There’s something magical about dining where generations once gathered in prayer. These remarkable restaurants have breathed new life into sacred spaces, turning abandoned churches into thriving culinary destinations. From soaring cathedral ceilings to original stained-glass windows, these venues offer more than just a meal—they provide an experience that blends history, architecture, and gastronomy in ways that would make any food lover say hallelujah.
The transformation of churches into restaurants has become a growing trend worldwide, with entrepreneurs and chefs recognizing the unique potential these spaces offer. Here is a list of 19 historic churches that have found their second calling as extraordinary dining establishments.
John’s Pizzeria – New York City
Built in 1888 as the Gospel Tabernacle Church, this Manhattan landmark was converted into what claims to be America’s largest pizzeria in 1997. The stunning interior features the original stained glass ceiling, made up of eight equal sections, which reminded owner Madeline Castellotti of pizza slices.
Four coal-fired brick ovens now occupy the space where congregants once gathered to hear sermons from A.B. Simpson, founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance.
Vessel NOLA – New Orleans, Louisiana
This former Lutheran church, built in 1914, served the community until it was desanctified in 1977. The stunning space features dramatic beamed ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the dining room with natural light. Now it houses one of the most beautiful bars in New Orleans, complete with a large outdoor patio for al fresco drinking.
The New American menu includes creative dishes like Smoked Fish Dip and Wild Boar Ragu.
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Terrapin Restaurant – Rhinebeck, New York
Renowned for its locally-sourced cuisine and customizable burgers, Terrapin Restaurant is housed in the 1825 First Baptist Church. The space cleverly divides into two areas: a formal dining room where guests dine beneath cathedral ceilings, and the more casual Red Bistro bar area.
Chef Josh Kroner has earned recognition as one of the founding fathers of the Hudson Valley locavore movement, sourcing ingredients from nearby farms.
Oldestone – New Hope, Pennsylvania
This stunning 9,000-square-foot steakhouse occupies the 1872 Old Stone Church, formerly home to Marsha Brown’s restaurant for nearly 20 years. The renovation preserves original church pews and features a massive 30-foot mural by Russian artist Valeriy Belenikin.
The multi-level concept includes a main bar, grand dining room, and a third-floor speakeasy modeled after a 1920s jazz bar with live music performances.
5Church – Charleston, South Carolina
Built in 1916 as the Church of the Redeemer and believed to be non-denominational, 5Church was a ‘Mariners’ Church’ that provided support services and lodging to sailors. The restaurant opened in 2015, serving New American cuisine that includes signature dishes like the 5Church lamb burger and prime dry-aged New York strip steak.
The space maintains its spiritual ambiance while offering a sophisticated dining experience.
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Mercato Mayfair – London, England
This impressive food hall occupies the Grade I-listed St Mark’s Church, built in 1828 in the Greek Revival style, featuring soaring columns. The £5 million renovation transformed the forgotten space into a gorgeous food hall covering nearly 1,500 square meters over four floors.
The vaulted basement crypt houses a wine bar, while a craft beer bar operates around the former altar area. During World War II, this was known as the ‘American church’ due to its proximity to the former US embassy.
The Church Brew Works – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
This stunning space houses vaulted ceilings, high arches, and stained-glass in a former Roman Catholic Church originally constructed in 1902. The brewery opened in 1996 after extensive renovations, featuring cleverly themed beer names like Pipe Organ Pale Ale and Pious Monk Dunkel.
The brewery serves lunch and dinner with dishes like pierogies, ribs, and chicken jambalaya, making it a true neighborhood gathering place.
Freemason Abbey – Norfolk, Virginia
Originally Norfolk’s 1873 Second Presbyterian Church, this building served various congregations before becoming a restaurant in 1988. The renovation exposed original wooden cathedral roof trusses when two false ceilings were removed.
The restaurant has grown into a beloved local landmark, serving New American cuisine in a space that honors both its religious heritage and culinary future.
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Foxtail On The Lake – Des Plaines, Illinois
The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Lake Opeka was a cornerstone of the Des Plaines community for over 70 years before closing. Local businessman David Villegas, who grew up riding his bike past the church, couldn’t bear to see it demolished.
He partnered with restaurateur Tim Canning and Chef Maya Nahouli to create this modern Mediterranean restaurant serving brick chicken, beef shawarma, and paella in the 15,000-square-foot space.
