A Unique Experience: An Evening at the Dark Restaurant in Sofia

During my volunteering in Bulgaria, I had the opportunity to experience various exciting activities in my free time. One of the most extraordinary was visiting a so-called Dark Restaurant in Sofia – a restaurant where guests dine in complete darkness.
The concept of the Dark Restaurant is based on the idea of bringing guests closer to the world of darkness while simultaneously sharpening the senses in a completely new way. The entire evening was shaped by the idea that being in complete darkness not only focuses on taste but also on hearing, feeling, and smelling.

The Welcome and the Journey into Darkness

Upon our arrival, we were greeted by a friendly, blind waiter who guided us by the shoulders into the pitch-black room and to our table. It was fascinating to see how effortlessly he navigated in the dark.
In the darkness, it was impossible to tell how many other guests were in the room. However, I had the feeling there were at least five other tables.
Despite the constant conversations around us, there was a sense of privacy.

Exploring the Environment with Our Hands

Once we sat down, we began to familiarize ourselves with our surroundings by touch. The table felt very soft due to the pleasant tablecloth. I felt the plate and the cloth napkin, which I placed on my lap. The waiter brought our drinks, and it felt surprisingly natural when he handed me the glass, even though I couldn’t see it.
In the dark, every movement and every action was a conscious decision. I made sure that the glass stood in a place on the table where it wouldn’t be knocked over. Navigating the objects and finding solutions in the darkness promoted a completely new sense of mindfulness and concentration.

The Meal: A Journey of Discovery with Our Hands

The first of five courses was served, and we had the choice of eating with cutlery or with our hands. To fully experience the intensity of the moment, I decided to eat everything with my fingers. It was fascinating to feel the different consistencies of the food – whether it was creamy sauces, soft mashed potatoes, crispy crackers, or fruits.
Simply relying on the tastes stored in my brain and feeling the different textures to figure out what we were eating proved to be a very interesting and fun experience. It was also amazing how accurately we guessed the right dish in most cases.

Perception of Darkness

It is impressive how differently people perceive this experience. Some feel uncomfortable, even needing to escape the oppressive feeling and leave the room, while others enjoy the freedom of not being seen. Personally, I found the darkness to feel surprisingly natural. My brain started to reconstruct the space with an “inner map,” which led to strange perceptions – I began to “see” walls and columns that, after talking to my companions, turned out to be non-existent.

The Creative Finale

At the end of the evening, we were given a sheet of paper and a pen to draw, creating a small memory of the experience. To this day, I don’t know if I accidentally painted on the table, but the resulting drawings were definitely amusing.

The Dark Restaurant in Sofia offers not only an extraordinary culinary experience but also a great opportunity to sharpen the senses and get to know each other in an entirely new way. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who is open to new impressions. It’s an experience that you won’t forget anytime soon.