9 of the World’s Weirdest Theme Restaurants

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Theme restaurants take a regular dining experience and transform it into an over-the-top fantasy escape. Walk into one of these immersive eateries, and you’ll feel as if you had teleported into a strange new world. You might encounter live alpacas roaming past the tables, or Tim Burton characters sticking scissors up their noses. Your server will likely wear a flamboyant costume, and serve you food decorated like adorable characters. If you’re fond of offbeat dining, then be amazed by nine crazy, wacky theme restaurants located around the globe.

Editor’s note: The restaurants on this list may close, have dining restrictions, or operate under limited hours due to the pandemic. Check with the restaurant directly before visiting, and always follow all travel restrictions for the destination.  

1. Tokyo, Japan: Daikaiju Salon        

Japanese monster movies have a rabid following in Tokyo. Fans of “kaiju” films gather at Daikaiju Salon, a little-known bar in the Nakano district, to nerd out over characters like Godzilla and Mothra. Daikaiju’s food is as playful as the rare toys and anime drawings that brighten the space. Dig into an ice cream sundae with toppings shaped like monsters, or a gummy cocktail with a Frankenstein finger as a stir-stick. If you’re a super-fan, you can put on one of the rubber full-body costumes, and act out a fight with another Japanese monster! 

2. Accra, Ghana: La Tante DC 10 Restaurant

Those who miss flying can board a grounded plane in Ghana, and enjoy a meal while looking out the cabin windows. La Tante converted a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 jet into an airplane-themed restaurant that holds up to 118 diners. Walk up the staircase into the cheery green plane, and squeeze into the 1980s-style seats. Fortunately for foodies, La Tante’s menu consists of authentic Ghanaian dishes rather than frozen airplane fare. Dig into tilapia with a side of jollof rice, or try the banku, a maize-based porridge.  

3. Bangkok, Thailand: Kid Mai Death Cafe

A death-themed cafe sounds morbid, but Kid Mai is a positive environment that celebrates all the stages of life. The open-air space lets visitors participate in interactive exhibits, and ponder one’s mortality while dining on coffee and snacks. Browse the fascinating displays about end-of-life cultures around the world, such as Swedish death cleaning and Hindu cremation at the River Ganges. At the cafe area, slurp on sweet drinks with names like “Painful” while sitting next to a plastic skeleton. Before you depart, slip into an ornate Thai coffin and have a friend slide the lid shut, to mimic the feeling of being buried six feet under. 

4. Gruyères, Switzerland: HR Giger Bar  

H.R. Giger is an occult artist best known for designing the fearsome xenomorphs of the Alien movie series. He designed his namesake bar inside a Swiss Medieval building, transforming it into a sci-fi vision of the future. Giger turned the cathedral-like arches into the sweeping spine of a beast. At the bar, he added swivel-chairs that resemble white pods with backbones. Order a glass of H.R. Giger absinthe, paired with fonduette bread and Gruyère cheese. Or try the Alien Coffee, which comes on a wooden tray with meringues and honey herb liqueur.  

5. Vancouver, Canada: The Black Lodge

The Black Lodge Restaurant is a love letter to Twin Peaks, David Lynch’s cult TV series from the 1990s. The cozy cabin decor pays homage to the show, complete with wooden booths and owl statues. Choose from over a dozen cocktails named after Twin Peaks references, such as “Fire in the Mill” and “Blue Rose.” Share a plate of spuds, corn, salsa, and sour cream that resembles “garmonbozia,” the dish eaten by demons on the show. Finish up with black coffee and a slice of fine cherry pie, as Agent Dale Cooper would. Be sure to step into the bathroom hallway: it mimics the extra-dimensional Red Room, complete with black and white zigzag floors, and blood-colored curtains. 

6. Buenos Aires, Argentina: El Perón Perón  

Raise your fist at a theme restaurant dedicated to Argentina’s former president Juan Perón and his beloved wife Eva. Pay respects to “Evita” at her shrine decorated with glamorous old photos, candles, and vintage memorabilia. Perón Perón’s menu maintains the political theme with cocktails named “We are the Resistance” and “Nestor is Alive.” Dine on sardines flavored with paprika and vegetables, and grilled South American pacu, a fish related to the piranha. Twice a night, the restaurant broadcasts the “Marcha Peronista” song that honors the couple. Watch their supporters stand up, wave napkins around their heads, and sing loudly to the refrain: “Viva Perón!”

7. Taipei, Taiwan: Oia Cafe

In Taipei, you can enjoy lunch while cuddling with fluffy alpacas. Oia Cafe is home to two white alpacas, who wander freely past the tables. Don’t be intimidated by the large camel-like creatures: they enjoy being petted, and will eat carrot sticks from your hands. However, the animals may also chew on your shirt and purse, so it’s best to avoid wearing a fancy outfit. Dine on casual fare like Italian pasta, and cafe drinks such as rose tea lattes. You can also visit Oia’s outdoor petting zoo, which houses more alpacas as well as goats and savannah cats. 

8. Los Angeles, CA: Beetle House

Get immersed in the world of Tim Burton at Beetle House, a theme restaurant based on his films. The decor pays tribute to his trippy Gothic vision: look for a giant Jack Skellington head in front of the bar, and a tombstone marked “Here lies Betelgeuse.” Dine on a three-course meal while enjoying live performances by a spooky crew of magicians, contortionists, and impersonators who play characters like Edward Scissorhands. Try Beetle House’s pumpkin cocktail named “This Is Halloween,” followed by a Sweeney Todd steak drizzled with red wine “blood” and topped with a razor. 

9. Moscow, Russia: Twin Stars Diner

Experience double-vision at Moscow’s Twin Stars, a diner that only employs identical siblings as servers. The twins wear the same outfits and speak sentences in unison when they take your order, adding to the feeling of “double trouble.” The owner of Twin Stars was inspired to open this 1950s-style restaurant after seeing the Soviet movie Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors, which is about a girl who finds her twin in a magic mirror. If identical twins come here to eat together, then they’ll be treated to special menu deals, such as discounts on burgers and milkshakes. 

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