Sometimes, you want immersive world-building offered by a theme park land without all the sweaty bodies and overpriced food. New York City, already bursting with creative people, has the cure: a gaggle of themed bars and restaurants to scratch that particular itch.
The themed restaurants that populate our boroughs represent the wide interests of the residents. From literary luminaries to adventure travel, you’ll find a thematic place that elevates your regular dinner experience to something special.
Eat and Drink Like a Famous Poet at Oscar Wilde Restaurant & Bar
Known for his acerbic wit and multiple charges of “indecency” for flouting Victorian conventions, writer Oscar Wilde is also associated with glamour and excess. The decor at his namesake spot is maximalist: brass lamps, competing wallpaper patterns, and a giant stone fireplace from the 1840s build out the space.
You can also say hello to the statue of the man himself. Then, try one of the cocktails named after a Wilde quality: Greed, Pride, Lust, Bougie, Thirsty, and more. In addition to all-day English staples, you can also stop in for a full afternoon tea service, New York style. 45 W. 27th St., NoMad, oscarwildenyc.com
Indulge in Period Glamour at Lillie’s Victorian Establishment
Similar to Wilde, Lillie Langtry was a prominent British socialite of the Victorian era. The two locations of this bar celebrate her excessive lifestyle. For example, the Times Square location is pink floral themed, and Union Square recreates a Celtic garden. Both have Afternoon Tea and extensive cocktail menus, with many named after celebrities like James Dean, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Humphrey Bogart. 249 W. 49th St., Midtown; and 13 E. 17th St., Union Square, lilliesnyc.com
Pretend You’re Beach Side at Surf Bar Seafood Restaurant & Grill
Walking into this bar and you may think a quirky beachside shack was picked up and dropped on a classic Brooklyn street. But no, everything from decor to the food was completely intentional, and the Hawaiian Style hot dog and the variety of fried seafood make this bar the perfect stop when you don’t have time to actually make it out to the beach.
Plus, tiki drinks and shareable cocktails, like the Miami Vice, are sure to lead to a fun night. Outside of shareable appetizers, you can get a full meal: a steak frites, swordfish frites, or a whole branzino fish. 139 N. 6th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn, surfbarbrooklyn.com
Revive the Roller Disco at All Night Skate
A perfect place for a nostalgic birthday party, this bar is roller rink-themed, but don’t wear your actual skates there, there’s no real rink to play on. But you can enjoy the cocktails, such as the neon green Green Light Go. Others, like the Prom Night drink, are sure to hit all your sentimental buttons. 54 Rockaway Ave., Bushwick, Brooklyn, allnightskate.com
Embrace Horror Films at Flying Fox Tavern
This bar is decked out with dark wood and vintage scary movie posters. However, for fans of the genre, this is a cozy, inviting environment. The food is also an excellent surprise: the fish sandwich is one of the best I’ve ever had in the city, and the Witch’s Fingers (fried pickles) are a perfect accompaniment for the cocktails named after horror legends like Vampira, Nosferatu, and Akasha. 6-78 Woodward Ave., Ridgewood, Queens, flyingfoxtavern.com
If Time Burton Had a Restaurant it Would Be Beetle House
For a fully immersive experience, this Halloween-themed restaurant delivers. The focus of the decor centers on classic scary movies, especially those made by director Tim Burton. This means you can celebrate the spooky season all year long in a place that certainly won’t judge.
Instead of a casual meal, you have choices like Edward Burger Hands held together with scissors or the Sweeney Beef served with a straight razor. The themed drinks similarly recall Burton favorites, and all are perfect for sharing on social media. 308 E. 6th St., East Village, beetlehousenyc.com
Deep Sea Exploring at Sunken Harbor Club
If you ever went through a pirate or marine biology phase, this is your next adult night out. On top of the beloved seafood restaurant Gage & Tollner, this bar looks like an undersea haunt that’s existed for decades.
On the menu you’ll find bar snacks such as fries and miso oysters, but the bartenders and their creations are the real stars here. They have three themed cocktail and mocktail menus, as well as options for communal drinks that serve up to four people. 372 Fulton St., 2nd Floor, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, sunkenharbor.club
Trailer Park Lounge, Enough Said
Decked out with neon signs, vinyl booths, and roadside ephemera, this bar embraces car culture Americana and, well, trailer parks in a delightfully kitschy way. The menu includes diner fare like burgers and sandwiches. The drink selection includes multiple types of cocktail pitches to share with your group. The bar becomes even livelier when you play classic hits on the jukebox in the back. It’s been around for decades, which goes to show the need for backyard vibes never dies. 271 W. 23rd St., Chelsea, trailerparklounge.com
La Caverna is For Spelunkers
With stone walls and stalactites hanging from the ceiling, this bar transports you to an underground cave. A cave in Mexico that is, complete with a menu chock full of elote, tacos, fajitas, and bottomless Margaritas. If you’re looking to celebrate, you can also get bottle service. 122 Rivington St., East Village, lacavernanyc.com
Join the (Biker) Gang at Duff’s
Though it shares a name with Homer’s beloved beer in The Simpsons, this dive bar is actually themed around heavy metal and biker culture. They host regular listening parties for up-and-coming rock and metal bands, and have a jukebox full of deep cuts for headbangers. Between the vintage metal charm and solid drinks, it’s overall the perfect place to hang and listen to music with friends. 168 Marcy Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn, duffsbrooklyn.com
