TENEBRIS, Sofia - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews

Details

About

Tenebris is the first dark restaurant on the Balkans. Our guests can enjoy a 5-course menu in absolute and complete darkness. Hosts of this journey are visually impaired people. Our idea is to immerse you in a world, where vision is not present and let the other senses take over. Welcome to our dark-bright world!

PRICE RANGE

$47.00 – $49.00

CUISINES

International, European, Fusion

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

Meals

Dinner, Late Night, Drinks

FEATURES

Reservations, Private Dining, Seating, Serves Alcohol, Wine and Beer, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service

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5.0

524 reviews

Excellent

487

Very good

19

Average

12

Poor

4

Terrible

2

mdyrdek

Switzerland818 contributions

Fun Experience with Amazing Food

Aug 2020 • none

My husband and I had a wonderful dinner at Tenebris during our first of three nights in Sofia. We had been to a “dine in the dark” restaurant in Bangkok back in 2016, so we were familiar with the concept. Our dinner at Tenebris was very memorable and the standout meal on our trip to Sofia. I would highly suggest to make a reservation on their website as they do fill up fast. It’s a place for tourists and locals alike and we found that we were the only ones speaking English in the dining room. Thus, it appears to be quite popular with the locals. I would recommend Tenebris for a special occasion, a romantic night out, a first date (you will get a second date if you come here…LOL), or just to have fun and try something new. Our waitress, Rali, was great. Just like our first experience in Bangkok, Tenebris employs waitstaff who are visually impaired. I think this is a great way to support the visually impaired community and helps to educate people on this matter. Rali spoke English perfectly and her communication was exceptional, which really made the experience easy and fun. Was this better than our Bangkok dine in the dark? YES, and for three reasons. First, it was more personal. The restaurant is not very big and although you cannot see how few people are in the room, you can hear that it’s only a few tables here and there. Second, they suggested eating with your hands, which both my husband and I did. It added a different element to the meal and truly made it more enjoyable. Finally, the food was better! Tenebris offers a unique experience coupled with amazing food. I had the fish and my husband had the meat — both were lovely 5 course meals. Honestly, for the price of 39 Euros pp (inclusive of drinks — including alcohol), it’s an extremely good value and I would highly, highly recommend a visit. Kudos to the owner (Plamen) for bringing this unique experience to Sofia! Final tip — plan accordingly because you will truly lose track of time. It felt like we were there for maybe 1.5 hours, but upon leaving, Plamen informed us that we were actually there for 2.5 hours.

Written August 17, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Elina Kaneva

Sofia2 contributions

The most relaxing experience for your brain and senses

Feb 2020 • none

It is an incredible way to clear your head of the stress in your life. You can read all the details on their site or just ask the incredible staff. But what you cannot read there that you will experience the best time for your mind. The amount of information that we process through our eyes is enormous. Spending some time in complete darkness, while being served delicious food and beverages is a trip for your senses. Also it is a small victory for someone afraid of the dark (as I am). You cannot wine like a baby in front of people who actually live in darkness. It was truly not just a dinner but a whole experience for your feelings, fears, senses and trust. Highly recommended.

Written February 27, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Frequent Traveller

Pordenone132 contributions

Unique, enjoyable experience for the adventurous

Feb 2020 • friends

Very friend and professional staff. From booking to welcoming you to the restaurant and explaining how the ‘dark experience’ works. Our waiter Pancho was very patient and helpful, leading us to our table in the pitch dark dining room. The 5 course tasting menu (either meat/fish/Bulgarian) is presented carefully - and you are encouraged to use all your senses to understand what you’re eating. The dishes are not too cold or hot to avoid accidents. At the end of your meal you are escorted back ‘into the light’ where the lovey host explains what each dish was. No spoiler alerts, but you do see a picture of what you ate. (See website for examples) Thoroughly enjoyable experience and highly recommended! Thank you to the wonderful staff. Hope to be back soon!

Written February 2, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Carol Booker

8 contributions

An evening in the dark

Mar 2020 • none

An interesting idea, I was excited about the experience. Payment was insisted on before eating and after the meal the voucher from the Free Sofia Walking Tour was not honoured. Having been seated , the first two courses were served in a timely manner and were delicious. After that we were left, no food, no drinks and in the dark for ages. The following course eventually arrived and was mainly potato, disappointing. I asked for a drink and was ignored. Again left for a long time, eventually dessert arrived, no spoon was provided and it was not finger food..! I felt disappointed and over charged, for an evening with an idea that had great potential.

Written March 25, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Zornitsa S

2 contributions

Another great evening at Tenebris

Jan 2020 • none

The welcoming staff is amazing, the hosts are absolute professionals, who not only serve you in the absolute darkness with utmost precision, but are also there for you for whatever needs or questions you may have. The food is a delicious surprise. There were people on our group who managed to guess with pretty good precision what they were eating, but at the end, when we could see what we actually had on our menus, there were a lot of nice surprises. We definitely recommend!

