The global restaurant industry has been drastically affected by the pandemic, with dine-in opportunities few and far between. In China, KFC has partnered with Neolix, an autonomous vehicle producer, to create contactless, socially distanced delivery vehicles in Shanghai.

Replacing wait staff and servers with robots is one way to minimise human-to-human contact in a pandemic, but the dystopian vibe is enough to put some people off. Customers are underwhelmed by a robot bartender in Spain, suggesting that autonomous tech may not be the best answer.

As Europe begins to ease its lockdown, restaurants eagerly await the return of their diners, but they're having to take extra measures to allay fears. From greenhouse structures to one-man restaurants, post-lockdown innovations are bringing new meaning to the term ‘experiential dining’.

As tastes in the luxury sector evolve, high-end restaurants are lagging behind in implementing new services and technology that diners will come to expect. What will premium experiences look like in this changing landscape, and how can brands adapt to stay ahead of the curve?