AS we head into winter, Dineplan looks back at one of the most remarkable summers on record for dining out in South Africa.
Between November 2025 and March 2026, millions of diners did exactly that with the help of Dineplan. The stats were gathered on where, when, why and how diners chose to come together during one of the busiest summers yet.
If there’s one headline statistic, it’s this: 3.5 million restaurant bookings were made on the Dineplan platform over the summer season, translating to 15 million diners seated at local restaurants — a 14.6% year-on-year increase.
Today’s diner doesn’t plan the way they used to. They browse, compare, and decide in real time. That behaviour shows up clearly in how bookings are made:
- The Dineplan app grew 30% year on year, making it the fastest-growing booking channel
- It recorded 15.7 million views over the season
- And notably, 13% of all reservations were made on the same day
This is a shift towards immediacy. Dining decisions are happening closer to the moment, often driven by mood, availability, or last-minute plans. If this summer revealed anything, it’s that people are dining out more, but they’re also dining differently. The modern diner is fluid, curious, and increasingly led by availability, mood, and moment.
Search trends offer a window into what diners actually want, and this summer, the top five most searched cuisines and categories were:
- Fine dining
- Breakfast
- Italian
- Seafood
- Steakhouse
79% of users start their search broadly, filtering by availability, specials, cuisine type, or area, not by looking for a specific restaurant.
Last summer, South Africans did most of their booking between 11am and 1pm, turning group chat plans into confirmed reservations, while 7pm on Fridays remained the most popular time to dine out.
In a season defined by long lunches, Friday feasts, and fully-booked restaurants, South Africans made one thing very clear: dining out will forever remain one of life’s great pleasures.
