The UK’s dining scene is a foodie’s dream, offering some of the most unique and quirky restaurants in one of the top countries to visit in Europe. Imagine enjoying a Sunday roast in a centuries-old pub, savoring global fusion dishes in a sleek rooftop venue, or tucking into fish and chips aboard a converted double-decker bus. The UK’s culinary offerings range from hearty British classics to creative, internationally inspired cuisine that reflects the nation’s rich diversity. Whether you’re planning to fly from the UK for your next adventure or exploring closer to home, these 12 unforgettable restaurants showcase the creativity and flavor that make dining in Britain an absolute must. Get ready to experience food like never before in this vibrant culinary hub!
👉 Pro Tip: Discover London’s hidden flavors with the Secret Food Tour! Sample classics like fish and chips and scotch eggs while exploring the city’s food gems. With stories about London’s culinary history, this tour is perfect for foodies ready to indulge in the city’s tastiest secrets!
Wonderful & Weird Restaurants in the UK
Ready to explore the UK’s best restaurants? We’ve got an array of amazing eateries, from luxurious dining experiences to quirky hidden gems. Join me as we discover the quirkiest places to eat in the UK.
Fancy dining in a treehouse or aboard a vintage tube carriage? Or how about a meal served in complete darkness? The UK’s dining scene is as diverse as it is exciting. Here’s your ultimate guide to the most unique restaurants in the UK. Prepare to turn your dining moments into unforgettable experiences!
1. The Treehouse Restaurant at Alnwick Garden
- 📍 Location: Alnwick Garden, Northumberland, England
- 💲 Price range: $40 – $90 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Modern British / European (Local/Seasonal Focus)
- 🔥 Standout Features: Fairytale treehouse, rope bridges, fairy lights, log fires, magical woodland setting.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Romantic getaways, dreamers, nature enthusiasts, special occasions, and diners seeking enchantment.
Dine amongst the treetops at The Treehouse Restaurant at Alnwick Garden! This magical spot is built high in the branches, complete with flickering fairy lights, roaring log fires, and charmingly wobbly rope bridges. It’s pure, whimsical enchantment!
Savor modern British cuisine. Expect dishes like delicious Northumbrian lamb with seasonal vegetables. Fresh local seafood, like pan-seared scallops, or a comforting seasonal vegetable tart, are also excellent. The handcrafted wooden interior makes this unforgettable.
2. The Cheese Barge
- Location: London
Moored on Regent’s Canal in Paddington, The Cheese Barge is exactly what you picture: a floating hotspot dedicated to Britain’s boldest cheeses. This isn’t your average cheese board. The star has to be their gooey Cropwell Bishop Stilton “Devils on Horseback”, but don’t miss the Westcombe Cheddar curd rarebit either. Inside, it’s surprisingly sleek with art deco touches and waterside windows. Locals and canal strollers flock here for the buzzy energy and riverside charm. I loved sipping English wine on deck as the boats drifted past. After your meal, stroll along the canal towards Little Venice – a postcard-worthy spot just a few minutes away.
3. Supperclub.tube
- 📍 Location: Walthamstow, London (Victoria Line tube carriage)
- 💲 Price range: $65 – $90 per person (Set Tasting Menu)
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Latin American Tasting Menu
- 🔥 Standout Features: Decommissioned 1967 Victoria Line tube carriage, chef-led tasting menu.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Unique diners, transport nerds, Latin American food fans, quirky dates, and supper club lovers.
Mind the gap… between courses! Supperclub.tube offers an incredibly unique dining experience inside a beautifully refurbished 1967 Victoria Line tube carriage in Walthamstow. This dinner is definitely on the right track for quirky fun!
Enjoy a vibrant, multi-course Latin American tasting menu. Past menus included creative takes on ceviche with leche de tigre. Flavorful slow-cooked pork belly with corn puree, or a delicate quinoa salad with tropical fruits, are also highlights.
4. BABA
- Location: Edinburgh
BABA in Edinburgh is a gem for modern mezze with Middle Eastern flair. Housed in the funky Principal Hotel, it’s stylish without feeling stuffy. The open charcoal grill perfumes the whole space, giving off major party-in-Marrakech energy! Don’t miss the babaganoush – it’s legendary – or the harissa cauliflower. They do dazzling cocktails, too. The room is vibrant with jewel-tone chairs, mosaic floors, and a sociable ‘gather round’ vibe. Princes Street and the Royal Mile are within easy walking distance. I loved the feeling that every table was celebrating something special.
