When you think of a pub, you probably picture a cozy street corner or a bustling city block. But the reality is far more adventurous—there are 10 pubs located in some of the most astonishing places on the planet. From washing machines to the icy wastes of Antarctica, these drinking spots prove that a good pint can be enjoyed virtually anywhere.
10 pubs located in Unexpected Spots
10 Wasbar: A Bar in a Laundromat
Wasbar is a Belgian franchise that cleverly merges a laundromat with a full‑service bar and restaurant. It caters to anyone who despises the idle wait while their clothes spin, offering a place to snack, sip, and socialize while the machines hum. Each washer costs €6 (about $6.50) per cycle, while dryers run at €3 (roughly $3.25).
The menu spans breakfast, lunch, and dinner, featuring pancakes, bagels, salads, and more. Drink options range from coffee and fresh juices to beer and crafted cocktails. The Ghent location also houses a hair salon, letting patrons wash, style, and enjoy a cocktail all under one roof.
9 Floating Bar and Restaurant Lamu: A Bar in the Indian Ocean
While floating pubs on boats are fairly common, a fully‑stationary floating building is a rarity. The Floating Bar and Restaurant Lamu drifts between Kenya’s Lamu Island and Manda Island, perched on a platform that rides atop 200 pressurised barrels. Its modest structures have proper walls and roofs, giving the feel of a conventional bar despite the gentle sway.
Alcohol isn’t a staple of the local Muslim community, yet tourists seeking a drink can hop aboard. Owner Frida Njogu loves meeting people from all walks of life each day. With no electricity on board, drinks are kept cool in ice‑filled coolers, and the menu boasts an abundance of fresh seafood.
8 Cahoots: A Bar in an Underground Air Raid Shelter
During the bombings of WWI and WWII, Londoners found refuge in the underground tube network. In 2015, one of those disused shelters—Kingly Court Underground Station—was transformed into Cahoots, a 1940s‑themed speakeasy. The venue comprises three distinct spaces, the star of which is the “Underground,” a subterranean area complete with a life‑size tube carriage.
Patrons can order era‑inspired concoctions like “Dig for Victory,” “Uncle Sam’s Snack Box,” and “Keep Marm and Carry On.” For a deeper dive into the period, every Saturday hosts the Black Market Knees‑Up, featuring rations, live entertainment, games, and a quiz alongside the drinks.
7 Alux Restaurant & Lounge: A Bar in a Cave
Alux Restaurant & Lounge in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, takes the underground bar concept to the next level by being built inside a natural cave adorned with stalactites and stalagmites. The dim, moody ambience is brightened by vivid pink, green, and blue lighting that accentuates the rock formations.
The venue isn’t limited to a single cavern; it also offers private “VIP Vault” caves for those craving a more intimate setting. Diners should keep an eye out for the resident bats, which occasionally swoop down and cause a bit of mischief with meals and drinks.
6 The Fenn Bell Inn: A Zoo Pub
The Fenn Bell Inn in Kent, England, doubles as a pub and a fully‑licensed zoo. Owners Andy and Kelly Cowell acquired the establishment in 2014 and soon filled the adjoining land with rescued animals. “We took in pets people didn’t want, and we got visitors coming around to see them all,” Andy explained to The Mirror.
Starting with two pigs named Ginger and Spice, the couple expanded the menagerie and secured a zoo licence in 2017, allowing them to legally keep any animal they can care for. While elephants and giraffes are out of reach due to space constraints, the inn is home to parrots, monkeys, lemurs, meerkats, and more. The pub’s profits help cover animal upkeep, but strict safety rules mean patrons can’t simultaneously hold a pint and pet a lemur.
5 The William Creek Hotel: A Pub in the Australian Outback
The Australian Outback is famed for its vast, arid stretches and sparse population. Yet scattered across this desert are isolated pubs that serve as crucial waypoints for travelers needing water, food, and fuel. One such oasis is the William Creek Hotel Bar, perched on the Oodnadatta Track near Lake Eyre.
Owner Trevor Wright notes, “For up to 400 k’s [roughly 250 miles] around this place, this is considered the local.” Other remote outposts include the Birdsville Hotel on the Simpson Desert Racing Carnival Trail and the Mt. Dare Hotel on the western edge of the Simpson Desert. If you ever find yourself baking under the Outback sun, a cold pint is never more than a few hundred miles away.
4 The Yeoman Warders Club: The Exclusive Pub in the Tower of London
While many elite bars cater to celebrities and high‑rollers, the Yeoman Warders Club—also known as The Keys—is reserved for a very specific crowd. Nestled inside the Tower of London, this private pub serves only the Tower’s ceremonial guards, the Yeoman Warders (or Beefeaters), and their invited guests.
To become a Yeoman Warder, one must have served at least 22 years in the armed forces—army, navy, marines, or air force—and earned a medal for good conduct. Those without the credentials can still enjoy a drink by tagging along with a Beefeater. The bar showcases Yeoman Warder uniforms and offers a few exclusive beers on tap, but otherwise functions like any classic English pub.
3 El Avión Restaurant and Bar: A Bar in a Grounded Airplane
The centerpiece of El Avión Restaurant and Bar in Costa Rica is a Fairchild C‑123 Provider cargo plane with a colorful past. Bought by the CIA during the 1980s Iran‑Contra scandal, the aircraft was abandoned after its sister plane was shot down. The plane lingered at San José Mineta International Airport until 2000, when the owners of El Avión purchased and relocated it to Puntarenas Province.
A canopy now shelters the aircraft, allowing diners to enjoy meals and ocean views while the plane’s fuselage houses a fully stocked bar. Guests can sip margaritas, beers, cocktails, and wine, and even sit in the cockpit for a truly unforgettable experience.
2 Faraday Bar: A Bar in the Antarctic
Antarctica isn’t known for nightlife, yet the Vernadsky Research Base on Galindez Island hosts the Faraday Bar. Built by carpenter Keith “Cat” Larratt for British researchers, the bar was meant “to bring laughter and a feeling of warmth to what was the most miserable and unloved base in the Antarctic.”
When the British withdrew in 1996, Ukrainian scientists took over, purchasing the bar for a symbolic £1 (about $1.25). There’s no dedicated bartender; staff members rotate shifts behind the counter. Because supply ships arrive only once a year, the crew distils their own vodka, making Faraday not only one of the world’s most remote pubs but also a remote distillery.
1 Neptune Bar: A Bar on an Unpopulated Island
Pulau Sikeling, an uninhabited Indonesian island, would normally be devoid of any amenities—until the annual Neptune Regatta arrives each Chinese New Year. Hundreds of sailors converge on the island, bringing everything they need: beer, rum, ice, cups, and food.
For a few days, a rundown shack transforms into the Neptune Bar, a lively spot where competitors and guests mingle over drinks. The island’s only other structures are basic kitchen facilities and a handful of huts for sleeping. To enjoy a tipple here, you must either race in the regatta or charter a boat to the remote shore.