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The restaurant

A UNIQUE SENSORY AND
HUMAN EXPERIENCE IN PARIS

UNUSUAL RESTAURANT IN PARIS

DANS LE NOIR ? AN UNUSUAL RESTAURANT

Ranked as one of the 10 most unusual restaurants in the world, Dans le Noir ? offers you the chance to sample surprising and tasty dishes in a strong, original and inclusive setting. Plunged into total darkness and deprived of sight for the duration of a meal, you'll experience a moment of total disconnection and a tasting adventure that you won't soon forget... Re-evaluate your perception of taste, re-enchant your relationship with the world and with others, and enjoy a surprising encounter with difference.

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AN ORIGINAL VENUE IN THE HEART OF PARIS

In the Rue Quincampoix, between the Centre Beaubourg and the Halles district, Dans le Noir ? offers you a tasty meal accompanied by selected wines. This friendly and surprising gastronomic experience is a true sensory voyage! Firstly, thanks to the surprise menu put together by our chef, Yann Deslandes, using fresh ingredients, mainly organic and sourced locally. But it is also a surprising moment of conviviality that frees us from our preconceptions and social conventions.

THE DANS LE NOIR ? CONCEPT

A SENSORY JOURNEY

The delicious surprise menus created by our chef, Yann Deslandes is cooked with quality ingredients, 80% organic in the case of fruits and vegetables, accompanied by refined surprise wines. Flavours, aromas, textures, temperatures,... you are carried away by an original, essential and celebratory culinary experience where your uncertain senses are fully awakened. Focusing our attention on taste, losing the colour of a wine and instead smelling, touching, tasting... a range of sensations that stimulate your emotions.

OPEN MINDED CONVIVIALITY

Freed from the weight of people’s gazes, preconceptions and social conventions, communication becomes simpler, authentic and spontaneous. Completely reassess your relationship with others and the world and even start talking with people seated next to you, strangers you didn't know from before ! Discussions intermingle and then deepen, bonds are forged, the spirit opens... An opportunity to meet and reflect on the way we consume or on our relationship with others.

AN ENCOUNTER WITH DIVERSITY

Guided and served by a blind or partially sighted person, this unusual dining experience is a moment of positive empathy that breaks our preconceived ideas of disability. Driven by this reversal of roles, the experience allows us to perceive the richness of diversity. A good experience is often better than a long speech! All our guides and sensory experts have found strength in their differences.
Any questions? View our FAQ
Des menus surprises

SURPRISE MENUS WITHOUT UNPLEASANT SURPRISES

Dans le Noir ? offers a surprise menu, adapted to the atypical context of blind tasting, with great attention paid to the harmony of taste and authenticity of flavours. This seasonal menu can be adapted to suit individual allergies and dietary restrictions. Just let us know on the day of your visit when you place your order. Dans le Noir ? also offers vegetarian and vegan options. After that, it's up to you to discover the flavours, ingredients, grape varieties and terroirs...

A REWARDED AND RESPONSIBLE COOKING

For your dishes, we use fresh, seasonal products to guarantee maximum flavor. Our chefs' expertise lies in preparation, cooking and seasoning.

Dans le Noir ? is a member of the Collège Culinaire de France, and has won awards for the quality of its cuisine, including a toque from Gault&Millau and the title of Maître Restaurateur. At the same time, Ecotable, the French label for sustainable catering, recognized our eco-responsible actions with the highest distinctions, awarding us a level 3 label with a resto-score of A.

USING PRODUCTS THAT ARE GOOD FOR THE PLANET

Dans le Noir ? has put in place a circular economy strategy, using seasonal ingredients that are essentially organic and sourced locally. As a member of the Ethic Océan charter, our seafood is sourced responsibly. Our meat is farm-raised and 100% French. Our commitment to the associations Bon pour le Climat, Clef Verte and FiG illustrates our concrete and positive actions to change our eating habits and reduce our environmental impact.

