20 Unique & Quirky Restaurants in London | Amber

Tell me if I'm wrong when I say food is the best therapy. The construct concept of happiness was first discovered while having food. This blog is a personal message from one unique foodie to another to explore the top 20 quirky places to eat in London. There are numerous main-stream restaurants in London on every block. Still, to experience exotic, personalised dishes and dining in the dark, one must transverse the list of quirky restaurants in London to experience something eccentric once a while.

Unique and Quirky Restaurants in London

Below is a well curated list of unusual places to eat in London, something that one does not experience while having a meal, some of the restaurants below will astound you. Apart from that that also find out the typical price range, locations, timings, ratings and top reviews of these cool places to eat in London. While you are in London you cant afford to miss out these amazing pubs at Cardiff.

1. Archipelago

Must try: Python carpaccio, jerk alpaca, kangaroo skewers, and crocodile curry
Price Range: £6.50-£20 per plate
Location: Fitzrovia,W1T 4JJ, Cleveland Street
Timings: 12–2:30 pm, 6–10:30 pm (closed on Sunday)
Ratings: 4.4/5
Top Review: "I enjoyed the variety of food, presentation and the service."

Talking about quirky restaurants in London, this one is certainly not for the faint-hearted and weak-stomached. Archipelago is one of the most unique restaurants in London. Every item on the menu will widen your eyes while asking, "Wait, I can eat that animal?"

2. Attendant Coffee Roasters

Must try: Sandwiches, salads, and coffee
Price Range: £2-£10 per plate
Location: Fitzrovia & Shoreditch
Timings: 8:00 pm-4:00 am
Ratings:4.6/5
Top Review: "Super amicable and helpful customer service, yummy food and fantastic place!!!."

A shocking re-design of an abandoned WC, this modern cafe has repurposed urinals into single-seater booths and serves sandwiches and salads during lunch. Talking about quirky places to eat in London, ain't this one of a kind?

3. Bob Bob Ricard

Must try: humble pie, three-birds burger and chicken kiev
Price Range: £60 – £120 per person
Location: Upper James Street, Soho
Timings: 12:30 – 3 pm, 6:00 – 12:00 am
Ratings: 4.5/5
Top Review: "The decor is exactly on point and the whole place has a very cool and classy ambiance."

Quirky Restaurants London is a hot topic when Bob Bob Ricard is topping the charts. With a range of British-Russian dishes on the menu and glitzy art decor, Bob Bob Ricard is one of the best quirky restaurants London. It stands out because each table features a button that lets you summon up some fizz, making it perfect for those with an unquenchable thirst for bubbles. The interior design of the restaurant is a sight for sore eyes. Certainly, the best quirky restaurants London has to offer.

4. Brunswick House

Must try: Cocktails and pudding
Price Range: £25 – £100 per plate
Location: 30 Wandsworth Rd, Vauxhall
Timings: Tuesday - 5–11 pm, Wednesday - Saturday 12–11 pm, Sunday 12–5 pm
Ratings: 4.4/5
Top Review: "Charming environment, friendly staff and dogs allowed!"

One of the unique restaurants London, Vauxhall's Brunswick House features a menu constantly updated with dishes inspired by local produce. What makes it one of the most quirky places to eat in London is that all the interior designs in the house are up for purchase for the right price.

5. Bunga Bunga

Location: Covent Garden
Must try: Antipasti, tiramisu, and pizzas
Price Range: £25-£50
Location: 167 Drury Ln, Vauxhall
Timings: 7/7:30 pm -12/3 pm
Ratings: 4.3/5
Top Review: "The assortment of food is unlimited to some pizza and Italian starters."

Regarding the unusual restaurants London, you might not thank Silvio Berlusconi for his role in Italy, but you will surely thank him when you visit this Berlusconi tribute restaurant. This themed spot is part variety show, part restaurant, and quite goofy with the boat-turned booths. Certainly, the best quirky restaurants London has to offer.

6. Buona Sera

Must try: Antipasti, pasta, and pizzas
Price Range: £6.5-£22
Location: 22-26 Northcote Road, Battersea
Timings: 10 am-10 pm
Ratings: 4.2/5
Top Review: Tasty food on the great menu, accommodating staff and gr at location."

One of the cool places to eat in London is Buona Sera, with visitors seated in pine cone cubicles and waiters serving them by climbing up the walls with the help of a ladder. Buona Sera deserves a spot on our list of the best quirky restaurants in London.

7. Caravel

Must try: Rostis, caviar, duck croquette, lamb, banana and almond tart
Price Range: £45-£50
Location: 172 Shepherdess Walk, Hoxton
Timings: 12–4 pm, 5:30–11 pm
Ratings: 4.7/5
Top Review:" Amazing menu, perfectly executed, fantastic staff and wonderful vibes."

