The world's most unique restaurants

Church crypts

The dark depths of church crypts were often used as burial places. However, in modern times, the coffins in many of these crypts have been removed, leaving dark, uneven spaces. Churchgoers have found creative ways to utilize these areas. Many have been repurposed as storage, shelters for the homeless, and even military camps during wartime.

Nhà hàng trong hầm mộ nhà thờ St Madeleine ở Paris — Restaurant in the crypt of St. Madeleine's Church in Paris

However, you might be surprised to learn that many former burial sites have been renovated into restaurants and cafes. In fact, crypt cafes seem to be becoming a trend around the world. Sydney, Paris, and London are among the cities with eateries renovated from old church crypts. St. Madeleine's Church in Paris runs a charity restaurant, providing inexpensive meals to the elderly and homeless from the dining area in the church's crypt. And St. James's Church in Sydney has become famous for what started as a small cafe in the courtyard and for its delicious meals in the crypt.

Quán café trong sân nhà thờ St James ở Sydney — The café in the courtyard of St. James's Cathedral in Sydney.

St Martin-in-the-Field Anglican church in Tragargar Square, London, even has ancient tombstones scattered across the floor of the Catacombs Cafe. Artifacts such as an old text and church sculptures are displayed right next to the tables of diners.

Quán Cà phê Hầm Mộ bên trong St Martin-in-the-Field ở London — The Café in the Tomb inside St Martin-in-the-Field in London.

Old toilets

A row of restrooms might also be one of the places you'd expect to find a restaurant or café. They're another series of disused buildings that are becoming increasingly popular meeting places for trendy eateries. These buildings, once squalid, dirty, and covered in graffiti, have been repurposed into fashionable dining spaces.

Burgermeister ở Berlin vốn là một toilet công cộng — Burgermeister in Berlin was originally a public toilet.

A popular burger joint in Berlin has preserved the unmistakable tiled floor from the old days of a building that used to be a public restroom. They've maintained the building's original character, even taking napkins from a toilet paper roll holder!

Nhà hàng WC Clapham ở London — WC Clapham restaurant in London

Nhà hàng Attendant vốn là một toilet cũ thời Victoria — The Attendant restaurant was originally an old Victorian-era toilet.

Nhà hàng Ladies & Gentlemen ở London — Ladies & Gentlemen restaurant in London

In England, converting unused toilets into trendy cafes and pubs is becoming quite common. Some smaller towns are turning these old toilets into restaurants instead of demolishing them.

Old railway tunnels

Most modern cities have a labyrinth of dark tunnels hidden beneath the streets. Some are used as railway and tram lines; others became underground war bunkers or drainage channels. All are usually dark, eerie places that few would actually want to visit.

However, the value of these tunnels is being recognized, sparking a trend of opening restaurants and bars underground. You might expect to find a coffee shop, fast food restaurant, or vending machine at the station. But now, restaurant owners are digging a little deeper to offer unique culinary experiences.

Nhà hàng ngầm ở Toronto — Underground restaurant in Toronto

In Sydney, a project to expand the city's rail system was abandoned during the economic downturn. A pair of tunnels at St James station have been largely out of operation since then. Inspired by tunnel restaurants overseas, plans are now underway to repurpose these damp tunnels into a complex of pubs and restaurants.

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Nhà hàng ngầm ở London — Underground restaurant in London

In London, you can dine in a decommissioned passenger carriage located in an underground tunnel. The original 1967 decorations of the carriage have been preserved. Diners can enjoy a four-course menu on board, and ticketed events are held on specific dates each year. In Paris, plans are also underway to transform unused metro tunnels into upscale restaurants and bars.

Outdoor dining

Would you like to enjoy a dinner at a table suspended in mid-air? It's actually possible, provided you're not afraid of heights. In 2006, a Belgian media outlet partnered with an amusement park and introduced a bizarre dining concept – “Dinner In The Sky” – which became famous worldwide. Twenty-two diners sit on a platform, then are lifted 50 meters above the ground to enjoy a feast in the sky.

Bữa ăn trên bầu trời — A meal in the sky

Word spread quickly, and diners in over 40 countries have enjoyed a meal in the sky. It sounds like a fascinating dining experience, but just make sure you don't drop your napkin.

