Solo dining finds its moment
Solo dining is having a moment, with reservations for one jumping 23% over the past year, booking app OpenTable says. Why it matters: That growth may look like another sign of America's loneliness epidemic.
Reported by 1 outlet — Axios. See all sources ↓
Solo dining is having a moment, with reservations for one jumping 23% over the past year, booking app OpenTable says. Why it matters: That growth may look like another sign of America's loneliness epidemic. But many solo diners say eating alone offers a rare chance to slow down, reflect and savor the small stuff.Driving the news: Veronica Selzler, a 36-year-old Washington, D.C., resident, told Washington Post food critic Elazar Sontag — who first reported OpenTable's solo dining data — that she regularly takes herself on solo dates.Selzler sits at the bar, brings a book or sketchpad, avoids picking up her phone, and enjoys watching the kitchen staff prepare meals."I think I eat slower. I pay a lot more attention to the full sensory experience of a meal when I'm by myself, because I'm not chatting."By the numbers: OpenTable found that solo diners spend $94 on average, up 7% year over year.
Read the full report at Axios ↗
Why it matters
A world story we're tracking; its significance and source trust firm up as more outlets confirm it.
- What's the story?
- Solo dining is having a moment, with reservations for one jumping 23% over the past year, booking app OpenTable says. Why it matters: That growth may look like another sign of America's loneliness epidemic.
- How widely is it covered?
- 1 outlet, average source rating 7.0/10.
- When was it last updated?
- 12m ago.
How outlets are framing the same story
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Solo dining finds its moment
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