Themed Restaurants London: A Guide to the City’s Most Creative Dining Experiences
- comedyinyoureye
- Oct 7, 2025
- 11 min read
Updated: Dec 4, 2025
Themed Restaurants London: A Guide to the City’s Most Creative Dining Experiences
Let us be honest. The era of the "polite dinner" is effectively dead. In a city like London, where the energy is frenetic and the creativity is boundless, simply sitting down to a plate of roast chicken and making small talk about the weather feels... well, a bit 2019. We are living in the age of the Experience Economy, a post-pandemic renaissance where a night out is not just about sustenance—it is about stories. It is about escapism. It is about posting a photo on Instagram that makes your ex-partner question every life choice they have made since leaving you.
Welcome to the definitive, exhaustively researched, and slightly obsessed guide to Themed Restaurants in London for 2026. As we peer into the culinary crystal ball for late 2025 and 2026, the landscape of London dining has shifted tectonically. We are not just seeing restaurants with funny wallpaper; we are seeing multimillion-pound theatrical productions where the food is served by spies, wizards, circus acrobats, and—in our favourite corner of Camden—world-class comedians.
Whether you are a jaded Londoner looking to spice up a Tuesday or a tourist wanting to tell your friends back home that you drank cocktails out of a pneumatic tube in a 1940s post office, this report is your bible. We have analysed the menus, the decor, the ticket prices, and the "vibe" of the capital's most immersive spots.
Narrative Dining: You Are Part of the Story
The Murder Express: High-Stakes Dining on the Rails
Location: Pedley Street Station (Bethnal Green)
If you have ever fantasised about living inside an Agatha Christie novel—minus the actual risk of death — The Murder Express is your destination. Run by Funicular Productions, this is arguably the most polished immersive narrative in London.1
The Concept and Plot
The experience takes place at "Pedley Street Station," a fictional railway hub in East London. The year is 1937. The Empire is at its height, and the "Jewel of the Empire," a priceless diamond unearthed by archaeologist Dr. Errol Earhart, is being transported to the Von Cleethorpes estate. You are a passenger on this maiden voyage.1
The brilliance of The Murder Express lies in the illusion of movement. You board a luxury train carriage that never physically moves, but screens acting as windows display passing scenery, creating a convincing sense of travel. As the train "departs," actors—including the dashing Dr. Earhart and the mysterious Saskia Selikhov—move through the aisles, weaving a plot of theft, intrigue, and inevitably, murder.1
The Menu: A Lunar Partnership
In the early days of immersive dining, the food was often an afterthought—dry chicken and limp vegetables served in the dark. The Murder Express bucked this trend by partnering with Lunar, an award-winning restaurant with two AA Rosettes.1
The 2025/2026 Menu Highlights:
Amuse Bouche: Gougères – delicate, airy cheese puffs that set a refined tone.
Starter: Asparagus Velouté – rich, creamy, and technically precise.
Main Course: Beef Bordelaise with Mushrooms, Baby Onions, Orzo, and Pom Purée. This is serious cooking—rich red wine sauces and tender meat, far exceeding "theatre food" standards.
Dessert: Sticky Toffee Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce. A British classic to finish.
Festive Twist: In December, the menu shifts to Turkey Wellington, ensuring the theme stays relevant to the season.
The Verdict
At a price point of £65–£95, it is a premium evening. However, you are paying for a 2-hour theatrical production and a 3-course fine dining meal. For tourists, it is a two-in-one hit of culture and cuisine.
The Little Blue Door: The House Party That Never Ends
Location: Fulham (and sister venues in Soho/Notting Hill)
While The Murder Express takes you to 1937, The Little Blue Door takes you to a flatshare in Fulham where the landlord is away and the tenants are throwing a rager. This is "domestic immersion"—a simulation of the ultimate house party.2
The Vibe
The venue is designed exactly like a London flat. You enter through a front door, hang out in the "Living Room" on velvet sofas, or grab a drink in the "Kitchen." The staff act as your "flatmates," dissolving the stiff waiter-customer dynamic. It is chaotic, loud, and incredibly fun.
