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Dining trends to
watch in 2025

We surveyed Canadians and dug into OpenTable data to round up the biggest trends dominating the dining scene. Use these insights to set your restaurant up for a successful 2025.

See the trends

 

 

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Dining trends to
watch in 2025

We surveyed Canadians and dug into OpenTable data to round up the biggest trends dominating the dining scene. Use these insights to set your restaurant up for a successful 2025.

See the trends

 

 

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Interest in experiential dining continues to rise

People are craving unique, curated experiences, such as tasting menus, cooking classes, and more.

 

 

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Capture dinersโ€™ growing interest in experiential dining by introducing offerings like tasting menus, mixology workshops, or ticketed wine dinners. Tailoring experiences to seasonal themes or local flavors can make them even more attractive and help build repeat traffic throughout the year.

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Interest in experiential dining continues to rise

People are craving unique, curated experiences, such as tasting menus, cooking classes, and more.

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Capture dinersโ€™ growing interest in experiential dining by introducing offerings like tasting menus, mixology workshops, or ticketed wine dinners. Tailoring experiences to seasonal themes or local flavors can make them even more attractive and help build repeat traffic throughout the year.

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Wednesday is the new day to dine out

Mid-week dining is on the rise, with Wednesday emerging as the top trending dining day, perhaps due to hybrid or remote working schedules.

 

 

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Make the most of mid-week traffic with a Wednesday night feature, like live music or cocktail specials, to draw in guests. With flexible work schedules likely driving this trend, focus on targeting locals with social media, and offer loyalty perks to keep your mid-week bookings steady.

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Wednesday is the new day to dine out

Mid-week dining is on the rise, with Wednesday emerging as the top trending dining day, perhaps due to hybrid or remote working schedules.

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Make the most of mid-week traffic with a Wednesday night feature, like live music or cocktail specials, to draw in guests. With flexible work schedules likely driving this trend, focus on targeting locals with social media, and offer loyalty perks to keep your mid-week bookings steady.

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The rise of early bird dining

Canadians are shifting their dining habits, opting for earlier dinnersโ€”a shift likely driven by flexible work schedules.

 

 

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Attract guests during these traditionally quieter times by introducing special early bird menus or promotions. Highlight these options through targeted marketing to draw in the after-work crowd. Additionally, keep these early bird diners in mind when staffing your earlier shifts.

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The rise of early bird dining

Canadians are shifting their dining habits, opting for earlier dinnersโ€”a shift likely driven by flexible work schedules.

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Attract guests during these traditionally quieter times by introducing special early bird menus or promotions. Highlight these options through targeted marketing to draw in the after-work crowd. Additionally, keep these early bird diners in mind when staffing your earlier shifts.

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More people are embracing meals for one

Solo dining is becoming increasingly popular, with more and more people embracing the freedom of dining on their own.

 

 

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Make solo diners feel welcome by offering cozy bar seating, personal touches like curated reading material, or single-serve menu options. Going the extra mile for solo guests could turn them into loyal customers.

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More people are embracing meals for one

Solo dining is becoming increasingly popular, with more and more people embracing the freedom of dining on their own.

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Make solo diners feel welcome by offering cozy bar seating, personal touches like curated reading material, or single-serve menu options. Going the extra mile for solo guests could turn them into loyal customers.

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People want healthier dining options

In 2025, Canadians are embracing balance when it comes to their meals and drink choicesโ€”itโ€™s all about vibrant, veggie-packed dishes and thoughtfully crafted mocktails.

 

 

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Highlight healthier menu offerings with descriptive language to showcase their appealโ€”words like โ€œfreshโ€ and โ€œbalancedโ€ may resonate with diners. In addition, create mocktails with unique flavour combinations or consider zero-proof pairings to give guests an elevated experience. Position these options as thoughtfully crafted choices rather than compromises.

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People want healthier dining options

In 2025, Canadians are embracing balance when it comes to their meals and drink choicesโ€”itโ€™s all about vibrant, veggie-packed dishes and thoughtfully crafted mocktails.

frame-1244830145-3
frame-1244830144-3

frame-1244830136-1

Highlight healthier menu offerings with descriptive language to showcase their appealโ€”words like โ€œfreshโ€ and โ€œbalancedโ€ may resonate with diners. In addition, create mocktails with unique flavour combinations or consider zero-proof pairings to give guests an elevated experience. Position these options as thoughtfully crafted choices rather than compromises.

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People are itching to dine out in groups

With more people reserving tables for 6+ guests, this trend presents a great opportunity for restaurants to increase their customer base and sales.

 

 

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Maximize this trend with group-friendly options like family-style feasts and flexible table setups. Spread the word so diners know your spot is ideal for gathering. Donโ€™t forget to train staff on efficient service for large parties, like managing order timing and splitting checks.

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group_pill

People are itching to dine out in groups

With more people reserving tables for 6+ guests, this trend presents a great opportunity for restaurants to increase their customer base and sales.

frame-1244830135-4

Maximize this trend with group-friendly options like family-style feasts and flexible table setups. Spread the word so diners know your spot is ideal for gathering. Donโ€™t forget to train staff on efficient service for large parties, like managing order timing and splitting checks.

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1 OpenTable Data: OpenTable looked at online reservations for all restaurants active on the OpenTable platform from January 1 โ€“ September 30, 2024 and compared it to the same range in 2023.

2 Consumer Research Methodology: An online survey was conducted by PureSpectrum among 1002 Canadian consumers. Within this sample, major cities have been weighed for direct comparison. The research fieldwork took place between 25 October โ€“ 4 November, 2024.

3 Survey Methodology: An online survey was conducted by PureSpectrum among 1000 Canadian consumers with an interest in solo travel. Within this sample, major cities have been weighed for direct comparison. The research fieldwork took place between 2-6 August, 2024.

4 OpenTable Data: OpenTable looked at the average spend per guest for parties of one and overall from August 1 2023 to July 31 2024.

5 OpenTable Data: OpenTable looked at online seated diners for parties of 1 from 1 August, 2023 to 31 July 2024, and compared it to the corresponding period in 2023.