Restaurant Trends Set To Take Over 2027

How will we all be dining out next year? OpenTable has released its 2027 report, highlighting the habits shaping the nation’s restaurant scene. Overall the outlook is positive for the future of Britain’s eateries – who we know have faced a difficult few years – with dining at UK restaurants up 10 percent year-on-year. Sixty five percent of those surveyed plan to dine out just as often or even more in 2027, with people predicting they’ll visit a restaurant an average of five times a month (rising to nine times among Gen Zs).

‘The UK’s appetite for dining out shows no signs of slowing down, but what diners want from restaurants is evolving for 2027,’ says Sasha Shaker, Senior Director at OpenTable in the UK and Ireland. From a growing desire to become restaurant regulars to experiential dining and celebrating micro-occasions, here are the restaurant trends set to be big next year – and the themes we’ll be leaving behind in 2026.

Dining Out Trends For 2027

Restaurant Regulars

There’s nothing quite like being greeted by name as you arrive at a restaurant, or having a barista remember your coffee order. But in 2027, familiarity will become an increasingly important factor when dining out, according to OpenTable – with 21 percent of Brits hoping to establish themselves as a restaurant regular in 2027. People cited motivations including convenience (26 percent) and a desire to support local businesses (23 percent), noting hopes to be rewarded by having waiters remember their name and order, and holding their usual table. Gen Zs and millennials are particularly keen to reach regular status, while it’s less of a concern for Gen Xs and baby boomers.

Ronnie Scott’s pop-up at 34 Mayfair

Eatertainment

Concerts and sporting events are a growing driver for dining out, with 30 percent of those surveyed saying they expect attending entertainment will lead them to book a restaurant in 2027. People are increasingly looking for great places to eat near venues; again this trend is more prominent among Gen Zs and millennials. And at the restaurants themselves, pop-ups, special menus, ticketed events and chef collaborations are reeling in diners more and more – with OpenTable seeing a 36 percent increase in experience dining in 2026. 

Large Group Dining

Big-table energy will be a key theme for 2027, with group dining on the rise. OpenTable’s report found an 18 percent increase in bookings for groups of six or above year-on-year, while 32 percent hope to see more group and private dining in 2027. Meanwhile, interest is waning around solo dining – 64 percent of people said they preferred dining with a group of friends or family to going out for dinner alone (solo travel, on the other hand, is booming). 

Smart Spending

British diners are prioritising value more than ever when it comes to dining out. Fifty three percent of those surveyed want to see more happy hours and value promotions in 2027, while 29 percent plan to use loyalty programmes and rewards to stretch their budgets further. Plus, 78 percent of Brits cited value for money as an extremely important or important factor when choosing a restaurant – especially among Gen X and baby boomers. 

Unsplash

The Treat Economy

Going out for dinner has long been a popular way to mark something special, but 2027 will be all about marking the small stuff as well as the big. Sixty eight percent of UK diners plan to celebrate everyday moments at a restaurant, with popular micro-occasions including reuniting with friends and family (30 percent), receiving good news (20 percent), personal achievements or goals (17 percent) and payday (16 percent). Date dining is an especially fast-growing category, seeing the highest year-on-year increase of any occasion on OpenTable at 47 percent. 

Which Trends Are We Leaving Behind?

Sharing plates have dominated the menus of trendy restaurants in recent years, but it seems the appeal may be fading: 15 percent of Brits would opt for sharing dishes as opposed to ordering their own meal. 

The evidence is mixed when it comes to cult restaurants, where you’ll likely have to queue for hours or book months in advance to nab a table. Sixty seven percent of UK diners said they’d rather go somewhere else than wait in line in 2027, but 62 percent of Brits said they have been more interested in dining somewhere because it felt exclusive. Overall, people are willing to wait for an average of 22 minutes to secure a spot at a restaurant (though Gen Zs are happy to queue for slightly longer at 32 minutes, and baby boomers won’t go past 15).

Which Restaurants Are Generating A Buzz?

The eateries with the highest volume of ‘notify me’ alerts for 2026 were: 

1. Bottarga, London
2. Bouchon Racine, London
3. CORE by Clare Smyth
4. Goodbye Horses, Greater London
5. Kismet Restaurant, London
6. Lagana, London
7. Little Capo, Edinburgh
8. Nina, London
9. Pierluigi’s, Beckenham
10. Tiella Trattoria & Bar, London