There are a lot of places in Stockholm that are well worth a visit, despite the price tag…read more Svartklubben is definitely one of them. You have to make reservations ahead, since the restaurant is small.
The restaurant is owned by a blind man, who decided that he should not let his disability stop him from achieving his dreams. He bought a restaurant, painted all the windows black and installed a "double door" system to ensure that the actual restaurant is in fact Pitch Black.
The bar area is small and have lights, so does the restrooms. The kitchen staff are not blind and the kitchen has light as well
So, for the experience;
It was by far one of the (no punt intended) eye opening experiences I've had. The waiter leads your into the restaurant to your table, instructs you where the chair is, where everything is located on the table and so on, and after that - you're on your own.
It was very uncomfortable in the beginning, almost to the point of asking to leave uncomfortable. It is absolutely pitch black. Your senses are working to their fullest to try to get all impressions around you. After a while I noticed myself sitting with my eyes closed, it put a lot of strain on the eyes trying to find something to focus on, without no luck of course.
The food was good. When the plates arrived you had no idea what it was, or even where it was on the plate. I put an empty fork in my mouth more than once (thinking I had something on it) and had to use my hands to feel where the food was on the plate. The same went for filling up the glass, yes, you had to open the water bottle by yourself and fill up the glass as well. Managed to do it without pouring water all over myself and my neighbour across the table.
It's truly something I recommend for everyone. Maybe not if you're scared of the dark though. But if you're searching for a different kind of experience and are open to challenging yourself and stepping outside of your comfort zone. This is definitely something you should do.
You're using all your senses in a new way, while getting a first hand experience of what its like to be blind. The owner said; "In here, I'm not the one disabled" .. I was amazed how they could move around, placing the food on the tables, playing music, singing, and most of all - memorising all of us by our first names. Amazing!
