Reservations for one person have increased by 22% year over year in the third quarter of 2025, according to a recent trends report from restaurant technology company Toast. This surge suggests that dining alone is shedding its social stigma and becoming a more accepted practice.
While single-diner bookings still represent less than 1% of total reservations, industry experts view this growth as a reflection of broader shifts in consumer behavior and opportunities within the restaurant sector. Data from the af&co. and Carbonate 2024 Hospitality Trends Report, citing Brandwatch, also indicated a 7% year-over-year increase in interest surrounding dining as a party of one.
Restaurant operators note that individuals are increasingly dining solo because they are no longer waiting for companions to be available. "A good meal used to require a date or a group to justify it. Now it just requires a reservation," Stephen Ingber, owner of Denver-based MileHighCook, told Fox News Digital. Ingber reported that approximately 15% of his bookings are now for single guests, a figure that has grown annually. Some solo customers are regulars, booking weekly or monthly, and are often considered ideal patrons.
This trend spans both quick-service and full-service establishments, with younger consumers, particularly Gen Z and millennials, driving the adoption of meals focused on convenience and personal enjoyment. "It's a small slice that is growing fast," said Terry Psaltakis, a restaurant operator and founder of ShiftTrained.
Experts suggest that restaurants can enhance the solo dining experience by offering amenities such as bar seating, smaller tables with a view, wine by the glass or half-bottle options, and menus that do not rely on group sharing. Psaltakis emphasized the importance of providing solo diners with the same attentive service as larger parties, as their focus is solely on the dining experience.
For diners who may feel self-conscious about eating alone, the bar area is often recommended. "Ask the bartender what they’d order," Ingber suggested. "A good one, a ready one, lights up."
Therapists note that dining alone does not always equate to loneliness. Rene Mondy, a Georgia-based licensed grief therapist and founder of The Solo Dining Directory, stated that individuals in healthy relationships understand that social meals do not always guarantee connection. Some diners, Mondy explained, may seek solitude, while others may use the occasion to order dishes they might not typically choose when dining with others. Ingber encourages solo diners to embrace the experience, suggesting they order what they desire and avoid distractions like phones. "Nobody is looking at you, and if they are, they're jealous," he added.