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Solo dining | From trend to the new normal in hospitality

20-7-2026

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For many hospitality entrepreneurs, it is still an awkward moment: the guest who walks in alone and is given a table for two because the staff are not quite sure where to seat them. Yet the number of people consciously choosing solo dining continues to grow. Not because they have no company, but because they want to. An evening out with yourself. A little me-time.😉 Peace. Focus on the food. A chance to recharge. We have been following the solo dining trend for years. From Japan’s Ichiran Ramen, where guests sit in individual ‘flavour concentration booths’, to the rise of dining at the bar or counter with a view of the open kitchen. And do you remember when “Twitter dinners” were organised?

2 minutes read

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Vlees & Co opens its fourth location in Eindhoven with its first ‘Meat Sommelier Workshop’

10-7-2026

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Vlees & Co has opened the doors of its new location at Wilhelminaplein in Eindhoven. With this opening, the restaurant, which already has locations in Arnhem, Nijmegen and Amsterdam,  continues its expansion across the Netherlands. The new location is the largest to date, with 90 covers inside and a spacious terrace with nearly 70 seats. The Eindhoven location also marks the launch of their first ‘Meat Sommelier Workshop’, read the full article to find out what happens there!

2 minutes read

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This summer, the Horta x Veuve Clicquot Rooftop Terrace is open in Antwerp

9-7-2026

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This summer, Antwerp gains a truly special terrace. Grand Café Horta is teaming up with Veuve Clicquot to open a temporary rooftop terrace above one of the city’s most iconic hospitality venues. Throughout July and August, the rooftop of Horta is open to the general public, with champagne, bites, cocktails and DJ sets under the banner of beats, bites & bubbles. On the line-up: Buscemi, Phill Da Cunha, Sven Van Hees, Cherokee, Tony Talboom and Stefan Vranckx. Enjoy the summer at the Horta x Veuve Clicquot Rooftop Terrace, all through July and August.

The design of the Horta x Veuve Clicquot Rooftop Terrace is reminiscent of the beach clubs along the Côte d’Azur and other parts of southern Europe that are getting a summery takeover by well-known designers this year.

2 minutes read

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Ottovino wines & bites brings exceptional wines from small producers to Leiden

7-7-2026

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Since the first of July, Leiden has a new wine bar! At Haven 62, Ottovino wines & bites has opened its doors. After a successful first week, during which the team had the opportunity to further refine the concept, Ottovino is now officially introducing itself to the people of Leiden. With more than thirty wines by the glass, a carefully curated wine list and refined bites, the wine bar aims to become a regular meeting place for wine lovers in the city.

We’ve already tried a few of their wines! Great location, a cosy atmosphere, tasty snacks and delicious wines, what more could a wine lover ask for?

2 minutes read

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Trends we spotted | Week 27

6-7-2026

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At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:

• The Lounges chain with 250+ venues in the UK will open its first location overseas in Essen, Germany.
• After weather codes yellow, orange and red, there’s one more colour to watch this summer – Code Purple at Bagels & Beans.
• Brouwerij (brewery) Homeland in Amsterdam launched its own lager, Homeland Puur Pils.
• Pick up your pizza by kayak at the ‘Paddle In’ at Otomat in Ghent.
• Handwritten Collection, a characterful collection of bespoke hotels launched by Accor in 2023, recently announced a significant milestone with the opening of its 50th address.
• At McDonald’s Germany, you can enjoy 23 international product highlights during ‘Mission: World Menu’.
• Travel And Tour World (TTW) recently unveiled its Top 100 Luxury Hotels in the World 2026, a global ranking honouring exceptional properties redefining modern hospitality.
• Great news for Belgian fries lovers heading to Paris, chef Mallory Gabsi has opened his Fry Shop 140 Degrés.
• Wonder, a leading food technology platform, and Zipline, an autonomous delivery service, recently announced a partnership to bring on-demand drone delivery to Wonder locations across Texas.
• Inspiration for ice cream parlours: we spotted ‘Cookies Cloud Cups’ at Ovis Coffees in London.

Enjoy reading!

