The best quirky restaurants in London

London isn’t short of amazing restaurants, especially if you’re looking for something a little different and quirky. Nestled amidst iconic landmarks and bustling neighbourhoods, these gastronomic havens redefine the dining experience. From eating in the pitch dark to egg-shaped eccentric loos and whimsical interiors, London’s quirky restaurants can easily transport you to another era. These restaurants promise a feast for the senses, where very meal is a celebration of creativity and culinary innovation. 

1. Dans le Noir?

Dans le Noir? Photos: Official Instagram page @danslenoirgroup

As the name of the restaurant in French – in the dark – gives away you will eat in darkness and you will be guided throughout by visually impaired waiters. The menu will not have anything specific on it, instead, it will have themes. For example, the red menu will be meat dishes, or the blue menu will include fish. This will make you only guess what you are eating. This concept, born in Paris in 2004, is not everyone’s cup of tea but it is definitely a different and eye-opening experience. Many people report having quite philosophical thoughts about how much food they eat when they cannot see the food, mostly reporting that they eat far less than they usually do and feel full quickly. Either way, this isn’t an experience to miss.

Address: 69-73 St John Street, London EC1M 4AN
Website: london.danslenoir.com 

2. Darcie & May Green

Signature brunch dishes

All aboard! This restaurant located on a boat offers a unique dining experience and it will feed your appreciation for style as the boat’s exterior was designed by the godfather of British pop art, Sir Peter Blake. The boat's interior is not as colourful but makes its boat theme felt with its round windows and the view of the canal on one side.

It is a family business which started with two vintage ice cream vans in 2012. Since then, their business has grown organically and led to a mix of cafes, restaurants and canal boats like this one. The menu mainly consists of Australian food and coffee. We recommend going for the miso-roasted aubergine

Address: Sheldon Square, Paddington Central W2 6DS
Website: daisygreenfood.com

3. Immersive Chef’s Table Supper Club

Unlike Dans Le Noir, this restaurant makes sure you use all your senses during this dining experience. Prepared by the Kitchen Theory team and its founder Chef Jozef Youssef, their award-winning supper club consists of an 8-course tasting menu and drinks showcasing culinary creativity and multisensory flavour perception through sound and visual effects.

Chef Jozef Youssef is an experienced chef who worked at Michelin-star restaurants and hotels coupled with his academic interest in gastronomy, art and science, which led to him establishing Kitchen Theory in 2010 with a mission of bringing innovations to gastronomy. At Kitchen Theory, they look at how all our senses are involved in dining and food appreciation called ‘neurogastronomy’.

Address: 33 John’s Mews, Holborn, WC1N 2NA
Website: kitchen-theory.com

4. Bustronome

Bustronome

You can kill two birds with one stone if you wish to dine here. The restaurant is located in a high-end double-decker bus which is converted into a restaurant with panoramic views of London. You can see the iconic sights with an audio guide while you enjoy your fine dining experience. If a gourmet London bus tour sounds too touristy for you, think again. Even if you are familiar with the city, it will make you fall back in love with it as you pass by the landmarks of London while enjoying six-course delicious food and drinks in this romantic atmosphere.

Address: Coach Bay, 40B Victoria Embankment, London WC2N 6PB
Website: bustronome.com

5. Sketch

The Gallery

The perfectly Instagrammable Sketch is an 18th-century townhouse opened by restaurateur Mourad Mazouz and the chef Pierre Gagnaire as a restaurant in 2003. It has five eateries inside. Each room has a different menu and decoration which will leave you in awe because of the feeling of luxury and sophistication each room has.

The Gallery is one of the restaurants. It used to be famous for its candyfloss pink chairs and walls, but after its renovation in 2022, the room turned into sunshine yellow coppery tones.

The Lecture Room and Library is the only restaurant which has 3 Michelin stars at Sketch. It also has an award-winning selection of by-the-glass wines. This room has a colourful decoration that gives both royalty and an exotic impression.

The Parlour is a street-facing café during the day and a cocktail bar at night. Its decoration is full of prints and neon.