People typically frequent a bar or restaurant for two reasons: the menu items and the ambience. And if you’re entering a dining establishment for the first time, a unique vibe alone can be persuasive enough to make you want to sit down and order.
These bars and restaurants are a testament to the creativity of people when it comes to aesthetics. Through these photos, you will see how some places go above and beyond just to provide customers with an experience they likely won’t get elsewhere.
Enjoy scrolling through the list, and as always, don’t forget to upvote your favorites!
#1 On The Wall In A Restaurant In Pembroke, Ontario. Hope It Inspires More Restaurants To Follow Suite
Image credits: SaladFingerzzz
#2 This Bar Has A Chilled Strip To Keep Your Drinks Cold
Image credits: kr5228
#3 This Is A Restaurant In Door County, Wisconsin And Those Are Goats Eating Grass Off Of A Roof
Image credits: blackshad-o
In this day and age, good food and excellent service aren’t enough for a restaurant to stand out. According to a 2023 report, 89% of diners want an overall experience that includes a unique ambiance.
Similarly, 72% of restaurant-goers prefer experiential dining, which may include chef’s tables, themed events, and interactive culinary experiences.
#4 Restaurant With Spectacular View. In Switzerland
Image credits: zimvi
#5 This Bar Has Over $10000 In Dollar Bills On The Ceiling
The place is called Turtle Rock Cafe in Napa. I talked to the owner and he said the place has been open since the 1960’s and the dollar bill thing started in the 80’s a practical joke on the original owner (current owners dad). Him and his good friend got into an argument so his friend stapled his “tip” to the ceiling. More and more people started doing the same and it became a tradition. Every 20 years, they take down all the bills and donate the funds to charity. The last time it happened the total was $20000!
Image credits: lunarnoob
#6 The Korean Taco Place We Got Takeout From Gave Us A Roll Of Toilet Paper With Our Meal
Image credits: jpj77
Fortunately, the restaurant industry has been listening. The report adds that 64% of full-service restaurants have committed to investing in technology upgrades. 43% of them plan to incorporate digital menus, while 36% would provide contactless payment options.
#7 This Pub's Bathroom Is Down A Flight Of Stairs, So They Installed Cushions On The Wall
Image credits: DanRossiDraws
#8 This Restaurant Shows The Wait Times For Each Dish
Everything came out way faster than stated.
Image credits: bambeauofficial
#9 The Pictures In This Pub Go Round Corners
It's a pub in Warrington called Skymaster.
Image credits: FatGordon
Experiential dining is a relatively new concept that, as the name suggests, offers diners a unique experience. It could be through the atmosphere, entertainment, and interactive elements, through cooking demos or tableside interactions with the chef.
It’s important to note that experiential dining isn’t limited to eating in restaurants. According to DoorDash, it also matters when ordering online, particularly in terms of the menu's aesthetics.
#10 This Restaurant Bathroom Has Two Different Soaps Depending On When You Wash Your Hands
Image credits: magsfm
#11 Every Restaurant Should Start Doing This
Image credits: ImaginationFree6807
#12 The Entrance To This Japanese Bar Is An Old Fridge Door. Bar Gyu+ A.k.a The Fridge. Niseko In Hokkaido
Image credits: hangry-person
DoorDash notes that allowing customers to customize their orders is another key practice in experiential dining. That’s because 86% of Gen Z adults go through menu anxiety, where they are either unable to find something they like or they regret what they ordered.
Customizing orders primarily involves offering multiple options that include meat-free substitutions, as well as dishes without dairy or gluten.
#13 A 14th Century Medieval-Themed Tavern In Prague, Czech Republic
Image credits: gaping_your_mother
#14 This Restaurant Has Basil Plants At Every Table So You Can Get Fresh Basil For Your Soup
Image credits: LORD-POTAT0
#15 Our Local Coffee Shop Uses Frozen Coffee Cubes For Iced Coffee
They hand you the cup with coffee cubes and you pour your desired flavor of hot coffee from a handful of dispensers. I drink the coffee fast enough that there are still cubes of coffee that are still melting when I'm done with my initial coffee.
Image credits: foreveradan
Ultimately, restaurants and bars must prioritize creating a memorable experience for their patrons. As hospitality industry expert Peter Dougherty states, it can be done through a balance between creativity and innovation.
“To leave a lasting impression on existing customers or attract new ones, restaurants must capitalize on those details that set them apart from the competition,” he wrote.
#16 The Interior Of The Bacchanalia Restaurant In Mayfair, London
It's Greek and Mediterranean Cuisine.
