7 Unusual Restaurants & Amazing Dining Experiences to Try Around the World
For some gastronomy enthusiasts, it’s all about simple ingredients and classic dishes executed to perfection. For others, it’s about pushing boundaries and experimenting with abstract menu concepts, new methods, artistic plating, and immersive experiences.
If you fall into the second category, this list is for you. Read on to discover the world’s most unusual, unique, and innovative restaurants and dining experiences around the world.
1. Onoir - Toronto & Montreal, Canada
Afraid of the dark? You’ll leave your use of sight at the door when you enter Onoir, Canada’s first-ever restaurant to invite you to drink, dine, and converse in total darkness. You’ll experience a heightened sense of smell and taste as you enjoy a two- or three-course meal in the dark, and are served by a visually-impaired waitstaff.
2. De Culinaire Werkplaats - Amsterdam, Netherlands
De Culinaire Werkplaats delivers much more than just exceptional cuisine; guests are treated to a full sensory experience at this Amsterdam eatery. Abstract conceptual themes such as “black,” “emotion,” and “flowers” keep the menu fresh and ever-changing. Expect bright colors, inspired designs, and for every dish to be a one-of-a-kind work of art.
3. Rogo’s - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Diners are in for a wild ride Rogo’s, Abu Dhabi’s unique rollercoaster restaurant. It’s sensory overload from the moment you step in the door; metal tracks cover the ceiling, with the highlight being a 12-meter tornado-shaped spiral in the center of the room that delivers food and drinks to guests. Place your order on an individual tablet at your table - gravity will do the rest!
4. Mugaritz - Gipuzkoa, Spain
It’s hard to define Mugaritz as a single style of cuisine; one interpretation is “techno-emotional Spanish.” Whatever you call it, expect to be blown away by the creativity and innovation displayed by this two-Michelin starred restaurant. Chef Andoni Luis Aduriz is the mastermind behind the 20-course menu, designed to shock your senses and introduce you to a whole new world of flavor, texture, shapes, and plating design.
5. H.R. Giger Museum Bar - Gruyères, Switzerland
Sci-fi movie fans rejoice! H.R. Giger Museum Bar is an otherworldly establishment owned and operated by an adjacent museum of the same name, dedicated to Swiss artist and set designer H.R. Giger (best known for his work on the “Alien” movie franchise). The cavernous bar is decked out in skeletal structures that stretch across the walls and vaulted ceilings, creating the feeling of being inside the belly of an enormous beast. Enjoy a variety of themed cocktails.
6. Alinea - Chicago, United States
If there’s one thing that three-Michelin-starred Alinea want you to know, it’s that it’s not a restaurant...at least, not in the conventional sense. By experimenting with a variety of avant-garde dishes and molecular gastronomy, Alinea has completely refined the idea of a “meal.” Every dish is truly a work of art, which is enhanced by the comprehensive sound system, lighting system, and interior design.
7. MoonFlower Sagaya Ginza - Tokyo, Japan
MoonFlower Sagaya Ginza is an interactive eight-seat restaurant featuring a permanent digital art installation by teamLab, an interdisciplinary creative group. This multi-sensory dining experience fuses food and art by projecting trees and flowers across the table and surrounding space as each of the 12 courses is served. The restaurant’s menu and presentation changes monthly, to align with the idea that nature is ever-changing.