At Sound Travels, we’re always on the lookout for unique experiences that can inspire or entertain the crews, creatives, and production teams we support and our recent visit to Dans le Noir ? at the Grand Millennium Auckland delivered just that. While we didn’t stay overnight at the hotel, we did spend an unforgettable evening immersed in one of the city’s most unconventional dining adventures: Dining in the Dark.
What is Dining in the Dark?
Located inside the Grand Millennium Auckland, Dans le Noir ? is part of a global network of sensory dining restaurants where guests eat in total darkness, served by blind or low-vision waitstaff. The idea is simple yet powerful: remove your sense of sight, and every other sense kicks into high gear.
What followed was an evening full of laughter, surprise, and a little chaos, as our team navigated multi-course fine dining with no visual cues at all. Forks missed mouths, cutlery was abandoned in favour of fingers, and guessing the ingredients in each mystery dish became a full-blown team game.
Our Team’s Hilarious Experience
From the moment we were led into the pitch-black dining room—guided only by the calming voices of our waitstaff—it was clear this would be no ordinary dinner. We relied on our hands, noses, taste buds, and each other to make sense of what was happening on our plates (and sometimes on the tablecloth).
The evening sparked:
- Tears of laughter as someone mistook beetroot for chocolate,
- Camaraderie as we tried to describe flavours to each other,
- And a real appreciation for how much we rely on sight in social settings.
Best of all, the experience made for brilliant team bonding—a shared story we’ve retold countless times already.
About the Venue: Grand Millennium Auckland
While we didn’t stay at the Grand Millennium, it’s worth noting the hotel is one of Auckland’s largest, with:
- Over 450 rooms,
- A massive central atrium,
- Multiple restaurants and bars,
- And extensive event spaces that can accommodate large production teams, conferences, or touring crews—a good one to keep in mind for future productions in Auckland.
Click here to view a 360 tour of the hotel.
Why We Recommend It
If you’re looking for something fun, original, and a little bit offbeat to entertain clients or boost team morale, Dining in the Dark at Grand Millennium Auckland is a must-do. It’s especially great for:
- Team-building after a long production run,
- Creative inspiration in a multisensory format,
- Or simply sharing a whole lot of laughs over an excellent meal (even if you can’t see it).