This basement restaurant in Stockholm’s Old Town has a Viking theme that's accentuated by its underground, windowless location, accessed via a set of stairs from street level. Visitors sit on wooden benches covered in ancient-looking furs as they dine on food based on historic Viking traditions. Menu items have names like Indulgence of the Raven Lord (marinated flap steak) and Plate from Stallarholmen (a smoked salmon dish) to help get customers into the Viking spirit.
Prague is known for its secret places and underground meeting spaces and this tavern is among the most notable. It's been around since 1375, making it one of the city’s oldest pubs, and it boasts famous patrons including Mozart and a number of Czech kings. The cavernous room is on the city’s Royal Way and is filled with long candlelit wooden tables that sit under the low, arched stone ceiling. Parts of the tavern are above ground, but the underground vaults are considered the best seats in the house.
A restaurant with a history that goes way back, Da Pancrazio is built on the ruins of the Theatre of Pompey, the site of Julius Caesar’s assassination in 44 BC. The current restaurant has been in operation since 1922, serving traditional Roman-style food like osso buco and cacio e pepe. There is an outdoor dining area, but history buffs will want to head down the spiral stone staircase to the vaulted cellar to get that much closer to ancient Rome.
The Minnesota State Capitol is full of people focused on the business of the State government, but those lawmakers have to eat. While the legislative session is in full swing, many go down to the basement of the building to visit the Rathskeller Café. The restaurant draws on the German tradition of installing dining halls in the basement of town halls. Built in 1905, it originally had a German-themed design that was painted over during the war years, and that has since been restored.
Discover more of America's historic bars, inns and speakeasies
The underground Kuku Club may look like a non-descript place to watch some live music and grab a bite to eat, but for over eight decades the venue has served as a subversive hideaway for bohemian intellectuals, artists and revolutionaries. The Kuku was particularly important during the communist 1980s when Estonia was angling for its independence. Today, the basement club serves many purposes, hosting concerts, meetings, billiards and a 60-seat restaurant.
A Santo Domingo fixture since 1967, El Meson de la Cava is a glamorous dining space located in the depths of a natural limestone cave carved by the movement of ocean waves. The mood of the restaurant is fit for a special occasion or vacation splurge with plenty of seafood, a signature paella and a selection of fine steaks on the menu. Claustrophobic diners who would rather not be surrounded by cave walls can opt to eat on the restaurant’s outdoor terrace, which has a similar menu.
An underground playground for whiskey enthusiasts, Tel Aviv’s Whiskey Bar and Museum is located in an ancient Templar tunnel that was developed as a winery in the late 1800s and was later used as an underground aircraft factory. Today, the bar houses 1,400 different varieties of whiskey from 13 countries around the world. Food is also important here, with a menu of smoked meats and rich bites that pair well with whiskey.
Jamaica’s Caves Hotel is a luxury resort that combines beachfront bliss with the majesty of a series of cliffside caves. The hotel’s dining options aren’t so much underground as they are 'under cliff'. Most of the resort’s restaurants are actually outside, but guests looking for some drama with their dinner can opt for a private dining option in the Moonbeam or Seastar caves, which specialise in romantic five-course candlelight dinners.
This Australian basement haunt has a wonderfully moody vibe, with its brick walls, wood panelling, boxing photos and old timey furnishings. Whiskey is a going concern here, and the brown liquor certainly suits the room’s old-school underground atmosphere. It’s more of a bar than a restaurant, but after perusing the wall of whiskey and chatting with the bartenders to find that perfect dram, patrons can munch on bowls of pretzels, the Baxter Inn’s signature snack.
As the speakeasy sister to Chicago’s acclaimed Gilt Bar, The Library is accessed through a side door and a flight of stairs. The secret room boasts a delightfully dark collection of velvet booths, antique books and vintage chandeliers, transporting patrons to a different time. The Gilt Bar is known for its fantastic food and the same menu is available downstairs, with dishes like black truffle mozzarella sticks, handmade pastas and a must-try steak tartare.
