9 Cool Restaurants from Around the World to Inspire a Love of Design
Does your child dream of opening their own restaurant someday? Do they love building and planning? Whether they want to serve pizza in space or love drawing restaurants hidden behind waterfalls, learning from the most unique restaurants around the world is a great way to fuel their imagination!
These 9 wild and wonderful eateries are sure to inspire future designers and show them just how fun and outside-the-box a restaurant can be.
Ithaa Undersea Restaurant – Maldives
Ever imagined eating with fish swimming right above your head? At Ithaa, guests dine underwater, surrounded by a glass tunnel that shows off the colorful sea life of the Maldives. It's like a fancy aquarium where you eat delicious food while watching sharks and stingrays glide by.
Perfect for ocean lovers who want to design their own ocean-themed restaurant!
Fangweng Hanging Restaurant – China
Built right into the side of a cliff, Fangweng Restaurant hangs over a river gorge in China. The dining area sits out into the air, giving guests a thrilling view of the rushing water below.
If your child loves rollercoasters, rock climbing, or daring heights, this gravity-defying restaurant might inspire a sky-high design of their own!
El Diablo “The Devil” – Spain
At El Diablo in Spain, chefs cook using the heat of an actual volcano! Food is grilled over natural volcanic holes in the ground!
This fiery restaurant is a great way to get kids thinking about how natural energy sources can power kitchens in the future.
O.NOIR – Canada
At O.NOIR, guests eat in complete darkness. No phones, no flashlights, just taste, sound, smell, and touch. This sensory dining experience helps people understand what it's like to eat without sight, while being served by blind or visually impaired staff.
It’s a meaningful, creative concept that can inspire kids to build restaurants with purpose.
Kinderkookkafé – Netherlands
Here’s one for the future chefs! At Kinderkookkafé, kids run the kitchen. They cook, bake, and serve meals to their families!
It's a great example of what happens when kids take the lead in the kitchen and the business.
Chill Out Ice Lounge – Dubai
Want to eat dinner in an ice castle? At Chill Out Lounge, guests bundle up in thermal jackets to enjoy drinks and snacks in a restaurant made entirely of ice.
It’s a winter wonderland that can inspire frosty-themed cafes, igloo restaurants, or even popsicle-shaped buildings!
Villa Escudero Waterfall Restaurant – Philippines
Located at the base of a gentle waterfall, Villa Escudero lets diners sit on bamboo tables with their feet in a cool, shallow stream. It’s a fun and refreshing experience that blends nature and good food.
A great example of how a restaurant can be a beautiful outdoor adventure.
Grotta Palazzese – Italy
How about dining inside a natural seaside cave? Grotta Palazzese is set inside a limestone cavern with views of the Adriatic Sea. It’s romantic, ancient, and unforgettable.
This could inspire a rock-themed restaurant, a mermaid grotto café, or a restaurant hidden inside a mountain!
Robot Restaurant – Japan
Lasers, neon lights, giant dancing robots, Robot Restaurant is more of a wild show than a traditional dining spot. Guests come for the crazy entertainment and high-energy vibes.
If your child is into robots, sci-fi, or arcade games, this is perfect inspiration for a futuristic eatery.
Ready to Build Your Own Restaurant?
Feeling inspired? These amazing global restaurants prove that dining can be about so much more than just food! It can be about the experience, the design, the story, and even the message behind it.
At Petit Architect’s summer camps, kids get to dream up and design their very own restaurant concepts! No matter where kids take their ideas from, we’ll help them bring their ideas to life.
Join our summer architecture camps and:
Build creative models
Learn real design techniques
Explore eco-friendly and imaginative building styles
Collaborate with fellow young designers
Be inspired by restaurants from around the world!
Spots are limited—sign up today and let your child turn their wildest restaurant ideas into reality!