Reservations for one are climbing

Toast's latest trends report found single-diner bookings up 22% year over year in the third quarter of 2025. Solo dining is shedding its stigma.

Small slice, fast growth

Parties of one are still under 1% of all reservations. A separate hospitality report cited Brandwatch data showing interest in eating solo up 7% year over year.

“It's a small slice that is growing fast”

Nobody is waiting for a plus one

Denver private chef Stephen Ingber says about 15% of his bookings are now for a single guest, and that share rises every year. Some solo diners book weekly.

“A good meal used to require a date or a group to justify it. Now it just requires a reservation.”

What a solo diner wants

Bar seats, small tables with a view, wine by the glass or half bottle, and menus that don't assume sharing. Quick service and full service are both seeing the shift.

Same service, bigger payoff

Chicago operator Terry Psaltakis says solo guests need the same care as a six-top. With no company to distract them, the meal is the whole experience.

“Get it right and that solo diner turns into a regular who comes back every week and knows your bartender by name”

Alone is not lonely

Grief therapist Rene Mondy says eating with people doesn't automatically mean connection. Ingber's advice: skip the phone, order the thing you'd avoid on a date.

“Nobody is looking at you, and if they are, they're jealous.”