10 unique and unusual dining experiences in Melbourne (Part 1)

Melbourne’s biggest and best quirky eating places, presented in a handy list form. Here’s the first part of our rundown of the top 10 unusual and unique dining experiences in Melbourne. Move over, Timeout’s 50 best, these picks are based on pure eccentric creativity.

#1 Miss Marple’s Tea Room
382 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Sassafras, Victoria, www.missmarplestearoom.com
Nestled in the tourist stretches of Dandenong this is the place to live your Agatha Christie dreams, and soak up a unique restaurant. The charming atmosphere is abundant and is rounded off my waitresses in tea lady costumes, traditional welsh rarebit and a strong selection of rich puddings. Faded images of the detective keep a watchful eye over the scene. From there you can start your journey up the 1000 steps and explore further.

#2 The Cat Cafe
30 Guildford Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000 catcafemelbourne.com
If pet therapy suits you better than retail therapy, you’ll need to experience the cat cafe. Here a tribe of well pampered felines offer you their (temporary) affection and companionship while you enjoy some light bites and a cuppa. You”ll enjoy the cat’s games all too much and likely find a purring tabby parked on your lap contentedly. There are no tables here and the cats roam as they please as though joining you for afternoon tea. Let’s face it, unique dining experiences don’t often offer feline guests at the table.

Miss Marple tearoom Unique Unusual Dining Experiences Melbourne

#3 Naked for Satan
285 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065 nakedforsatan.com.au
A devilish treat and hipster favourite, make a beeline for this venue to try an array of pintxos and an incredible selection of vodkas. Notably, you can order a taster tray of vodka shots, all unflavoured, but from around the world and therefore all unique in flavour. The rooftop bar is a big draw and folks love to relax with a feeling of guilty pleasure amongst the risque images- everything here is a little bit tantalising, easily one of the best quirky restaurants in Melbourne.

#4 La Petite Creperie
32 Hardware Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000 www.lapetitecreperie.com.au
If you fancy impeccable French snacks from what appears to be a giant metal pringle tube on Swanston St, look no further. In all seriousness, this unusual and unique restaurant cuts to the heart of Parisian street food, and on a wintery night you’d be mad not to order a buttery warm crepe. Watch the chefs swirl a piece of perfection in seconds on their intensely hot grill, choose from fruity to sweet toppings and bring a beret to truly feel the part. Recommended choice: nutella and banana.

#5 After the Tears
9b Gordon St, Elsternwick VIC 3185 afterthetears.net
Surrounded in art deco walls and dripping candles, diners in this glowing haven find themselves transported to latter day Poland. Amongst the bagloads of charm and rustic tableware, you’ll be bewildered by a sea of unpronounceable menu items. Order pierogi (dumplings) or a delicious meat dish, the food is excellent, but save room for the immense selection of vodkas. Every type you could imagine is on the cards, from the fruity to the nutty to the downright creamy. Absinthe too is displayed on the backlit tableau, tempting the more bohemian visitors in one of the best restaurants in Melbourne. 
What’s the most unique dining experience you’ve ever enjoyed? Let me know below! What was your favourite from these 10 Unique, Unusual Dining Experiences Melbourne?
10 Unique Unusual Dining Experiences Melbourne 2017
If you like it, then you shoulda put a pin on it!
Ready for the second part of this list? Here are even more unique and unusual dining experiences in Melbourne to help you find the best restaurants around.

Flickr image ‘Naked For Satan’ courtesy of @Tristan Kenny CC-BY 2.0

Featured image ‘Rainbow Cake’ courtesy of @Kelly Hunter CC-BY-2.0

Danni Lawson

11 thoughts on “10 unique and unusual dining experiences in Melbourne (Part 1)”

  1. Naked for Satan is such a cool name! And that rainbow cake is awesome. I am pinning this post to my Food and Drinks board for future reference, in case I ever get to visit.

  2. Hey Danni, great post about Melbourne. If I ever get there, this post offers lots of quirky places to grab a bite. I would definitely check out the cat cafe. They are so popular in Japan too.

  3. Vrithi Pushkar

    These are so unique. This is not the first time i heard of cat cafe. They had one in Vietnam too. I am sure my daughter would love it.

  4. I love stroking some animals while enjoying cake and tea so I’d opt for the cat cafe I think! Nothing more relaxing than some feline friendship.

  5. Melbourne has long been known as being the food capital of Australia with its cultural diversity and love of dining out. Foodies have always flocked there and I loved the eateries you have featured here that have done such a fabulous job of standing out and offering something unique. Who wouldn’t love to experience these places? Just brilliant.

  6. I’m allergic to cats so I’ll have to pass on the cat cafe. I love dogs though so if they had one of those… count me in 🙂 Naked Satan sounds wicked! I’ll be sure to check these out if we ever visit Melbourne.

  7. I’ve heard of those cat cafes from Japan, I didn’t realize there was one in Melbourne too. It’s a place you’d think twice about but probably really enjoy once inside. The cake you photographed looks absolutely delicious!

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