Written January 16, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Christine

3 contributions

About the dietary requirements

Dec 2021 • friends

Me and a friend of mine visited the restaurant yesterday. The service was amazing, our waitress was very kind and helpful. The experience was wild - it pushed me out of my comfort zone for sure and I liked it. However, there was an issue. We ordered one meat menu for my friend and a vegan menu for me. It was a 5 course meal menu and I had meat in my starter. They swapped mine and my friend’s starters by mistake which I realized at the end when they showed us pictures of the food we had and my friend described that she had the vegan starter including some veggie balls and for me it was the beef chapatti. I got suspicious while eating it as I tasted something like meat so I didn’t eat the whole meal but still this was a very serious issue. I doubt that the mistake was made by the waitress, I think the cooks might have swapped it by mistake. This might not seem as a big deal to some people, but it is the key selling point of the restaurant - paying a high price to put your complete trust into their hands. And this was not a good experience for me. What if I had a medical condition that required me to not eat meat? Or what if there were hazelnuts in my vegan meal that my friend ate by mistake, having informed the restaurant that she’s allergic? On top of that, I was not offered any compensation for this mistake which was also unfortunate. I hope they care more about the dietary requirements of their clients in the future.

Written December 1, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Morta N

1 contribution

Great birthday surprise

May 2021 • none

The visit to dark dining was a surprise birthday present. Even though inside you can't see anything the atmosphere felt cozy and the host took great care of all our needs. The food was delicious and eating primarily with hands added more of a connection to the process as well. The service was great from beginning to the end, every detail was thought through. I recommend to try the signature raspberry wine - it has this summer

Written May 31, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Elitsa Vacheva

6 contributions

A very curious experience for the senses

Oct 2020 • couples

Great service, extremely nice and helpful staff, exciting and surprising food, delicious wines and most importantly you get a relaxing feeling and focus on the conversation and being present at the moment. We thought we were in the restaurant for 1.5 hours but it turned out we spent almost 3 hours at this amazing journey. Thank you Tenebris for the great evening!

Written October 15, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AE

1 contribution

Amazing Experience!

Sep 2021 • couples

This was one of the most enjoyable culinary adventures I have experienced ever! The concept of dark dining is not unique, however Tenebris' approach and cause are definitely unique. You step into the shoes of the visually impaired (albeit for a short while) in a safe and comfortable environment, guided by your wonderful host(ess). Once you get over the initial shock of pitch darkness, the rest of your senses are awakened and heightened, allowing you to enjoy the amazing culinary creations of the talented and top notch kitchen. Service is world class as well. Tenebris by itself is worth the trip to Sofia. Go with an open mind and an empty stomach! You will definitely have once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Written September 14, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ddtowe

Northampton78 contributions

memorable experience something different

Mar 2020 • friends

Planned this for a recent trip to Sofia. Highly recommended, great service and communication leading up to the reservation. And whole event was memorable and like nothing my friends or I have every experienced before. Great greeting on arrival. Food was tasty and Ivan our waiter was attentive and always helpful. Would highly recommend a visit to this restaurant when in Sofia. Won’t say too much as I don’t want to spoil the experience for others.

Written March 17, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Plamen S

Gloucester3 contributions

Spectacular atmosphere

Dec 2021 • friends

From the name, to the food, Tenebris is an example of perfect thematic execution that will linger in your head over and over again. From the first step you take inside the dark corridor leading to the dining area you are guaranteed to have already immersed yourself uncontrollably into the state of being. Our host, Reni, was very welcoming and reassuring when some anxiety arose. We were also offered a little surprise by her mid-dinner, which made the experience even more memorable. The receptionist was very patient with us and gave us the answer to every question we had regarding the food, as well as our experience. Overall, this is a must visit if you enjoy good food, new experiences and you feel like you want to learn about yourself, while learning about how some other individuals live daily.

Written December 20, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lu S

4 contributions

I can only recommend !

Jun 2021 • family

I have read all of the nice reviews of Tenebris and decided to give it a try with my Mom. And it was a 10/10 ! As from the door, you are warmly welcomed and you get a full explanation of how the evening is going to be organized. Our host Reni was very nice and had a lovely voice. In the restaurant itself, you feel like the time has stopped. It is great to only focus on the food and the person you are with :) We have spent more than 2h30, for what we thought was just over an hour ! The food is amazing, the atmosphere is great and the service is impeccable ! I can only recommend !!!

Written June 10, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Iordan G

Sofia2 contributions

Amazing experience!

Jan 2020 • none

I have received a gift for Tenebris and I have to say that the experience was amazing. The way you can taste the food relying only your tasting abilities is kind of strange but as a person who never risk trying new food I can say that when I saw what I have tried afterword's I was very surprised by myself what I like to eat. Strongly recommend for everyone who likes to try new things.

Written January 16, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tsvetelina G

Sofia169 contributions

Extraordinary experience!

Feb 2020 • none

Unique and unexpected - it is rather weird in the beginning but you get used to the complete darkness. It is very funny to taste the food without seeing it, to try to guess it, to eat (and feed one another) by hands. There is also another surprise prepared by the stuff which was great (but I won't spoil it ;). The food was more than delicious. I had the fish menu and was extremely tasty. Totally recommend the place!

Written February 18, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ASh

7 contributions

Activate your senses experience

Jun 2022 • couples

Your senses surely take over. Eating in the dark is an absolute unique experience and the general theme is fantastic. The food is below average- hence not value for money, but you go there for the overall eating in the dark experience

Written June 17, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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