Blackout Dining in the Dark Las Vegas: What to Expect

BLACKOUT Dining in the Dark is a seven-course, plant-based dinner served in a room with no light at all, off the Strip on South Valley View Boulevard. You can't see the plate, the table or the person across from you. Nothing glows. Servers move around the room in night-vision goggles. Nobody tells you what each course is until the meal is over, so every bite is a guess.

How a night at BLACKOUT works

It starts in a lit lobby. Phones and watches go into a locker, because even a watch face glows, and then staff lead the table into the dining room. The dark is total. BLACKOUT Dining in the Dark serves the seven courses one by one, and the servers in goggles set each plate down where your hands can find it. After the last course, back in the light, the menu you just ate is finally revealed.

BLACKOUT Dining in the Dark seven-course dinner in total darkness, Las Vegas

Where: 3871 South Valley View Boulevard, Suite 8, a short ride west of the center Strip. Length: about 90 minutes. Ages: 13 and up. Included: the seven-course dinner and a soft drink, with alcohol sold separately.

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What lands on the plate

The menu is plant-based and changes with the seasons, and that surprises meat eaters more than the dark does. Without sight, texture does most of the talking. A crunch arrives before a flavor does. Sauces seem stronger, and guessing what's in front of you becomes the table's main conversation. Most people get a few wrong.

Who it suits

Couples get the most out of it. With no phones and nothing to look at, the conversation and the food are all that's left, and that's the whole design. Adventurous eaters and anyone who has already seen the big Strip productions will like it too. It's a poor fit for anyone uneasy in total darkness, since nothing in the room lights up during the meal. That's the deal.

Getting there

BLACKOUT sits in a small commercial strip off Valley View, near the Rio, so it's a rideshare rather than a walk from Strip hotels. The ride is short. It pairs well with a late drink back on the boulevard. For more nights built around two people, see our guide to the most romantic things to do in Vegas, and for a full trip away from the tables, enjoying Vegas without gambling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Blackout Dining in the Dark vegan?

Yes. The menu is plant-based, so every course is vegan-friendly by default. Diners who eat meat rarely notice the difference in the dark, and many say it's the part of the night they least expected.

Can I bring my phone into Blackout?

No. Phones, smartwatches and anything else that gives off light stay in a locker outside the dining room. A single lit screen would spoil the dark for every table, so there are no exceptions.

What if I have food allergies?

The venue takes allergies and dietary restrictions at booking. The menu is a surprise and the room is dark, so the kitchen needs them before the night, not at the table.

How old do you have to be to go to Blackout Dining in the Dark?

Guests must be 13 or older. Teenagers usually enjoy the guessing game, but a nervous younger diner can find a fully dark room hard to sit through for the length of the meal.

Do you tip at Blackout Dining in the Dark?

Gratuity isn't part of the ticket. Guests can tip their server at the end of the meal, and the night-vision servers do a lot of the work of making the dark feel safe.