Germany Full-Service Restaurants Market Report 2025
In 2025, the German full-service restaurant (FSR) market is set to grow by 3.8%, reaching an estimated €35.3bn.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- What you need to know
- Outlook for full-service restaurants
- Opportunities
- Democratise access to curated dining experiences
- Leverage aperitivo hour to unlock the potential of the snacking trend
- Promote non-alcoholic alternatives as a way to enhance the dining experience
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THE MARKET
- Market size and forecast
- Consumer confidence is recovering but remains fragile
- Lower spenders are more likely to plan to cut back
- Graph 1: spending plans at full-service restaurants in the next 12 months, by typical spend per person per visit, 2025
- FSR margins are thinner than ever, but the return of the 7% VAT should bring some respite
- The experience economy is increasingly shaping FSRs
- Market size and forecast
- The full-service restaurant market will continue growing in the coming years
- Graph 2: market value forecast for full-service restaurants, 2019-30
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THE CONSUMER
- Full service restaurant usage and preferences
- Full-service restaurants are a cornerstone of eating out culture in Germany
- Takeaway and delivery are becoming established features in FSRs
- Younger consumers lean heavily towards world cuisine FSRs…
- …underlining their taste for adventurous dining
- Motivations to visit FSRs
- FSRs enable valuable quality time with loved ones
- Turn everyday moments into a chance for social connection to boost visits
- For younger consumers, the thrill of a new food discovery also drives visits…
- Graph 3: select motivating factors to factors to eat out at a full-service restaurant in the last 12 months, by age, 2025
- …with potential to target them with interactive food and drink experiences
- Factors driving repeat visits
- Value for money, service, and ambiance are what keep consumers coming back for more
- Compete on experience-focused worth, not price
- Loyalty programmes struggle to gain traction in FSRs…
- …despite showing great potential
- The loyalty programme (r)evolution
- FSR dining behaviours
- Early dining is common in FSRs…
- …fuelling the popularity of aperitivo hour
- The stigma around solo restaurant visits is fading
- Capitalise on the solo-dining market
- Menu-related behaviours
- ‘Less-is-more’ menus strike a chord with diners
- Smaller bites and sharing options are in demand….
- …as traditional menu categories evolve
- ‘Zebra-striping’ is a common practice at FSRs…
- …driven by a desire for balance
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INNOVATION AND MARKETING
- International tapas-style concepts bet on the German market
- L’Osteria: Where good value and the joy of sharing meet
- Peter Pane launches ‘Around the World in 80 Bites’ campaign
- Circus Group brings the next generation of kitchen automation
- HiddenTable expands to Berlin
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APPENDIX
- Report scope/market definition
- The market
- Forecast methodology
- Forecast methodology – fan chart
- Market size and forecast of full-service restaurants
- Market forecast and prediction intervals
- The consumer
- Consumer research questions
- Consumer research methodology
- Abbreviations
- A note on language – Germany
German Full-service Restaurant Industry – Trends and Insights
- In 2025, the German full-service restaurant (FSR) market is set to grow by 3.8%, reaching an estimated €35.3bn. Much of this momentum is still supported by price increases rather than true volume growth.
- Social connection and shared experiences remain at the heart of why 83% of Germans ate out at FSRs in the past year, making this sector a cornerstone of Germany’s eating-out culture despite pressure on household budgets.
- 65% of FSR visitors prefer streamlined, shorter menus over extensive ones, highlighting the importance of curation and expertise in consumer choices. Given prevalent cautious spending behaviours, democratising access to curated dining beyond fine dining is a key opportunity. Formats like accessible entry-level tasting menus, sampling platters and chef-driven menu suggestions hold potential.
- The sector continues to suffer the erosion of margins caused by high operational costs and declining alcohol sales as consumers cut back. With the scheduled return of the 7% VAT in 2026 expected to provide a relief, investing in rising categories, like snacks, and convincing consumers of the value of non-alcoholic alternatives will help boost sales.
This Report Looks at the Following Areas:
- Impact of inflation, cost of living pressures and VAT changes on FSR performance and margins
- Consumer behaviours: cautious spending, demand for curation and preference for mid-range pricing
- Evolving menu preferences: rise of snacks, sharing plates and focused offerings
- Emergence of experiential dining concepts and the role of social connection
- Alcohol moderation’s impact on on-premise beverage sales and how to boost value perceptions of non-alcoholic alternatives
- The growing importance of the takeaway/delivery channel in FSRs and interest in loyalty programme perks
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