The team at OpenTable have done a deep-dive into their data from the last 12 months and have produced a 32-page report that’s rich pickings for anyone personally invested in restaurants in Australia.
As Drew Bowering, OpenTable’s General Manager, Australia, says, restaurants are where Australians build memories, form community, fuel local economies, and shape the character of our neighbourhoods. “This report reveals the true footprint of the hospitality sector and underscores why OpenTable is so passionate about championing its success.”
The full report is available to OpenTable partners and subscribers, but we’ve laid hands on a copy and have five key takeaways for you below. Let’s go.
Bookings are up year-on-year
There’s been a 10 per cent increase in dining at Australian restaurants in the last 12 months year-over-year². Why are more people dining out more often? Great food and drink play a part, but 86 per cent of diners surveyed say they’re looking for connection over all else, saying dining out locally directly boosts their personal and social wellbeing.
The average restaurant spend per person per visit over the last 12 months in Australia was $81
And one in three diners visit a restaurant, bar or café once a week – crunch the numbers on that. It’s a figure that helps power local economies and supports the local restaurants, pubs and cafés that 90 per cent of diners say are key to building a sense of community.
90 per cent of Australian diners agree local venues are essential for creating community spirit
Long before it’s a business, a restaurant is a gathering place. It’s where first dates turn into anniversaries, birthdays become traditions, and a familiar face behind the counter makes a new neighbourhood feel like home. These “third spaces” bridge life between home and work, providing the human connection that ties a community together. And the proof is in the pudding, with 47 per cent of diners saying their local’s role is to provide a space to reconnect with their friends or family, while 33 per cent say it’s just somewhere convenient to eat.
Melbourne has among the highest proportion of no-shows in Australia
It’s second only to Brisbane in no-shows, ahead of Adelaide, Newcastle and Perth. The cities the report identifies as the top five with the lowest proportion of no-shows are Canberra, Wollongong, Geelong, Mackay and – wait for it – Sydney.
The biggest week for no-shows in the year is the week of Valentine’s Day
When are restaurants most vulnerable to no-shows? Valentine’s Day and the week either side of it, with February 8, 2026 showing the highest no-show rate in the last 12 months⁶. Monday, meanwhile, was the day of the week with the largest increase in booking no-shows year-on-year⁶, and 9pm was the most common timeslot for a no-show in the last 12 months⁶.
Produced in partnership with OpenTable. Read the full OpenTable Restaurant Impact Report here.
Methodologies and sources:
¹ Diner Consumer Research: An online survey was conducted by Ripple Research among 1,024 Australian general consumers who dine out, with major cities weighted at 200. Fieldwork was carried out between 28 July 2026 and 4 August 2026. All data was collected in accordance with Market Research Society and ESOMAR guidelines, ensuring ethical standards and robust data quality.
² OpenTable au Data: OpenTable looked at seated diners and average spend per person from online reservations for same store restaurants on the OpenTable platform in AU from 1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026 and compared it to the same time period in 2024/2025 (2 July 2024 – 1 July 2025).
³ Jobs and Skills Australia, Accommodation and Food Services, published March 2026
⁴ Restaurant Consumer Research: An online survey was conducted by Ripple Research among 301 Australian restaurant workers. Fieldwork was carried out between 28 July 2026 and 4 August 2026. All data was collected in accordance with Market Research Society and ESOMAR guidelines, ensuring ethical standards and robust data quality.
⁵ Australian Bureau of Statistics: Australian Industry 2024–25, published June 2026.
⁶ OpenTable au Data: OpenTable looked at no show rates per reservation method for same store restaurants on the OpenTable platform in Australia from 1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026 and compared it to the same time period in 2024/25 (2 July 2024 – 1 July 2025).
⁷ OpenTable Global Data: OpenTable looked at no show rates for all active restaurants on the OpenTable platform globally with and without deposits from 1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026. Out prepaid experiences from 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025.
⁸ OpenTable Global Data: OpenTable looked at no show and late cancellation rates for all active restaurants on the OpenTable platform globally with and without prepaid experiences from 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025.