This hotel in town launches 1st-ever Halal dine-in-the dark experience

“Huh? Dine in the dark? I rather buy a plate of chicken rice and blindfold myself to mimic the experience.” These were the exact words my colleagues uttered when I shared that I was heading to Halal-certified Hidden Table at Royal Plaza on Scotts.

This wasn’t my first time. A few years back, I had dined at Noir. Dining in the Dark in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam which now costs 860,000 VND, or around S$44 per pax.

Unlike Noir. and Singapore’s very own Nox – Dine in the Dark which hires visually impaired staff, Hidden Table has its crew put on night vision googles.

Operating from Thursdays to Saturdays, the restaurant has 2 dining sessions per day (6pm & 8pm) with a seating capacity of 24.

The food is brought to you by the culinary team behind Carousel restaurant, led by Executive Chef Darren Ong and supported by Chefs Dominic Chai, Rachel Lee, and Choo Eng Tat, who spent 4 months crafting the menu. The menu and theme will change every quarter.

To get there, take the lift at the hotel lobby beside the concierge and head up to Palm Café on Level 5. We relaxed and listened as a brief introduction was given, followed by a check on whether we had any underlying medical conditions.

An unassuming wooden box arrived, looking, to be honest, like something you’d bring along for a picnic session. But as soon as they opened it, the mystery and magic began, with smoke and a light purple glow spilling out.

We were presented with the enchanting Elixir of the Forgotten Dusk, a welcome mocktail drink, served with a cocktail nut mix.

Once ready, we were ushered into the dining room. Mobile phones and anything reflective, like watches and jewellery, were required to be stored in the lockers outside. You’re also advised to visit the washroom beforehand, as you’ll need to stay in the dining area for the full 1.5 hours — unless, of course, it’s an emergency.

With our hands on each other’s shoulders, we followed Ernest, our ‘silent guardian owl’, in single file into the unknown darkness towards our table. Soothing music and a light scent filled the air, making it feel like we were awaiting a spa session in Thailand.

Unlike Noir, which simply served the food, Hidden Table felt much more interactive. After each course, a narrated story complete with soothing sounds of crickets and birds was played, transporting us into a mysterious forest.

Our first challenge was pouring ourselves a glass of water without spilling or breaking anything. Thankfully, we managed! Soon after, a pair of red eyes coming from Ernest approached us, looking just like Star-Lord’s mask from Guardians of the Galaxy.

We were presented with the 4-course Dinner — The New World (starter), The Forest Awakening (first main), The Enchanted Woodland (second main), and The Undergrowth (dessert). In case you’re wondering about the food pictures — there aren’t any, because all I saw was pitch darkness.

Unlike Noir., where tables are placed closer together, Hidden Table offers more space, allowing for private conversations without feeling self-conscious. While Noir. serves each course systematically in sections, Hidden Table presents it as a normal dish, making it more challenging and fun to tackle with your cutlery.

At first, it felt impossible and rather frustrating. Gradually, our senses sharpened, as if our brains grew eyes, painting a virtual outline of each dish. We grew more confident, even managing a toast with our glasses!

Like inquisitive kids, we discussed each element in detail, even bringing our noses close to inhale the aroma, trying to guess what we were eating. Every dish had an interesting mix of textures and flavours.

To add to the humour, Ernest would point out if we’d missed a spot on the plate, leaving us frantically searching for the last bit — we had a good laugh!

After dinner, we were escorted back to Palm Café to fill out a survey and attempt to identify the 3 proteins being served. The best part? Guess all correctly, and you’ll win a staycation for 2 at Royal Plaza On Scotts with complimentary breakfast! (Spoiler alert – I did not).

You’ll also be shown images of the dishes and learn of what was served. Of course, I’ll leave them as a surprise. Overall, the experience was better than what I’d expected, and I highly encourage you to take advantage of their limited grand opening offer of S$78++ (U.P. S$98++).

To book, click here.

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