Coury Hospitality, a leading lifestyle hospitality management company, has released its first-ever 2025 Culinary Trends Report, offering a look at what’s "in" and "out" in dining and drinking culture this year. The report draws insights from a survey of 1,079 travelers aged 18 and over in tandem with proprietary data from Coury Hospitality’s restaurants and bars.
“At Coury Hospitality, we lead with food and beverage at all of our properties, which is why 70%-80% of our diners across our portfolio are locals. Understanding the evolving dining habits and desires of the communities we serve and travelers not only improves our operations and drives revenue for our hotel partners, but allows us to provide exceptional guest experiences by personalizing our F&B programs and activations to create unmatched moments,” said Nicole Haarklau, Corporate Director, Food & Beverage Operations at Coury Hospitality. “We are excited to share our first-ever culinary trends report, which reveals what matters most to diners and travelers in 2025 as they seek deeper connections, unique experiences and classic cocktails.”
Let's take a look at the tastes, appetites, and shifting dining preferences of American travelers revealed by the 2025 Culinary Trends report.
Classic Cocktails Reign Supreme
The 2025 Culinary Trends report revealed how Americans are drinking in 2025, and it turns out they have a taste for the classics. Across Coury’s properties, cocktail orders increased 13% in 2024 from the following year.
When asked which classic cocktails are "in" for 2025, margaritas were the winner with 81% of participants reporting they are taking this drink into the new year. Savory cocktails, such as the bloody mary and the dirty martini, are also popular according to 76% of respondents. Other drinks that are "in" with diners in 2025 include:
- Espresso martini (58%),
- Old fashioned, with orders increasing by 29% in 2024
One cocktail diners can't agree on, however, is the cosmopolitan. Americans are split down the middle with 50% of respondents saying it's "in" and 50% saying it's "out."
Non-alcoholic cocktails are also in demand, with 76% of Americans saying non-alcoholic beverage options—like mocktails, non-alcoholic beer, or alcohol-removed wines—are "in." This reflects the 37% increase in non-alcoholic beverage orders at Coury’s properties in 2024.
Dining All Day, All the Time
Coury's report found that Americans are viewing any time as a good time to dine out.
For one, the survey found approval for dining out during the work week, with 74% of respondents ranking weeknight dinner reservations as “in.” Drinking during the week ranked even higher, with 91% of survey respondents reporting they are favoring weekly happy hours in 2025.
Weeknight dining and drinking hasn't dinged weekend sales, however, as Saturday night remains the most popular time for dining at Coury Hospitality properties, with 10% higher food and beverage sales. Sunday brunch is also continuing to trend in 2025, according to 87% of survey respondents. At Coury’s restaurants and bars, mimosas reign as the preferred brunch beverage, as diners ordered the drink 34% more often than bloody marys in 2024. Similarly, french toast and burgers tied as the most popular brunch item, as guests crave both sweet and savory breakfast.
Seasonality also remains important, and more Americans are seeking comfort food with fresh, seasonal ingredients that tell a story. 95% of respondents say seasonal menus are "in," followed by comfort food (82%).
Hotels Get into the F&B Mix
Americans now have elevated expectations about food & beverage when traveling. In fact, 91% of survey respondents rank hotel lobby bars as “in” for 2025.
This aligns with the goal of hotels to create food and beverage outlets that make travelers want to spend their nights in and locals become regulars.
Connecting Over a Meal
Dining out is a chance for many Americans to form relationships and find connections. According to the report, diners are finding a number of ways to disconnect from technology so they can reconnect with others.
- 70% of Americans feel that no phones at the table will be “in” for 2025
- 48% believe taking photos of one’s meal or drink will be “out"
- 89% of survey respondents say sharing food with their friends is "in" this year
- 72% said meeting for dinner as a first date is "in”
- Just under 75% of respondents think meeting for drinks as a first date is "in"
- 78% believe that having a conversational bartender or waiter is “in”
Guest Experience is Key
Guests want more than just a meal when they visit a restaurant—they want an engaging experience in the form of an activation or a special event that leaves them with unforgettable memories in unique places.
According to diners, these unique guest experiences are "in" this year:
- Hidden speakeasies (74%)
- Live music while dining (76%)
- Pop-up activations (65%)
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