Mexico’s east coast is full of swimming caves called cenotes, so it makes sense that it also has some incredible underground dining. This jaw-dropping restaurant in Playa Del Carmen is in a cave large enough to seat 250 people, with ornate chandeliers and modern furniture in the stone-walled dining room. The kitchen is way up at ground level and diners are warned the service won't be quick for that reason – but it’s well worth the wait to feast on their Mayan-inspired dishes.
The natural cave that is now the Grotta Palazzese restaurant has been used for parties since 1700. The cave sits on a cliff right on the Adriatic Sea, offering both breathtaking views of the water and that underground cave-dweller feel. The speciality here is fine-dining food, with an emphasis on classic Italian ingredients and set tasting menus. The restaurant’s chefs take special care to take a visual approach to their dishes, plating each one so it lives up to the restaurant’s setting.
It’s not surprising that Arizona’s sprawling Grand Canyon is full of interesting caverns, including a tourist-ready set of caves that includes a fully furnished hotel suite. The Cavern Grotto is the canyon’s underground restaurant, located 200 feet (61m) below the surface on a platform suspended in one of the caves. With only four tables, the restaurant is very small and doesn’t include a kitchen (the food is cooked at ground level and sent down on an elevator in a bucket that keeps it warm).
The most unusual restaurant experience in every state and DC
This restaurant on the gorgeous Adriatic Sea is part of Dubrovnik’s idyllic Hotel More. As the hotel was being constructed, developers found a natural cave underneath it, which forms the basis for the Cave Bar. Guests can pop down to the well-lit beachside cave for coffee or a cocktail throughout the day and order something from the lunch menu. The selection is fairly casual, with juicy burgers, truffle cheese fries and a few other unfussy daytime bites.
With an entrance behind a fridge door inside a street-level florist and wine shop, Floreria Atlantico is a little too well-known to be a true speakeasy, but the basement tavern retains a sense of cool thanks to its whimsical art and excellent cocktails, many of which are nods to both Argentina’s indigenous and immigrant communities. The drinks get a lot of fanfare but the food is also great, with big steaks and lots of seafood, as well as snacks like empanadas and potato croquettes.
Tuscumbia is the birthplace of Helen Keller and home of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, as well as this rustic saloon, which sits in a hole underneath a giant slab of rock. The site was once used as a hog pen, but in 2009 the saloon opened to serve guests at the adjacent Seven Springs Lodge. The Rattlesnake specialises in Southern hospitality and burgers, with other casual snacks on the menu as well. Brave souls are encouraged to try the Gigantor burger, featuring two pounds (0.9kg) of beef.
The whimsical Cahoots is located in an old London tube station, with distinct spaces in a historic tube car and in an underground control room, as well as the above ground Ticket Hall. The whole complex has a heavily stylised 1940s flair, reflecting the station’s former life as an emergency air-raid shelter. Cocktails are at the forefront at Cahoots, but there’s also food to be had, most notably, the Saturday afternoon Squiffy Picnic events, combining British picnics and afternoon tea.
Located in a small village on one of the Canary Islands, this restaurant is part of a series of rugged lava caves connected to a subterranean salt lake. The restaurant and other developments at Jameos del Agua are the creation of artist César Manrique and his vision is apparent in the design of the entire area. The beautifully appointed restaurant is contemporary in style, but also pays tribute to the natural wonder of the islands, with a menu that celebrates local ingredients.
The unassuming Diporto Taverna has been in operation for over 130 years. To get inside, guests need to go through a metal trapdoor and down a small set of very old steps. The taverna is far from fancy, but it's the place to go for home-cooked Greek food and wine poured directly from the barrel. Don’t expect a menu or any English to be spoken – this is a place for adventurous travellers who want to go off the beaten path and enjoy a truly unforgettable meal.
For a real taste of old New York, guests can dine in this restaurant located in a turn-of-the-century bank vault once owned by the famous Andrew Carnegie. The elegant-rustic décor features a 40-foot (12m) hardwood bar, historic brickwork and a glowing round vault door. The food follows the same cues, with classic dishes made with local seasonal ingredients. Trinity Place also welcomes gluten-free eaters, with a thoughtful selection of gluten-free appetisers and main courses.
