More people are choosing to dine alone at restaurants, forcing restaurants to become more accommodating. The trend may be attributed to the rise of remote work — not only because workers may want to step outside for a quick bite instead of nesting at home, but also because people have become more comfortable being alone.

Table for one, please. Since 2022, solo reservations have increased by 29% in the US, 18% in Germany and 14% in the UK, indicating a global shift. A study conducted in Japan showed a 5% increase in solo diners in as many years.

It isn’t an isolation technique. The attitude around solo ventures has changed, and is being seen as a movement towards self-love and enjoying your own company, said Debby Soo, CEO of OpenTable, a reservation site for restaurants. The Japanese word for this activity is ohitorisama — alone, with added honorifics to signify a deliberate choice rather than a matter of circumstance. Anna Mattila, a professor at Penn State who studied solo dining, says that smartphones help people feel connected even without company.

While restaurants have adapted to this trend, they’re not happy about it. Restaurants in countries like Japan have adopted seating arrangements that accommodate more solo diners, and adjusted the size of servings to allow singular customers to enjoy more dishes. For others behind the curve, solo diners take up tables that would otherwise host more people, amounting in a fiscal loss. Michelin-starred restaurant Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal, made waves by charging solo customers the same as a party of two.

Is it actually a loss? COO of Overthrow Hospitality Drew Brady believes that short-term losses will ultimately lead to restaurants garnering an inviting reputation. Overthrow Hospitaly’s Lightspeed restaurant is one of many keeping track of solo dining trends to attune themselves to the preferences of singular customers.

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