5. Dans Le Noir ?
- 📍 Location: Clerkenwell, London (Also locations in other major cities)
- 💲 Price range: $75 – $115 per person (Set Menu Experience)
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Mystery Menu (Modern European/French influences)
- 🔥 Standout Features: Visually impaired guides, sensory experiences.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Sensory explorers, adventurous eaters, unique dates, and food challenges.
See food differently at Dans Le Noir ? in London. This profound dining experience has you eat a Surprise Multi-Course Menu in absolute, pitch-black darkness. Your senses will thank you (eventually!). Guided by skilled visually impaired staff.
The surprise menu might feature a creamy parsnip velouté. For mains, perhaps tender braised lamb shank or delicate pan-seared sea bass with intriguing textures. A chocolate fondant with contrasting fruit elements could be dessert. It’s a fascinating journey.
6. Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana – Ancoats
- Location: Manchester
If you’re pizza-obsessed, make a beeline for Rudy’s in Manchester’s hip Ancoats district. Their Neapolitan-style pies are the talk of the town: dough is fermented for 24 hours, then topped with San Marzano tomatoes and fior di latte mozzarella. The Portobello pizza is a personal favorite, loaded with oozy cheese and earthy mushrooms. The mood is lively and unpretentious – expect big windows, exposed brick, and laughter echoing around shared tables. Ancoats is full of cool coffee houses and indie bakeries just steps away. I couldn’t leave without nabbing a cannoli from a nearby deli for the walk home.
7. Corrour Station House
- 📍 Location: Corrour Estate, Scottish Highlands (UK’s most remote train station)
- 💲 Price range: $25 – $50 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Scottish / Hearty Cafe & Pub Fare
- 🔥 Standout Features: Remote train station restaurant, wilderness views, off-grid experience.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Hikers, train enthusiasts, wilderness lovers, and off-grid adventurers.
The ultimate off-grid dining! Corrour Station House is famously the UK’s most remote train station and restaurant, accessible only by rail or a challenging 20-mile hike through the stunning Scottish Highlands. This meal is worth the journey!
Refuel with hearty, comforting Scottish fare. Expect dishes like warming venison stew with dumplings. Classic haggis, neeps, and tatties, or perhaps fresh Loch Ossian trout when available, are also popular. The views are breathtaking.
8. The Alchemist Colmore Row
- Location: Birmingham
The Alchemist in Birmingham’s Colmore Row is a cocktail theatre dishing out drinks that bubble, smoke, and surprise. Their signature ‘Colour Changing One’ is pure Instagram gold, but the ‘Smokey Old Fashioned’ is the staff favorite. The menu spins comfort food into playful riffs – think Katsu chicken curry and wild fries. The lab-inspired decor is all metallics and moody lighting, with city views from their glass-fronted space. It’s a top spot to kick off a night. Birmingham’s jaw-dropping library is down the street, so you can fuel up before some spiral staircase selfies. Expect great music and a sociable crowd. I always feel like a mad scientist here.
9. Lahpet
- 📍 Location: Multiple in London (e.g., Shoreditch, Covent Garden, Bermondsey)
- 💲 Price range: $30 – $65 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Modern Burmese
- 🔥 Standout Features: Authentic Burmese cuisine, fermented tea leaf salad (Lahpet Thoke!), modern decor, unique flavors.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Burmese food, adventurous palates, and modern Asian cuisine.
Burmese brilliance that’ll make your taste buds dance! Lahpet brings the unique and vibrant flavors of Myanmar (Burma) to London with style. Get ready for an explosion of textures and tastes unlike anything else.
The absolute must-try is their signature Lahpet Thoke – an incredible salad of fermented tea leaves, crunchy beans, nuts, and seeds. Dive into comforting bowls of Mohinga (fish noodle soup) or rich coconut noodles with chicken.
10. Giggling Squid – Oxford
- Location: Oxford
Giggling Squid isn’t your standard Thai – it’s Oxford’s cheeriest escape, packed with botanical prints, swinging rattan chairs, and the scent of sweet basil in the air. Their signature “Salt & Pepper Squid” bites are made for sharing (and instantly addictive). The “Sleeping Honey Duck” is a can’t-miss main. It’s bright and fun, perfect for laid-back dates or group dinners. I loved cosying up in one of the tucked-away booths. The Ashmolean Museum is just down the road, so you can soak up some art before or after dinner. The vibe is genuinely happy – service with a smile every time I’ve visited.
