Written by Brittany Kleinman: The world is an exploration of sensations, but not everyone has the ability to experience the full picture. Ask yourself if sight, the dominant sense, suddenly disappeared would that awaken an unbelievable world of touch, taste and smells? Plagued by curiosity, over 100,000 people have turned to a London restaurant for a truly eye opening culinary event. Dans le Noir? is a unique human and sensory experience of a dinner in the pitch dark. Centered around three main concepts, sense, truth and empathy, Dans le Noir? allows you to completely re-evaluate the notion of taste. Click Read More for additional information.

Founded in Paris with the support of the Paul Guinot Foundation for the Blind, the restaurant has been breaking down cultural barriers for almost five years. Without sight, other senses are offered an opportunity to develop. Darkness leads to truthfulness about taste, and lets you face the realities of ingredients and cuisine. Dining in the total darkness represents a very unusual social experience. For the sighted individual, there are few times when you will have the chance to talk to people without any preconception from your eyes. The absence of visual judgment completely changes the way you act and react, both emotionally and socially.

In the dark room, you are lead and served by an entirely blind staff. More than just employees, your waiters become your guides in this unfamiliar environment. Before dinner starts, ordering is done from the lit bar where you have the option between one of four menus. It is suggested to arrive early so you may get a full understanding of the process. Once your table is ready, a waiter arrives in the front and asks all people in the party to stand in a line with their right hand on the shoulder in front of them.

During the procession into the dark room a magic switch between sighted and the blind occurs. For once, the only bearings you have are the ones you can feel, hear or smell. This reversal of roles implies a transfer of trust from the sighted person to the blind guide because without them we are just lost. At the table, the edge of your chair and the rim of the glass are merely the initial cues that lead you through an unforgettable meal. The experience of Dans Le Noir? shows that there is no darkness, but that of ignorance.

For an experience like no other, Dans Le Noir is located in the trendy area of Clerkenwell on 30-31 Clerkenwell Green, London. Booking is recommended one or two weeks prior to your event. Email your reservation here.

Dans Le Noir Website

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