Could these dining out cubicles in the Netherlands become a trend?

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Social distancing in bars and restaurants will be one of the trickiest elements to navigate in a post-COVID-19 world, but one restaurant in Amsterdam has come up with a clever solution. Mediamatic Eten is a waterfront vegan restaurant, and it plans to take in guests from 21 May.

A waterfront vegan restaurant with glass cubicles — Mediamatic Eten is a waterfront vegan restaurant © Willem Velthoven for Mediamatic Amsterdam

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The guests will be seated inside enclosed glass structures that the restaurant calls 'serres séparées' or separated greenhouses, each equipped with a table for two. Naturally, the chambers are recommended only for people who are already living together, but they can cater for three people, if required, or for solo diners. The location offers great city views, and the restaurant has already conducted a test run of serving its visitors four-course, plant-based meals in their own little greenhouses.

Guests at a restaurant seated inside enclosed glass structures — Mediamatic Eten aims to offer a new concept in safe hospitality © Willem Velthoven for Mediamatic Amsterdam

Mediamatic Eten is part of a larger arts and entrepreneurship centre, Mediamatic Biotoop, which focuses on sustainability. Where possible, it offers locally-sourced food and creates the courses based on the availability of seasonal ingredients from selected producers. It picks herbs from its aquaponics garden and ferments products in the Mediamatic Clean Lab. Its courses are normally meant for sharing, and it encourages guests to experience them with their hands rather than using cutlery. Mediamatic Eten aims to offer a new concept in safe hospitality, although whether it opens to the public using the glass cubicles is fully dependent on it obtaining permission from local and national authorities.

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Diners inside glass greenhouses that are used for social distancing — The glass chambers are recommended only for people who are already living together © Willem Velthoven for Mediamatic Amsterdam

If it gets the go-ahead, the restaurant plans to offer time slots from 6pm - 8.30pm or from 8.30pm - 11pm. For further information or to make a provisional reservation, please see Mediamatic Eten's website here.

Keep up to date with Lonely Planet's latest travel-related COVID-19 news here.

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