11. Frankenstein Pub Edinburgh
- 📍 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (Old Town)
- 💲 Price range: $15 – $30 per person (Food/Drinks)
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Pub Grub / Bar Food
- 🔥 Standout Features: Frankenstein monster theme, hourly monster “show”, horror movie decor, themed cocktails.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Horror movie buffs, themed pub fans, Halloween lovers, and seekers of lively entertainment.
It’s alive! And serving monstrously good pub grub at the Frankenstein Pub Edinburgh! This Old Town institution is a full-blown tribute to Mary Shelley’s creation, complete with hourly “monster” appearances and horror-themed decor.
Chow down on pub classics. “Monster Burgers” are a popular choice. “Frank’s Hot Dogs” or classic fish and chips also hit the spot while surrounded by laboratory props. Sip on themed cocktails like the “Electric Shock.”
12. Frog by Adam Handling Restaurant Covent Garden
- Location: London
If you’re after wizard-level British cooking, Frog by Adam Handling in Covent Garden is where you’ll find some of the UK’s most inventive plates. The open kitchen adds tons of theatre, while the room itself mixes moody dark woods with whimsical art. Don’t skip the cheese doughnuts or the signature “Lobster and Caramelised Corn” course. The tasting menu changes often, but there’s always a few playful, jaw-dropping moments. Covent Garden Piazza is steps away, perfect for a pre-dinner wander. It felt like a special occasion from the second I stepped in – the staff genuinely go all out to make it memorable.
13. sketch London
- 📍 Location: Mayfair, London
- 💲 Price range: $80 – $200+ per person (Afternoon Tea/Dinner in The Gallery or Lecture Room)
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Modern European / Afternoon Tea / Cocktail Bar
- 🔥 Standout Features: Iconic pink Gallery room, pod-like toilets, multiple artist-designed themed rooms (The Glade, The Lecture Room & Library), artistic Afternoon Tea, Michelin-starred dining (Lecture Room).
- 🎯 Perfect For: Instagrammable dining, luxurious Afternoon Tea, design/art lovers, special occasion splurges, and experiencing unique, high-fashion culinary environments.
Step into a whimsical wonderland of art, design, and deliciousness at sketch! This Mayfair destination is famous for its multiple, uniquely designed rooms, especially the iconic, plush pink Gallery – home to one of London’s most famous Afternoon Teas. Don’t miss a trip to the legendary space-pod toilets!
Indulging in the picture-perfect Afternoon Tea in the Gallery, with its caviar and quail egg sandwiches, scones, and exquisite pastries, is essential. For fine dining, the tasting menu in the Lecture Room & Library (Michelin-starred) offers dishes like Isle of Mull scallop.
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14. Pick & Cheese – Camden
- Location: London
This place flips the cheese and wine bar on its head by dishing out British cheeses on a sushi-style conveyor belt. Pick what you fancy as it glides by – it’s Willy Wonka for dairy lovers. Cheddar and co. line up next to creative pairings like truffle honey. Their blue cheese and Guinness rarebit is a gooey crowd-pleaser, and you can’t miss the wine flights. The vibe’s fun and social with pink booths and a view over the bustle of Camden Market below. It’s a laid-back spot, lively music, and people-watching heaven. Don’t skip the fresh honeycomb! Camden Town is buzzing steps away – perfect for a post-cheese stroll. I thought I’d miss out on the conveyor belt, but trust me, it’s as fun as it sounds.
15. Sarastro
- 📍 Location: Covent Garden, London
- 💲 Price range: $50 – $100 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Mediterranean / Turkish
- 🔥 Standout Features: Flamboyant opera-themed decor, private “opera box” style seating, live music, theatrical ambiance.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Opera lovers, theatrical dining, pre-theatre dinners, and celebratory meals.
Dinner and a show, dahling! Sarastro in Covent Garden is an explosion of flamboyant, opulent, opera-themed decor. Think gilded balconies, velvet drapes, and a sensory overload of theatricality. Where every meal is a dramatic masterpiece!
Enjoy a menu of Mediterranean and Turkish delights. Sharing flavorful Mezze Platters with hummus, sigara boregi, and falafel is a great start. Rich Lamb Tagine with apricots, or classic Mixed Grill Kebabs, are also popular.