A COMMITTED PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOCAL FARM

The Dans le Noir ? restaurant is a founding partner of “La Ferme de l'Envol”, a 55-hectare permaculture-inspired agro-ecological farm comprising 6 producers and located in Brétigny in the Essonne department. The values of this farm are to meet the needs of consumers while respecting their health and the environment, promote the work of farmers and offer them a remuneration that takes into account the sharing of climatic risks.

an original dinner DANS LE NOIR ?

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS

51, rue Quincampoix
75004 Paris
France

SOCIAL NETWORKS

  • Monday to Friday

    Dinner: from 7.00pm

  • Saturday & Sunday

    Lunch: from 12.30 pm
    Dinner: from 7.00 pm

  • NB
    Lunch on weekdays (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday are reserved for corporate groups with more than 20 guests).

OPENING TIMES

BOOK THE RESTAURANT

Accès

Bus

Les Halles – Centre Georges Pompidou
Ligne 38

Sebastopol – Etienne Marcel
Ligne 29

Châtelet
Lignes 67 / 69 / 70 / 76
Noctiliens

Les Halles – Centre Georges Pompidou
Lignes 47 / 12 / 13 /14 / 23

MÉTRO

R.E.R
Châtelet-les-Halles :
R.E.R A / B / D

METRO
Châtelet
1 / 11 / 14 / 4 / 7
Hôtel de ville
1 / 11
Rambuteau
11

Parking

Grenier Saint-Lazare
Vinci Park
24 Rue du Grenier Saint Lazare 75003 Paris
01 55 38 13 63

Saint Martin Rivoli
SAEMES
1 Rue Pernelle 75004 Paris
01 42 72 29 93

Parc Sébastopol
Vinci Park
37 Boulevard Sébastopol 75001 Paris
01 40 13 00 65

faqs

IS THE DINING ROOM REALLY COMPLETELY DARK?
Absolutely! Not a glimmer of light, and no candles! To keep the room completely dark, you will be asked to place all potential light sources such as lighters, mobile phones or cameras in the cloakroom provided free of charge. We will also ask you to deposit your coat and/or handbag and other bags or objects, to free yourself of any clutter, avoid losing something or creating a dangerous obstacle in the dark. Remember to put your watch in your pocket or in your locker if it’s valuable. Almost all watches are luminous.
HOW DO I ATTRACT MY GUIDE'S ATTENTION?
Simply by calling their first name. You will be introduced to your guide before entering the dark room. Don't just raise your hand because you might wait for a very long time!
HOW CAN YOU EAT IN COMPLETE DARKNESS? ISN'T IT MESSY? WON’T WE STAIN OUR CLOTHES?
When we are deprived of our main sense, sight, we tend to use our other senses more: hearing, touch and smell. Using them, we manage to eat in the dark, to find our cutlery, and so on... Even if at first the experience is intimidating, it becomes more and more enjoyable when you start to relax. Our blind guides are trained to ensure visitor well-being, they will give you all the advice you need. We recommend that you don’t wear valuable clothes to avoid any stress or accidents. The restaurant is not responsible for stains or accidents to your clothes. However, rest assured that we are much more cautious in the dark and instinctively move more slowly. As a result, incidents or stains are infrequent.
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHERE PEOPLE SIT IN THE RESTAURANT?
In our opinion, Dans le Noir ? is not just a sensory experience but also a convivial and human one. For more than 15 years, we have chosen to welcome our guests to large tables. Meeting people in pitch darkness is an interesting part of the experience. The context means that people can have discussions without prejudice and communication becomes more fluid, easy and authentic. If you come in a group, with your partner or a friend, you will be seated with the people who are with you. Other people you don't know will be next to you. The darkness will help you if you wish to overcome your shyness and enjoy this unique experience in a friendly atmosphere. It often happens that groups who first meet in the dark stay to chat over a cocktail or coffee after the experience. And who knows, maybe you’ll end up sitting next to a celebrity!
IS YOUR RESTAURANT ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?

