Restaurant booking trends are changing, and fast. If you run a restaurant in 2025, keeping up with market changes isn’t just a nice-to-have. Adapting to what diners want can help you fill tables and keep them coming back.
From making online reservations seamless to embracing social media and last-minute diners, these trends are shaping the way people choose where to eat. If you’re wondering which hospitality trends will get served this year, we did the prep work for you.
Here are restaurant booking insights you can’t afford to miss. Let’s dig in.
1. Online is your new front door
59% of diners now prefer to book restaurants online. This means a quick and easy-to-use booking system on your website and social platforms is essential.
Diners want to be able to check availability and book a table on the fly—without waiting on hold during peak hours or picking up the phone when they’re busy.
Having a mobile-friendly online booking system doesn’t just make it easier for your customers, it also makes them more likely to return. The smoother the booking process, the more likely diners are to choose your restaurant over others. Give them a seamless experience from the start.
2. Brace for last minute reservations
Let’s be honest—not everyone makes plans for dining out days in advance. That doesn’t mean you should miss out on the potential of spontaneous diners. This is where real-time table availability and virtual waitlists comes in.
On Now Book It’s online booking widget, customers can quickly see the next available table and book it in just one click. It’s an easy way to keep your restaurant buzzing while taking the pressure off of managing walk-ins.
The ability to check available times on the go, join a standby list and know exactly when their table is ready is a dream for spur of the moment diners. For restaurants, this means keeping your flow of customers steady, even during unpredictable rushes.
It’s a win-win: you fill your tables, and they get the convenience of dining on their terms.
3. Group bookings will keep coming
Group bookings can be tricky to manage—but with the right tools and tips, they don’t have to be a hassle.
Consider the needs of a large dining party. You may want to allow guests to pre-order to ease the load off your kitchen or allow bookings in more private spaces in your restaurant. Setting this up early in your restaurant reservation system can take a lot of the stress out of coordinating.
When you make it easy for diners to plan their group events, they’ll be more likely to choose your restaurant for their next celebration or get-together.
Training your staff to handle big groups can also reduce the confusion of receiving large parties and streamlining the process from managing bookings to seating guests.
4. Experiential dining is in
These days, people aren’t just looking for a place to eat—they’re after an experience they’ll want to share. Think wine-pairing nights, chef’s table dinners, or themed evenings that transport your guests to somewhere completely different.
The experiential dining trend speaks for itself: unique experiences can boost check averages by 30% compared to regular bookings. Even better, they build real loyalty—restaurants that offer them see 80% more repeat visits, and 90% of people who book an experience come back for another.
By letting diners book these special experiences ahead of time, you create buzz and give them something unique to look forward to. Plus, these events can often justify premium price tags plus afford you a chance to showcase your team’s creativity.
Make sure these experiences are easy to find and book—through your website, social media, or a streamlined booking system—and watch the excitement (and reservations) grow.
5. Social media generates reach—and resos
Your social media feed is more than just a place to share food photos—it’s a direct line to your customers. Adding “Book Now” buttons to your Instagram or Facebook posts and stories lets followers turn their scrolling into reservations with just one click.
Here’s something to think about: one-third of diners choose a restaurant simply because they saw a dish online. That sounds like the perfect opportunity to encourage a booking then and there.
Picture this—someone’s scrolling, they see your signature dish, and before they know it, they’ve booked a table for two. It’s an effortless way to turn that “I need to try this” feeling into an actual reservation. Instead of leaving your social to make food look good online—turn that engagement into real bookings.
6. Voice search optimisation is calling
“Hey Google, where’s the best brunch near me?”
More and more diners are using voice assistants to plan their dining, and this trend is growing fast. If your restaurant isn’t optimised for voice search, you might be missing out on new customers.
The fix is simple: make sure your restaurant’s details are up to date on platforms like Google My Business. Use natural, conversational language in your online descriptions so it matches how people speak when using voice search.
The next time someone asks Siri, Alexa or —insert AI name— for dinner suggestions, you want your restaurant to be the top answer.
7. Attract payday splurges
We’ve all been there—payday rolls around, and suddenly, a fancy dinner feels like everything you deserve and more. Those first few days after payday are prime time for diners to treat themselves, so make sure to treat those bookings right.
Offer special menus, indulgent cocktails, or exclusive deals that feel like a celebration. Then, promote these through social media, email newsletters, or your booking system, and you’ll catch people right when they’re ready to splurge.
Timing is everything, and a well-placed reminder can make all the difference to boost reservations.
Ready to elevate your bookings in 2025?
Keeping up with reservation trends doesn’t end with knowing what’s new—making the booking process easier for your diners is key to seeing your restaurant thrive, whether it’s streamlining online reservations, tapping into social media bookings, or being ready for those last-minute resos.
If it feels like a lot, remember that you don’t have to implement everything all at once. Start small—focus on one or two things you can improve right now, and build from there. Even small changes can make a big difference for your guests and your team.
What matters is you’re working to create a smooth, memorable booking experience that keeps your diners coming back. Most importantly, we’re here to help.