Have you ever wondered what eating while floating in water would be like? Set on a barge called Poppy, Caravel lets you do just that, serving a fun modern take on classic British and European delicacy. Hands down, Carvel is one of the cool places to eat in London. Certainly, one of the unusual places to eat in London.

8. Circus

Must try: Sushi, sashimi, dim sum, tempura, and some tom salads
Price Range:  Cocktails starting at £16.00
Location: 27-29 Endell St, Covent Garden
Timings: 6:00 pm -1:30 am
Ratings: 4.2/5
Top Review: "The food is amazing, and the staff is well-behaved."

One of the cool places to eat in London, you can probably guess this restaurant's speciality from its name: Circus. With short performances diverting you from your food hourly, this is an unavoidable item on our list of the best quirky restaurants in London. Acts include everything from fire-eating to burlesque. Along with some of the cool places to eat in London, Cirque Le Soir, one of London's best clubs, plays with a similar theme in Mayfair. 

9. Blues Kitchen

Must try: Beef brisket, smoked chicken, and short beef ribs
Price Range:  £8-£20
Location: Brixton, Camden, Manchester, Shoreditch
Timings: 12:00 pm-1:00 am
Ratings: 4.3/5
Top Review: "Great place to eat, and good selection of booze and top service."

These quirky restaurants, London have four branches. Brixton, Camden, Manchester, Shoreditch, this bar sets the mood with a live jazz band and Cajun-BBQ dining. Although entry is generally paid, you can catch the live performance for free on Wednesdays and discounts on the superb cocktails. Ain't it one of the cool places to eat in London now?

10. Dans Le Noir

Must try: Red meat, blue fish, green vegetarian, and white chef's special mystery menus.
Price Range: £50-£110
Location: St John Street, Clerkenwell
Timings: 6:00 pm-12:00 pm
Ratings: 4.4/5
Top Review: "Amazing food, amazing staff, and a beautiful place."

Dans Le Noir (French for Into the Darkness) is one of the most unusual places to eat in London. If you're afraid of the dark, this Clerkenwell restaurant might be your cure, with your entire meal in the dark served by blind waiters. This unusual setting makes locating your cutlery a challenge but heightens your other senses, scoring this place on our list of the most unique restaurants in London. If you opt for surprise menus, you can get a quick peek at what you ordered on your way out. The menu will convince you that this isn't just one of the most unique, but also one of the best restaurants in London. Check out this blog, too: Best restaurants in London!

11. Gremio de Brixton

Must try: amón croquetas, butifarra (Catalan sausage) and cochinillo segoviano (roast suckling pig)
Price Range: Tapas start at £4.50
Location: Brixton
Timings: 5 pm-11 pm, 5 pm-3 am (Friday and Saturday)
Ratings: 4.2/5
Top Review: "6 dishes and a bottle of wine for £60, such good pricing!"

Have you ever wanted to dine in a hidden underground crypt? Located under St Matthew's Church, Gremio de Brixton is a tapas bar with a different atmosphere accentuated by flickering candlelight and a brick roof. Ain't it one of the quirky places to eat in London?
London's bustling street food scene can also introduce you to some of the most unique tapas out there. Check out our interactive webstory on the 8 best street food places in London.

12. Hunan

Must try: Sichuanese cucumber salad, Shanghainese soup dumplings, crispy pecking duck
Price Range: £45.80-£67.80
Location: 51 Pimlico Road, Chelsea
Timings: 12:30–2 pm, 6:30–11 pm
Ratings: 4.4/5
Top Review: "Brilliant flavours from starter to dessert, matched only by the quality of service."

If you're fond of Chinese cuisine but tired of the usual dishes, Hunan might be the perfect place to eat this weekend! Instead of picking from a menu, Hunan is definitely one of the cool places to eat in London. The restaurant is highly popular for its tasty dumplings.

13. Inamo

Must try: Sizzling chilli tofu
Price Range: Two courses starting at £15.00
Location: Covent Garden & Soho
Timings:  Monday to Wednesday, 4:00 pm–11:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday from 12–11:30 pm, Saturday from 11:00- 11:30 pm, and Sunday from 12:00-9:15 pm
Ratings: 4.3/5
Top Review: Insane! Between the service of Jordan and Emil and the fantastic food, this was an exceptional Groupon all-you-can-eat experience.

The reviews for the restaurant are off the charts. If you're searching for a futuristic restaurant, Inamo is your go-to! With a touch-screen menu on every table, you can order dishes without unnecessary human interaction, alter the restaurant's playlist, and even book a cab home once you're done. We know what you're thinking; yes, they have games. It sure is one of the unique restaurants, London.