"Dining in the sky" also made its debut in Vietnam in 2015.

Having meals on the plane

Airline food has a reputation for being unappealing; therefore, an airplane is not a place where you'll find delicious meals. However, there are repurposed old airplanes that offer truly captivating culinary experiences.

Nhà hàng trong máy bay Boeing 737 ở Malaysia — Restaurant inside a Boeing 737 in Malaysia.

Nhà hàng Máy bay ở Colorado Springs — The Airplane Restaurant in Colorado Springs

Nhà hàng Máy bay ở Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica — The Airplane Restaurant in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

In Malaysia, diners can enjoy a three-course meal in a repurposed Boeing 737. True to its aviation theme, a diverse menu is available, ranging from Economy to Business and First Class. Similarly, in Colorado, you can enjoy a meal on a former US Air Force jet, while in Costa Rica, you can dine under the wing of a decommissioned military aircraft.

Restaurants in caves

You might think of stalactites and stalagmites when visiting a cave, or perhaps even go snorkeling to discover underwater treasures. Caves have always been popular locations for picnics and parties, and the establishment of cave restaurants is a growing trend.

Nhà hàng hang động Grotta Palazzese ở Ý — Grotta Palazzese cave restaurant in Italy

The Grotta Palazzese cave restaurant in Italy is believed to date back to the 1700s, evidenced by a watercolor painting from 1783. Today, it offers a fantastic dining experience with views of the Adriatic Sea.

Nhà hàng Fangweng trên vách đá dọc sông Dương Tử, Trung Quốc — Fangweng Restaurant on a cliff along the Yangtze River, China

Along China's Yangtze River, diners follow a 30-meter-long, protected walkway along a cliff face to reach a cavern where they can enjoy an unusual culinary experience. Many Asian resorts are also following this underground dining trend, with luxurious cave restaurants popping up near many popular resorts.

Restaurant inside the laundromat

Restaurants, cafes, and pubs within laundromats are now a phenomenon. Some ingenious laundromat owners around the world are taking advantage of the time their customers waste while doing their weekly laundry.

Quán The Bar of Soap ở Asheville, North Carolina, Mỹ — The Bar of Soap in Asheville, North Carolina, USA

This concept first emerged in Germany, where laundromat owners began serving barista coffee and snacks to their regular customers. The idea soon spread throughout Western Europe, and then to the United States and Australia. Many laundromats resembled upscale nightclubs and restaurants. Some served fast food and coffee, others established pubs, and some even hosted dance parties and entertainment.

Old psychiatric hospitals

Many large psychiatric hospitals are now abandoned. These buildings exude a gloomy, dark atmosphere. However, their size, architecture, and location have made them ideal for redevelopment into luxury hotels and restaurants. That is why, all over the world, many such historic buildings have been converted from hospitals into restaurants.

Khách sạn Henry ở New York — Henry Hotel in New York

Both New Mexico and New York have historic psychiatric hospitals that have been repurposed into luxury hotels and restaurants. Many psychiatric hospitals in Europe now offer ideal romantic weekend getaways. In Tasmania, a restaurant has been established in the dormitory of one of the region's oldest psychiatric hospitals.

Cemetery Restaurant

Cemetery restaurants are not unimpressive. Many larger cemeteries have cafes where visitors and mourners can stop for refreshments. Restaurants often surround large cemeteries to cater to visitors.

Nhà hàng New Lucky ở Ahmadabad (Ấn Độ) nằm trên một nghĩa địa Hồi giáo cũ — The New Lucky restaurant in Ahmadabad (India) is located on an old Muslim cemetery.

The New Lucky restaurant in Ahmadabad, India, is situated on an old Muslim cemetery. Instead of disturbing the dead, the dining tables are set around the graves. Metal railings surround the raised coffins, and diners enjoy coffee and curry next to their tombstones.

Having a meal in a tree

In Costa Rica, there's a restaurant and cafe built around the branches of an ancient fig tree, accessible only by climbing stairs. In Thailand, you can be lifted into the treetops by a crane into your private dining room. Food is served to you via a series of cables from the ground below.