Oct 27th 2017 - J. Vigotsky
7 of the Scariest Restaurants in the World
In honor of Halloween, we’re going to share some of the scariest restaurants from around the globe. While not every restaurant on this list celebrates October 31st, they all firmly believe in the power of fear. Try them if you dare…
Fortezza Medicea – Volterra, Italy
Think you can enjoy a meal served exclusively by convicted criminals? Frotezza Medicea gives you that chance. Located in Volterra, Italy, this off-beat restaurant is situated inside a high-security prison. Current prisoners make up the entire staff—a result of the Italian government’s efforts to help inmates transition back into the work force. Anyone who wishes to dine at Fortezza Medicea must first get screened by Rome’s Ministry of Justice. And if you’re worried about a server using silverware to make a break for it, don’t be. All silverware is made of plastic to ensure diner safety.
Disaster Café – Lloret de Mar, Spain
In most areas, earthquakes are natural events that are feared and hopefully avoided. This prevailing attitude is not present at the Disaster Café in Spain. While the ground floor is an alien-themed restaurant for children, the basement level is for adults and has a cave-like atmosphere. Servers wear construction helmets, and dishes are heavier than usual. While it might seem odd, there’s a good reason for this. The Disaster Café allows diners to experience what it’s like to withstand a 7.8 earthquake. Lights flicker, diners scream, and drinks spill all over clothing. As long as you know what you’re getting into it, the Disaster Café is a one of a kind experience.
Dinner in the Sky – 45 Different Countries
Scared of heights? Then this restaurant certainly isn’t for you. What started in 2006 as an outrageous experiment in Belgium has grown into a phenomenon that’s crossed into 45 different countries. Suspended dozens of feet in the air, diners leisurely eat their meals while trying to remain calm. Easier said than done. If anyone in your party needs to use a restroom, the chamber must descend to ground level—either an inconvenience or an easy excuse out.
Nyotaimori – Tokyo, Japan
Believed to have originated when samurais roamed Japan, Nyotaimori is the practice of serving sushi on a naked body. This Tokyo-based restaurant offers a dark twist on the much-maligned practice. Serving a body made of dough that’s wheeled out atop an operating table, the restaurant gives patrons the opportunity to imagine life as a cannibal. Diners slice into the dough bodies and feast on edible organs. It’s a dining experience that might not be for everyone, but it certainly won’t soon be forgotten.
Vampie Café – Tokyo, Japan
There must be something in the water in Tokyo. Taking the recent vampire phenomenon (Twilight, True Blood, etc.) to the next level, the Vampire Café creates a spooky ambiance like few other restaurants can. The dimly lit establishment is decorated with coffins, cobwebs, skulls, jack-o-lanterns, candles, and a blood-red color scheme. Servers dress up as Dracula, further immersing diners in the world of vampires. The Vampire Café is only open for dinner—fitting since vampires are nocturnal creatures.
Zombie Buger – Des Moines, IA
Flaunting “post-apocalyptic chic,” Zombie Burger features a wide range of spooky decorations. Zombie posters dawn the walls, while zombie statues greet patrons at the restaurant’s entrance. But the scary atmosphere never deters diners from indulging in delicious gourmet burgers and shakes. While the original location is in Des Moines, Iowa, several of these restaurants dedicated to the undead are scattered throughout the state.
New Lucky Restaurant – Ahmedabad, India
Perhaps not ideal for diners who believe in ghosts, the New Lucky Restaurant was built atop an Indian burial ground. If that’s not concerning enough, owner Krishnan Kutti decided to actually keep the graves and burial plots how he found them. Insisting that eating next to the dead is lucky, Kutti placed steel bars around graves and kept them on display. The people buried beneath the restaurant are believed to have passed away during the 17th century. Their graves are cleaned each morning and decorated with flowers in their honor.