16. Six by Nico – Glasgow
- Location: Glasgow
At Six by Nico, they flip the script every six weeks with a completely new tasting menu – and it’s always packed with playful, themed surprises. Last time I went, the “Once Upon a Time” menu had a quirky take on childhood classics, with the smoked beef shin being a standout. Try their wine pairing to amp up the experience. The space is sleek, modern, and buzzing without being snooty. It’s the kind of spot for date nights or small groups hunting something different. The restaurant sits smack in the city centre, so wander over to the Gallery of Modern Art after. I was genuinely excited by the kitchen’s creativity – you get something new every visit.
17. Bayt Al Yemeni
- 📍 Location: Shepherd’s Bush, London
- 💲 Price range: $25 – $50 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Authentic Yemeni
- 🔥 Standout Features: Traditional Yemeni floor seating (majlis)., slow-cooked mandi/madfoon (meat/rice), sharing platters.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Yemeni food explorers, dining adventurers, feasts, slow-cooked meat fans, and traditional floor seating.
Forget forks, embrace flavor! Dive into delicious Yemeni traditions at Bayt Al Yemeni. This Shepherd’s Bush gem offers an authentic taste of Yemen, complete with traditional floor seating (majlis style) and incredible slow-cooked meat and rice dishes.
Gather your friends and share enormous platters. Fragrant Lamb Mandi (tender lamb served over aromatic rice) is a must-try. Smoky Chicken Madfoon or flavorful stews like Fahsa (a bubbling lamb stew) are also fantastic. Tear off pieces of fresh bread.
18. Tattu Manchester
- Location: Manchester
If you want a Chinese restaurant with serious wow-factor, Tattu’s your jam. The whole space is decked out with blossoming cherry trees and moody lighting for mega Instagram points. The menu fuses Eastern flavours with luxe presentation, like their beautifully plated Black Cod and the caramel soy beef fillet. The Dragon Egg dessert is pure theatre. Expect a buzzing soundtrack and a crowd that dresses up. It feels trendy but not try-hard. Tattu is conveniently close to Spinningfields and the Northern Quarter for post-dinner drinks. The atmosphere gets me every time – it just oozes drama and glamour.
19. River Exe Café
- 📍 Location: River Exe Estuary, Devon, England (Floating)
- 💲 Price range: $50 – $90 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Seafood / Modern British (Local/Seasonal)
- 🔥 Standout Features: Floating restaurant, accessible by water taxi, estuary views, fresh local seafood.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Seafood fans, boat lovers, romantic sunsets, and fresh Devon produce.
This seafood is so fresh, it practically swims to your plate! River Exe Café is a unique floating restaurant, a custom-built barge moored in the beautiful Exe Estuary, accessible only by water taxi. Dinner that literally floats your boat!
Feast on the freshest local seafood. Delicious Exe Estuary Mussels steamed in cider are essential. Platters of Local Oysters, or the Catch of the Day (perhaps sea bass or plaice) pulled straight from surrounding waters, are also fantastic.
20. The Potted Pig
- Location: Cardiff
Set in a former bank vault below Cardiff city centre, this restaurant feels like a delicious secret. The brick arches are cozy and candlelit, and you’ll eat surrounded by stacks of gin bottles. Pork is the star here, especially their slow-roast belly with cider sauce. But don’t skip the gin cocktails – they have over 30 gins on tap. The vibe’s intimate but not stuffy – perfect for a celebratory meal. You’re steps from Cardiff Castle and Bute Park if you want to explore before or after. I loved the old-school glamour, and honestly, the crackling on that pork made me a convert.
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21. Flavour of Mauritius
- 📍 Location: Tooting, London
- 💲 Price range: $20 – $45 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Authentic Mauritian
- 🔥 Standout Features: Homely atmosphere, Mauritian street food, unique island flavors.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Mauritian food seekers, island cuisine fans, and adventurous eaters.
Taste the sunshine! flavor of Mauritius in Tooting brings the vibrant, multi-cultural tastes of the Indian Ocean island to London. Expect aromatic spices, unique street food snacks, and heartwarming home-style cooking. It’s a tropical taste explosion!
Dive into authentic dishes. Dholl Puri (soft lentil-filled flatbreads served with curries like butter bean or chicken) is a must-try. Addictive Gateaux Piment (split pea and chilli cakes), or tangy Fish Vindaye, are also fantastic.
