More people than ever are going to restaurants alone

Until a few years ago, sitting alone at a restaurant table was often seen as a fallback option, a necessity rather than a choice. It was generally perceived as a typical situation for those traveling for work or who, for various reasons, found themselves without company during meals. Today, however, dining alone is becoming a more frequent phenomenon and less stigmatized on a social level. The increase in single-person reservations in restaurants across many cities confirms a shift in social habits and cultural perceptions of this practice. As reported by CNN, according to a study by OpenTable – one of the leading online reservation platforms – in the past year, many restaurants have witnessed a rise in solo reservations. Furthermore, a survey commissioned by the same company revealed that 60% of respondents dined alone at least once in the past year, with an even higher percentage among Millennials and Gen Z. Dining alone is increasingly becoming a deliberate – even desirable – choice. While in the past, the idea of having lunch or dinner alone was associated with loneliness, today it is more widely regarded as a form of self-care. Even Forbes writes that the main reason why more and more people choose to do so is linked to personal well-being: «peace and quiet is a top priority for solo diners.» Taking time for oneself can indeed be a way to enjoy a good meal without distractions – in a time when attention to dining, fine dining, and the culinary world in general is very high, thanks in part to social media.

Many restaurateurs are beginning to embrace this cultural shift. Instead of viewing solo diners as a logistical issue, as was often the case until a few years ago, more and more establishments are adapting their spaces and offerings to accommodate this trend. Some restaurants, for example, are introducing smaller tables or more secluded seating to provide greater comfort and intimacy for those dining alone. Another solution is to seat solo diners at the counter. Here, customers typically do not go to restaurants solely for socializing but because they want to be entertained: from there, they can observe the kitchen at work, the plating process, and the ingredients used. In such cases, being alone often becomes entirely secondary. Those who practice it describe solo dining as an extremely positive experience: some see it as an opportunity to focus more on the food and the surrounding environment, while others use it as a chance to interact with the restaurant staff. This phenomenon is likely a reflection of a broader social change: the number of people living alone is steadily increasing. In the United States, according to data reported by CNN, 30% of the population is in this condition – a number that has significantly risen compared to past decades. Additionally, the way people seek out and develop attachments to certain restaurants has evolved. Thanks to social media, it is easier to discover and see how specific places operate: choosing to try them alone becomes an opportunity to experience firsthand what was previously explored online.

The fact remains that dining alone is not yet fully accepted, especially in cultures where food is primarily seen as a social gathering. A few years ago, scholar Rebecca Ratner, a professor of marketing at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, explained to the Washington Post that many people avoid potentially enjoyable experiences – such as going to the movies, visiting a museum, or dining out – for fear of feeling uncomfortable doing them alone. This tendency, being highly subjective, remains true today. However, psychology offers some insight: as multiple studies show, people tend to overestimate how much others judge them. According to the theory known as the "spotlight effect," individuals are generally much less inclined to criticize those who engage in solo activities than one might think. According to Ratner, the best way to overcome the lingering discomfort some people feel when dining alone is simply to do it more often:«We need people who are convinced that having fun alone is cool.»