Solo eating trend: Lonely or liberating?
The conversation around dining alone has intensified, with discussions emerging about whether it reflects personal confidence or is a sign of growing loneliness. Recent data from OpenTable indicates a notable 23% increase in single reservations, with diners spending an average of $94 per meal. This shift has sparked debates about social interactions in our modern dining experiences.
It seems that more and more people are opting for a table for one. According to a report from restaurant tech company Toast, solo reservations rose by 22% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2025. This suggests a diminishing stigma around eating alone, although single-diner bookings still constituted less than 1% of total reservations. Experts interpret these figures as indicative of a wider change in the restaurant industry. The af&co. and Carbonate 2024 Hospitality Trends Report adds further evidence, citing a 7% year-over-year increase in interest in solo dining based on Brandwatch data.
“People have stopped waiting for someone else to join them,” shared Stephen Ingber, the owner of MileHighCook, a catering and private-chef service in Denver. “A nice meal used to feel like a date or a group activity was necessary. Now, it just takes a reservation.”
Ingber has seen about 15% of his bookings now being for individual diners, a statistic that has been growing. Some of these solo diners make it a regular occurrence, dining out weekly or monthly, and they often turn out to be some of the most loyal customers.
The trend towards solo dining is also extending to both fast-casual and fine dining establishments, as younger generations, especially Gen Z and millennials, prioritize convenience and personal enjoyment in their dining choices.
“It’s a small segment, but it’s expanding quickly,” Terry Psaltakis, a seasoned restaurant operator from Chicago and founder of ShiftTrained, acknowledged.
Experts are advising restaurants on how to cater better to solo diners. Appealing options include bar seating, smaller tables with views, and flexible menu choices that don’t presume diners will share their meals. Psaltakis emphasized the importance of giving individual guests the same quality of service as larger parties, noting that without companions to distract them, these diners focus solely on their dining experience. “If you treat that solo diner well, they might just become a regular who comes by each week,” he remarked.
For those who might feel uneasy about dining solo, both Ingber and Psaltakis recommend sitting at the bar. Engaging with the bartender can help ease any awkwardness; a friendly bartender can enhance the experience.
Interestingly, not all solo diners are lonely. Rene Mondy, a licensed grief therapist from Georgia and founder of The Solo Dining Directory, pointed out that individuals in healthy relationships recognize that dining with others doesn’t automatically equate to genuine connection.
As Ingber noted, the experience can be an opportunity to savor a dish you might shy away from when dining with others, without feeling the need to hide behind a phone or book. And, he added reassuringly, “No one’s really watching you, and if they are, it’s likely because they’re envious.”
