Kayak users have rated Berlin as the best place for international solo travelers
Ready for some alone time? Solo travel is the answer. According to recent data, 50% of Americans plan to travel alone this year, while 52% will dine as a couple. New data from a joint survey by KAYAK and OpenTable shows that there is a strong desire for solo travel: 81% of Americans say they have eaten alone at a restaurant, and 70% have traveled alone. And since September is considered solo travel month, the travel and hospitality brands have teamed up to release a solo travel guide and list of solo travel restaurants at home and abroad in every solo travel hotspot.
Kayak has ranked the most popular destinations for solo travelers. Washington, DC is the number one destination for solo travelers and dining in the US, followed by Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Tampa, Philadelphia, Seattle, Los Angeles, and New York in tenth place.
According to Kayak data, New York City is the tenth best place in America for solo travelers
Internationally, Berlin, Vancouver, Montreal, Paris and Milan are the most popular destinations for solo travelers from the USA, followed by Dublin, Toronto, Dubai, Mexico City and London.
“Searches for single rooms in hotels have increased 38% since 2019, making solo travel one of the hottest trends this year,” said Matt Clarke, VP of NA Marketing at KAYAK. “And if you’re traveling alone, there’s a good chance you’re eating alone, too. With a third of Americans trusting fellow travelers and experts on their solo adventures, we asked KAYAK’s travel experts and OpenTable’s restaurant pros for their best hacks and tips for solo travel and dining.”
Of course, solo travelers need to eat, and OpenTable’s data-driven list includes 75 restaurants across America, so travelers can successfully find a table for one in the most popular cities for solo travelers.
Half of Americans plan to travel alone this year
The extensive list includes Bistro Du Jour in Washington, DC, Little Whale in Boston, Tre Dita in Chicago, Ecco Buckhead in Atlanta and Current Fish & Oyster in Salt Lake City.
Internationally, the list highlights 50 restaurants for solo travelers, including Funky Fisch in Berlin, Tableau Bar Bistro in Vancouver, Brasserie 701 in Montreal, Tracé in Paris and Ristorante Torre in Milan.
“Solo dining is one of the standout trends of 2024, up 8% from last year,” said Robin Chiang, SVP of Growth at OpenTable. “Our data also shows that solo diners tend to spend big, spending 48% more per person than the average guest.”
Solo travel can be rewarding in cities and in nature
Treating yourself may be an easy decision, but deciding where to go can be a little confusing, especially if you don’t have fellow travelers to bounce ideas off of. To help travelers and locals (dining alone isn’t just for people away from home), OpenTable has also launched Icons, a page showcasing the best restaurants in select cities that helps locals and travelers snag a hot table by showing the earliest time a table will open up at a hotspot.
In New York, the first class of icons includes Babbo Ristorante, Demo, Scarr’s Pizza, Wildair, Casa Mono, ASKA, Craft, Sushi Ichimura, l’abeille, Hav & Mar, Tempura Matsui, The Musket Room, Raf’s, Koloman, Aquavit, Le B., Le Jardinier, Caviar Russe, Café Mars, odo, Kochi, Win Son and Mari.
“With Icons and our Solo Restaurant and Travel Guide – which features restaurants by solo travelers for solo travelers – we have the right thing for your next trip,” Chiang added.
