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Wacky bar themes from around the world

The London Underground, Star Wars and Bletchley Park have all featured as themes for some of these unique venues. We round up 10 quirky themed bars from around the world.

Industrial-themed Joben’s Bistro features on our list of themed bars

With more and more cocktail bars opening across the globe, achieving a unique selling point is critical for budding bar owners.

From a bar inspired by the code-breaking operations that went on at Bletchley Park to a drinking den modelled after cult classic The Big Lebowski, bars are adopting all manner of unusual identities.

Imbibers can also visit a Hong Kong venue that pays tribute to author Ernest Hemingway and you can find libations from Prohibition-era Havana at a tiki-themed haunt in San Francisco.

Click through the following pages to see which themed bars made our list.

Mr Fogg’s – London, UK

For those with a penchant for adventure, there’s Mr Fogg’s Around the World in 80 Days-themed bars. Inception Group operates the chain, which includes six bars across London including Mr Fogg’s Residence and Mr Fogg’s Tavern and Gin Parlour.

Inspired by Jules Verne’s novel Around the World in 80 Days, Mr Fogg’s is a collection of immersive bars that transports guests to the Victorian era. The bars feature a variety of experiences from gin safaris to tipsy teas and British brunches.

Oga’s Cantina – California, US

This Star Wars-inspired ‘cantina’ will open at Disneyland’s new themed area Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge next summer.

Oga’s Cantina in the Black Spire Outpost village will be “serving pilots, bounty hunters, smugglers, locals and galactic travellers” when it opens next year.

Run by an alien proprietor called Oga Garra, the cantina follows a “strict code of conduct” to manage “unruly” guests.

Guests will be able to sample “concoctions created with exotic ingredients” and served in unique vessels.

Lebowski Bar – Reykjavik, Iceland

Inspired by the 1998 cult comedy film The Big Lebowski, the diner-style bar features a retro jukebox and a lengthy burger menu.

The bar explores four separate themes: a bowling alley, old-fashioned porch, fifties diner, and a playboy lounge bar upstairs, and is a lively hangout popular with locals and visitors alike.

There’s even a cocktail list dedicated to the Dude’s favourite White Russian serve with over 23 variations on the menu.

The Old Man – Hong Kong, China

Tucked away in the heart of Hong Kong’s buzzing Soho is acclaimed bar The Old Man, spearheaded by industry legends Agung Prabowo, James Tamang and Roman Ghale.

The bar is inspired by the life and times of writer and imbiber Ernest Hemingway and named after his novel The Old Man and the Sea.

The Bletchley – London, UK

Unveiled in March 2017 by Lollipop, the brains behind Breaking Bad bar ABQ, is The Bletchley – inspired by the code-breaking operations that went on at Bletchley Park.

Fans of the Imitation Game can visit the venue, where WW2 Enigma machines, protocols and Sherlock’s deduction principles are used by mixologists to create personalised cocktail recipes. Bartenders will then work out your ideal drink based on your personality, tastes and desires.

Smuggler’s Cove – San Francisco, US

Witness the tiki theme in overdrive at San Francisco rum hotspot Smuggler’s Cove. Featuring traditional drinks of the Caribbean islands and classic libations of Prohibition-era Havana, the bar has nabbed a number of awards including Best American Bar at Tales of the Cocktail’s 2016 Spirited Awards. It features 200 variations of the spirit, including vintage and rare bottlings, as well as its own house rum produced by craft distillery St George Spirits.

Cahoots – London, UK

Based in an old underground nightclub, once used as an air raid shelter, the bar is designed to evoke the image of a disused Tube carriage – complete with 1940s decor and menus printed on old newspapers.

Those who manage to locate the inconspicuous bar are greeted by a ticket inspector, who ushers them to the ‘Kingly Court’ platform where they will enjoy a truly immersive theatrical drinking experience.

BlackTail – New York, US

The award-winning team behind cocktail bar The Dead Rabbit opened BlackTail in New York’s Battery Park in August 2016. The bar and restaurant is themed around American bars that relocated to Cuba during Prohibition, with both drinks and glassware from the era. The bar features an 88-page menu filled with a list of nearly 50 cocktail options.

Berlin Bar – Melbourne, Australia

Entry into this Berlin-inspired bar is by ringing the doorbell, after which you’ll be transported to Cold War Germany. The bar is split into East and West Berlin and mixes classic cocktails with a modern touch.

The capitalist west side is opulent and shiny while the communist east comes complete with war-era bunk beds.

Joben Bistro – Cluj-Napoca, Romania

This industrial-themed drinking den has a steampunk design and features a fine dining restaurant, a mixology bar, and a wine bar.

Faithful to Steampunk’s pseudo-Victorian style, Joben Bistro’s three rooms take visitors to a world of fantasy and science fiction with dozens of quirky objects on the wall such as a mounted deer head wearing a monocle.

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