Image credits: Eyes-Wide-Shut-
#17 The Way They Serve Honey At This Restaurant In Peru
Image credits: Puppyismycat
#18 The Cafe And Restaurant Apartments, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Image credits: BaronVonBroccoli
#19 Welcome To The Rock. Dope Little Italian / Tanzanian Restaurant Located In Zanzibar
Image credits: acekick3r
#20 This Cafe In A Giant Tree On Top Of A Mountain In Chiang Mai, Thailand
The cafe is called "The Giant" and is in Mae On, maybe 1h45 by car east of Chiang Mai city, but still in the province.
Image credits: tiburon12
#21 Greenhouse Bar On A Tomato Farm - Iceland
Image credits: hangrytraveler
#22 2D Cafe In Seoul
Image credits: Kooka32081
#23 This Restaurant In Kyoto
Image credits: ditrykhakis
#24 My Local Bar Has A Drunk Test For People Leaving
Image credits: designmur
#25 Koreans Have Some Fantastic Names For Businesses. Probably The Best Name For A Bar
Image credits: Vlaed
#26 This Oil And Vinegar Container In An Italian Restaurant
Image credits: picythehexdoll
#27 This Seafood Restaurant Uses Oyster Shells Instead Of Gravel For Its Parking Medians
Image credits: normie-redditer
#28 Clementine Tower At A Restaurant
Image credits: spodila
#29 A Bar In An Old Brewing Kettle
Image credits: justincase96
#30 Visited The H.R. Giger Museum In Switzerland Last Week. This Is The Bar Next Door
Image credits: Rivergod3
#31 I Passed By This Restaurant In Saigon And Had To Stop Just To Stare
It looked like it was straight out of a Ghibli movie. It's called Mặn Mòi, Tao Đàn.
Image credits: unanatkumot
#32 Dozens Of Earthenware Pots Sit Outside Of An Old Restaurant
Rows of clay jars outside a traditional village restaurant in South Korea. Each one has subtle differences in shape and color. They’ve likely been sitting here for years, quietly weathering with the seasons. And yet most were still in use. They store a variety of fermented goods such as fermented bean paste and soy sauce.
Image credits: krmikeb86
#33 This Cafe Has Refashioned Old Cars As Seats
In Mumbai, India.
Image credits: sudhu28
#34 Local Korean Restaurant Has A “White” Spice Level
Image credits: OneBadKid
#35 A Fast Food Restaurant With Its Own Rollercoaster
Image credits: SuperCub
#36 This Awesome Restaurant In Rome Was So Tiny, You Had To Hang Your Wine Glasses
Image credits: rmunteanu
#37 University Coffee Shop Used Pencils Instead Of Tile At Counter
Image credits: sweetishfish53
#38 In Malaysia, There Is A Restaurant With A Discount System Based On How Thin You Are
Image credits: WorldHub995
#39 Restaurant Villa Escudero
Image credits: globaltravelerinternational
#40 This Café Fill Their Windows With Oranges
They make fresh orange juice with them so the same oranges are never there for long.
Image credits: Bumbie
#41 Permanently Empty Table Setting To Honor Missing Soldiers
Image credits: Monkster2002
#42 Piñata Nightmare Painting At My Local Mexican Restaurant
Azteca Mexican restaurant, Idaho Springs, CO.
Image credits: midwestmiracle
#43 At This Bar I Go To, The Prices Of The Beers Change Every 15 Minutes Based On Supply And Demand Inside The Bar
The prices are listed on a "stock ticker" above the bar. Randomly throughout the night, there are "stock crashes" where all the beers drop to their lowest price.
Image credits: JordanDryce
#44 This Painted Sink That I Saw In The Bathroom Of A Restaurant
Image credits: yellowjenga
#45 Puking Sink At An Old German Bar
Image credits: Archer0s
#46 Just Outside Marrakesh, Morocco. Those Are Restaurants In The River
Image credits: Squiggleybop
#47 A Former Church In Folkestone Has Been Converted Into A Pub
Image credits: Duffers123
#48 At A Coffee Shop I Am At With My Mom And Grandfather They Have Facts On The Table Numbers
Image credits: the-tnt-yeeter666
#49 This Restaurant Decoration
It's in a Spanish city called Elda the restaurant is called El Campico.
Image credits: EspKevin
#50 This Restaurant Had Draft Beer At Each Table
This is in Hong Kong! Stanley Beach.
Image credits: savrox