The Menu: Comfort and Kitsch
The food matches the vibe: high-end comfort food designed to soak up alcohol.
Brunch: This is their power alley. Dishes like the NYC Breakfast-Style Burger (Bacon, Sausage, Egg & Cheese) or House Pancakes with Fried Chicken are legendary.
Dinner: Sharing boards are the focus. The Christmas House Party Board (£45) feeds a group with home-smoked fried chicken, pigs in blankets, and sausage rolls.
Cocktails: This is where the creativity shines. The menu is inspired by movies.
Kill Bill Vol. 2: Served in a teacup with a gingernut biscuit.
Crimes of Passion: A Pornstar Martini riff with a toasted marshmallow.
Dirty Dancing: A massive sharing cocktail served in a disco ball.2
Why it works: It taps into the nostalgia of university days or the fantasy of the "perfect" London life—cool flatmates, great drinks, and no neighbours complaining about the noise.
Retro Revivals: Nostalgia on Tap
If the future feels uncertain, London's dining scene offers a comforting retreat into the past.
Cahoots: The Blitz Spirit Network
Location: Soho (Underground & Ticket Hall) and Borough Yards (Postal Office)
Cahoots is a phenomenon. Starting as a secret bar in a disused tube station, it has expanded into a network of 1940s-themed venues that celebrate the "Blitz Spirit" with a heavy dose of tongue-in-cheek humour.3
The New Player: Cahoots Postal Office (Borough Yards)
Opening late 2025/early 2026, this is the most ambitious addition to the network. Located in an old railway arch, it masquerades as a 1940s post office.
The Immersion: You enter through a shopfront of a vintage post office, greeted by a "postie." Inside, it is a hive of activity with "undelivered mail" and "suspicious parcels" stacked high.
The Technology: This is not just set dressing. They have installed a world-first pneumatic tube system. Your cocktails are literally fired through air-powered tubes across the ceiling to your table. It is a marvel of retro-futurism.5
The Menu: The cocktails are narrative devices.
This Way Up: Patrón Silver Tequila based.
Par Avion: Grey Goose Vodka based.
The Dead Letter Depot: A mezzanine area filled with vintage artifacts where you can listen to "gossip" on repurposed telephone switchboards.5
Maggie’s: The 80s Time Capsule
While Cahoots does the 40s, other venues (like the mentioned Bunga Bunga) lean into different eras. But for pure retro kitsch, the London scene is pivoting towards specific historical niches. While we focus on the snippet-provided data, the trend is clear: specific decades provide a safety blanket of nostalgia.
Sensory Dining: Trust Your Tastebuds (Because You Can’t See)
Dans Le Noir?: The Darkest Dinner in Town
Location: Clerkenwell
Dans Le Noir? remains one of the most intellectually stimulating dining experiences in London. It is not just "dimly lit"—it is pitch black. You cannot see your hand in front of your face.7
The Experience
You are guided by visually impaired waiters, reversing the typical dynamic of disability and capability. In the dark, they are the experts; you are the helpless one.
The Menu: It is a surprise. You choose a category (Blue for Fish, Red for Meat, Green for Veg) but the specific ingredients are a mystery until the debriefing at the end.
The Psychology: Without sight, social hierarchies vanish. You do not know what your neighbour looks like. Conversations become deeper. You also end up eating with your fingers because forks are notoriously difficult to navigate in zero visibility.7
Age Limit: Children over 6 are allowed, making it a surprisingly educational family activity.8
Inamo: The Future of Dining
Location: Soho and Covent Garden
If Dans Le Noir? removes sight, Inamo overloads it. This is the restaurant for the iPad generation.
The Tables: The table surface is a giant interactive projection. You order your food by touching the table. You can play games (Battleships, Pong) with your dining partner while waiting for your sushi. You can even watch a live "Chef Cam" feed to see your meal being prepared.7
The Vibe: It feels like dining inside a video game. The Onyx Room in Covent Garden features 150-inch wall projections and gaming consoles, making it a haven for e-sports fans and parties.9
Fantasy and Magic: Brewing Trouble
The Cauldron: Molecular Mixology
Location: Stoke Newington / Dalston
For those who grew up waiting for a letter from a certain wizarding school, The Cauldron is the closest you will get to Potions Class.10
The Gear: You are given a robe and a magic wand upon entry. The wand is functional—it uses technology to interact with the venue (turning on lights, pouring drinks).
