AV on the Menu is a new series of articles that dive into the intersection of the culinary world and the AV industry. Whether it’s immersive dishes, projection-mapped tables, or digital menus, this series will not only have you drooling but learning about exciting new tech, too. Check out our last installment where we took a look the revolutionary AR Bar at ARTECHOUSE.
Among the many gods of Greek mythology, the most relatable to AV folks would have to be Hephaestus. A master of technology, engineering, and innovation, he’d most likely be the party guest tasked with setting up the deck speakers while Dionysus drinks all the wine. But at Zenon Restaurant Dubai, technology and festivity go hand in hand among the lavish ambiance and mythology-inspired decor.
Let’s examine the AV tech on display at the immersive restaurant Zenon Dubai.
Hello, Holograms
As soon as you enter the restaurant located at Kempinski Central Avenue in Downtown Dubai, you’re transported to another world. The welcome desk is your first introduction to Zenon’s innovative ethos — instead of only a human host there’s a holographic one. The character of Zenon, with his impressive yet time-weathered appearance, can march through the restaurant’s bar area. He’s created by two Hypervsn Holofan displays and perfectly blends in with the classic architecture, peppered with high-tech amusements. “Zenon is not just a place to dine,” General Manager Oktay Unlu told Vogue. “It’s a journey into a world where innovation, art, and gastronomy merge seamlessly.”
The Displays
The welcome desk at Zenon is equipped with a 4.5m x 4m LED backdrop while the main dining area features five, curved-top overhead LED screens. The screens show a constant display of hypnotizing lights and colors and are impressively clear from the dining floor below, with their 2.5mm pixel pitch.
While the displays are massive, they act as just another aspect of the decor, blending in as dynamic art rather than a distraction from the general ambiance. The biggest screen in the entire venue measures in at 30 million pixels, according to Moe Tarakomyi, chief creative officer at Vivid Studios. Vivid is the design studio responsible for combining the cutting-edge technology and design-forward aesthetic of Zenon, along with Ouchhh studio who handled the AI-driven creative content. The terrace of the restaurant is given the same high-tech treatment as the interior, with a 31x30 meter waterfall screen that encapsulates the space and can actually be spotted from the nearby highway.
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The Lighting and Effects
The lighting setup is a blend of advanced technology, featuring Ayrton Zonda 9 FX and 3 FX moving heads, Cobra laser source luminaires, Diablo moving heads, and Prolights Pixie Beams. Additionally, a stylish balcony area includes a high-tech Avolites Sapphire Touch lighting console along with a VIP area that boasts an impressive 3m x 9m LED ceiling. The restaurant is equipped with Azure Kinect sensors that interface with an AI model, allowing the display of content that dynamically interacts with and responds to the movements of guests. This feature enhances the interactive and immersive atmosphere of the space, and it is truly impressive to see the screens react to the waitstaff as they pass through the brilliantly-lit room.
The Audio
There are three components to the audio at Zenon: interior sound, exterior sound, and the full DJ set-up at the rear of the restaurant. Both are the work of EM-TEC, one of UAE’s leaders in pro AV installation. Their Funktion-One loudspeakers are typically used at dance clubs and festivals, but the sound requirements of immersive restaurants like Zenon are a perfect fit for the British manufacturer that has been a pioneer in sound since 1992. In total, the restaurant houses 59 loudspeakers and 9 subwoofers; eight of the loudspeakers can be found on the terrace, along with four SB10 subwoofers.
Immersive Restaurants: Is the Combination of Dining and High-Tech Here to Stay?
The staff at Zenon, among waiters, bartenders, and chefs, includes two less common restaurant hires: a technology team. The team members responsible for making sure the displays are running properly are as essential as the line cooks, proving immersive restaurants do not take this designation lightly. To truly create an atmosphere where diners can feel as if they’ve strolled into ancient Greece or shared a meal with their own private tiny chef, technology is not an afterthought — it is crucial.
At Zenon Dubai specifically, management is already creating a plan to ensure their technology keeps up with the times. “Futureproofing so we can continue to evolve was one of our biggest challenges,” Tarakomyi told Inavate. “We had to have a solid backbone of network infrastructure and a platform that is easy to plug into with new hardware or software.” As AV tech continues to evolve each year, restaurants are tasked with the challenge of keeping up the immersion, just as they maintain the quality and trendiness of their dishes.
When it comes to fusing tech and food, will restaurants eventually throw in the towel to focus solely on the metaphorical “meat and potatoes” of the dining experience? How important are the projectors, sound systems, and holographic hostesses? For some restaurants, it opens up the possibility of renting out the facility for parties and events, creating much-needed extra revenue. Adding immersive high-tech could be a restaurant’s lifeblood, especially among corporate and tech hub cities, where CEOs will shell out cash to ensure an impressive keynote or holiday party.
If you are interested in diving deeper into the ai-driven content and equipment used at Zenon, check out Zenon Dubai: Redefining dining with AI content and immersive AV, the article from Inavate that inspired this post.
Image credit: Getty Images / Zdenka_Simekova
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