If you’re looking to spice up your standard restaurant experience, a crazy themed joint might be just the way to do it. From the Titanic to the supernatural, there’s no end of wonderfully exotic places knocking about out there. We’ve picked our favourites from across the country to tease and tempt your taste buds.  

NSW

Doughbox Diner, Enmore

Whisking you back to the days of hot-rods, rock ‘n’ roll, and sweet leather jackets, Doughbox serves up a big, warm slice of 1950s America. Expect large hotdogs, hearty burgers and fries served in baskets, as well as the some of the yummiest milkshakes in town. The pink-clad waitresses strut their way across the tiled floor, and the retro clock, chrome counter and booth-style seats complete the look.

VIC

Titanic Theatre Restaurant, Williamstown

With those iconic four chimneys lining the roof, Titanic Theatre Restaurant is pretty hard to miss. This huge, multi-storeyed restaurant perfectly recreates the interior of history’s most famous ship, and offers up all sorts of period-appropriate entertainment to go with the classy cuisine. It’s a spectacular experience, and you should definitely consider holding your next function here.

QLD

Dracula’s Cabaret Restaurant

We haven’t read the book in a while, so we must have forgotten the part where Dracula left Transylvania to open a cabaret restaurant in Queensland. Still, we’re glad he did, because it’s awesome. Thrilling, funny, scary and downright preposterous, you’ll barely have time to devour your lamb medallions with all the ghoulish goodness going on. The cocktails tend to be fluorescent and full of smoke, which is always an excellent sign. 

SA

Mallee Fowl, Berri

Quite possibly the only restaurant in existence to turn ‘dusty and ramshackle’ into a bona fide style statement, Mallee Fowl is whimsical Australiana come to life. The inside is packed with a fascinating array of bits and bobs going back decades, and the rustic outdoor stage area always has something going on. The outback barbecue menu is strong indeed, so come and have a squiz, ay?

WA

The Classroom

Okay, we admit it – technically this one’s more cocktail bar than eatery, but it does do food at the ‘Canteen’. Besides, it’s too cool to leave out. We could even say it’s too cool for school. This place goes all-out to recreate the look and feel of a schoolroom, with graffiti, backpacks, bookshelves, stylised seats, and a fully stocked bar. Okay, that last one probably isn’t a feature at most schools, but it’s a welcome addition in our books.

TAS

Drunken Admiral, Hobart

Parked right on the waterfront, Hobart’s Drunken Admiral is one of the yummiest seafood restaurants in town. It also boasts an amazing interior, which resembles a gorgeous 19^th century ship. Steering wheels, maps, doubloons, flintlock pistols and other nautical knickknacks lurk everywhere, and you might even run into a skeleton or two. They’re very friendly, though.

Be sure to check these places out if you’re ever nearby, and don’t forget to check our listings for plenty more delectable cafes and restaurants.