Headlines

Restaurants: Be Ready for Tik-Tok/Instagram Close-Ups

Eateries’ interiors need to look as good on screen as they do in person, survey finds.

Published

10 months ago

January 20, 2026

Many of today’s diners want restaurants that are both homey and unique, an OpenTable survey finds. Photo: DGLimages/iStock by Getty Images

When online meal-reservation service OpenTable asked restaurateurs to identify the top design trends expected to surface in their establishments in the coming year, operators pointed to these three phenomena:

More bar seating: 26%
An increased emphasis on “Instagrammable” bathrooms: 21%
More minimalist design: 20%

In a separate poll, OpenTable asked diners how and why they choose the restaurants they patronize. The findings:

40% consider restaurants, cafes, and/or bars to be their dedicated “third place.”
48% say that cozy/local charm is the most appealing interior style.
54% are likely to pay a premium for a dining experience that offers a unique vibe.
58% deem a restaurant’s “Instagram/TikTok worthiness” as important, while 25% say it’s extremely important.

Based on those findings, OpenTable’s report drew the following conclusion: “Design matters more than ever: with TikTok and Instagram serving as hubs for discovery, restaurants know their interiors need to look as good on screen as they do in person.”

Click here for OpenTable’s complete report.

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