In the ever-evolving world of hospitality, it can be challenging to predict what’s around the corner—particularly after a tumultuous five years. From rising food costs to reduced consumer spending and ever-changing customer expectations, it can often feel like you’re fighting to keep abreast of the latest changes and trends within the industry.
To tap into the minds of business owners and customers, we surveyed over 1,000 hospitality operators and more than 2,000 consumers from across Australia to uncover the top dining trends in 2025 and how they compared with 2024.
Our analysis shares a dual perspective—predictions from hospitality operators for the year ahead and diner preferences. This provides a unique comparison highlighting where business owners and customers align, if there are any disconnects, and how priorities are changing compared to last year.
Let’s dive in.
2024 vs 2025
Last year, we asked operators which dining trends they planned to implement in 2024, and we’ve just asked venues the same question for 2025.
We also asked diners what they’d like to see on the menu in the coming year to see if the groups are on the same page or if there are disparities between their priorities and preferences.
Last year, while operators and diners were aligned on some menu items, there was a clear disconnect around trends like vegan/plant-based items and bottomless drinks. This year, however, there are some movers and shakers on the list, but the groups are generally more aligned on their menu priorities.
Let’s look at what they said and how this compares to 2024.
Top dining trends for 2025
- Catering to dietary requirements
- Sustainable food sourcing
- Alcohol-free beverages
- Limited-edition menus
- Vegan or plant-based items
- Fusion food
- Bottomless drinks
- Functional foods
1. Catering to dietary requirements
Hospitality operators ranked catering to dietary requirements as their top trend in 2025, with 51% of venues planning to broaden the inclusivity of their menus in the new year.
Where did this trend rank in 2024?
Hospitality operators ranked this trend 5th in their priority list last year. 26% of venues wanted to better cater to different dietary requirements in 2024
For venues, this trend has witnessed a significant increase in importance year-on-year. In 2024, around one in four venues planned to cater to dietary requirements, compared with one in two in 2025.
Where did diners rank this trend?
#2 – 26% of diners want to see hospitality venues cater to dietary requirements in 2025, up from 20% in 2024.
Diners and operators were on the same page regarding the importance of catering to dietary requirements in 2025, with the groups ranking them 2nd and 1st, respectively.
2. Sustainable food sourcing
The second most popular trend highlighted by hospitality operators was sustainable food sourcing, with 51% of venues planning to prioritise sustainability in 2025.
Where did this trend rank in 2024?
Sustainable food sourcing was also the second most popular trend for hospitality operators in 2024.
However, the number of venues planning to implement sustainable food sourcing has increased year-on-year. One in three venues wanted to implement this in 2024, compared to one in two in 2025.
Where did diners rank this trend?
#1 – 34% of diners want to see sustainable food sourcing at hospitality venues next year. This is the top priority for diners for a second year running, with the group also ranking this trend as #1 in 2024.
Again, diners and operators are relatively aligned on this trend, with the groups ranking them 1st and 2nd, respectively.
3. Alcohol-free beverages
47% of hospitality operators plan to include alcohol-free beverages into their offerings in 2025, making this the third-highest priority for venues in the coming year.
Where did this trend rank in 2024?
This was the least pressing trend for hospitality operators in 2024, ranking 8th, with only 21% of venues wanting to introduce alcohol-free beverages to their menus.
This trend has seen one of the biggest shifts between 2024 and 2025. Only one in five venues wanted to include alcohol-free beverages on the menu in 2024, compared to nearly one in two in 2025.
Where did diners rank this trend?
#5 – 21% of diners want hospitality venues to offer alcohol-free beverages on the menu in 2025, up from 18% in 2024.
Diners ranked this slightly lower on their priority list compared to venues; however, there is a growing demand for alcohol-free beverages year-on-year from consumers.
4. Limited-edition menus
Limited-edition menus are another popular trend for 2025, with 47% of venues wanting to incorporate limited-edition menus into their offerings in the coming year.
Where did this trend rank in 2024?
Hospitality operators ranked limited-edition menu items as their 6th priority in 2024. 26% of venues planned to include limited-edition menus last year.
Where did diners rank this trend?
#3 – 22% of diners want to see limited-edition menus at hospitality venues, up from 17% in 2024.
Again, diners and operators are relatively aligned here, with venues ranking limited-edition menus as their 4th priority and diners ranking it 3rd.
5. Vegan or plant-based items
43% of hospitality operators plan to add vegan or plant-based items to their menus in 2025.
Where did this trend rank in 2024?
Venues ranked this as the top trend to implement in 2024, with 31% of venues planning to incorporate vegan/plant-based items into their menus last year.
Interestingly, while a higher percentage of operators are planning to introduce vegan or plant-based items to the menu next year, compared to last year, the trend isn’t as much of an overall priority compared to others on the list for 2025.
Where did diners rank this trend?
#7 – 12% of diners want to see vegan or plant-based food on the menu in 2025, slightly down from 13% last year.
Diners’ opinions towards vegan and plant-based food have remained relatively steady year-on-year, whereas operators have dramatically deprioritised the trend. This may highlight how operators are listening to the needs of diners to align their priorities with their customers.
6. Fusion food
Fusion foods aren’t a top priority for hospitality operators in 2025, with 34% of venues planning to add this to their menus.
Where did this trend rank in 2024?
Hospitality operators ranked fusion food as their 4th priority in 2024, with 27% of venues including fusion food in their offerings last year.
Where did diners rank this trend?
#6 – 16% of diners want to see fusion food on the menu in 2025, down from 18% in 2024.
Diners and operators were most aligned with this trend, ranking it 6th in their list of menu priorities for the coming year.
7. Bottomless drinks
Bottomless drinks are also a low priority for operators this year, with 27% of venues planning to add them to their menu.
Where did this trend rank in 2024?
The bottomless drink trend remains the same in 2025, with venues ranking bottomless drinks as their 7th priority last year as well. Only 25% of venues planned to add bottomless drinks to their menu last year.
Where did diners rank this trend?
#4 – 21% of diners want hospitality venues to offer bottomless drinks in 2025, slightly down from 22% in 2024.
It’s a similar situation to last year, with bottomless drinks highlighting a disconnect between hospitality operators and customers. However, diners aren’t favouring this trend as much as they did last year when they ranked it their 2nd highest priority.
8. Functional foods
Functional foods(e.g. food as a medicine)were the least pressing menu trend highlighted by hospitality operators, with 26% of venues planning to introduce alcohol-free beverages to their menus.
Where did this trend rank in 2024?
Functional foods were the 3rd top trend for hospitality venues last year, with 27% of operators adding functional foods to their menu in 2024.
Where did diners rank this trend?
#8 – 10% of diners want to see functional food on the menu in 2025, down from 11% last year.
Like fusion foods, diners and operators were also aligned with this trend, with both groups giving it the least priority for the coming year.
Operator and diner priorities are more aligned for 2025
The data reveals a promising alignment between diners and hospitality operators on key menu priorities for 2025, such as catering to dietary requirements and sustainable food sourcing, demonstrating a shared commitment to inclusivity and environmental responsibility.
However, notable discrepancies persist, particularly regarding bottomless drinks and alcohol-free beverages. Operators are showing a stronger push toward alcohol-free offerings compared to diner preferences for bottomless drinks.
These insights underscore the importance of keeping a finger on the pulse of customer preferences to navigate changing trends, tastes and expectations effectively. As we enter the new year, businesses must stay agile, responsive, and attuned to their customers’ evolving expectations.
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