[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Blog Post Section” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ admin_label=”Intro + Post Nav” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_padding=”0px||30px||false|false” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Post Nav” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”||||on|||RGBA(33,41,69,0.2)|” link_text_color=”#212945″ background_color=”#F4F4F6″ custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Intro” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
As we move into winter, it\u2019s worth taking a step back and looking at what happened over the summer.<\/p>\n
This past summer wasn\u2019t just busy \u2013 it was telling. The way diners booked, searched for restaurants, and showed up shifted in ways that matter for how restaurants plan, market, and operate going forward.<\/p>\n
With millions of bookings flowing through Dineplan between November 2025 and March 2026, we\u2019ve unpacked what those patterns mean for you.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”A strong season \u2013 beyond just growth” module_id=”strong-season” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Content” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Over the summer, 3.5 million reservations<\/strong> were made through Dineplan, seating around 15 million diners<\/strong>. That\u2019s a 14.6%<\/strong> year-on-year increase.<\/p>\n Even when factoring in platform growth, the average standalone restaurant still saw covers increase by 10%<\/strong>.<\/p>\n What this points to is fairly clear:<\/strong> Dining out isn\u2019t slowing down \u2013 it\u2019s firmly back in people\u2019s routines. And with continued inbound travel, South Africa remains a highly active dining market.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”The shift to real-time decision making” module_id=”decision-making” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Content” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n One of the biggest changes we\u2019re seeing is when people decide to book.<\/p>\n Diners are no longer planning days in advance. They\u2019re browsing, comparing, and booking closer to the moment \u2013 often based on availability, mood, or a last-minute plan.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n What this means for you:<\/strong> If your restaurant isn\u2019t easy to find and book in real time, you\u2019re missing a growing share of demand.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Discovery is driving bookings” module_id=”discovery” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Content” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Search behaviour is where things get particularly interesting. The most searched categories this summer were:<\/p>\n But more importantly, 79% of diners didn\u2019t search for a specific restaurant<\/strong>. They started broad \u2013 filtering by area, availability, cuisine, or specials \u2013 and made decisions from there. That means most diners aren\u2019t arriving with you in mind. They\u2019re choosing from what\u2019s visible in the moment.<\/p>\n The opportunity: <\/strong>Discovery is now one of the biggest drivers of new bookings \u2013 especially when it comes to tourists and first-time guests.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Fridays still matter (but how people plan them has changed)” module_id=”fridays-matter” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Content” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Booking behaviour continues to follow a familiar rhythm \u2013 with a few nuances.<\/p>\n The peak time for making reservations is right in the middle of lunch service, when restaurants are least available to answer phones. Fridays are also the busiest day for booking creation, linking directly to the short-lead, last-minute habits we\u2019re seeing from diners across the platform.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Fridays and Saturdays remain the anchor of the week, with average table sizes sitting at around 4.5 guests per booking \u2013 consistent with previous summers.<\/p>\n People are still using dining out as a way to connect and socialise. What\u2019s changed is how quickly those plans come together.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Key calendar moments still dominate” module_id=”calendar-moments” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Content” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Even with the rise in spontaneous bookings, certain dates continue to outperform.<\/p>\n These moments still drive demand at scale \u2013 and remain key opportunities to plan around.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”What this means going into winter (and beyond)” module_id=”what-this-means” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Content” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n If there\u2019s one takeaway from this summer, it\u2019s this: Diners are more active \u2013 but also more flexible. They\u2019re:<\/p>\n For restaurants, that shifts where the focus needs to be:<\/p>\n The restaurants that perform best aren\u2019t just the most well-known \u2013 they\u2019re the easiest to discover and book in the moment.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_cta button_url=”https:\/\/restaurants.dineplan.com\/?utm_source=Dineplan_Blog&utm_medium=Post&utm_campaign=summer_dining_insights” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Chat To Our Team” admin_label=”CTA\/call-out block – Grey with blue button” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#F4F4F6″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#212945″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_color=”#212945″ button_font=”|600|||||||” button_use_icon=”off” button_custom_padding=”10px|25px|10px|25px|true|true” background_layout=”light” link_option_url=”https:\/\/restaurants.dineplan.com\/?utm_source=Dineplan_Blog&utm_medium=Post&utm_campaign=summer_dining_insights” link_option_url_new_window=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Dineplan works with over 2,000 restaurants across South Africa, giving us a real-time view of how diners behave at scale. It\u2019s this dataset \u2013 across millions of bookings \u2013 that allows us to surface trends like these and help our partners stay ahead of them.<\/p>\n If you want to dig deeper into your own booking data or explore how to capture more of this demand, chat to our team.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" South Africa\u2019s summer dining season saw 3.5 million bookings and a clear shift in diner behaviour. From last-minute reservations to discovery-driven searches, here\u2019s what the data means for restaurants looking to stay competitive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16506,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[412,659,689,212],"tags":[772,774,787,806,821],"class_list":["post-16503","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-posts","category-for-restaurateurs","category-restaurant-industry-reports","category-news","tag-data-and-reporting","tag-dineplan-app","tag-hospitality-industry","tag-reports","tag-trends"],"yoast_head":"\nThe shift to real-time decision making<\/h3>\n
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Discovery is driving bookings<\/h3>\n
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Fridays still matter (but how people plan them has changed)<\/h3>\n
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Key calendar moments still dominate<\/h3>\n
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What this means going into winter (and beyond)<\/h3>\n
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