# Communal Eating Communal tables bring sociability back to restaurant dining. By [Rebecca Byers](https://www.trendhunter.com/becbyers), Insights Research at Trend Hunter | Published Dec 1, 2015 | Category: [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/business-trends) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/communal-eating ## Key Figures - Trend score: 3.7/10 - Evidence articles: 5 ## What is the Communal Eating trend? **Communal Eating:** Once associated mainly with beer halls and college cafeterias, communal dining has reemerged in the restaurant world as a means to cultivating a feeling of larger community. However fleeting, the reemergence of communal eating transforms conventional dining experiences into a marketplace for human relationships. This progression speaks to the interest in cultivating organic offline interaction in an increasingly online world and the desire for community experiences without long-term commitments. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 5 featured examples - Articles from: Apr 28 to Dec 7, 2015 - Published: Dec 1, 2015 - Patterns: [Cyclicality](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/cyclicality), [Redirection](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/redirection) - Megatrends: [Simplicity](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/simplicity), [Experience](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/experience), [Nostalgia](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/nostalgia) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Alpha, Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia ## Themes within the Communal Eating trend ### Communal Eating Communal dining has reemerged in the restaurant world as a means to cultivating a feeling of larger community. ### Elevated Staff Food Halls There is a trend toward overhauling staff dining areas to resemble food hall-style dining halls with open-concept, communal seating. ### Indoor Market Concept Designers are creating indoor market spaces that evoke a feeling of community and culture, often with eclectic mix of chairs, tables, and vendors. ## What the Communal Eating trend means for industry ### For Hospitality Industry Hospitality professionals can capitalize on the trend of communal eating by providing communal dining experiences in their establishments. ### For Restaurant Industry Restaurant industry professionals can take note of the trend toward elevated staff food halls and indoor market concept and apply these design elements to their own spaces. ### For Interior Design Industry Interior designers can tap into the trend of communal eating and elevated staff food halls by creating dining spaces that promote a sense of community and encourage social interaction. ## Workshop question What role does social media play for your customer, and how does your brand or product fit into that equation? How could you maximize your position? ## Trend signals for Communal Eating Trend score 3.7 out of 10, from popularity 44%, activity 59%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 44% - Activity: 59% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Communal Eating trend 5 featured examples from Apr 28 to Dec 7, 2015. - [Airport Food Halls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/helsinki-airport): This Helsinki Airport Restaurant is Almost a Vacation in Itself (Category: World) Implication: Airport design firms could incorporate more innovative and immersive restaurant experiences into their blueprints. - [Eclectic Asian Eateries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/food-bazaar): This Food Bazaar in Thailand Recreates the Experience of Chinatown Indoors (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Introducing immersive cultural dining experiences to hotel guests and restaurant patrons. - [Contemporary Industrial Markets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mexico-city-restaurant): This Mexico City Restaurant Features a Vertical Vegetable Garden (Category: Art & Design) Implication: Innovative restaurant designs that focus on creating unique dining experiences and incorporating sustainable practices. - [Communal Garden Eateries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/Erba-Brusca): The Erba Brusca Restaurant Boasts Organic Ingredients & Communal Dining (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Restaurants can explore creating community-centered dining experiences and incorporating natural elements of decor to enhance customer satisfaction and connection. - [Staff Food Hall Makeovers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/staff-restaurant): Fortnum & Mason's Staff Restaurant Has Undergone an Overhaul (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: The architecture and interior design industry has the opportunity to create innovative and transformative dining spaces for staff restaurants. ## Recent trend clusters - [Assisted Conversion](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/ai-assisted-checkout) (Business) - [Occasion Commerce](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/occasion-commerce) (Business) - [Autonomous Merchandising](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/autonomous-merchandising) (Business) - [Layered Getaways](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/short-trip-leisure) (World) ## Trending in Business - [Performance-Based Creator Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/creator-ad-platforms) - [MIami Pop-Culture Shirts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/miami-pop-culture-shirts) - [Spice Discovery Calendars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flavor-countdown-calendars) - [Natural Deodorant Expansions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/target-beauty-studios) All articles: [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business)