and tables, and serving creative, seasonal menus as you whizz around the city taking in the sights. Head to the top deck for the best views, thanks to big windows and a glass roof. We’d bag seats here for birthday dinners, particularly if you time it for sunset.
Most unusual feature: Dinner on a bus, cruising around London. Need we say more?
Where: Coach bay 40B, Victoria Embankment, WC2N 6PB
Book now: Bustronome

Albert's Schloss, Piccadilly

What: The barmy Bavarian beer bar has made its way from Manchester to Liverpool, and finally to London, with a gigantic 18,000 sq ft site just off Leicester Square. Live entertainment fills the stages every day of the week, from haus bands to DJs to cabaret dancers, while some of Europe's best tankards of beer (or so they claim) are poured, to be enjoyed alongside a host of Alpine-inspired plates.
Most unusual feature: Regular live entertainment, from lederhosen-clad singers to live bands.
Where: 20-24 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7EU
Book now: Albert's Schloss

Duck & Waffle, City of London

What: We’d argue that a 24-hour restaurant is pretty unusual. Throw in killer views and a signature dish that revolves around waffles and duck confit, and you have yourself a wild time in our books. High-rise restaurant Duck & Waffle is located on the 40th floor of 110 Bishopsgate, where you can dine on everything from breakfast to a Sunday roast to late-night snacks from dawn until dusk. Trust us, the views are hard to believe until you’re up there, watching the city glitter down below you.
Most unusual feature: Round-the-clock dining with staggering City views
Where: 110 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AY
Book now: Duck & Waffle

Kebab Queen, Covent Garden

What: Shuffle down into the basement of Le Bab Covent Garden, through the faux frontage of the kebab shop, and you’ll find yourself in the world’s only kebab tasting menu restaurant (probably). The food is pretty sensational, and innovative too, with guests eating directly with their hands from the heated countertop (clean freaks relax, it’s all anti-bacterial and wiped down between each course). You can also hire Kebab Queen for private events, in case you’re planning something special.
Most unusual feature: Kebab fine dining, eating directly off the counter
Where: 4 Mercer Walk, WC2H 9FA
Book now: Kebab Queen

Jacuzzi, Kensington

What: Big Mamma’s extravagant Italian restaurants are synonymous with quirky dining. Everything here is larger than life, from the outlandishly decadent dishes to the bordering-on-ridiculous, maximalist interiors. Jacuzzi, for example, is styled on a four-story Sicilian mansion with a ginormous fake tree in the centre, dripping crystal chandeliers, flamboyant red booths and the odd naff touch (framed pants on the walls, for example). If you’re anything like us, you'll have a ball. Order the burrata with pistachio pesto, creamy truffle mafaldine, and the chocolate mousse to finish.
Most unusual feature: Grand chandeliers, staircases, red booths? Everything here is pure, joyful excess
Where: 94 Kensington High Street, W8 4SH
Book now: Jacuzzi

Bunga 90, Covent Garden

What: If you think you’re ready to party like it’s 1999, get yourself down to Bunga 90 ASAP. This interactive 90s themed cocktail bar is a full-blown time warp, complete with nostalgic cocktails served in ceramic glasses shaped as Home Alone’s Macaulay Culkin or Britney Spears, karaoke and plenty of 90s memorabilia. Expect throwback arcade games, like fan favourite Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Jurassic Park Pinball, and more, alongside American-style pizzas spanning a whopping 20 inches.
Most unusual feature: 90s memorabilia, and cocktails served in iconic celebrity ceramics
Where: 167 Drury Lane, WC2B 5PG
Book now: Bunga 90

Dans Le Noir, Clerkenwell

What: Gastronomic guinea pigs eat in total darkness at Dans Le Noir, aided by waiters with walkie-talkies and presumably, military-grade night vision gear. In keeping with the mystery, guests choose between four different ‘surprise’ menus (including a vegetarian version), but are left to guess exactly what’s on the plate in front of them. The darkness is intended to heighten the sense of taste, which may or may not be of benefit.
Most unusual feature: Where else can you have dinner in total darkness?
Where: 30-31 Clerkenwell Green, EC1R 0DU
Book now: Dans Le Noir

Bacchanalia, Mayfair

What: The ever-so-shiny zirconium in Richard Caring’s crown, Bacchanalia is a tribute to the debaucherous Roman pleasure god Bacchus. Tunic-draped hosts escort you to your table underneath gargantuan statues of winged horses, before revisiting to feed you grapes, should you be so lucky. From the jewel-encrusted bar to the operatic toilet music, there was clearly no holding back at this planning meeting. Food follows suit, offering up Greek and Italian classics with luxurious touches.
Most unusual feature: Staggering Roman-inspired statues and tunic-wearing hosts
Where: 1 Mount Street, W1K 3NA
Book now: Bacchanalia

The Clink at Brixton Prison, Brixton

What: Following similar restaurants at HMP Cardiff and High Down in Surrey, the Clink charity runs this restaurant at Brixton prison, which trains inmates in hospitality with support from local businesses. Yes, that means you’re eating food cooked by chefs who are being detained at His Majesty’s pleasure. This one’s bred some truly unique talent, including Instagram-famous chef Nathaniel Mortley, who has since gone on to open 2210 by NattyCanCook.
Most unusual feature: Dining in a working prison, all while creating opportunities for training
Where: HMP Brixton, Jebb Avenue, SW2 5XF
Book now: The Clink at Brixton Prison

We have plenty more quirky to offer, from the most unusual and quirky venues to hire in London to the capital's most Instagram-worthy private dining rooms. But do you know the best way to stay on top of all the weird and wonderful stuff happening? Getting a weekly dose of news, tips, and recommendations via SquareMeal's restaurant newsletter. It's that simple.