Absolutely! We aim to provide a Dans le Noir? experience that is accessible to all. We have taken steps to ensure that people with reduced mobility (PRM) can fully enjoy all the experiences in the dark, lunches and dinners, sensory workshops, escape games. For each type of disability, arrangements are made to welcome visitors in the best conditions. If you have any special needs, please let us know when you make your reservation.

We are also equipped to welcome people with a hearing disability. A member of our team speaks sign language, and in his absence, our reception team is equipped with a slate to communicate in writing with deaf people. In the dark room, tactile coding is provided to facilitate communication with the servers. We would like to point out that the In the Dark? experience can be "extreme" for deaf people who lose most of their bearings without the support of sight.

For people with motor disabilities, our restaurant is equipped with a removable ramp to access the entrance, and there are no steps or stairs to access the tables in the dark room. Disabled toilets are located in the neighbouring establishment, the Espace Sensoriel Dans le Noir?, which is accessible at any time 50 meters away in the same street.

People with mental and visual disabilities are also welcome. We have ensured that our Dans le Noir? experiences are accessible and safe.

Guide dogs are welcome, but for safety reasons they will not be allowed access to the dark room and will be kept on a lead in our lighted areas while you enjoy the experience. As with all our visitors, our experienced waiters are on hand to accompany you throughout your meal.

