More people are learning to eat out on their own

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a day ago

Father and foodie Andre reserves a "table for one" every couple of weeks — he prefers to try fine dining restaurants alone.
The Auckland-based IT professional is a 'busy guy' with a family and a demanding job.
'Sometimes it's nice to just have a bit of chill out time on your own, go somewhere, and eat some food,' he says.
'Probably about a third of the time that I would dine out, I would go on my own.'
While sampling degustation menus and new 'nice' restaurants is Andre's idea of a good time, his wife and two teen children are not as into food as he is, so he's happy to go solo.
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'If my wife doesn't want to accompany me to a particular restaurant, but I really want to go, then I'll go solo. It's totally fine. Even if I travel with my wife, I will probably eat half the number of meals solo.'
Statistics show that Andre is, ironically, not alone. A rise in the number of people making solo reservations seems to be a global trend.
Restaurant Reservation Service OpenTable reported an 8% increase in solo dining reservations in the US last year compared to 2023, and the UK and Canada saw an increase of more than 10%.
The phenomenon has become ever apparent across the ditch too, with the average Australian dining solo 49 times in 2024 according to a national hospitality report.
NZ Restaurant Association CEO Marisa Bidois says it's likely New Zealanders are following suit.
A member poll conducted by the association in 2022 found 30% of responding restaurants reported an increase in solo dining.
'I think that it's probably becoming more acceptable as dining out is becoming part of our everyday life more,' Bidois says.
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'Travelling on your own is certainly becoming more common over the years. So, as we see our tourist numbers tick up, we may see more [solo diners] as well.'
Bidois also acknowledges the cost-of-living crisis as a possible reason for the increase.
'Not everyone is in a position to head out for dinner at any one time. And if you're a real foodie, and that's what you're putting your money aside for, you still want to be able to treat yourself.'
Auckland chef Al Brown told RNZ last year that his restaurants, which include inner-city Best Ugly Bagels and Depot Eatery, have experienced a rise in customers who are dining by themselves.
He says there seems to be more confidence around the activity – and also credits a rise in solo travellers.
'[People are] really enjoying their alone time in an atmosphere which is full of theatre. You're being looked after, you're eating a delicious plate of food hopefully – there is a whole lot of feel-good around that.
"You don't know what is going to happen so there is a little bit of anxiety. But generally, in hospitality, we're trying to look after people. That's our big thing; making people feel comfortable and giving them a great experience. When you come in alone, you get special treatment, there is no question about that.'
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Brown recognises that all owners want their tables to be full, but says the importance of taking care of solo diners should not be underestimated.
'If you look after a good single diner, every time they come to the city, they'll came back to you for sure.'
Nosh Restaurant dish featuring Wild Rabbit from Eastherbrook Farms 2019 (Source: istock.com)
Takimi Mazesoba, a booth-style ramen restaurant with a layout specifically designed to cater to solo diners, opened in Takapuna on Auckland's North Shore in January.
Adjustable partitions along the tables allow customers to separate themselves from others, creating a private booth with a sense of personal space.
The restaurant's layout is inspired by aspects of dining culture in Japan — a nation where nearly a quarter of the population eat out alone.
Restaurant operating manager Amy Wu says the booths are designed in response to changing modern lifestyles where people are increasingly valuing space and autonomy.
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'This is not about isolating people, but rather about providing freedom of choice and respecting individual comfort. Many people today enjoy having personal space while still being part of a shared environment,' she says.
'People no longer feel that eating alone must be awkward — instead, it can be peaceful, restorative, and enjoyable.'
She says it's mostly young people who savour their brothless-style ramen dish in solitude.
Wu believes the layout attracts more solo diners to Takimi Mazesoba than traditional restaurants.
'We believe that offering privacy as an accessible standard, not as a luxury, creates stronger loyalty.
'Many customers have shared that they feel no awkwardness dining alone here as they see others doing the same.'
The Restaurant Association survey showed more traditional restaurants are looking at how they can best accommodate a growing demand for friendly solo dining options, Bidois says.
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'Some people had specific areas in the restaurant with a nice outlook where a solo diner could sit and enjoy the view, a lot of shared tables and shared spaces and some people were adaptable with the menu as well,' she said.
And after 25 years of solo dining, Andre has developed his own list of what makes a restaurant ideal for a meal alone.
'It's always nice if they have a predefined section asking 'What kind of table do you want' on the booking page,' he says.
'With the proliferation of shared plates, which isn't particularly solo dining friendly, it can make picking options difficult. When I dined in Europe lots of restaurants I went to offered half-size entree or half-size sides."
He also rates restaurants that offer a degustation menu for one.
Filipino-flavoured Bar Magda and Italian-inspired Amano are among Andre's top picks for places to dine solo in his hometown.
For those who want to eat out alone but need that extra confidence boost, the seasoned solo diner says, 'the fear in your head is typically worse than the reality'.
'...Sometimes you'll go to a restaurant where people are kind of furtively looking at you and thinking 'Has he been stood up?'. But to be honest, I don't really give a toss about any of that. I'm there for the food; I'm there for the experience and I don't seem to notice anybody else.'
By Aisha Campbell for rnz.co.nz