7 Unusual and Unique Places to Eat in London

Barge East has a lovely waterside location, perfect for enjoying views of this Hackney canal. In summer, sit on the open canopy deck and watch life on the river pass you by, from longboats to kayakers to swans!

Please read my review of Barge East for an in-depth look at this unique restaurant.

Mercado Metropolitan Mayfair

St. Mark's Church, N Audley St, London W1K 6ZA

You can't often enjoy Pad Thai, Boa buns or gin cocktails in a stunningly beautiful church, but you can if you head to Mayfair.

Mercado Metropolitan is a quirky space in a former sanctuary with food stalls, restaurants and a vaulted wine cellar. Its previous life is still evident in its stained-glass windows, religious artefacts, and altar.

With plenty of seating both upstairs and down, this is a great spot to meet with friends and enjoy a variety of food options. There is also rooftop seating where you can enjoy a cocktail or two!

Cafe in the Crypt

St Martin in the Fields Church, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 4JJ

Dining above the ancient tombs of the dearly departed in the cafe in St Martin's Crypt is a unique place to have a bite to eat in London.

Slightly to the side of Trafalgar Square's landmark church, St Martin-in-the-Fields, is the modern glass entrance to Cafe in the Crypt. Spiral stairs take you underneath the bustling pavement above and into a fabulous space containing a gift shop, theatre, workspaces and the Crypt Cafe.

Walking into the crypt is fascinating. Arched brick-vaulted ceilings, separate seating areas, and historic tombstones with worn inscriptions are a reminder that this is a sacred place.

To the right of the crypt, stone stairs lead back to the church. They are not open to the public but are another reminder of the connection that once existed between the two, many years before the modern entrance to the crypt was even considered.

The cafe is a large space with plenty of seating. The menu features hot dishes, salads, and cakes, along with a range of teas and coffee.

The Attendant

27c Foley Street, Fitzrovia, London W1W 6DY

The Attendant is a fun and unusual place to eat in London worth visiting.

What was once the entrance to a Victorian men's public convenience has now been re-invented as a coffee shop.

Stone steps lead down from the green wrought iron structure on Foley Street in Fitzrovia to the entrance of The Attendant beneath the pavement.

Inside this unique coffee shop, you will be impressed with the transformation of the former men's loos.

Lining the wall are original white china urinals, now repurposed as tall bar tables, and green metal seats mirror the original green Victorian floor tiles.

Don't expect it to look new and shiny; it has some discolouring on the walls, but this adds to a natural feel of what this coffee shop once was!

The interior of the Attendant is tiny, so expect to wait for one of the five urinals or one of the four tables that are squeezed into this small space. Alternatively, grab a takeaway coffee and take a quick photo if that's what you've come for.

Coffee beans from The Attendant Roastery are used for all their drinks, and they offer coconut, oat, and regular milk. Also available are delicious flaky pastries like pastel de nata and croissants, as well as light bites.

Underground Carriage at SupperClub.Tube

South Access Rd, London E17 8AX

Located in Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum, one of the most unique places to eat in London has to be the Supper Club. Hosted by Colombian head chef Beatriz Maldonado Carreño, the experience offers a six-course Latin American menu that takes you on a global taste journey.

An original 1967 London Underground tube carriage has been repurposed into a unique London restaurant, retaining the iconic red and blue seating and adding tables to seat couples or groups of up to 10 guests.

While the pumphouse museum and carriage might not win any awards for the nicest spot in London, the food is the star here.

An interactive QR code at your table provides the supper club menu for your visit, a brief outline of each dish, and the inspiration behind each dish. Dishes like hake ceviche, beef cheeks braised in Colombian coffee, and amaretto-soaked sponge sound good on paper and taste incredible in the mouth.

If you are after one of London's coolest dining experiences, a visit to Supperclubtube is a must.