The Potions: This is a cocktail-making class, but with a fantasy skin. You do not "pour gin"; you "brew a Transfiguration Tonic." The drinks use molecular gastronomy—dry ice, colour-changing pH liquids, and smoke—to create effects that look like actual magic.
Dragon’s Breath: A smoking cocktail that looks dangerous but tastes delicious.10
Bubbling Shot of Death: A neon green vial that gurgles.11
The Verdict: It is pricey (approx £30-£40+), but the attention to detail—from the "decapitated unicorn head" on the wall to the riddles on the table—makes it a high-value experience for fantasy fans.12
The Big Budget Blockbusters: TV & Film IP
2026 sees the arrival of massive global brands turning London into a playground.
Hell’s Kitchen: Gordon Ramsay’s Thunderdome
Location: The Cumberland Hotel, Marble Arch (Opening Spring 2026)
This is the big one. After conquering Las Vegas, Dubai, and Miami, Gordon Ramsay is bringing his Hell’s Kitchen concept home to London.13
The Aesthetic: It creates the set of the TV show. Expect the famous Red and Blue kitchens, the pitchfork logos, and a high-energy, theatrical atmosphere. It is designed to feel like a broadcast event.
The Menu: It is a Greatest Hits of Ramsay.
Beef Wellington: The dish that made him famous.
Lobster Risotto: The dish that gets shouted about the most on TV.
Sticky Toffee Pudding: A British staple.
Notes from Gordon: A cocktail that comes with a "personal message" from the chef (one assumes it might be an insult, given the brand, but it is likely a garnish).14
The Strategy: This marks a shift. It is not just fine dining; it is "Eatertainment." It sits in The Cumberland Hotel, a venue with a history of hosting music legends, positioning it as a tourist mecca.13
Mamma Mia! The Party: The ABBA Juggernaut
Location: The O2
Booking until at least mid-2026, this is a behemoth. Mamma Mia the Party transforms a massive space in the O2 into Nikos’ Taverna on the island of Skopelos.15
The Show: It is a 4-hour experience. A storyline unfolds around you (romance, drama, Greek tragedy-lite) while you eat a 4-course Mediterranean meal.
The Finale: It ends with a massive ABBA disco. It is impossible to be cynical here. Even the most hardened Londoner eventually cracks when "Dancing Queen" plays.16
Aesthetics: "Phone Eats First"
Some restaurants are themed around... beauty. Or rather, the excess of beauty.
Jacuzzi (Big Mamma Group): The Italian Palace
Location: Kensington
Jacuzzi is a fever dream of Italian opulence. It spans four floors of a "decadent palazzo."
Visuals: Roman statues, Murano glass, a retractable glass ceiling, and—crucially—glitter ball toilets. It is designed to be photographed.17
The Food: The menu is as loud as the decor. Lobster Risotto, Truffle Pasta in a Cheese Wheel, and pizzas topped with caviar. It is excess for the sake of excess.19
Brasserie of Light: The Art Attack
Location: Selfridges
Dominated by a massive crystal Pegasus sculpture by Damien Hirst, Brasserie of Light screams "London Glamour." It is the perfect spot for a "sex and the city" style lunch where the surroundings are as important as the salad.20
Secret Societies: Ssh, Don't Tell Anyone
Evans & Peel Detective Agency
Location: Earls Court
To get a drink at the Evans & Peel Detective Agency, you need a "case." You book an appointment online. When you arrive, you ring a buzzer and are buzzed into a detective's office. A gumshoe interrogates you about your "case" (play along—it is part of the fun). Only then does a bookcase swing open to reveal a hidden 1920s speakeasy serving bootlegged liquor and sliders.21
The Unsung Hero: Comedy Dining
We have covered train murders, wizard potions, and Gordon Ramsay’s shouting. But what if you want an experience that is authentic, hilarious, and costs less than a sandwich at the airport?
