How to Tackle the Problem of Noise in Hospitality Spaces
You know the feeling.
You walk into a restaurant or bar, and it looks amazing. The lighting is right, the interior design is beautiful, and the atmosphere feels lively.
But then you sit down… and realise you can barely hear the person across from you.
You lean in. You start raising your voice. The table next to you is doing the same. And suddenly what should feel like a great experience becomes tiring.
That is the problem with noise in hospitality spaces.
When atmosphere turns into noise
Hospitality spaces are meant to feel busy and full of energy. That is part of what makes them enjoyable.
But there is a fine line between energy and noise.
A lot of the design choices that make a space look good such as hard surfaces, open layouts and high ceilings also make it louder. Sound bounces around, builds up, and very quickly the whole space becomes harder to be in.
It is not just about how loud it is.
It is about how easy it is to have a conversation.
Studies show that excessive noise is one of the top complaints in restaurants, with around 70 percent of diners saying it negatively impacts their experience, and noise levels in busy venues can reach 85 decibels or more.
It is not about making spaces quiet
This is where people often get it wrong.
Improving acoustics does not mean taking the life out of a space. No one wants a silent restaurant or a flat atmosphere.
What people actually want is to feel comfortable.
To be able to talk without effort. To hear clearly without thinking about it. To enjoy the energy of a space without feeling overwhelmed by it.
That is what good acoustic design does.
Thinking about sound earlier in the design
One of the biggest challenges is that acoustics are often left until the end.
A space is designed, built and finished. Then someone realises it is too loud and tries to fix it.
But by that point, options are limited.
The real impact comes when sound is considered from the start.
Thinking about how people will use the space. Where conversations will happen. Where things should feel more intimate and where they can feel livelier.
Not every area needs to sound the same.
And that is a good thing.
Where acoustics actually help
As manufacturers of acoustic products, we see how much of a difference the right approach can make.
It is not about covering every surface or overcomplicating things.
It is about controlling how sound behaves in a space.
Ceiling solutions can make a huge impact here, especially in larger, open hospitality settings. Products like BreezeCurve or BreezeSense can help soften sound from above while still contributing to the overall design. In spaces where you want something more architectural, solutions like Vault can work across ceilings or walls to add both visual interest and acoustic control.
On vertical surfaces, more decorative options such as Öra layered wall panels can help break up sound reflections while adding texture and depth to the space.
This is something we have seen in practice across hospitality projects, including restaurant environments such as Le 58, where excessive noise was actively disrupting the customer experience and needed to be addressed through considered acoustic design.
When you reduce that harsh echo and background build up, everything changes.
People do not have to raise their voices. Conversations feel easier. The whole space feels more relaxed, even when it is busy.
And importantly, it still looks exactly how it was intended to.
Small changes can go a long way
You do not always need to start from scratch.
Adding acoustic elements into ceilings or walls, introducing softer materials, or even just making small layout adjustments can have a big impact.
Often, it is about spotting where the problem is coming from and addressing it in a simple, considered way.
Why it matters
In hospitality, experience is everything.
People might come in for the food or the drinks. But how the space feels will shape whether they stay longer, come back, or recommend it to someone else.
And sound plays a bigger role in that than most people realise.
At AllSfär, we talk about Creating Calm. In hospitality, that does not mean removing the buzz. It means making sure that buzz feels comfortable to be part of.
Because when people can relax and actually enjoy being there, everything else falls into place.
