Americans' Solo Restaurant Reservations Jump 22% in Q3 2025 as Gen Z, Millennials Drive Shift
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 12
Americans' Solo Restaurant Reservations Jump 22% in Q3 2025 as Gen Z, Millennials Drive Shift
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 12
Summary
Reservations for one rose 22% year over year in the third quarter of 2025, Toast said, signaling that solo dining is becoming more mainstream even though it still makes up less than 1% of all bookings.
Younger diners are helping fuel the shift as consumers prioritize convenience, personal enjoyment and not waiting for friends or partners before going out to eat.
OpenTable and other industry data point the same way: single reservations climbed 23% with average spending of $94 per meal, while interest in dining alone rose 7% in Brandwatch data cited by af&co. and Carbonate.
Restaurant operators say the trend can create loyal repeat customers if venues cater to solo guests with bar seating, smaller tables, by-the-glass wine and service that treats one-person parties like larger groups.
Therapists and restaurateurs say the rise reflects changing social norms as much as loneliness, with dining alone increasingly framed as confidence and autonomy rather than stigma.