Eating in the company of naked people became a big attraction when Bunyadi, London’s first “dine in the nude”-restaurant, opened last year with a whopping waiting list of more than 46,000 people last summer. Many other restaurants in London also offer out-of-the-ordinary eating experiences.
Bunga Bunga, an eclectic Italian-themed restaurant in Battersea, with drinks served in Silvio Berlusconi shaped mugs and a full-sized Vespa hanging from the ceiling, was so successful that a second venue has been launched in Covent Garden. Whether you are a fan of the Italian former prime minister and his ‘bunga bunga’ parties or not, you will enjoy some typical Italian dishes in a colourful setting.
You may want to try a new type of sensory experience. In Dans le Noir in Clerkenwell, you consume your meal in complete darkness, guided and served by blind waiters, and the wine is ordered from a braille menu. It is an oddly romantic experience, especially if you have seen the Richard Curtis movie About Time, where the two protagonists meet in a restaurant that serves all its food in darkness.
For those who feel the subsequent pang of guilt, regarding your waistline or the money spent, the Run for Your Bun Café in Covent Garden, makes you work out for your lunch. It is the only restaurant to accept exercise as a form of payment.
This phenomenon of snapping photos of your meal is even bigger in restaurants that offer quirky experiences. The question is whether the quality of the food still matters or if the experience is more important.
Sarastro’s golden door looks anonymous, but when stepping inside, it is difficult not to be overcome by awe. The restaurant on Drury Lane features imposing golden staircases, chandeliers, bannisters from the Royal Opera House and red curtains that drape across its wooden balconies, which mimic an upper circle.
The experience here is eating in a faux-theatre, complete with opera singers and dancing waiters. All seem to be having a contagiously great time. The menu is Turkish, with a variety of mezzes, hummus, pitta bread, Anatolian lamb, but also influences from other Mediterranean cuisines such as fettuccine, panna cotta and crêpes.
The atmosphere is opulent and you will leave feeling enthused, but as the restaurant’s website itself states: “At Sarastro the emphasis is more about having fun than the stuffy gourmet pretentiousness of ‘fine dining’.” The food, which ranges at between £20-30 for a main course, is the weaker aspect of the evening.
The chicken Mediterranean (chicken breast served with sautéed baby spinach, crushed potatoes and topped with béchamel sauce) is not a far cry from canteen food. The presentation was unelaborate and it tasted bland.
Takeo Santamaria, 38, says: “I will definitely bring friends who are looking for a different dining experience here, the music and aesthetics were great. The food wasn’t amazing, but that’s secondary when you’re concentrating on all the things going on around you!”
For those looking to merge sport and dining, Bounce, an underground bar and restaurant on Old Street allows you to play ping-pong, while enjoying pizzas and burgers. The venue has hosted games for celebrities such as Elle Macpherson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Spacey.
The area is dimly lit and the loud music booming in the background muffles the intermittent sound of ping-pong balls being passionately served from a multitude of tables. You can walk in with no reservation and get a table for 30 minutes for around £15 (£30 for a full hour). While you play, or as a reward after a game, you can order a meal at the dining area.
The website describes the restaurant’s objective honestly: “Taking the humble ping-pong table from the back corner of a bar to become the main offering of the venue, while creating an intricately considered and currently unrivalled leisure experience.”
The food is not “the main offering” here, according to an employee who preferred to remain anonymous: “We have about 1,500 people coming in daily, so the food can’t be that special, we try to make it as fast-food-like as possible: just a simple burger with fries. What people focus on anyway is the entertainment.”
The burger was no better than a classic pub burger, but the ping-pong factor definitely allows the restaurant to stand out among others.
Sketch, on busy Conduit Street, is an 18th century townhouse tearoom, a concept conceived by French master chef Pierre Gagnaire (twice awarded the 3rd Michelin Star honour) and restaurateur Mourad Mazouz. This venue transforms the beloved English afternoon tea tradition into a beautiful, quirky adventure.
Elegant waitresses with colourful dresses flutter around the bright, vast pink room, with its matching marshmallow-looking pink sofas. Artist David Shrigley’s black-lined cartoon drawings hang as a backdrop and appeasing live music by the Sound Generation String Trio is played in the background. The ceiling is dome shaped, reminiscent of a cloche that keeps its clients waiting for the several surprises to come.
Afternoon tea includes a spoonful of caviar served by a man in a pink tuxedo and a top-hat. There is also a myriad of tiny sweet and savoury creations (such as the very interesting quail egg and wasabi sandwich) of which you can request second rounds. Perhaps even more astounding than the main room are the toilets, or pods: egg shaped cubicles lined up in a neon white mezzanine.
“You need to go to the toilet,” says Jennifer Adamsons, 45, who is visiting Sketch all the way from Canada.
Another diner, Erin O’Donnell, 24 remarks on the food: “These little pastries are amazing.”
In general, the grins on the faces of the customers are a good sign. This venue is not just about the experience, but also about a very refined menu. However, the cheapest option of afternoon tea will cost you £59.
Perhaps this is the price you pay to get the best of both food and experience, plus Instagram photos of course.
Chiara Hartmann
Read more:
Top Brunch Places in London: how to cure a hangover
Quirky London desserts that will sweeten up your capital experience
Eat & Sip 