Restaurants In India Welcome 2025 With Record Sales, Higher Occupancy
Restaurateurs also refuted social media posts about "negligible" crowds in Goa that had ignited a debate about "bleak tourism."
This New Year's Eve marked a triumphant return to form for restaurants, defying their initial concerns about low consumer spending amid persistent inflation and a generally gloomy mood. Occupancy rates were 15-30% higher than last year depending on locations, while many recorded "all-time high" sales.
"Several of our chains recorded all-time high sales on New Year's Eve," said Zorawar Kalra, founder of Massive Restaurants Pvt., which owns and manages dine-in brands such as Pa Pa Ya, Farzi Café, and Masala Library.
New Year’s Eve saw a 90-95% occupancy rate, with footfall up by 15-20% over the previous year, according to Rajit Shetty, managing director of Ramee Group of Hotels, the operator of brands like Megumi and Ilili located in Mumbai's posh Bandra and Dadar, respectively. "Occupancy slightly dipped to 70-85% during lunch on Jan. 1, possibly because many preferred lighter meals post celebrations."
"From 9 p.m. onwards, all our outlets started reaching capacity," said Riyaaz Amlani, managing director, Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality Pvt., which operates an umbrella of brands including Social, Mocha, Smoke House Deli, Salt Water Cafe, Slink & Bardot, and Souffle.
On New Year's Eve, the company has experienced a 15-18% rise in footfalls across key cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, translating to about a 20% increase in sales over the previous year, he said.
Most restaurants had extended their dining hours and witnessed a full house till they shut down well past midnight. However, some felt that sales could have been higher if December 31 had fallen on a weekend instead of a weekday like last year.
"Though there was an uptick of more than 25% on New Year's Eve over last year, it could have been better if this was not a weekday," said Pradeep Shetty, vice president of the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India, which represents over five lakh restaurants across the country.
Goa Footfall Check
Recently, a social media post highlighting a "negligible" crowd in Goa has ignited debate about "bleak tourism." Many others said there were fewer visitors compared to previous jam-packed New Year's celebrations. But restaurateurs refuted these claims, insisting that "Goa was fully packed.".
"This year's celebrations surpassed last year in terms of energy and footfall of both locals and tourists," said Shashank Shetty, founder of Tipsy Tiger Bar Goa, adding that the venue was fully booked for Dec. 31.
FHRAI's Shetty concurred. "Goa was more or less sold out as usual, with occupancy across the city averaging around 90%," he said.
Changing Party Patterns?
Some restaurateurs also noted that this year's party scene was different from previous years. It was no longer solely about catering to the typical party animals. Instead, an increasing number of "mindful patrons" flocked to their favourite dining spots to ring in 2025. These guests opted for premium drinks, gourmet food options, and a relaxed ambience on New Year's Eve.
"We consciously chose not to host mindless ragers," said Akshay Shetty, owner of CrayCraft, in Marol, Mumbai. "Still, we were busy all day with a 30% increase in footfall over last year."
He added, "It was more about a mindful celebration this year with a conscious choice towards finer liquor and gourmet food options. Interestingly, even the young guests leaned towards this trend."
Megumi's Shetty echoed similar sentiments. "We saw a rise in family bookings compared to last year, with patrons seeking a relaxed yet festive environment. There was a notable shift towards curated dining experiences, with guests opting for tasting menus paired with premium wine."
While Goa, Mumbai, and New Delhi are well-known for hosting extravagant New Year's Eve parties and attracting large crowds, restaurateurs said that cities like Ahmedabad celebrated the occasion with equal fervour.
"People in Gujarat have started exploring their taste buds, benefitting entrepreneurs," said Paresh Desai, founder of Laurel by Flavors. The restaurant experienced 190 covers on New Year's Eve, exceeding expectations. "2024 was also a year for Instagrammable food presentation," he said, highlighting a key trend that the restaurant played along to attract more visitors.
