Excessive noise is one of the most common and costly problems for restaurants. Diners may love your food and service, but if they struggle to hold a conversation, they are far less likely to stay, return or recommend your venue.

Restaurant noise complaints are consistently cited as a top reason for negative reviews and shortened visits.

This guide explains how to reduce noise in restaurants effectively, focusing on three critical areas:

• Ceilings
• Walls
• Furniture layouts and finishes

Whether you are designing a new space or fixing an existing acoustic problem, this guide will help venues make informed, commercially sound decisions.

Noise in restaurants isn’t just an annoyance; it directly impacts revenue, reputation and staff wellbeing.

Poor acoustics can lead to:

• Shorter guest visits and reduced spend
• Bad reviews
• Increased staff fatigue and communication issues
• A less premium experience of your brand

The good news? Most restaurant noise problems can be solved with the right acoustic strategy.

Most noisy restaurants suffer from excessive reverberation, not loud customers.

Reverberation happens when sound reflects repeatedly off hard surfaces, like:

• Exposed ceilings
• Bare walls
• Glass, concrete and tile finishes

The goal of restaurant acoustic design is to absorb sound, not block it, allowing conversations to remain clear without lowering energy or atmosphere.

If you only fix one thing in a noisy restaurant, make it the ceiling.

Ceilings are usually the largest uninterrupted surface in a restaurant. Left untreated, they reflect sound directly back into the space, amplifying noise levels as the restaurant gets busier.

Effective ceiling solutions

• Acoustic ceiling panels
• Suspended acoustic baffles or rafts
• Custom acoustic features integrated into lighting or branding

Best practice

Aim to treat at least 50-60% of the ceiling area for a noticeable improvement. In busy restaurants, more coverage may be required.

If ceiling treatments aren’t suitable for your space, wall treatments are the next best thing. 

Problem areas

• Bare walls
• Windows
• Brick, concrete, or tiled surfaces

These surfaces reflect sound, causing echo and speech overlap.

Effective wall solutions

• Fabric-wrapped acoustic wall panels
• Timber slat panels with acoustic backing
• Decorative acoustic art or branded panels

Strategic placement

You don’t need to cover every wall. Focus on:

• Opposing parallel walls
• Areas near tables and booths
• Spaces close to the bar or open kitchen

Well-designed wall treatments can enhance both acoustics and interior design.

Real results reducing noise in restaurants

In an upmarket French restaurant, the main feature of the dining room was a beautiful domed ceiling.  While it looked impressive, the dome reflected sound into the space, making the restaurant louder than expected and resulting in regular complaints about noise.  Preserving the architectural feature was essential, so Resonics created a discreet, high-performance stretched fabric acoustic wall system. Installed at both higher wall areas and seated height, the panels absorb conversation noise where it starts, stopping it from rising into the reflective dome. Read the full case study.

Furniture layout and finishes play a surprisingly important role in restaurant acoustics.

Common layout mistakes

• Large, open dining halls with no zoning
• Tables placed too closely together
• Hard, reflective furniture materials throughout

Acoustic-friendly layout strategies

• Break large spaces into smaller zones using booths or screens
• Use upholstered seating instead of hard chairs where possible
• Introduce soft furnishings such as curtains or acoustic dividers
• Avoid long rows of tables that encourage noise build-up

Better layouts not only reduce noise but also improve privacy and comfort.

Open Kitchens and Bars

Modern restaurants often feature open kitchens and lively bar areas. While these add to the atmosphere, they also introduce additional sound sources.

Solutions include:

• Acoustic ceilings above the kitchen and bar zones
• Using sound absorption near noisy equipment
• Zoning the dining area acoustically rather than visually

This allows energy to remain high without overwhelming guests.

You likely need professional acoustic support if:

• Guests regularly comment that it’s “too loud”
• Staff struggle to hear orders during busy periods
• Noise increases dramatically when the restaurant is full
• You’ve tried soft furnishings but seen little improvement

Professional Acoustic Solutions for Restaurants

At Resonics, we design and install tailored acoustic solutions for restaurants, balancing:

• Noise control
• Aesthetic design
• Compliance with hospitality standards

Our restaurant-focused approach ensures treatments work without compromising brand identity or atmosphere. Learn more about our restaurant acoustic solutions.

Reducing noise in restaurants isn’t about making spaces silent, it’s about creating environments where:

• Conversations flow naturally
• Guests stay longer and spend more
• Staff work more comfortably
• Your brand feels intentional and premium

By addressing ceilings, walls and furniture layout, restaurant owners can achieve a measurable improvement in guest experience.

If noise is holding your venue back, the solution is likely simpler and more achievable than you think. Contact us for a free acoustic survey.