Eating by yourself at a restaurant used to be a shameful experience that let all the other diners know you were a friendless social pariah. Nowadays, it’s a totally normal thing to do.
Driving the news: Solo dining is on the rise in Canada, with 43% of Canadians regularly dining alone in sit-down restaurants, per a survey by payments company Lightspeed Commerce. A similar phenomenon is occurring elsewhere, including the U.S., the U.K., and Germany.
Why it matters: More restaurants could revamp services to capture this growing cohort of customers. This could include adding more countertop or bar seating, adding designated solo dining areas, or even drafting entire menus specifically for solitary snackers.
- We could even see a rise in restaurants dedicated to eating alone. Last year, Yunnan Noodle Shack became Toronto’s first solo-dining restaurant.
Why it’s happening: Per Lightspeed, the top reason for more solo dining is the growing interest in self-care. Other explanations include people eating alone for work lunches, a rise in people living alone and thus eating alone, and because it’s easier to get a reso for one.
Yes, but: Not all restaurants see this as an opportunity; some see it as a money-loser. Last year, Michelin-starred chef Alex Dilling in London charged solo diners double before ending all one-person resos, while a group of Barcelona eateries ganged up to ban solo dining.—QH