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 and, sometimes, to allow us to revel in their unique quirks.

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 grab a coffee and a slice of cake surrounded by cats. 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 full-time grape feeders.

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.

But, if being fed grapes by a man in a toga is exactly what you’re after, scroll down and check out our list of all the quirky restaurants London has to offer.

Park Chinois, Mayfair 

What: Dining in a 1930s Shanghai speakeasy might not have been on your restaurant bucket list before reading this list, but Park Chinois’ opulent decor and theatrical dining concept is an experience that lives up to the hype. Crucially, the food is exceptional, with luxurious Chinese dishes spanning everything from Cantonese roast duck to tasty dim sum. Prices are punchy if you dine from the a la carte, although there’s a weekday set lunch for just shy of £30 per person for those with shallower pockets. You can dine in either the Salon de Chine, the main restaurant, or the decadent Club Chinois where glamorous dining usually comes with live entertainment (singers, acrobats, burlesque dancers, you name it) to boot.  
Where: 17 Berkeley Street, W1J 8EA 
Book now: Park Chinois 

Inamo, Soho and 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.
Where: 134-136 Wardour Street, W1F 8ZP; 11-14 Hanover Place, WC2E 9JP
Book now: Inamo Soho; Inamo Covent Garden

Barge East, Stratford 

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.  
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 to fan to appreciate the level of detail in the decor. Everything from hand-painted ceramics to seductive Murano lighting create an atmosphere of luxury and splendour. To eat, choose from an a la carte menu centred around traditional Italian dishes, including a veal cheek and parmesan risotto with shaved truffle, and Cornish monkfish with anchovy and chilli.  
Where: 20 Broadwick Street, W1F 8HT 
Book now: Dear Jackie 

Mercato, Mayfair 

What: Chances are you’ve walked past Mercato 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, Steam & Co amongst others, serving everything from Asian fusion to lobster and oysters.   
Where: St Mark’s, North Audley Street, W1K 6ZA 
Book now: Mercato Mayfair 

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.
Where: 110 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AY
Book now: Duck & Waffle

Mr Fogg’s, Various London locations

What: Step inside the wondrous world of Mr Fogg’s, a string of quirky cocktail bars across London that revolve around the travels of Mr Fogg. Each bar is quirky and unique, from a Victorian-style tavern in the City of London to an old-style apothecary in Mayfair. Rest assured, each outlet promises to transport guests to a wonderfully eccentric world, complete with vintage interiors and a menu of barmy, botanical cocktails.
Where: Various London locations
Book now: Mr Fogg’s City Tavern, Mr Fogg’s Gin Parlour, Mr Fogg’s House of Botanicals, Mr Fogg’s Pawnbrokers and more

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.  
Where: 94 Kensington High Street, W8 4SH 
Book now: Jacuzzi

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 kitchen and tables, and serving creative, seasonal menus as you whizz around the city taking in the sites. Head to the top deck for the best views, thanks to big windows and a glass roof.
Where: Coach bay 40B, Victoria Embankment, WC2N 6PB
Book now: Bustronome

Champor-Champor, London Bridge

What: Champor Champor delivers creative Malaysian food with a side of incense-scented romance and tribal artefacts. There’s even a sole table for two hidden up on the mezzanine, which might just be London’s most unique date spot.
Where: 62-64 Weston Street, SE1 3QJ
Book now: Champor-Champor

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. 
Where: 20-24 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7EU
Book now: Albert's Schloss

Bunga Bunga, Covent Garden

What: If you think you’re ready to get down like former Italian Prime Minister and living waxwork Silvio Berlusconi, get yourself down to Bunga Bunga for an evening of all-singing, all-dancing cabaret. The restaurant is accessed through an Italian laundrette, policed by Bunga Bunga’s amici, before diners are treated to dinner and a show. If we know Silvio, you can expect a late night. Or head to the ground floor BarBunga, for classic Italian aperitivo including Negronis and Aperol Spritz'. 
Where: 167 Drury Lane, WC2B 5PG
Book now: Bunga Bunga

Bodega Negra, Soho

What: Surely London’s only Mexican restaurant hidden under a sex shop, Bodega Negra marries two Soho eras nicely, combining stylish food and crotchless pants. If you don’t mind braving the Stygian decor, the food is actually pretty good, marrying excellent tacos, tostadas and the like with some innovative fillings, plus a huge list of tequilas and mezcals.
Where: 9 Old Compton Street, W1D 5JF
Book now: Bodega Negra

Kebab Queen, Covent Garden

What: Shuffle down into the basement of Maison Bab in 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).
Where: 4 Mercer Walk, WC2H 9FA
Book now: Kebab Queen

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.
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. Toga-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.
Where: 1 Mount Street, W1K 3NA
Book now: Bacchanalia

Bob Bob Ricard, Soho

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.’ Head to the second City location for all the same fun with Savile Row-suited wide boys.
Where: 1 Upper James Street, W1F 9DF
Book now: Bob Bob Ricard

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.
Where: HMP Brixton, Jebb Avenue, SW2 5XF
Book now: The Clink at Brixton Prison

Brunswick House, Vauxhall

What: Be prepared for your guests to side eye you as they round the grimly urban Vauxhall gyratory and spot this Georgian brick townhouse. If you can get them inside, all will be well - this Carrollian dreamscape is packed full of wacky knickknacks, antique furniture and gaudy chandeliers. With Jackson Boxer looking after the menus, the food is predictably fantastic.
Where: 30 Wandsworth Road, SW8 2LG
Book now: Brunswick House

We have plenty more quirky to offer you, from London’s most unique private dining rooms to the most unusual and quirky venues to hire in London. Or you can find more quirky restaurants in our full restaurant catalogue for London.