Murray’s – Tivoli, New York
Built in this charming Upstate New York village in 1892 as a Methodist church, this building was transformed into a restaurant in 2015. Murray’s specializes in classic comfort dishes for breakfast and lunch, with plenty of vegan and gluten-free options.
Customer favorites include carrot bread, kale and eggs, and black quinoa with roasted vegetables, all served in the beautifully preserved historic space.
Our Daily Bread Restaurant – Veneta, Oregon
This former Pentecostal Church was moved piece by piece to its current location around 1945, though its original construction date remains unknown. Initially converted from a church into a bakery in 1997, it was later transformed into Our Daily Bread restaurant in 2006.
The house specialty, chicken borscht soup, is thick and delicious, served with freshly baked rolls, and the sandwiches are famously huge portions.
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The Baptist – London, England
Housed inside a deliciously decorated Edwardian chapel, The Baptist restaurant is surely one of the most glamorous converted chapel buildings around. Tony Fleming, one of the UK’s most exciting culinary stars, heads up the kitchen where food comes sizzling off the super-heated charcoal grill.
The restaurant has a fitting name and provides an intriguing dining experience in this beautifully preserved religious space.
Café in the Crypt – London, England
Located in the stunning crypt of St Martin-in-the-Fields at the edge of Trafalgar Square, this popular café has been a favorite of tourists and locals alike for 30 years. Original brick-vaulted ceilings and historic tombstones lining the floor provide the atmospheric backdrop for a daily changing menu of freshly prepared, sustainably sourced food.
The venue also transforms into an atmospheric music and cabaret venue for Crypt Lates events.
Church & Union – Charleston, South Carolina
The light streaming through massive stained-glass windows transforms happy hour at this bar into something close to ecstasy. While the name originates from the intersection in Charlotte, North Carolina, where its sister location is situated, the Charleston outpost benefits from being housed in an actual church.
The venue offers a unique drinking experience where architecture and libations blend harmoniously.
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Taft’s Ale House – Cincinnati, Ohio
St. Paul’s Evangelical Church was built in 1850 during the Queen City’s brewing boom, and starting with its rehabilitation in 2014, finally ascended to its calling as part of Taft Brewing Co.’s constellation of venues. The former church retains its medieval-style chandelier and numerous wood and brick details.
The space serves as both brewery and restaurant, with the brewing tradition feeling perfectly at home in this historic religious setting.
Beans in the Belfry – Brunswick, Maryland
Located in a circa 1910 church with intact original stained-glass windows, Beans in the Belfry offers coffee and a full café-style menu, as well as beer and wine, seven days a week. Comfortable couches and chairs invite visitors to stay and enjoy the eclectic art lining the green walls.
When the downstairs fills up, patrons can find additional seating in the choir loft, and the venue hosts a Sunday jazz brunch with rotating local performers.
The Preacher’s Son – Arkansas
Named after chef Cooper, who is the son of the preacher who used to preach in the church across the road from the restaurant, The Preacher’s Son is housed in a former chapel. The building is light, airy, and spacious, offering a bright, welcoming ambiance.
Modern accenting of key features includes a bell tower filled with 288 five-inch gold bells and stunning window artistry combining clear glass with beautifully crafted nature scenes.
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Jane Antwerp – Belgium
Perhaps the defining characteristic of Jane Antwerp is how the spirituality of the former church has been retained, building on the concept that beautifully prepared food demands respect and dignity. The interior has been designed to retain many original features of the former chapel.
The apse of the chapel has been fronted with clear glass and now houses the kitchen, allowing diners to watch chefs work their culinary magic.
Grace Restaurant – Portland
Formerly the Chestnut Street Church, today the building is a thriving restaurant whose interior retains many original features, including the mezzanine gallery, exposed beams, extensive windows, and high vaulted ceilings. The concept behind Paul Lewin’s interior design was to make a contemporary statement using the original building materials and features as much as possible.
Warm woods, mirrors, and carefully placed lighting create an intimate atmosphere perfect for quality dining.
Where Sacred Meets Savory
These remarkable transformations represent more than just adaptive reuse of beautiful buildings. They embody a new chapter in the ongoing story of community gathering spaces, where the communion of shared meals replaces traditional worship.
Each restaurant honors its ecclesiastical past while embracing a delicious future, proving that sometimes the most heavenly experiences happen when history and hospitality come together under one consecrated roof.
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