Food brings people together. From two friends grabbing burritos at a fast-casual spot after work to a multi-course meal overflowing with decadence, the experience of going out to eat bonds people. 

Immersive dining, also known as experiential dining, takes that traditional restaurant experience and puts an exciting new spin on it. By injecting the meal with multisensory elements, diners not only enjoy their food, and the company, but they get to have their very own authentic experience that conjures thoughts and emotions. 

Rajan Sethi, Managing Director of Bright Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., understands how immersive dining elevates the typical dining experience. 

“People are no longer looking for just dishes well prepared,” he told Hospitality World. “They want engagement, entertainment, and a deeper emotional connection to their meals.”

Here’s a look at how experiential dining is transforming the industry.

 

Disney Does Fine Dining

Some of the most creative minds in the world bring Disney characters to movie screens. But when it comes to hospitality, Disney is working to utilize that same groundbreaking creativity and put it on your plate. 

At Disneyland Paris, diners head to La Forêt Secrète, where an enchanting forest-themed space offers a French fine dining experience led by Michelin-starred chef Jean Imbert. But in a twist on the typical high-end dining experience, La Forêt Secrète serves dishes themed to Disney films, including the “poison” apple in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and a chicken ballotine stuffed with dates and dried fruits inspired by Aladdin. 

Tugging on diners’ love of childhood nostalgia, La Forêt Secrète provides meal-goers with the opportunity to savor gourmet dishes in a way that transports them somewhere new.   

Natacha Rafalski, president of Disneyland Paris, told Blooloop that the team at Disney sees their expansion into immersive dining as a natural continuation of the theme park experience.

“Through this collaboration, our guests will be able to extend the magic of their day in the parks in an unparalleled way, diving into a world where imagination, tradition, and innovation meet around an exceptional gastronomic experience,” said Rafalski. 

 

Netflix Brings TV to Life

We all love to turn down the lights and immerse ourselves in our favorite TV show or movie, and Netflix is betting on that. An extension of their six-month run in 2023 at the Short Stories Hotel in Los Angeles, Netflix Bites is a one-year culinary residency at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. 

An experiment focused on spotlighting a selection of the food and cocktails that contestants made while participating in the streaming platform’s culinary competition shows, like Chef’s Table and Drink Masters. Netflix Bites takes what we loved on screen and brings it to life. 

The Vegas version will be even more extensive, with artwork representing The Queen’s Gambit and other hit shows, while each dish makes its source material clear through its flavor or naming. Think Bridgerton-style tea service with pastries and mini-sandwiches, or waffle sliders inspired by Eleven’s Eggo obsession on Stranger Things, Thrillist reports. 

A great example of slowly moving from the pop-up venue to long-term residency and brick-and-mortar locations, these experiments will culminate this year when Netflix House locations open in Pennsylvania and Texas, with food, retail, and experiential offerings.

“We’re merging on-screen moments with real-life, immersive entertainment,” James McBride, Vice President of Food & Beverage of MGM Grand & Casino, told Netflix. “Every dish is designed to transport guests to their favorite Netflix stories. This is more than just a meal, it’s an experience you won’t want to miss.” 

 

They’ve Got That Independent Spirit

Experiential dining isn’t always tied to a major company like Disney or Netflix. In late February, The Gallery introduced their “Elementa” dining experience, a menu set to an interactive, multi-sensory show. A ticketed five-course dining experience that costs $200, its nightly show features a menu, show, and soundtrack orchestrated to take diners on a multi-sensorial journey through the five elements over two hours: earth, air, water, fire, and the aether, Eater reports. 

While many immersive dining experiences have higher price points, they can also score big on the other end of the financial spectrum. Seen as a way of democratizing high-end dining and entertainment, experiential dining is accessible to almost everyone.

“Our mission is to redefine dining and entertainment by blending exceptional cuisine and world-class entertainment within an immersive environment,” Allureum co-founder Chuck Fawcett told Blooloop. “While many venues offer great food and stunning ambience, few bring all three together into a truly cohesive experience.”

Even Quick Service Restaurants, or QSRs, are looking to stay competitive by using immersive components to actively engage with customers. This means integrating artificial intelligence (AI) for operational efficiency and transforming physical locations into immersive experiential spaces. 

“As we look ahead to 2025,” Scott Snyder, CEO of Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii, told Forbes. “QSRs are evolving into immersive, experience-driven destinations that appeal to the modern ‘prosumer.'”

 

Immersive dining isn’t a shortsighted trend. As the experts say, “This shift is not merely a fleeting trend but a new standard in food and hospitality.” As time goes on, consumers will continue to crave authentic connections, and immersive dining will continue to be an important component of that. It’s all about the experience. 

From Disney and Netflix’s exciting pursuits to fast-casual spots looking to break boundaries, experiential dining is a sign of what’s to come. As we seek to build experiences that stay with us forever, connecting the pursuit of a good meal with that desire is a natural evolution. Businesses looking to connect with that power should understand how much it resonates with the public.