Why settle for a standard dining experience when you could savour a meal in a one-of-a-kind setting? From vintage buses to repurposed boats, some of the unique restaurants around the world are set inside vehicles, each offering a flavour of adventure alongside their menu. In this article, we’ll explore ten truly unforgettable dining spots where the setting is just as memorable as the food. As a child, I remember seeing a truck stop inside an old double-decker bus. To anyone else, it would have looked like any greasy spoon cafe, but to me, it was something magical. So, I thought I would try and discover some other excellent restaurants in old vehicles or vehicle-shaped buildings. Are you ready to climb aboard and feast your eyes?
10 – VW
Sure this first one is only located in a building shaped like a car, but it is still well worth seeing and indeed visiting. It’s called “The Car. Das Auto” restaurant in Salzburg Austria, and despite the old car themed outside, inside it is an ultra-modern building that with a clean modern look to it. Just shows you can’t judge a book by its cover.
9 – Bus
And here is the very same restaurant that I saw. Located in Hastings it is never going to win any restaurants of the year awards, but the food was good, the staff friendly and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Well worth a visit even if you live in London and see these buses on a daily basis.
8 – Shuttle
It might be officially the most amazing themed burger van, but it still gets my vote. Sure you can’t technically eat in it, but the food comes from within it, so that is good enough for me. Besides, it’s a mobile Space shuttle burger van, what more do you want?!?
7 – Car
OK, so the restaurant might not be actually inside the car, but you still have to sit in the car to eat here. This is the P.S. Bubu restaurant located in Taiwan and they are home to some of the best-themed restaurants in the world.
6 – Yellow School Bus
Over in America, they have the Yellow school buses rather than the red ones that London has. So I thought it would be a good idea to bring you this themed restaurant that makes great use of an old school bus.
5 –Train
There are lots of trains still active today that have a dining cart located on them, the Orient Express for one. But this one is a much more static version of it and perfect for being turned into a restaurant because many of the seats already faced each other with a table between.
4 – Tram
Like a well themed Subway cafe, this sandwich bar is located in Ljubljana, Slovenia and used to be an old Tramcar. But nowadays it is static, but the inside keep moving with some very happy and well-fed customers.
3 – Submarine
This is one of those restaurants that is only themed like a vehicle, but it is still worth including. Original a celebrity endorsed eatery by none other than Steven Spielberg, it was sadly a bit of a fail and was closed down just as quickly as it started up.
2 – Yacht
This might look like a scene from a big budget sci-fi movie, but this is the restaurant Whampoa located in Hong Kong. But, of course, it is far too big to be just a restaurant located in it, no, don’t worry there is a shopping mall with hundreds of shops as well.
1 – Plane
It might look like some sort of publicity stunt, but it really is a Maccy D’s located inside a repurpose aeroplane! Surely it has to be worth eating there at least once just to say you have.
Whether you’re a foodie, an adventure seeker, or just someone looking for a memorable dining experience, these vehicle-based restaurants offer something truly special. Next time you’re planning a meal, think outside the brick-and-mortar box and consider these unusual spots where the journey is just as delicious as the destination.
Have you ever dined in a unique setting like these? Share your experience in the comments below or let us know which of these vehicle restaurants you’d love to try! And don’t forget to save this list for your next culinary adventure!