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Restaurant Luwte opened last month in Groningen | Casual fine dining with northern produce

3-7-2026

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Chef Falk van Essen and host-sommelier Caroline de Vries recently opened restaurant Luwte at Zwanestraat 26 in Groningen. In a characterful 19th-century listed building, they bring high-end gastronomy in a relaxed, approachable atmosphere. The name Luwte refers to ‘a shelter from the hustle of everyday life’.

2 minutes read

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Trends we spotted | Week 26

30-6-2026

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At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:

• Two acquisitions in a single week underscore Fletcher Hotels’ pace of growth in Germany, Berghotel Astenkrone in Winterberg-Altastenberg and Fletcher Hotel-Restaurant Sundern-Sorpesee.
• Restaurant Jondani has been honoured with a Best of Award of Excellence from the Wine Spectator, the leading international American wine magazine.
• Restaurant SMAEK in Geldrop has recruited Rowin Geurts and Marcia de Bruijn. The couple will take up their posts as respectively head chef and maître d’ in September 2026.
• New strategic initiative ‘Buurthotel’ connects Amsterdam hotels, the local council and residents through a new concept: ‘co-tourism’.
• Restaurant Noor in Groningen has opted for a proactive solution to a commercial dispute by applying for a suspension of payments and will remain open till the end of 2026.
• The Berkeley and Summerill & Bischop announced a collaboration celebrating the art of entertaining in your suite.
• Duke of Tokyo De Pijp opens its doors this week (July 2) on Ferdinand Bolstraat in Amsterdam.
• Spotted on the Instagram account of We Like Côte d’Azur – When designers take over the Riviera.
• Inspiration for ice cream parlours: Leiden welcomed ice cream parlour and chocolatier Madaq, where visitors can pull up by boat for an ice cream, an actual ‘ice cream float-through’! And a great, luxury gelato gift box by Zona.

Enjoy reading!

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Fresh, fruity and quick to serve | De Kuyper Batched Spritz range for hospitality

26-6-2026

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The spritz is no longer just a seasonal one-hit wonder on the cocktail menu. Especially as summer approaches, demand continues to grow for light, fruity and refreshing serves that suit sunny moments and busy days in hospitality. Koninklijke De Kuyper is responding to that demand with a new De Kuyper Batched Spritz range for the hospitality sector. From week 25, De Kuyper Elderflower Spritz and De Kuyper Limoncello Spritz will be introduced in the Netherlands, available in a 100cl Batched Cocktail bottle and a 20-litre KeyKeg. In addition, De Kuyper is launching an Orange Spritz, available exclusively in KeyKeg format.

2 minutes read

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Île de Bisous brings Mediterranean summer evenings to Amsterdam South

23-6-2026

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This summer, Amsterdam South is gaining a temporary Mediterranean hotspot. With the launch of Île de Bisous, Bisous and Strandzuid are joining forces for a two-day waterfront event. On July 10 and 11, Strandzuid will transform into an atmospheric open-air destination inspired by the Côte d’Azur, where gastronomy, entertainment, and togetherness take center stage.

2 minutes read

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Trends we spotted | Week 25

23-6-2026

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At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:

• As Anantara Hotels & Resorts celebrates 25 years of meaningful travel, the brand is shining a spotlight on the people who have shaped its story with the launch of the ‘People Who Inspire’ series.
• Mandarin Oriental and Amouage unveil ‘Whispers of the Fan’, a bespoke luxury amenities collection inspired by the art of hospitality.
• Paris is celebrating the release of season 4 of the hit series The Bear on Disney+ with a special pop-up. On June 27 and 28, fans can enjoy the famous beef sandwich from The Bear at restaurant Amagat.
• We recently wrote about the combination of tea and cheese, and now we’ve spotted a Gouda Latte, or Gouda Cheese Iced Latte, created by YourCoffeeDude.
• One of Monaco’s most iconic beach clubs, La Rose des Vents, has received a colourful Gucci makeover. Check out the details in the images, we love it!
• We love the idea of serving mini cocktails, like the mini Espresso Martini featured in a reel by L’Antica Enoteca in Rome.
• Barista Cafe is expanding to 30 branches in the Netherlands, with a focus on nationwide coverage.
• Effium has developed an innovative pan which, inspired by rocket technology, uses up to 50% less gas and cooks faster and more efficiently.

• Bagels & Beans is looking for a new bagel manager in Zutphen and is organising an open day for this purpose on June 29.

 Enjoy reading!

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