In Bogota, Colombia, there’s a sensory experience that goes far beyond food: It’s called Frenessi, the first and only virtual reality restaurant in the country, where haute cuisine meets immersive technology to take diners on a journey that awakens all five senses. This innovative concept, developed by Grupo Seratta in mid-2023, offers a completely new way of experiencing food, turning each dinner into an interactive work of art.
The concept of Frenessi, Colombia’s virtual reality restaurant
Frenessi introduces a unique concept in Colombia: a single communal table for 16 guests, surrounded by walls that come alive through immersive visual projections. The carefully curated three-hour experience includes an 11-course tasting menu called Above and Below, featuring 8 savory and 3 sweet courses. The dishes incorporate a variety of proteins such as beef, salmon, duck, and even the exotic hormiga culona (big-bottomed ant), a nod to Colombia’s biodiversity. Each bite is designed to accompany a journey through 12 virtual worlds, ranging from the Amazon rainforest to underwater landscapes and ancient China. The entire setting transforms with light, sound, temperature, and vibration effects, creating an atmosphere that stimulates every sense and turns dinner into a fully immersive show.
Technology is at the heart of this proposal: the dining room is equipped with Dolby Atmos 7.1 surround sound, 360° projections, custom aromas, and thematic ambient settings that shift with each virtual world explored. The experience, which lasts approximately three hours and costs COP 696,900 per person (around US$180)—including a wine and cocktail pairing—offers much more than a meal. Diners don’t just eat; they travel without leaving their seats, as if they were living inside a movie in which they are the protagonists.
VR restaurants around the world: A growing trend
The tech revolution has also reached kitchens around the globe. Several restaurants in different countries have begun experimenting with virtual reality to elevate dining to a new dimension. One of the most striking examples is Sublimotion, located in Ibiza, Spain. Directed by renowned chef Paco Roncero, the restaurant offers a luxury culinary experience that combines projections, aromas, and surround sound with high-end dishes. The tasting menu exceeds €1,500 per person and has become a global icon of food tech.
Another standout is Le Petit Chef, a 3D projection dining experience that has traveled to cities like Dubai, Moscow, and London. Here, a miniature chef animated in 3D “cooks” on the table before the real dish is served, creating a fun and whimsical illusion for diners.
Even more mainstream restaurant chains have embraced virtual reality. In the UK, Carluccio’s handed out VR headsets so customers could “travel” to Sicily while enjoying classic Italian dishes. Meanwhile, McDonald’s in Singapore and Chipotle in the Roblox metaverse have both implemented virtual experiences to expand their brand offerings.
Thanks to its success in Colombia, Frenessi opened a second location in Buenos Aires, Argentina, continuing its mission to redefine the limits of culinary experiences in Latin America.