TEMPORARILY CLOSED
The restaurant is currently closed until further notice. The sale of gift vouchers is also suspended for the moment. We hope to welcome you soon stay tuned!
TEMPORARILY CLOSED
The restaurant is currently closed until further notice. The sale of gift vouchers is also suspended for the moment. We hope to welcome you soon stay tuned!
TEMPORARILY CLOSED
The restaurant is currently closed until further notice. The sale of gift vouchers is also suspended for the moment. We hope to welcome you soon stay tuned!
The Dans Le Noir? restaurants
Since 2004, Dans le Noir? restaurant offers all over the world the opportunity to taste gourmet, creative and seasonal cuisine in complete darkness, accompanied and served by unexpected guides. Dinner or lunch in pitch darkness is an original experience that allows us to re-evaluate our perception of taste while reclaiming our senses, to reinvigorate our relationship with the world and others and to experience a surprising encounter with something different.
Dans le Noir ? Auckland, in partnership with Rydges Hotel was proud to be in March 2017 the first dining in the dark restaurant in the Pacific!
Regularly ranked among the 10 most original restaurants in the world, Dans le Noir? is a unique venue where we care about our social and environmental responsibility.
Dans le Noir ? Auckland was among the finalists for the 2018 Attitude Awards (Diversability category) & 2018 Attitude Awards (Attitude ACC employer award). Dans le Noir ? & Rydges Auckland carry the social and human values of the city.
Luis Milla’s gastronomic and creative cuisine is based on the selection of high quality ingredients, especially fresh fruit and vegetable. All our menus are tested and improved through tastings by sensory experts in pitch darkness.
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Dans le Noir ? is an inclusive company that contributes to the employment of people with vision impariment, representing 50% of its employees worldwide. For more than 16 years, the social and innovative enterprise has developed, first in France and then internationally to challenge the senses of its guests with tasting and dining experiences in complete darkness, to promote diversity but also to encourage human encounters!
Visit our online shop: https://auckland.danslenoir.com/shop
🖤Thanks for your suppport, take care 🖤
PS: We will be able to extend the validity periods of gift vouchers if your voucher expires during the closing period.
Follow us on social media to be the first to know our re opening date :
FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/DansLeNoirAKL
INSTAGRAM : https://www.instagram.com/danslenoirgroup
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Dear Guests & Friends,
As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads, Dans le Noir ? Auckland at Rydges is now closed until further notice. The safety of our team members and our customers is our priority. If you have a reservation in the coming month, our team will be in touch by email. We will be sharing the date of reopening as soon as we know it, so let's stay connected and visit our website and Facebook page.
Our terms & conditions are adapted to this exceptional situation:
- We will be able to extend the validity period of gift vouchers if your voucher expires during the closing time.
We are at your disposal for any questions regarding your reservation by email only : contact us.We would like to thank you for your interest in our experiences and for your support. We can’t wait to welcome you again after this difficult period, to make you live happy moments thanks to our unique experiences. Our e-shop remains open if you want to spoil your loved ones with our electronic gift vouchers with 3 years validity (celebration, birthday …) This will also contribute to support our team.
We encourage our friends everywhere to take the extra precautions necessary to safeguard their health and protect others. For more information about Covid-19, we invite you to consult the official website of the NZ government here.
In the meantime take care of yourself and your loved ones.
See you soon - Dans le Noir ? Auckland Team
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At the occasion of International Women Day we want to introduce you during the whole week Dans le Noir ? guides from all over the world. Women living in differents countries but who are sharing the same daily life. Women who have made their disability a strength and who highly inspired our concept. his is why this week we put on the spotlight thoses who guide you in the dark.
For me it means being able to live independently and set goals. It also provides me with the opportunity to advocate for others in the blindness community and by doing this I hope to make things better for us. Unemployment in our community is high and I want to make employers aware of the fact that blind and vision impaired women are and can be valued employees.
There are two women I find inspiring. Firstly Helen Keller. As a Deaf / Blind Woman the expectations of her abilities were underestimated. Being able to travel and spread a strong message that no matter how bad things are you can have a fulfilled life. The second is my Mum. Without her strength and determination I would not be the active independent woman I am today. She believed in me and expected the same from me whether I was blind or not. She is an awesome lady.
“Determined”. I set goals and challenges for myself and I follow through.
Find more portraits of Dans le Noir ? guides on our LinkedIn page!
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When one hears the words, “Dining in the Dark” they conjure up images of food stains on clothing and spilt beverages. Shortly after, they frequently asked questions. How do I navigate in the dark? How do I eat in the dark? How will I know what I’m eating? Some will see this as an opportunity for a bit of fun; a challenge to test their senses against those of their partner, friends and family. It will give you an understanding of challenges that the visually impaired face and you will be left with a greater appreciation of the things that sighted people take for granted.