22. Bunk
- Location: Nottingham
If you love a good dive bar vibe, Bunk in Nottingham delivers. Known for their cheap but mighty buffalo wings, loaded fries, and a crazy selection of cocktails served in jam jars, this place is a fun chaos. The setting feels like a neon-lit, basement-y hideout with graffiti art and mismatched furniture. Music’s always pumping and it’s great for groups or pre-drinks before hitting the clubs. Try the sticky BBQ wings and fizz cocktails. It’s super central too, just off the main Old Market Square buzz. I always leave fired up for a night out – and smelling of delicious spice.
- Ready for more Nottingham eats? Explore: 17 Unique Restaurants in Nottingham
23. Kudu Restaurant
- 📍 Location: Peckham, London
- 💲 Price range: $50 – $90 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Modern South African / Open Fire Cooking
- 🔥 Standout Features: South African braai (BBQ), creative dishes with SA influences, game meats, excellent cocktails.
- 🎯 Perfect For: South African food lovers, open-fire cooking fans, adventurous meat eaters, Peckham scene explorers, and upscale dining.
Get ready for a braai-lliant taste of South Africa at Kudu Restaurant! This Peckham spot brings modern South African cuisine to London, with a strong emphasis on cooking over open fire (the braai). It’s inventive, flavorful, and seriously cool.
Savor creative dishes like the iconic Kudu Bread with bacon butter and garlic. Smoked Peri-Peri Duck Hearts, or perfectly cooked Braai Lamb with seasonal accompaniments like charred corn, are also fantastic. The cocktails are equally impressive.
24. Bristol Lido
- Location: Bristol
Bristol Lido gets top marks for that rare combination – swimming and top-notch food. Tucked in Clifton, this restored Victorian pool has a glass-fronted restaurant overlooking turquoise waters. Seafood’s a must – the Cornish mussels with saffron and the grilled sea bream stand out. Locals come for the sunrise swims followed by Mediterranean-inspired breakfasts. The vibe is spa-luxe but relaxed, perfect for treating yourself or a chill date. Clifton Village and the Suspension Bridge are close by. Eating poolside in your robe (with Prosecco in hand) is probably the most fun brunch I’ve ever had.
25. Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms
- Location: Wales
Out in rural Wales, Ynyshir punches well above its weight, snagging two Michelin stars with seriously wild-tasting menus. Chef Gareth Ward’s food is bold – expect 20+ bite-sized courses, often using foraged Welsh ingredients. The aged duck with umami broth is next-level, and their barbecued lamb is a revelation. The space is intimate with minimalist Nordic touches, and every table feels secluded. Stay overnight in one of the on-site rooms for the full experience. With Snowdonia’s wild landscapes nearby, it’s worth making a weekend of it. Honestly, the sheer creativity had me grinning course after course – it’s worth the pilgrimage.
- For more reading: The 18 Most Unique Restaurants in Cardiff
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Unusual Restaurants in the UK
Are you searching for more information about where to eat in the UK? Here are some common questions (and answers) I get asked a lot about Britain’s most unique restaurants.
What is the remotest restaurant in the UK?
The title for the remotest restaurant in the UK goes to Corrour Station House near Fort William. It’s a unique spot accessible only by train or a 20-mile hike! Located at the end of Rannoch Moor, it’s a haven for those seeking solitude and stunning scenery with their meal.
What is the most popular type of restaurant in the UK?
The UK loves its variety, but if I had to pick one, it’s the classic British Pub. These pubs are more than just places to drink. They’re social hubs where you can enjoy hearty meals like fish and chips, pies, and Sunday roasts. They’re a staple of British culture and cuisine.
Where can I find the most unusual dining experiences in the UK?
For the unusual, you’re spoilt for choice! Dans Le Noir ? in London offers dining in total darkness, served by visually impaired waiters. Then there’s supperclub.tube in Walthamstow, where you dine in a refurbished 1967 Victoria line tube carriage. And don’t forget The Treehouse Restaurant at Alnwick Garden in Northumberland for a meal among the treetops.
What is Britain’s smallest restaurant?
The smallest restaurant in the UK is The Little Chartroom in Edinburgh. It’s a cozy, intimate spot with just a few tables, offering a menu that’s big on flavor. The small setting makes for a personal and memorable dining experience.
What is Britain’s smallest pub?
The Signal Box Inn in Cleethorpes claims the title as the UK’s smallest pub. It’s a tiny pub with a big character, measuring just 8ft by 8ft! Despite its size, it offers a range of beers and ales, proving that good things do indeed come in small packages.