WHY BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED WAITERS?
Even if we do not discriminate, blind or partially sighted people are naturally more effective in the dark. When the blind person guides the sighted person, this inversion is an astonishing exercise of empathy that forces us to make an unusual transfer of trust. It is an amazing approach to raising positive awareness of blindness and disability. Dans le Noir ? has an amazing ability to bring out capabilities and kindness beyond appearances and preconceptions.
HOW DO YOU MOVE IN COMPLETE DARKNESS?
Visitors are not allowed to move around the dark room alone, to go to the toilet or to leave by themselves. They could put other clients and waiters in danger. Guides need clear walkways to work around tables. If you want to move, make sure that your guide is told and is able to direct you and assist you.
HOW DO YOU PLACE YOUR ORDER? HOW CAN YOU SEE THE MENU?
The reception is responsible for taking orders in the illuminated reception area. But you can of course order additional drinks or dishes from your guide in the dark room whenever you want. Remember to tell us about any allergies and remind the guide when they bring your meal. All our menus are surprises. So you won't know what's in the different dishes. You must mention any allergies and dietary restrictions when ordering so that the surprise menu is adapted accordingly, as well as reminding your guide when they bring your meal.
ARE MANY OF YOUR VISITORS VISUALLY IMPAIRED?
Not particularly. It’s something they experience daily and concerns tens of thousands of people in the country. But those who have visited generally enjoy the experience because it’s a unique way to make their friends and family aware of their daily lives.
ARE THE CHEFS BLIND? IS THE KITCHEN ALSO IN THE DARK?
The chefs are not particularly visually impaired, even though we do not discriminate in the recruitment process. The kitchen is lit for obvious safety reasons and so that our chef and his team can work on flavours and dishes made with fresh and delicious ingredients. Everything is designed and organised to offer customers a delicious and unique culinary experience.
ARE THE TOILETS IN THE DARK?
That would probably be fun, but no! The toilets are lit! We strongly advise our guests to use them before the experience so that it isn’t interrupted. But it is of course possible to use them at any time. Simply call your guide by their first name and ask them to escort you to the illuminated area. Then you can go to the toilet and come back to continue your experience by asking the reception to call your guide to take you back to your place.
DO YOU OFTEN HAVE CUSTOMERS WHO CAN'T STAND THE DARKNESS?
Despite a surprising first impression, the vast majority of our visitors adapt almost instantly to the context of a dining room in complete darkness. Our guides know how to put you at ease and reassure you. It is an incredible experience, most people are fascinated by this very unusual and exciting moment that allows us to re-evaluate our senses and our relationship with others.
HOW DO YOU ENSURE OUR SAFETY?
Safety is our primary concern. Safety equipment is adapted to the premises. Lights are switched on automatically or at the request of any member of staff in the event of safety-related incidents. Emergency exits and safety equipment have been designed by us in conjunction with the authorities and are checked very regularly to ensure that they are still operational.
WHAT TYPE OF CUISINE DO YOU SERVE?
Our restaurant offers an innovative and eclectic gastronomic cuisine. Our chefs work particularly on the intensity of flavours and aromas, playing with textures and temperatures. The surprise menus are specially designed for this unconventional tasting context in order to offer our guests a real sensory journey. Naturally, all dishes are first tested in pitch darkness by our chefs and sensory experts.
WHAT DO YOU DO IF SOMEBODY HAS A SPECIAL DIET?
When you order, our reception staff will ask you if you have any special dietary requirements or allergies. If so, the chef will modify your menu accordingly. Please remind your guide of these allergies or restrictions when they bring your meal to the dark room to avoid any problems.
HOW LONG DO PEOPLE SPEND IN THE DARK ROOM?
Visitors spend about an hour and a half in the dark room. But this can vary from one group to another or from one sitting to the next.
WHAT ABOUT THE PRICES?
We have made every effort to keep our prices affordable, to make this experience accessible to all. The current price takes into account safety requirements, the fact that we employ more staff than other restaurants and a cuisine based on fresh products of organic quality. The additional cost of the experience is estimated at 14€ per person compared to a traditional restaurant with a similar menu. You can also dine at Dans le Noir? with a special menu for 14€ less than a meal in the dark.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS DO YOU EMPLOY?
We employ between 8 and 9 visually impaired or blind guides at the Paris restaurant. More than 30 people among our teams worldwide are vision impaired which is almost half of our staff. Other blind experts are also available to run our sensory space and its wine tasting sessions, for special events such as organising recruitment sessions, company events, official receptions, product launches, press events, sensory workshops, brainstorming or team building sessions, etc People with visual impairments don’t just work in the company as waiters. For example, the Deputy Director of our Group is blind. We also often employ consultants, experts or blind trainers on an ad hoc basis in France, the UK and Europe.
HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN YOU ACCOMMODATE?
There is a maximum of 58 covers in our dark dining room. But with more than one sitting, we can accommodate up to 116 people, or even 150 people per evening.
DO YOU HAVE ANY FUNNY ANECDOTES?
Some customers have admitted to licking their plates in order not to waste a single drop of melted chocolate! They were absolutely right! People who had met on an Internet dating site decided to have their first blind date in the dark room. It was only after their meal and over a drink in our brightly lit bar that they first saw each other's faces. We also hold various events in the dark such as concerts, reading sessions or debates. These events are always incredible, sometimes moving, leaving very good memories! In complete darkness, we are all equal. Whether you are unknown or a celebrity (princes in London, a Prime Minister in France, actors, musicians, athletes, etc.), you never know who is sitting next to you in the darkness!
CAN WE BRING OUR CHILDREN?
We welcome children over the age of 6 (they are often much more enthusiastic than adults!). We ask, of course, that they be accompanied and under the responsibility of an adult.
DO YOU NEED TO BOOK IN ADVANCE?

To dine at the restaurant in Paris, the easiest way is to book online using our booking service where availability is updated in real-time.

You can also book by phone at +33 (0)1 42 77 98 04.

For any question, do not hesitate to contact us via the form.

 

HOW CAN I GET INFORMATION ABOUT EVENTS?

Make live an unforgettable experience! Dans le Noir ? is an exceptional tool for human resources, communication and creativity ! Business or HR meals, team building, seminars, recruitment, product launches, disability awareness, sensory marketing or brainstorming ... so many reasons to organize a friendly and impactful event within our restaurant!

For all corporate or company group requests, contact our reservation service on +33 (0)1 42 77 98 04 or using the following form.

All information about our news and special corporate or general public events, is available on our blog and on our social networks.

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