Most Unusual Restaurants and Bars in France

If you are looking for specialists in removals to and from France, contact Hamiltons who are experienced in household and office moves across the channel. Meanwhile, if you are settling in the country, France is known worldwide for its gastronomy, so you will find plenty of excellent restaurants in your area. But as well as the family-run bistros, Michelin-starred and regional restaurants, there’s also a fair pick of some alternative ones too. Here Hamiltons, the experts in removals to France, throw the spotlight on ten of the country’s most unusual restaurants and bars.

Alex’Cellent Restau, Reims / Aioliwood, Paris – These two restaurants, which are completely separate organisations, serve diners on double-decker buses. Alex’Cellent is an English red bus which can also be hired for private parties – and of course, the bus can come to you! Aioliwood is a plush moving bus/gourmet restaurant/cinema that also serves as a canteen on film sets, and is used for cultural events and festivals.

Dans le Noir, Paris – Translated as ‘in the dark’, this is just what you can expect in this restaurant, which has clocked up some great reviews for service, and atmosphere. You have to leave things that emit the light (such as phones and watches) in a locker at the door as you dine in total blackness. The waiters and waitresses are blind and the idea of the restaurant is that you make use of other senses such as taste, touch and smell.

Eggs & Co, Paris – If you like all things made with eggs – omelette, pancakes, poached or boiled eggs – you’ll be served up a treat here. You can enjoy breakfast, brunch, lunch or a private party in the evening here, as the opening times are 10 am until 6 pm. It is a small and cosy restaurant which has had some great reviews.

F-BACC, Fontenay-Trésigny – This is a former French Air Force aeroplane turned restaurant in a small airfield near Paris. Although the outside is decorated in Air France colours, it wasn’t a public passenger plane.

Ice Kube Bar, Paris – You can find this within the Kube Hotel lounge restaurant. The décor changes each year and the bar, shelves and seating are made entirely of ice. You are loaned a jacket and gloves on arrival.

La Table des Gourmets, Paris – Here you can dine in style in spectacular surroundings in a vaulted crypt of a 12th century chapel. It serves French food, lunchtimes and evenings.

L’Eau Vive, Marseilles – This pleasant cafeteria is run by secular missionaries wearing traditional costume. It gets quite busy, especially at weekends, so it’s advisable to book in advance. It’s based within the Notre Dame de la Garde, and you can often hear singing as the food is being prepared. The restaurant and offers good quality food and service at reasonable prices, plus beautiful views.

Les Crayers des Montquartiers, Issy-Les-Moulineaux – This interesting restaurant is in a historic chalk quarry, where you can combine a fixed price guided tour with a five course meal in awe inspiring surroundings with vaulted, stone ceilings. The restaurant and banquet hall seats up to 1000 people and is conveniently located five minutes from Paris. It has clocked up some excellent reviews.

L’Urgence Bar, Paris – Translated as ‘Emergency Room’, it’s a bar rather than a restaurant and is based on a hospital theme. Drinks are served in baby bottles or test tubes and the table tops have syringes beneath them.  It’s somewhere different to go before or after your meal.

Sur un Arbre Perché, Paris – This quirky restaurant, translated as ‘Perched on a Tree’, offers French contemporary dining and two of the tables have swings as chairs. The food is artfully prepared and you may be offered a massage after your meal, to complete the relaxed dining experience.

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