Why your restaurant is too loud, and how to fix it

Loud dining rooms are one of the most common complaints in restaurant reviews. Modern fit-outs with concrete floors, glass, metal and high ceilings look great, but they reflect sound around the room. As the room fills, people talk louder to be heard, and the noise builds on itself.

Where the noise comes from

• Hard surfaces reflect sound instead of absorbing it, so conversations bounce around the room.
• Crowd noise grows as people raise their voices to be heard over each other.
• Music that is turned up to compete with the crowd adds to the problem.
• Kitchen and bar noise, such as coffee machines, dishwashers and extraction fans.

Fix the room first

Acoustic treatment absorbs reflected sound so the room stops amplifying itself. Options include:

• Acoustic ceiling panels or baffles, which usually make the biggest difference.
• Wall panels, which can double as artwork or branding.
• Upholstered seating, banquettes, curtains and rugs.
• Screens or planters between zones to break up long reflective surfaces.

An acoustic consultant or an experienced AV technician can measure how long sound lingers in the room and suggest where treatment will help most.

Then fix the music

Once the room is calmer, the music can be quieter. Use more speakers at lower volume, spread evenly, instead of a few loud ones. A volume limit stops staff turning it up as the room fills. Separate music zones let the bar run livelier than the dining area.

For the most common faults with restaurant audio, see common audio issues in restaurants, or find an audio technician.