Take a Kitschy Trip to Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville
There's nothing quite like having a meal at a kitschy restaurant filled with oddities and a fun theme. It's not like visiting your local Olive Garden. There's a vibe that makes the meal secondary. Here are 20 kitschy restaurants you need to experience.
1. The Madonna Inn
Located in San Luis Obispo, California, The Madonna Inn is renowned for its next-level kitsch. Each room has its own theme, and the restaurant is completely outrageous. Pink dominates the space and there are velvet booths and goblets. The staff also embraces the kitsch and whimsy of the establishment.
Cory Doctorow from Beautiful Downtown Burbank, USA on Wikimedia
2. Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville
Margaritaville is more a shrine to island living than a restaurant. It's a tropical version of kitsch. Guests drink from oversized margarita glasses surrounded by parrots, surfboards, and tiki decor. Oh, and Jimmy Buffett's music plays on a loop.
3. Casa Bonita
Casa Bonita is practically a landmark in Lakewood, Colorado. It celebrates kitsch as diners wander a massive indoor "village" with faux cliffs and mariachi bands. There are also puppet shows and a menu of Tex-Mex cuisine.
4. The SafeHouse
The SafeHouse in Milwaukee is fashioned as a secret spy headquarters. It turns an average dining experience into an espionage mission. You must know the password to enter, or perform a fun task as punishment. The walls are adorned with Cold War memorabilia and gadgets.
5. Ed DeBevic's
This Chicago-based 1950s-style restaurant takes kitsch to a new and vibrant level. There are neon lights, checkerboard floors, and jukeboxes. The servers are rude on purpose, but don't worry, it's a lot of fun. Enjoy milkshakes and chili fries in this kitschy institution.
6. The Magic Time Machine
When you visit San Antonio, stop by this whimsical diner that doubles down on the fantasy. The waitstaff even dress as pop culture characters like Jack Sparrow, and diners eat in themed rooms like an old library. The menu is delicious American food, and the environment is pure kitsch.
7. Trailer Park Lounge
In New York, New York, you can step into a slice of trailer park Americana. Dine among Christmas lights, Elvis memorabilia, lawn flamingos, and all the kitschy knick-knacks you can handle. Don't forget to order a spiked Kool-Aid cocktail.
8. Harbour Queen Floating Restaurant
This Toronto restaurant is kitsch on the water. It serves seafood on a retrofitted ship with fake portholes, ropes, and nautical kitsch everywhere. Snap a pic of plastic lobsters, anchors, and seafaring mannequins. This restaurant is charming and filled with novelty.
9. The Varsity
The Varsity in Atlanta is the largest drive-in in the world and a local institution. There are bright orange signs and classic uniforms. The food is greasy and amazing, with hot dogs, burgers, onion rings, and orange shakes. The Varisty is a must-visit if you're looking for vintage charm.
10. The Pink Cadillac Diner
This diner in Natural Bridge, Virginia is soaked in bubblegum pink and features retro cars, Elvis statues, and blinding neon lights. The Pink Cadillac offers a host of hearty diner classics like sundaes, burgers, and fried chicken. Best of all, you get to eat under murals celebrating rock 'n' roll legends.
11. Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar
This Polynesian tiki bar in San Francisco offer mid-century kitsch that is hard not to enjoy. Guests will experience a lagoon, a band performing on a floating boat, and the kicker is the fake rain showers that activate at intervals.
12. Casa Loma Liberty Café
Within Toronto's famous and historic castle is a café that offers a theatrical level of kitsch. You'll enjoy the knight statues and all-encompassing gothic charm, while you dig into an upscale meal under chandeliers and stained glass windows.
13. Rainforest Café
The food isn't all that memorable, but the Rainforest Café is pure commercial kitsch. Upon entering, you'll witness animatronic elephants, tropical fish tanks, vines, and the odd "thunderstorm" that rumbles every so often. The draw is the spectacle, as it's an engaging and engrossing experience.
Rob Young from United Kingdom on Wikimedia
14. The Cavern Club Restaurant
This kitschy restaurant in Liverpool, England, is famous for being the Beatles' old hangout. It now acts as a shrine to 1960s music and all the novelty that comes with it. It's a bit tailored to tourists, but you'll love the posters and neon guitars.
15. Big Texan Steak Ranch
This kitschy restaurant is known for one big thing: the 72-ounce steak challenge. The theme borders on Texas parody with giant cowboy boots and steer horns. The portions are, well, let's just say they are hearty.
16. Clifton Hill's Frankenstein House
Part restaurant and part haunted house, Frankenstein's in Niagara Falls takes the kitschiness of the area and amplifies it to Frankenstein proportions. Imagine dining near animatronic monsters, fake lab equipment, and lightning bolts. It's an experience.
17. Beetle house
Tim Burton fans need to head to New York and enjoy a meal at the Beetle House. It's gothic kitsch with quirky props and themed cocktails. This restaurant is an immersive tribute to one of Hollywood's most distinct directors.
18. The Moonlite BunnyRanch Diner
Attached to a brothel, this diner is all about tongue-in-cheek kitsch. The cheeky memorabilia and suggestive menu make for a unique and fun dining experience in Carson City, Nevada.
19. The Polynesian Cultural Center Luau
Located in Oahu, Hawaii, this dinner-and-show experience caters to its tourists' love of kitsch. The energy is infectious thanks to the long communal tables and the roast pig on the menu.
20. Psycho Suzi's Motor Lounge
Psycho Suzi's is a tiki bar diner that doesn't skimp on the camp. The bamboo furniture and velvet paintings create a memorable time for its guests. The outdoor patio is on the Mississippi River, making for a surreal and epic experience.
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