The initial thought of entering our darkened restaurant will have some believing that their eyes will adjust and that eventually they will be able to see a faint layout of the restaurant. For some, the initial reaction to being placed in a pitch-black environment is disorientating. At this stage, a simple explanation of the immense size and lay out of the restaurant is enough to put them at ease and they will re-enter.
For all the misconceptions, dining in the dark is a unique opportunity. It requires all guests to abandon, if only for a couple hours, their sense of sight. In doing so, you are forced to rely completely on the guidance of our blind wait staff and your remaining senses. It’s only when we lose our sense of sight that we realize how important our other senses are in working out the puzzle that is Dining in the Dark.
Life is about experiences: so try this unique restaurant in Auckland
You’ve been eating with the lights on your entire life. But what would happen if you removed one of the key steps in the eating process? How successfully could you adjust your eating habits if you couldn’t see? Dans le Noir? Challenges you to step out of your comfort zone to test yourself in a situation where being deprived of sight is just the beginning.
It is said that we eat with our eyes and I for one would agree. In the dark however, every food item and every beverage is a complete surprise. Smell and taste now become your primary senses. It’s worth remembering; if one's sense of smell is not functional, then their sense of taste will also not function due to the relationship between the taste and smell receptors.
During the menu creation process, we place a lot of emphasis on creating menus that challenge your senses. Food texture challenges your sense of touch and forces you to try and identify the food on your plate by its shape and feel. Using your hands is a great way to explore your plate; in fact, we encourage you to use your fingers from time to time as not only will this help you to identify food items, it will also ensure you don’t leave anything behind.
When you book at Dans le Noir? Auckland, you’ll receive a confirmation e-mail, part of which explains that you will be sharing a table with other guests. The reason for this is because the restaurant has a specific floor plan that has remained unchanged since we first opened in March 2017. This layout serves two purposes. Firstly, when you come to realise that your guides are completely blind, you’ll understand then that they need to be familiar with the layout of the restaurant. As they are responsible for guiding up to 12 people at a time in the darkness, providing a safe route for guests to and from their designated tables is paramount.
Secondly, sitting with a group of strangers encourages social behaviour. Any preconceptions that can be formed based on people’s appearances are left at the door of the restaurant. Inhibitions are often lowered in the dark which in turn can boost one’s confidence. When you know that your appearance, body language and facial expressions are completely hidden, even the shyest person in a group will become involved in table conversations.
In the time that we have been in operation, there have been numerous friendships formed through having met people for the first time in the dark. Guests who choose to continue their evening with new found friends at our lobby bar is a clear indicator that the social side of the experience was a success.
Customer satisfaction is something that most restaurants strive to attain. At Dans le Noir? employee satisfaction is equally important. When you have a visual impairment, employment opportunities are scarce. The Dans le Noir? brand has created employment for blind guides across 8 properties globally. For many, the chance to enter the workforce only became a reality when they began their roles at Dans le Noir.
Dans le Noir? Auckland was initially set up in 2017 as a “pop-up” venture destined to exist for only a few months. Thanks to the continued curiosity of the general public and great word of mouth referrals, we are about to enter our fourth year of operation. Perhaps the greatest achievement that we can attribute to this venture is the fact that our guides have all gained meaningful roles and responsibilities as Dans le Noir? hosts. We credit these employees for the ongoing success of Dans le Noir? Auckland.
Part of our ongoing popularity has come from various corporate groups and organisations who view the Dans le Noir? experience as an opportunity to create a unique team building activity. From global corporate entities to high profile sports teams, we have created private and bespoke events that have helped to achieve great team building goals and initiatives.
For more information about Dans le Noir? Auckland and our sister properties feel free to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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The great New Zealand rugby team step out from its comfort zone last February for a quite different training using experiential learning.
The Blues rugby team met our super heroes and Tamati and Parveen could not have been more delighted! They love rugby and are succeeding in blind sport. Passing the rugby ball was a piece of cake.
Random seating, braille tags, surprise menus, surprise drinks: our rugby player also needed to stay healthy. We designed a special 3 course surprise menu served with 3 surprise juices for our players.
Being hosted by blind waiters, in a pitch dark environment, Dans le Noir? suited perfectly the program run for The Blues Rugby team to assist players to extend their knowledge and skills, develops self-awareness and self-management, supports them to positively navigate the demands of the rugby environment and help them to advance their personal management, educational qualifications and career prospects.
Are you a trainer looking to support people to develop competencies and capabilities to succeed? Dans le Noir? could be your perfect team building tool! We organize taylor-made events, any time of the week.
Get in touch at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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Offer an unusual gift, offer a dinner at the Dans le Noir? restaurant in Auckland. To buy a gift voucher or gift box, visit our online shop. All you have to do is choose the best formula for you!
If you manage a team and want to reward your employees or motivate them, Dans le Noir? is the perfect gift, different and full of meaning! Contact our team for group purchases or for more information.
ONE OF THE MOST AWARD-WINNING RESTAURANT BRANDS IN THE WORLD
RYDGES AUCKLAND 59 FEDERAL STREET, AUCKLAND CBD, 1010