A (Not) Boring World

I have spent a great deal of my life travelling partly due to my own obsession with the whole ordeal and due to my own parents' professions. I have noticed that over the years cafés, restaurants and many other establishments have expanded in rather unique ways in order to attract more customers.

London

In London for example I have seen restaurants partially turn themselves into temporary bakeries once a week (like Franco Manca in Chiswick) selling their own produce with the hopes that the same customers who buy their bread will also venture into the restaurant for a bite. Another example in London that I have seen is the way some restaurants will sell a variety of their dishes in various markets spread across London - the farmer's market in Lyric Square, Hammersmith every Thursday; the market in St. James square every Monday; Borough Market.

Japan

But the real game players are the Japanese. There they have really gone into attracting people in quite unique and novel ways.

Would you like a snake with that coffee of yours? 

In Japan it has become famously known and quite widespread that they have a multitude of 'cat cafés' where people are surrounded by a myriad of gracious felines as they drink their green tea. But now they even have establishments such as the one shown in the picture above where you can enjoy your afternoon surrounded by snakes, lizards, and all kinds of reptiles [I'm guessing that if you have herpetophobia (fear of reptiles) this place isn't for you]...

Spain

In Spain they have redefined ambience by simulating an earthquake at the Disaster Café...imagine it, you're drinking your lovely cocktail and all of a sudden you're interrupted by an array of flashing lights and shaking tables. 

Sort of makes the casual dinner at Signor Sassi's or wherever you look to go rather mellow compared to these eccentric eateries...