The restaurant in the basement of Stockholm’s City Hall is surprisingly posh with much of the original decor and furnishings from when it first opened in 1922. The restaurant’s management also takes care of the hall’s banquet rooms, including the one where the annual Nobel Prize gala is held. To celebrate that, in addition to the restaurant’s Swedish à la carte menu, guests can order full menus from past galas – the 2019 Nobel menu is currently on offer, with others available on request.
Triton is hidden in a cellar underneath Prague’s bustling Wenceslas Square in an Art Nouveau-themed stalactite cave. The restaurant comes by its bohemian atmosphere honestly – in the 19th and 20th centuries it was a fashionable hangout for artists and writers. The food is not what you'd expect to find in a cave, with a menu prepared by top chef Tomas Horak. The restaurant offers several tasting menus, including a bright and beautifully plated five-course meal inspired by Czech modern art.
Conveniently located just a stone’s throw from the famous Teotihuacan archaeological complex, La Gruta is in a natural grotto within a volcanic cavity. The restaurant first opened in 1906 and has since hosted luminaries like Frida Kahlo and royalty including Queen Elizabeth II. To pay homage to its location, La Gruta specialises in traditional pre-Hispanic Mexican cuisine, drawn from all over the country. Expect to find local cactus, pit-cooked meats, pumpkin seed and even caterpillars and ant larvae on the menu.
This basement restaurant in Calgary’s Chinatown is tucked beneath a Chinese restaurant and behind a fake tailor shop. Inside, Paper Lantern is a bright and cheerful tiki bar and while the drinks are next-level, the food is also a star. The menu is made up of excellent Vietnamese food, with crunchy spring rolls and other savoury bar snacks, banh mi, skewers and fresh salads. For something special, customers can ask what the kitchen is having as their staff meal and get in on the action.
Tucked beneath the Chez Moi restaurant in Brooklyn Heights, Le Boudoir is designed to mimic the private chambers of Marie Antoinette. It comes complete with gilded accents, sensual artwork and ornate bathrooms that the restaurant claims replicate the infamous French Queen’s own powder room. The secret basement room serves delicate drinks and decadent French-inspired food. Le Boudoir is currently only hosting special events and accepting reservations for private parties, but will fully open soon.
Ostuni is often dubbed 'White City', because of its gleaming white buildings and this charming restaurant fits right in. The bulk of Osteria del Tempo Perso is in an old cave that once housed a bakery that dates back to the 14th century. Since Ostuni is close to the sea, fish and clams are some of the highlights of the menu, along with other traditional Italian food. The restaurant also prides itself on its selection of Italian wines, with over 200 different bottles on its list.
Literally located beneath an alley called Driver Lane, this Melbourne bar and restaurant is intentionally old fashioned, with classic cocktails made flashier with a little bit of smoke or liquid nitrogen. This is another hidden whiskey enclave, with a French bistro-inspired menu to help customers soak up their liquor. Luxurious nibbles like cheese, charcuterie and oysters are all on offer, along with toasted sandwiches, croquettes, crispy fried chicken wings and steak frites.
As the name suggests, this restaurant in eastern Spain is another grotto where diners sit at tables under a solid stone archway. The menu is designed to ignite guests’ senses while they bask in the wonder of the cave and reflect on the bounty of the sea. Its signature is its rice dishes, all designed to be shared between two people and topped with lobster, squid and other delicacies. Special all-rice menus are also available with advance reservations.
Guests at Ali Barbour’s get to dine in a natural coral cave that sits 33 feet (10m) underground. A hole at the top lets in a burst of natural light, while lamps are scattered throughout the restaurant to give the cave walls a nice, warm glow. The food is designed to appeal to diners from all over the world, with an emphasis on fresh fish and seafood, along with fine dining-style meat dishes. The restaurant also caters to vegetarian eaters, with a selection of pastas, tagines and curries.
Catacombs is the underground restaurant at Bube’s, a historic Pennsylvania brewery that dates back to the late 1800s. The restaurant lives 43 feet (13m) below ground level in a stone-lined vault. Customers get a tour of the brewery as they make their way downstairs to dine on the most upscale cuisine offered at the Bube’s facility (there are also some above-ground restaurants). The Catacombs can also be rented out for weddings and other special occasions.