Introducing Seating Options: OpenTable lets diners book their favourite seat in the house

Do you prefer a stool at the bar to a table? Want to save your spot on a restaurant’s terrace? Now you can with the global roll out of Seating Options, a feature that allows diners to reserve a seat at the bar, counter, a table outside, and more during the reservation process. Not only does the feature give diners the freedom to choose where they want to sit at the restaurant, even before they arrive, but it also increases restaurant availability during peak dining times.

Diners can now easily find restaurants around the globe offering various seating options and table types when searching for reservations across desktop and mobile web, as well as on the OpenTable iOS and Android apps. Alternative seating options are noted with a table icon on restaurant profile pages.

“With Seating Options, diners have the flexibility and freedom to make each dining experience exactly what they desire, whether it’s an awesome scene by the bar or a quiet spot outdoors”, said Joseph Essas, Chief Technology Officer at OpenTable. “It’s also a powerful tool for restaurants, who can now offer diners even more choice while maximising every seat in the house.”

Seating Options is now available globally with nearly a third of restaurants on OpenTable already using the feature.