Comedy in Your Eye: The Camden Gem
Location: The Camden Eye Pub, Camden Town
While other venues rely on millions of pounds of decor to create an atmosphere, Comedy in Your Eye relies on the most powerful force in the universe: laughter. Located in the heart of Camden, opposite the Tube station, this is the antithesis of the "tourist trap."
Why It Wins the "Best Value" Award:
The Price: Tickets are around £3 - £5. In 2026 L
ondon, that is practically free. You can get a ticket and a drink for £6. Compare that to the £90 ticket for The Murder Express.23
The Talent: The lineup is Top Secret. Why? Because massive TV stars (from Live at the Apollo, Taskmaster, Mock the Week) use this club to test new material. You might pay £5 and see a comedian who sells out Wembley Arena. It is the ultimate "lucky dip".23
The Vibe: It is intimate. It is real. There are no animatronics. Just you, a pint, and a room full of people laughing until their faces hurt. It has over 300 5-star reviews for a reason.23
The Food: While the comedy happens upstairs, the pub downstairs serves hearty, honest London pub grub. It is the perfect "Dinner and a Show" combination without the pretense.
Recommendation: If you want to impress a date with your "insider knowledge" of London's coolest spots, take them here. It shows you know where the real fun is.
Practical Guide for the 2026 Diner
Venue | Price Range | Best For... | Booking Lead Time |
Comedy in Your Eye | £ (Very Low) | Laughs, Dates, Value | 2-3 Weeks (Sells out fast) |
The Murder Express | £££ (High) | Theatre Lovers, Foodies | 2-3 Months |
Cahoots | ££ (Mid) | Cocktails, History Buffs | 1 Month |
Dans Le Noir? | £££ (High) | Adventurous Eaters | 1 Month |
Hell's Kitchen | ££££ (Very High) | TV Fans, Tourists | 3-4 Months (Anticipated) |
The Little Blue Door | ££ (Mid) | Brunch, Groups | 2-3 Weeks |
Dress Codes:
Smart/Glam: London Cabaret Club, Brasserie of Light, Hell’s Kitchen.
Thematic: Cahoots (Vintage encouraged but not enforced).
Relaxed: Comedy in Your Eye, The Little Blue Door, Inamo.
Future Trends: What's Eating London in 2026?
Grocery Dining: We are seeing a rise in "Grocery-Restaurant Hybrids" like Arthur's Market and Corner Shop. People want to eat where they shop, blurring the line between retail and dining.25
High-Tech Delivery: As seen with Cahoots Postal Office, automation (pneumatic tubes, conveyor belts) is becoming a spectacle in itself.
Sustainable Spectacle: Venues like Silo prove that zero-waste can be high-design. Expect more themes centred around nature and sustainability.
Conclusion: The Verdict
London in 2026 is a playground for the hungry and the curious. You can start your night being interrogated by a detective, eat your main course in pitch darkness, and finish it dancing to ABBA.
But amidst the multimillion-pound spectacles, do not overlook the power of the authentic. Comedy in Your Eye stands as a reminder that you do not need pyrotechnics to have a world-class night out. You just need great people, great jokes, and a cold drink.
So, go forth. Eat the story. Drink the potion. And for the love of London, laugh your head off in Camden.
FAQs
Q: Are these venues suitable for children?
Yes: Inamo, Mamma Mia! The Party (5+), Dans Le Noir? (6+).
No: The Murder Express, Evans & Peel, Comedy in Your Eye, Cahoots (mostly 18+ due to licensing).
Q: Do I need to book in advance?
Absolutely. London is busy. For Hell’s Kitchen (opening Spring 2026), expect a waiting list. For Comedy in Your Eye, book as soon as you know your dates—it is small and popular.
Q: Can I get vegetarian/vegan food at these meat-heavy themed places?
Yes. London is excellent for dietary requirements. The Murder Express offers a Vegan Wellington. The Little Blue Door has extensive vegan brunch options. Always check the specific menu when booking.
Q: Is "Park Row" still open?
No. The DC Comics/Batman-themed restaurant Park Row closed in 2024. It serves as a cautionary tale that big IP does not always guarantee success.26
