Top Unusual Dining Experiences in London

Where to go when you want more than just a meal...

By Tom Faber | Updated Feb 6 2025

A shirtless performer in red pants balances impressively on a large disco ball inside a well-lit indoor venue. An audience seated at tables nearby watches and applauds, captivated by the performance. The room is adorned with fairy lights and reflective surfaces. — Circus Restaurant

London is a foodie's dream, with restaurants serving cuisine from every country and price-bracket imaginable. But what about when you want more than 'just' a meal? We round up some of the city's most exciting and unique restaurant experiences...

SOUND London

The Cumberland Hotel, Great Cumberland Place, Marble Arch, W1H 7DL

A special, rather unknown venue that brings you live music all seven days of the week, SOUND London's cafe brings you platters of hearty American cuisine to the backdrop of quality live music. Like a food menu, you can pick your flavour: DJ's mixing lounge and chill-out, a Beatles tribute band, all sorts of live jazz, solo acoustic sets playing chart classics, full soul bands, blues duos and solos, you have the full smorgasbord of popular music on display here.

As well as offering a comprehensive live music and dining experience, they have their own sports bar showing the major sporting events, and from 11am til 3pm they have their own bottomless brunch for £65 a head. Winning last year's OpenTable Diner's Choice Award, and winning at last year's TripAdvisor's Traveller's Choice Awards, SOUND London may be the best dining experience you've never heard about.

Dans Le Noir

A savory dish presented on a white plate, garnished with thin crispy slices, emits smoky vapors. The delicately plated food is the focus, surrounded by swirling smoke which adds an artistic and dramatic flair against a dark background. — danslenoir.com

69-73 St John St, London EC1M 4NJ

Dans Le Noir is a very strange proposition. If your French is up to scratch then you'll understand why - your entire meal takes place in pitch blackness. You'll be taken to your table by a blind waiter and then served a series of mystery courses. Part of the fun is guessing what you're eating. Is it really true that when you restrict one sense the others become heightened? While you may suffer a few spillages, itâ's interesting to learn how different it is to socialise in the dark, and you'll emerge with renewed appreciation for your sight.

Dans Le Noir is open Mon - Sat, booking is essential.

Gingerline

A cluster of hot air balloons with various designs and patterns are dimly lit against a dark background. The balloon in the foreground has G-LINE written on it. The scene has a whimsical and magical atmosphere. — Gingerline via Facebook

Gingerline is a radical dining experience constantly on the move. Buy a ticket, and on the right date wait near to an East London line station (it does look a bit ginger on the map, now you mention it). You'll receive a text telling you where to go, with no idea what to expect. So far themes have included secret gardens, alien planets and a ritualistic sisterhood. What next? Book to find out.

Circus

A performer dances on a disco ball under bright, colorful lights in a dim club with a captivated audience seated around the stage. The ceiling and walls are adorned with light reflections, creating an energetic and vibrant atmosphere. — Circus Restaurant

27-29 Endell St, London WC2H 9BA

Circus supplements its pan-Asian menu with a special treat between courses. After your plates are cleared away the table becomes a stage for performances by acrobats, firebreathers and cabaret acts. Rarely have dinner and a show been so intimately entwined.

Inamo

A modern restaurant interior with long tables set for dining. The tables have glowing designs, and clear glasses and plates are neatly arranged. Wood chairs surround the tables, and the ambient lighting creates a warm, inviting atmosphere. — Inamo Restaurant

11-14 Hanover Pl, London WC2E 9JP

At Covent Garden's Inamo, the sushi will be as you expect - but the service won't. Instead of telling the waiter your order you select dishes from the screen projected onto your table. It's a space-age touch with limited applications but fun nonetheless. You can also use your tabletop screen to order a cab, check out the route home or spy on the kitchen using a handy webcam.

Restaurant Story London

A modern restaurant interior with round tables covered in white tablecloths and comfortable chairs. The floor-to-ceiling windows provide a view of greenery and a passing red double-decker bus. The ceiling is decorated with hanging sculpted fish. — opentable

199 Tooley St, London SE1 2JX

Restaurant Story isn't just a Michelin starred restaurant from rising star chef Tom Sellers. It also has a unique library, where each guest is asked to bring a book and leave it for future diners. The mouth-watering menu is even arranged into chapters, themes and forewords... but it's always sad to reach The End.

The Piano Works

Multiple Locations

At The Piano Works, your dining experience hits all the right notes! Located in a Victorian warehouse, this part-restaurant, part-live jukebox will have you tuning in for more as you tuck into succulent steaks, ribs, and sliders. With a heady mix of non-stop live music and delectable dishes, The Piano Works offers the ultimate night out. Whether you're planning a mid-week melody or a weekend serenade, our singing waiters and house band are ready to play your requests, creating a symphony of flavors and sounds. And if you're still feeling sharp at 1am, our DJ keeps the rhythm rolling. From bottomless brunches to late-night jams, this is one dining experience you won’t want to miss!

Bob Bob Ricard

A sophisticated restaurant interior featuring plush blue booths, a mosaic-patterned carpet, and an ornate, well-stocked bar with golden accents. A blurred figure of a bartender is seen behind the bar, affecting an ambiance of luxury and elegance. — bobbobricard.com

1 Upper James St, London W1F 9DF

Indulge in the epitome of glamour at Bob Bob Ricard, where dining transforms into a dazzling experience. Just off Regent Street, this iconic hotspot boasts a menu blending British and Russian flavors amidst opulent art-deco décor. But the real sparkle? Each booth comes complete with a "press for champagne" button, ensuring your glass is never half-empty. Renowned for pouring more champagne than any other restaurant in Britain, Bob Bob Ricard takes the phrase "dining in style" to luxurious new heights.

The Clink Restaurant

A busy restaurant kitchen with two chefs cooking at stoves amidst various pots, pans, and utensils. The foreground shows metal shelves and cooking equipment, while the background reveals the chefs focused on preparing meals under warm, dim lighting. — The Clink restaurant via Facebook

HMP Brixton, Jebb Ave, Brixton Hill, London SW2 5XF

The Clink Restaurant, housed within the walls of HMP Brixton. Here, dining isn't just about savoring delicious dishes—it's also focused on helping change lives. The ingredients are sourced from prison farms across the country. But it's not just the food that's impressive; it's the chefs themselves, as they train for careers in hospitality post-release. Spearheaded by Alberto Crisci MBE, The Clink Charity has been transforming attitudes and achieving stellar results for fourteen years, boasting one of the lowest reoffending rates in the UK. So, by dining here, you're not just enjoying a meal—you're supporting a cause and helping to build a brighter future, one plate at a time.