14. Jungle Cave

Must try: Penne arrabbiata, quesadillas, cobb salads and grilled sea bass with garlic mashed potato, horseradish sauce and sautèed baby spinach
Price Range: £25-£60
Location:  Piccadilly Circus
Timings: 4:30 pm- 12:00 am
Ratings: 4.3/5
Top Review: "I love the restaurant theme. Had an amazing meal with my family, one must visit here!"

Among the quirky restaurants, London, this one was once known as Rainforest Cafe. This is your getaway spot if you need a break from the concrete jungle. Visitors can enjoy food in the wild, surrounded by foliage, waterfalls, and animatronic creatures. This is just one of the best vegan restaurants in London for vegans to check out. 

15. Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium

Must try: Sandwiches, salads and bagels
Price Range: £3.50-£20
Location: Shoreditch
Timings: 11 am-8 pm
Ratings: 4.6/5
Top Review: "Purrrfect cats, tasty sandwiches and sweets, nice coffee and friendly staff."

Under the unique restaurants London category comes Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium. You've probably guessed it from the name and cooed at it, too. Ruled by quite a handful of kitties, this is certainly one of the most quirky restaurants in London. Drop by the gift shop to grab a feline-themed souvenir. Ain't it one of the most unusual restaurants London has to offer?

16. Mari Vanna

Must try: Coriander-scented rye, kvass, birch juice, pirozhki
Price Range: £4-£30
Location: Wellington Court, Knightsbridge
Timings: 10 am-1 am
Ratings: 3.6/5
Top Review: "Such a quirky place with a very cosy decor and high-quality Russian cuisine."

Among the unique restaurants, London, this will certainly remind you of a fictional memory of a wine-and-dine night at Grandma's house in old Russia. Mari Vanna offers visitors a slice of authentic Russian cuisine to transport them to the Soviet era. This themed restaurant has earned its spot on our list of quirky restaurants in London.

17. Restaurant Story

Must try: Personalised dishes
Price Range: Drinks starting at £17
Location: Tower Bridge
Timings: 10:00 am-6:00 pm
Ratings: 4.6/5
Top Review: "This was a great meal. The music makes you feel relaxed and at home."

If you're flustered when faced with a long list of options, Restaurant Story is sure to be a stress-free choice, where visitors reveal their food preferences to the restaurant, which then puts together a unique meal designed just for them. You can also check out Tower Bridge, one of London's famous tourist attractions. Ain't it one of the most unusual restaurants London has to offer?

18. Sarastro

Must try: Lamb shank, baklava, salmon, sea bass, and prawns
Price Range:  £8- £21
Location: Covent Garden
Timings: 3-9:30 pm
Ratings: 4.3/5
Top Review: "Excellent quirky place, great food, good service, reasonable prices for the area."

A delicious and theatrical extravaganza, Sarastro gives visitors an extraordinary experience with regular live performances. The self-proclaimed "show after the show" Sarastro is surely a must-visit when hunting for quirky places to eat in London.  

19. The Clink at Brixton Prison

Must try: Katsu curry and Jamaican chicken
Price Range: £10-£50 per plate
Location: Brixton
Timings: 9 am–4 pm
Ratings: 4.8/5
Top Review: "Amazing food, great service, lovely atmosphere and such a unique experience!!!"

If you're hunting for unusual places to eat in London, The Clink is the right spot. With the busy kitchen staffed by prisoners on their way to earning catering and hospitality qualifications, you can expect delightful dining here. If you go here for a drink, you'll be disappointed to see no alcohol options on the menu. Adjacent to this restaurant is The Clink Prison Museum. Along with the best quirky restaurants in London, check out this blog for more information: best museums in London. 

20. WC

Must try: German Riesling, Bulgarian Merlot, cheese platters, charcuterie plates
Price Range:£10-£25
Location: Clapham and Bloomsbury
Timings: 5 pm-11 pm
Ratings: 4.7/5
Top Review: "Staff were amazing, as was the food, cocktails, wine and setting."

Another restroom-turned-restaurant, WC, uses its name wisely as an homage to its former incarnation while also being an abbreviation for its speciality, Wine and Charcuterie. Located near the Clapham Common Station, this gem is one of the most unique restaurants, London.

With the above list of the most unique restaurants in London, you'll never have a dull moment or run out of things to do in London during your stay in the city. If you're looking for a more specific kind of restaurant instead of quirky places to eat in London, you can check out the best spots in London to get try many cuisines in Indian restaurants, Pakistani restaurants, Italian restaurants, Mexican restaurants, Nigerian restaurants and many more.. While there, you can groove at London's clubs and visit the city's top attractions. If you are a student living in London, you must check out amber to find the perfect student accommodations in town.