Sarastro

126 Drury Lane, Holborn, WC2B 5SU

If you love the opulence and flair of theatre, dining at Sarastro needs to be high on your list of unique restaurant experiences in London. On the corner of Drury Lane, slap bang in the heart of London's theatreland, Sarastro offers guests the chance to enjoy delicious Turkish cuisine in lavish surroundings. Entertainment is also provided from Thursday to Sunday by singers across varied genres, including 80s, The Rat Pack, and Opera, offering guests an immersive dining experience. Dancing and audience participation are a must!

Cosy tables for two, nestled in alcoves bathed with low lighting and swathed in gold, red and purple fabrics, sit beside wider seating booths and a long central banqueting table, great for larger groups. Upstairs, a similar setup allows diners to watch the night unfold from their coveted balcony table, just as if they were in a box at the theatre.

The decor in Sarastro is eclectic to say the least. Puppets hang from chandeliers, theatre masks, oil paintings, ornaments, and hand-painted scenes adorn the walls. Ornate Tiffany-style table lamps and ceiling pendant lights cast a subtle glow across this most unusual London restaurant. Even the toilets are an eye-opening spectacle, which you need to see to believe. Let's just say daring is an understatement.

Turkish-Inspired Flavours at Sarastro

Aside from the flamboyant decor, it's the food at Sarastro that stands out. The menu, mainly Turkish-influenced, offers dishes such as shared meze, lamb kofta, mousakka, and baklava, alongside regulars like sea bass, steak, and a mixed grill.

On my visit, we ordered from the 3-course set menu. Our mixed meze starter consisted of three dips: hummus (pureed chickpeas), Cacik (yoghurt with cucumber and garlic), and Muhammara (whipped red peppers and walnuts); pitta, cheese puff (Borek), and calamari.

For our mains, we opted for sea bass, served in a delicate cream and tarragon sauce and accompanied by mash and vegetables. Also chargrilled chicken skewers, which had a delicious deep flavour and came with Bulgar wheat, Turkish bread, onion salad and a yoghurt dip.

Desserts were traditional and mouth-wateringly delicious. Moist baklava with pistachios and honey-and-rose syrup, and a warm chocolate fondant pudding that oozed chocolate when cut; both were served with ice cream. We finished our evening with a traditional Turkish coffee and a Tia Maria liquor coffee as we listened to Sarastro's singer belt out classic tunes while both of us and our fellow diners danced the night away. Dubbed the party after the party, this is the place to come for good food and live entertainment - a perfect end to a perfect meal.

Raffles at the OWO

57 Whitehall, London SW1A 2BX

Having been to Raffles in Singapore, a visit to Raffles at the OWO, one of London's newest and impressive dining spots, was a must for me. Opened in 2023 in the Old War Offices in Whitehall, which date back to 1906 and have hosted the likes of Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, and Tony Blair, this historic landmark is now a unique place to dine in London.

Start your experience off by enjoying a cocktail in the aptly named Guards Bar, from where you'll have an undisturbed view of the iconic Horse Guards Parade. Decked in suptious red fabrics, crystal chandeliers, marble corridors and parquet flooring, this is one unique establishment in London worth your time.

A unique lunch spot at Raffles

Follow cocktails with brunch or late lunch at Laperose (now Cafe Ciel), an unusually shaped glass hexagonal restaurant situated in the courtyard of Raffles Hotel, offering mouthwatering dishes and a wide selection of wines and spirits. On my visit, I opted for chicken ballotine in a cream sauce, followed by a chocolate log and vanilla custard, topped with a beautiful butterfly (it was Christmas time!). The presentation and quality of the dishes were what you would expect from Raffles.

In total, you will find nine restaurants and three bars at Raffles at the OWO, making it a varied and unique place to eat in London.

After dinner, we tried to have a peek inside "The Spy Bar". This is where prime ministers and the war cabinet would make decisions for the country during times of conflict. No such luck, it was closed for a private event, but I now have a great reason to return!

I hope these unique places to eat in London have given you a few ideas for your next trip to the capital. Keep an eye on Where Angie Wanders for future additions to this list!

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