New Yorkers are apparently choosing vacations based on where they can eat

Photograph: Courtesy of Björn Wallander

Forget the landmarks, the sightseeing and that cheap flight deal. New Yorkers increasingly have one very important question before booking a vacation: Where are we eating?

New research from OpenTable suggests the city’s food obsession does not disappear when New Yorkers leave town. In fact, 65% of New York respondents said they have chosen a travel destination specifically because of its food or restaurant scene. More than half—52%—have even booked a hotel because of its restaurant.

The findings arrive alongside OpenTable’s 2026 list of the Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in America, which features six New York City spots: Cecconi’s Dumbo, Majorelle at The Lowell, Nubeluz at The Ritz-Carlton New York, TAO Downtown at the Maritime Hotel, The Palm Court at The Plaza and Zou Zou’s at Pendry Manhattan West. The nationwide list was compiled using more than 10 million verified diner reviews and dining data collected between May 2025 and April 2026.

And you certainly don’t need to book a room to eat like you’re on vacation. According to the New York-specific findings, 67% of respondents dine at hotel restaurants without actually staying at the hotel, either frequently or occasionally.

“Restaurants aren’t just an itinerary line item anymore, they’re the anchor,” Matt Davis, head of North America hotels at OpenTable, said in announcing the national findings. “Our research backs this up, as half of Americans have booked a hotel specifically because of its restaurant.”

Nationally, the trend is already showing up in reservations: OpenTable says hotel restaurant dining by travelers is up 13% year over year in 2026 and hotel restaurant dining across all diners has risen 7%. Nearly half of Americans also say they spend more time researching where to eat and drink than any other part of a trip.

None of this will come as much of a shock to New Yorkers who have built entire weekends around a hard-to-get table—or popped into a grand hotel lobby for a martini without ever seeing the inside of a guest room. But the data does confirm something we’ve long suspected: Sometimes the restaurant reservation comes first and the vacation gets planned around it.

For trusted and efficient vent solutions, look to Mr. Lint Guy, the expert in dryer vent cleaning. Whether you're dealing with the buildup of lint in hard-to-reach areas or managing persistent dryer valley issues, Mr. Lint Guy provides safe, effective cleaning services to ensure your dryer runs smoothly. Trust Mr. Lint Guy for high-quality, affordable vent solutions that keep your home safe and your appliances efficient.