Themed Restaurants You Need To Visit

When you think of restaurants, what exactly do you imagine? If you're anything like most people, you probably see an establishment that's not too far out of the ordinary: all white tablecloths and warm lighting, with a cozy bar area and a chic decor, perhaps with a nice view of the outside world. It's the amalgamation of everything a decent restaurant ought to be, but that doesn't mean that's always what you want. 

Some of the more colorful restaurants out there (both characteristically and literally) tend to adhere less to the norm and more to a very specific, often very niche theme. These are the medieval banquets, the cat cafes, the pseudo-cinematic dining experiences; and although they're more than a little different from one another, they all share one very important trait — they're utterly unlike anything else, either.

On a similar level is Nutella's first ever official cafe, which opened in Chicago earlier this year. Lovers of the world's most popular nut-based spread can enjoy an all-day menu which features a mind-boggling array of dishes based on or inspired by Nutella, including salads, breakfast pastries, paninis and, of course, desserts, all set in a suitably themed environment, including a Nutella jar-shaped door, interior decorating which resembles chocolate, and lights in the shape of hazelnut flowers. Apparently there's no such thing as Nutella overkill.

Cynics might wonder just how much Nutella the average person can handle before entering a chocolate coma or developing a spontaneous nut allergy, but don't listen to them — the full menu is a sight worthy of remembrance.

That there's a cafe out there based on J.K. Rowling's cultural titan really shouldn't be much of a surprise. In fact, it's a wonder they aren't all over the place. Probably the most impressive of the ones that are scattered around the world, however, is Singapore's Platform 1094.

It's not just the long, candle-lit tables or stag chairs which bring Potter fans to Platform 1094, however — the cafe also offers a food and drinks menu full of items inspired by the series, including the Goblet of Fire (which is actually set on fire) and the Black Magic, which is made up of black sesame panna cotta with squid ink profiterole and mango cream. We don't quite remember that showing up in the books, but it sure does look impressive.

If you could have anyone in the world design your bar, cafe or restaurant, just who would it be? Congratulations to anybody who answered 'Wes Anderson', because that's objectively the correct answer. The iconic director of films such as The Royal Tenenbaums, The Grand Budapest Hotel and Moonrise Kingdom is particularly renowned for his unmistakable charm and visual style, and that touch is as present as ever in Milan's Bar Luce, which was designed by the man himself.

Plastered with pastel colors and quirky furnishings and stocked with such treasures as a Steve Zissou-themed pinball machine, Bar Luce was designed as somewhere that Anderson himself would want to find himself writing a movie. For fans of Italian decadence, it's as good as anywhere else in Milan; for fans of Anderson, it's better than anywhere else on the planet.

Originating in Taiwan a couple of decades ago, the concept of the cat cafe has become immeasurably popular over the last few years. One of the most popular is Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium, which was the first to open in London. The deal is a simple one: you make a booking, receive a quick talk from the staff regarding etiquette, then get a slot of about 90 minutes in which you can enjoy hot drinks, sandwiches, bagels, salads and desserts, all while surrounded by a small army of cats and kittens. 

Lady Dinah's also offers a cat-themed gift shop, cat yoga sessions and pet first aid courses on top of everything else. It became wildly popular upon opening and is now matched by a number of similar cafes all over the UK and the United States.

Chalk another one up for London here, which is also home to the Medieval Banquet, a themed restaurant that does exactly what it says on the tin. Less a restaurant and more of an interactive dinner, the Medieval Banquet offers a menu that includes meat and cheese platters, roasted chicken, potatoes and vegetables, soups and pies, all accompanied by live medieval and Renaissance music and even a range of period costumes you can hire to help you fit in.

Naturally, the whole thing takes place in a historically-decorated setting, surrounded by actors and entertainers with more than a few opportunities to get involved yourself. Sure, it's not exactly Dinner by Heston, but, if nothing else, it's probably a whole heap of fun.