Everyone loves a good bar, whether it’s a cocktail lounge where you can enjoy the classics and signatures, or a wine bar with the best local reds and whites. You likely have your favourite local bar that you can rely on time and time again to deliver the best service, atmosphere and drinks, but today let’s take a look at the weird and wonderful.
What are sure to become your new favourite hangout spots once you discover them, these bars truly capture the very essence of unusual, whether through their decor, quirky additions or the types of drinks they serve.
From secret speakeasies to spinning carousels: 7 of the world's most unusual bars
7. Planetarium Bar – Tokyo, Japan
Ever wanted to go stargazing even when it’s cloudy and raining? Well, at Tokyo’s planetarium bar, you can do just that while enjoying your favourite tipple. With all of the charm of a classic planetarium, this bar offers up expertly prepared and appropriately themed cocktails and authentic Japanese sake, alongside the classics of wine and beer. With a dark, celestial theme and vibe, and an extensive alcohol menu, this is definitely one of the best and most unusual bars in Japan.
6. Spårakoff – Helsinki, Finland
Have you ever wanted to drink and tour a city at the same time? Clearly someone did, which is how Spårakoff came to be. Set inside a converted vintage-style tram, you can find a small but well-stocked bar that pours pints as Helsinki’s top sights go by. You likely may not have heard of this curious bar/restaurant, but it’s well known to locals and well-versed tourists who like to branch out from their local pub. If you’re a tourist, what better way to experience the best of Helsinki while enjoying a pint and some truly excellent nosh? It’s safe to say Spårakoff is definitely an unusual but unforgettable experience.
5. Green Flamingos Absinthe Bar – Prague, Czech Republic
The name Green Flamingos Bar already sounds wacky, but combine it with eclectic and funky vintage-style decor and a menu where absinthe is heavily featured, and you have yourself one of the quirkiest bars you ever did see. With a partner Absinthe Tasting Bar with a 15th-century style, Green Flamingos is the best place to sample cocktails and an extensive absinthe menu – go steady though, as absinthe is known for its high alcohol content. If you’re new to the world of absinthe, a guided absinthe tasting is a great way to introduce yourself.
4. Cinderella Bar – Seoul, South Korea
Putting a creative and adult spin on the well-known fairytale, the Cinderella Speakeasy in Seoul is found down a quaint alleyway, with a shoemaker’s workshop themed exterior. While you can by all means just stand and admire the creativity and all too realistic outdoor decor, the real magic happens inside. Through an unsuspecting doorway, you can enter a dark and dreamy bar where cocktails are served inside ‘glass slippers’, which are 3D printed shoes in the shape of high heels that reaffirm the Cinderella theme. You can expect signature and classic cocktails with a fun spin, and small sophisticated plates of food that exceed expectations and flavours.
3. StoryVille Bar – Melbourne, Australia
If you thought Seoul’s Cinderella Bar was fairytale, this takes it to a whole new level. With whimsical and quirky decor that’s like something straight out of your favourite fantasy book, Storyville Bar really knows how to make your night as magical and unforgettable as possible. With storybook themed decor and cocktails, you can immerse yourself fully in the world of your favourite fairytale and enjoy a memorable night out. We’re sure you’ve likely never been to a bar like this before, but it’ll soon become your new favourite haunt guaranteed.
2. Carousel Bar – New Orleans, USA
One of the more curious bars, the Carousel Bar in Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans really knows how to make its mark. Who says carousels are just for kids? Here, adults can experience a carousel-themed bar that actually spins (albeit slowly), while being served the best cocktails and spirits. Go for a spin and try out this decades old and universally celebrated bar. Drinking at this bar is a must when in New Orleans, and any local will likely recommend it to you when you ask them where the best bar in the city is.
1. Ice Bar – Stockholm, Sweden
Imagine an adults-only winter wonderland, and you have Ice Bar. We’re only just getting our heads around Ice Hotel, which is a hotel in Sweden that is made up entirely of ice, but now we have this too. Featuring large ice sculptures, regular new themes and expertly-prepared drinks, it really is a unique experience here. Sweden’s capital is no stranger to a good bar, but this one certainly comes out on top in terms of quirkiness and appeal. Oh, and you don’t have to worry about ice in your drink, as your drinking glass is made of the stuff too. Wrap up and drink up at Ice Bar in Sweden, one of the world’s most unusual bars.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lauren Coton
I love discovering and writing about new places which then get added to my now extensive travel list, but nowhere beats the comfort of my hometown Bristol or the sense of culture and community that my base of Cardiff exudes. That's why travel writing was a given for me.