Over the years, restaurants have become more than just places to eat. To attract customers, they must entertain them while they dine. Some restaurants try unique concepts to stay competitive in this extremely competitive industry, while others do so out of pure love for the concept, because it's fun, or because they're uniquely qualified to execute such unique ideas. Whatever the reason, there are a few restaurants whose unique features surprise and intrigue us. Below, we've listed ten that we believe are the most unusual restaurants in the world.
1. Kayabukia Tavern
You are served by monkeys dressed as waiters.
Located north of Tokyo in the city of Utsunomiya, Kayabukiya Tavern is a traditional Japanese sake restaurant. The owner, Kaoru Otsuka, trained his two macaques, Yat-chan and Fuku-chan, to perform various waiter duties. According to Otsuka, Yat-chan initially mimicked him while working. Then, out of curiosity, one day he gave Yat-chan a hot towel to see what would happen. Yat-chan gave it to a customer, and from then on, he learned to take customers' orders and deliver them to their tables.
Fuku-chan, the youngest, brings customers hot towels to wash their hands. After these initial trial runs, Otsuka brought three more monkeys to join the others. Customers tip them with boiled soybeans, and at the end of the evening, the monkeys put on a dance performance to Otsuka's music. However, the monkeys only work two hours a day due to Japanese animal welfare regulations, and the tavern is closed on Tuesdays, so the waiters have plenty of time to do their usual "monkey business.". (1, 2)
2. Dinner in the Sky
This restaurant has dining tables and chairs suspended high in the air.
Dinner in the Sky isn't exactly a restaurant per se, but rather a platform that the organizers will install in any country of your choosing. It's the brainchild of communications agency Hakuna Matata and The Fun Group, a company that installs amusement park rides, who decided to "join forces and make a childhood dream come true" by creating a flying dining table.
The service is available in 45 countries, including Australia, Japan, India, Dubai, Brazil, the United States, Mexico, Canada, and many European countries. To date, Dinner in the Sky has hosted over 5,000 events featuring many renowned chefs. (source)
3. Van Gogh has bipolar disorder.
You will be served by a chef with bipolar disorder, who will offer dishes that alleviate the symptoms of the disorder and are named after famous people who suffer from the disorder.
Located in northern Manila, Philippines, the restaurant is named after the renowned post-impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh, who is believed to have suffered from bipolar disorder throughout his life. Owner Jethro Raphael, who also suffers from the disorder, has transformed his home into a place where people can enjoy dishes that promote relaxation and calm. The dining room is whimsically decorated with unusual lighting and adorned with van Gogh's works.
Dishes at Rafael are also named after famous people with similar issues. "Virginia Woolf's Tears," "Mel Gibson's Sin," "President Clinton's Dinner," "The Godfather Part II," "Axl Rose's Egg Shot," and "Van Gogh's Manic Episode" are just some of the menu items. The menu also features hot and cold herbal teas to suit different moods, as well as burgers and cocktails. (1, 2, 3)
4. Giraffe Estate
You will have the opportunity to share food with giraffes that stick their heads through windows and doors.
Giraffe Manor is located in the Langata suburb of Nairobi, Kenya, and is home to numerous endangered Rothschild's giraffes. Built in 1932 by Sir David Duncan as a Scottish hunting lodge, it was purchased by American conservationist Betty Leslie-Melville, along with the surrounding land. Recognizing the vulnerability of giraffes in the region, Leslie-Melville and her husband began a breeding program to reintroduce the Rothschild's giraffe subspecies to the wild. In 1983, her son converted the manor into a private hotel, donating the proceeds from its sale to charity.
What makes this place unique is that the giraffes come to the estate morning and evening to receive treats from guests. The dining area has large windows through which they stick their long necks to receive food. (1, 2)
5. Cencio la Parolaccia
You are served by waiters who swear and insult you.
The Cencio la Parolaccia restaurant, located in Rome's Trastevere district, was founded in 1941 by Vincenzo "Cencio" de Santis and Renata de Santis. They wanted to entertain their guests by combining "a traditional restaurant with elements of folkloric entertainment based on the obscene language of the Romanesque dialect." The restaurant has appeared in several Italian films and is known for its waiters' obscene language, as well as dancing and singing. (1, 2)
6. Hobbit House
You will be served by gnomes.
The Hobbit House bar was founded by former Peace Corps volunteer and professor Jim Turner. As the story goes, Turner was inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's books. «The Lord of the Rings» , who opened a bar and hired only dwarves to staff it. The bar is located in Manila, Philippines, and features a large, colorful round door with images of Gandalf, Bilbo, and Gollum on the left side and a leprechaun on the right. Inside, there's also a large painting of all the members of the Fellowship of the Ring. (1, 2)
7. Cafe "Seva"«
You are provided with a free bill, but you are invited to make a contribution to a charity for those who dine after you.
Café Seva is an experiment in person-to-person generosity. Located in India, the café is run by volunteers with a small staff. Guests are encouraged to make donations in lieu of payment for their meals. After your meal, you'll receive a bill for zero rupees with a note: "Your meal is a gift from someone who came before you. To continue the chain of giving, we encourage you to pass it on to those who dine after you.". (source)
8. Disaster Cafe
You could feel a magnitude 7.8 earthquake during lunch.
Located in Lloret de Mar, Spain, the Disaster Cafe restaurant entertains its customers by simulating a magnitude 7.8 earthquake. As soon as the quake begins, the lights flicker and go out, and tables, chairs, and everything in the room shake violently. The simulated earthquake room is located underground and somewhat resembles a cave. Waiters wear hard hats and protective gear. Food is served on heavier-than-normal plates to prevent them from falling off the table, although food and drinks may still spill during the simulated earthquake. (source)
9. Pyongyang
The restaurant is run by the North Korean government and the North Korean waitresses sing and dance.
The Pyongyang restaurant chain, which operates primarily in China and other Southeast Asian countries, is owned and operated by the Haedanghwa Group, an organization controlled by the North Korean government. According to Swedish journalist Bertil Lintner, these restaurants are part of the North Korean government's foreign currency laundering strategy. Furthermore, according to numerous defectors, the restaurants are run by intermediaries who pay them between $10,000 and $30,000 annually.
The restaurants are staffed by North Koreans whose political loyalties are determined, and they are closed under guard. They also employ young, attractive women, usually highly qualified art college graduates, who sing and dance for customers. The food is Korean and includes kimchi, cold noodles, fried squid, and dog meat soup. North Korean ginseng wine and an unbranded aphrodisiac supposedly made from bears are also sold. Prices are high and listed in US dollars. (source)
10. Cat cafes
In the cafe you can pet and feed the cats while relaxing.
The world's first cat cafe, "Cat Garden," was founded in Taipei, Taiwan, in 1998. As it attracted many tourists, especially Japanese, the concept caught on in Japan, where a cafe opened in 2004. «"Neko no Jikan »" (Cat Time) in Osaka. It became very popular in Japan due to the fact that Japanese houses and apartments are small, and most people are not allowed to keep pets. Cat cafes began to satisfy people's desire for interaction with animals, especially cats, and for a quiet break. The concept became extremely popular in Japan, and soon cat cafes appeared in several countries in Asia, Europe, and North America. (source)
So, what do you think? Have you been to any similarly unique or strange restaurants? Tell us in the comments about any strange restaurants you've visited.