The state of the bathroom is often a clue to how well (or how poorly) a restaurant is run. It can also be a clue to how big (or small) the construction budget was. When asked what’s going on with restaurant bathrooms in 2025, 45% of restaurant development + design readers said that bathrooms are mostly designed to meet ADA requirements. Another 14% of respondents said that restaurant bathroom floor plans continue to shrink to the barest of minimums.

However, 23% of respondents noted that restaurant bathrooms are no longer an afterthought — they’re a place for selfies and should be designed as such.

The final 18% of respondents offered a wide variety of individualized responses that included noting an increase in requests for privacy (and a movement away from stalls with gaps), encouragement to ensure facilities are easy to clean and maintain, and to ensure that the bathroom aligns with the overall concept — “a white tablecloth restaurant is going to offer something a little more refined while a brewpub will go minimal.”

rd+d regularly surveys subscribers on the state of restaurant development and design. This survey was fielded in April 2025. Subscribe to The Pulse to get rd+d’s surveys and results delivered to your inbox six times a year.

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