Dans Le Noir has been on my bucket list for the past two years. This week, I finally had the chance to experience one of the world’s most original dining concepts. I can’t wait to tell you all about it! I love seeking out dining concepts and immersive experiences that catapult you into a new way of dining, and Dans Le Noir certainly ticked all the boxes, making it an unforgettable night.

I wanted to visit this restaurant because I was eager to try something new, and dining in complete darkness was something I’d never attempted before. The concept intrigued me, so I had to discover for myself what it would be like!

The first thing I usually do when my meal arrives in a restaurant is to take photos of it. However, there were no opportunities for that here. Instead, I had to strip back my usual dining habits and focus on living in the present moment, which was highly refreshing.

Not only that, but all the waiters serving us were blind. Knowing this made me reflect on how much I take my eyesight for granted. Spending the evening dining without my sight opened my eyes to how challenging everyday tasks can be without one of your senses. I loved the fact that the roles felt reversed: I was putting my trust in the waiter, relying on him to guide me through the restaurant. As uncomfortable as that felt at times, it gave me great respect and admiration for the visually impaired. Not only has it opened my eyes—excuse the pun—to how challenging everyday life can be without one of your senses, but it made me feel more gratitude for something I would usually take for granted.

Without giving too much away, you get to choose from three mystery menus: meat, fish, or vegetarian. So not only are you eating in the dark, but the menu is a total surprise! Having to guess what food you’re eating made the whole evening so much fun. Once you’ve finished your three or five courses, you go into a room where your menu is revealed. Without revealing too much—as I would hate to spoil the surprise—I was amazed to realise that I had guessed almost every dish wrong!

I found this a lot harder than I imagined. When I asked the waiter for some water, he told me it was on the table already and that I had to pour it myself. Straight away, I thought, ‘Can I do that without it overflowing onto the table?’ which then made me laugh nervously. Of course, I used my fingers in the glass as a guide, although that idea didn’t come to mind immediately. As well as that, when it came to using my cutlery, I had full intention of being sophisticated. Yet after 10 minutes of missing my mouth with the fork, I opted for using my fingers instead. It was very messy, but it was worth it if I wanted to eat my dinner whilst it was still hot!

I feel this kind of dining would make a memorable date night because there’s nothing more romantic than dining in the dark with no visual distractions—it’s just you, your date, and your dinner. Conversations seem much more meaningful because you have to listen intently to one another. Experiencing something for the first time also creates an intimate moment that you can bond over afterwards with drinks. I think it’s a restaurant you need to add to your bucket list, so make sure you get yourself booked in!

Contact Details

A: 69-73 St John Street, EC1M 4AN London
T: +44 (0) 20 7253 1100
E: Contact
W: Dans Le Noir

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Written by Danielle Tobin for Luxuria Lifestyle London and International