There’s a growing group of people who’ve found it pretty satisfying to eat by themselves in restaurants.
According to data TIME published from the restaurant reservation website OpenTable, solo dining reservations have risen 29% since 2022; they’re up 18% in 2024 in Germany and 14% in the United Kingdom, the site says.
In Japan, this is nothing new, the magazine explains — there’s even a term for it, “ohitorisama” — but even there, 23% now say they eat by themselves, compared to 18% in 2018.
The CEO of OpenTable, Debby Soo, suggests remote work may have kicked off this movement. “I think there’s a broader movement of self-love and self-care and really,” saying people have been taught to start “enjoying your own company.”
“The social norms have changed. People don’t look at solo diners anymore and think, ‘You must be a loner,'” said Anna Mattila, a professor of lodging management at Penn State University.
TIME cited a 2019 Pew Research Center poll that discovered 38% of U.S. adults ages 25 to 54 were living without a partner — a jump from 29% in 1990. In Japan, single households are expected to jump 40% by 2040, according to the government.
That said, restaurants in general would much rather serve a large party than a party of one. In fact, some won’t take a reservation for a singleton. But others are adapting.
“While there may be a short-term loss there [serving just one], I think we’re kind of playing the long game and establishing ourselves as a place that’s truly special,” said Drew Brady, chief operating officer at Overthrow Hospitality, a company that operates 11 vegan restaurant concepts in New York.