I tried “Dining in the Dark.” Here’s how it went.

Adventure is when you don’t know what will happen in the next five minutes.

The Dining in the Dark Experience is a true adventurer’s dream. I traveled through a 3-course meal and gave up one sense (eyesight) to elevate my other senses.

From a perspective shift, to wonder and connection, this event transformed me and my tastebuds.

The blackout restaurant I went to was in San Diego and hosted by Fever. But the same experience is offered in over 80 cities around the world. You can also find similar dark dining events hosted by other companies too. 

Fever isn’t the originator of dark dining. In 18th-century France, aristocrats held blindfolded dinner parties. 

The first modern dark restaurant was called Blindekuh (“Blind Cow”). It opened in 1999 in Zurich, Switzerland, by Jorge Spielmann, who was blind. Waitstaff and diners experience darkness together, to bring more understanding to the blind. 

I couldn’t wait to try a similar blindfold dining event. My ticket was $112 with online fees before gratuity. Drinks were not included. With the 3 courses of food served, I felt it was common for something similar in California. 

Dining in the dark lasted around 1.5-2 hours. The dining options included a choice between meat, seafood, or vegan. They all consisted of seasonal ingredients, and you could have accommodations for any dietary restrictions or allergies.

I had no idea what exactly I’d eat, but I had a feeling the pricey ticket meant that it wouldn’t be gross prank food. 

My friend and I chose meat. We ate tomato soup, bread rolls, spring salad, steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, and macarons. I’d give the French and Italian fusion fare a solid 3.8.

I had no idea what to expect. But I went in with an open mind and surrendered to the moment.

Here’s What to Know Before You Go

You will get messy

The waitress told me when she was placing down our food or drinks. I had to dance my fingers around the table to find the lip of the glass. I grabbed it and slowly brought it towards my face while spilling a bit. Also, silverware was optional, and getting creative was encouraged.

You must give up control

I don’t recommend this event for folks with a fear of the dark or strict dietary concerns. I also bet travelers who panic in closed spaces and do not know what they are given to eat will hate this event. Those who have a hard time giving up complete control – steer clear.

Trade comfort for adventure

The waitress instructed my friend and I to wear the eyemask the entire time. The eyemask was pretty flat to the face and I was wearing thick mascara so a tad itchy. In the future, I’d love a mask with deep eye sockets for added comfort. 

Dark is subjective

The room was beautifully dark and dimly lit with just a few tiny candles on each table. I imagined it would be pitch black so I was surprised, and a bit disappointed, to see a tiny bit of light. 

It’s a digital detox experience

An event like this forces you to be in the moment, without your phone. Enjoying this type of event and capturing it simultaneously can’t truly be done without missing something.

Our waitress said to leave our phones unlocked (on caffeine mode) on the table and she would take videos and photos for us. 

A very romantic outing (for friends too)

It was quite funny that one of my best girlfriends and I decided to do this together. We desired to experience the novelty this event could offer, regardless of how romantic the elevated gastronomy seemed. We weren’t waiting for men to enter our lives. 

As we laughed and fed each other green beans, I did think to myself, wow this would be such a fantastic date night idea, or better yet, a singles event!

Coach your waitstaff

I wish our waitress didn’t ruin the surprises. For example, she told us our appetizer was inside an edible cup or informed me right when she placed food items on the table. I’d prefer to figure it out myself. I’d tell your waitstaff how little or how much surprise you want if you like to go all-in like me. 

3 Key Takeaways

Perspective and Gratitude

Dining in the dark felt like a game—both experiential and exhilarating!

The dinner reminded me how blessed I am to come from a place of absolute luxury. For blind people, this is no game, but daily life. 

This event also changed my perspective on the disabled. They are so skilled in navigating the world without sight—something we can all learn from. 

At the end of dining in the dark, I was able to chat with the voice behind our audio guide, Alice. She mentioned this is one of her favorite work events because it forces attendees to reach outside their comfort zone and she gets to be a part of that!

Dining in the dark is an opportunity to challenge your taste buds, socially recognized table manners, and your mindset.

Immersive Benefits

The audio guide for the night did a great job of making the event very interactive. She quizzed the crowd through a microphone on what we all thought we ate after every course.

Immersive experiences like this, where you can feel awe and wonder, can benefit your health and vitality. There is a lot of emerging research in neuroscience that proves this. 

That is exactly the feeling I had after dining in the dark and it’s similar to what I felt at another immersive experience, Meow Wolf. Even darkness retreats are becoming popular. In 2024, darkness can truly be a great reset. 

Connection

Sharing this dining experience with strangers was a special moment to cherish together. I would also recommend booking a private Dining in the Dark event for company team bonding, a family reunion, or singles’ speed dating.

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To my fellow novelty travel seekers looking to taste the full spectrum of life, I can’t wait for you to try dining in the dark in a city near you! 

Let me know in the comments how it went for you. Did you have a similar experience? How was it different for you? Did it change your perspective or mindset? What did you learn or unlearn?