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3 restaurant design trends taking over in 2025

Trends revolve around three key pillars: elevated experiences, indoor-outdoor integration and flexibility.

Pennyweight Hotel's 155 on Portland features a mix of seating options from hardback and seat chairs for quick turnover to soft chairs with upholstery for longer stays. It helps manage customer flow while accommodating for both fast, grab-and-go meals and more leisurely dining. Photo: Pennyweight Hotel

January 29, 2025 | Carrie Nielsen, Senior Associate and Senior Project Designer, JCJ Architecture

The restaurant scene is shifting, driven by changing consumer preferences, an emphasis on inclusivity, and the broader impacts of inflation. As budgets tighten, people are no longer just looking for a meal — they're seeking an experience. This transition pushes eateries to rethink their design approach, blending hospitality, food, and ambiance in new and exciting ways.

For 2025, the trends we're seeing revolve around three key pillars: elevated experiences, indoor-outdoor integration and flexibility. These aren't just buzzwords — they're the foundation of what's next for restaurant design from immersive dining to spaces that can adapt to diverse needs.

1. Elevated experiences with creative touches

With inflation putting pressure on dining budgets, many guests face smaller portions at higher prices. But this isn't a setback—it's an opportunity for restauranteurs to rethink what dining is all about. From table-side service to interactive elements like open kitchens and pizza ovens, and unique offerings like mocktails and crafted beverages, restaurants are elevating the occasion in creative ways.

These touches help make smaller portions feel more substantial and help shift the focus from the amount of food to the overall quality of the experience. Whether it's a speakeasy-inspired bar tucked away for an intimate feel or a unique food truck offering that feels more like a curated touch point than a transaction, creating memorable moments has become central to F&B design.

2. Bringing the outdoors in

Rose Kitchen & Bar at Canopy by Hilton Boston features large windows with a garden view. photo: Rose Kitchen

A notable trend in restaurant design is a push to create a seamless harmony between the indoors and outdoors. Adding patios or terraces won't cut it anymore—it's all about creating environments where diners can feel the outdoors, even while indoors. We're seeing, and incorporating into our own work, more venues utilize features like large retractable windows, green walls and hangings, and natural elements. These choices create an airy, open atmosphere that enhances the dining journey and taps into the growing desire for spaces that connect us to nature.

Spots like the Rose Kitchen & Bar at Canopy by Hilton Boston, with its large windows and garden view, show how indoor-outdoor design reshapes the way we dine. Similarly, the Moxy Atlanta Midtown embraces garage-style doors that open up to engage with the nearby baseball park, reinforcing the connection between the dining area and its surroundings.

3. Flexible and localized dining environments

The importance of flexibility is evident, as restaurants adapt their spaces to accommodate a variety of dining experiences. Many hotel restaurants are incorporating areas that can easily transition between casual, quick stops and more relaxed, sit-down occasions. For instance, having a mix of seating options — from hardback and seat chairs for quick turnover to soft chairs with upholstery for longer stays —helps manage customer flow while accommodating for both fast, grab-and-go meals and more leisurely dining. Whether it's for a guest popping in for a coffee or lingering over a full meal, these versatile spaces, such as the Pennyweight Hotel's restaurant, 155 on Portland, cater to various dining styles.

This flexibility also extends to the integration of local design elements, where some restaurants are strongly connected to the surrounding neighborhood, while others might choose to maintain a curated brand identity independent of their locale. For example, Café@Six at Six South St. Hotel draws inspiration from its vibrant surroundings, creating a cozy, community-centric space, while the Pennyweight Hotel reflects local history and the spirit of Boston's charm. Ultimately, creating a sense of place remains an important consideration, but the approach can vary depending on the concept and goals of the establishment.

Embracing the Future of Dining

As trends shift in 2025, the focus is clear: creating spaces that offer more than just food. Whether it's through curated F&B experiences, the integration of biophilic touches, or flexible dining options, the future of restaurant design is about crafting immersive, personalized environments that engage guests on multiple levels. These spaces satisfy both the practical needs of dining and the desire for memorable, dynamic experiences that go beyond what's on your plate.