Craving a hot chocolate or a burger at 3 am on Christmas night? You may be in luck. As 2025 draws to a close, restaurants, pubs and bars across India are
extending hours, opening more round-the-clock outlets and refreshing menus to capitalise on a festive rush that is expected to lift sales by 15–20 per cent compared with last year. Industry players say demand during the final days of December has picked up sharply, driven by early celebrations, higher discretionary spending and a growing preference for late-night dining and deliveries. Extended Hours and New Formats Drive Growth Quick-service chains are among those expanding operating hours to capture the late-night crowd. Kapil Khanna, compliance officer and head of business impact at Connaught Plaza Restaurants Pvt Ltd, the master franchisee for McDonald’s India in the North and East, said the company has added four new stores in the 20- to 24-hour format for the first time this year. "We have also extended (working hours at) over 30 stores on a pan-India basis by an average of 1.5 hours. We have seen over 20 per cent growth in footfalls at our stores in the late-night hours," said Khanna, according to a report from The Economic Times. He added that both dine-in and delivery channels are expected to see strong traction. "Between dine-in and deliveries, we are expecting a 12-15 per cent uptick in sales growth over last year. We are hoping our multiple stores serving at late nights will contribute more to deliveries too," he said, added the report. Early Festivities and Menu Refreshes Boost Footfalls Casual dining chains are also reporting a noticeable rise in customer traffic. Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality Pvt Ltd recorded a 9–11 per cent increase in footfalls between December 1 and 20 compared to last year. "This is largely because celebrations started earlier, and people stepped out sooner," said chief growth officer Divya Aggarwal. The company has rolled out a new food and drinks menu across its Social outlets after a gap of ten years, states the report. For New Year’s Eve, the chain plans to operate till late at night where local regulations allow, Aggarwal added. Meanwhile, Zorawar Kalra, founder of Massive Restaurants, which runs brands such as Farzi Cafe, Bo Tai and Papaya, said he expects 15 per cent year-on-year sales growth, as per the report. Deliveries Take Centre Stage This Season Several restaurateurs highlighted the growing importance of delivery orders during the festive period. "Interestingly, we clock the highest sales on Christmas, and this year will be no different," said Amit Bagga, CEO of Daryaganj Hospitality, as per the report. "We have launched a new winter menu, and we are seeing an 8.7 per cent same-store growth…We crossed Rs 100 crore in revenues this year,” he said, adding, “Pollution is a concern in markets like Delhi-NCR, but we should make up for that through deliveries. Deliveries contribute about 30 per cent to our overall numbers." In Mumbai, Neville Vazifdar, founder of JIA restaurant in Colaba, expects a 20–25 per cent jump in sales during the Christmas-to-New Year week. "Delivery volumes in particular are projected to be higher, with delivery orders contributing nearly 30-35 per cent of total sales during this period," said Vazifdar, who also anticipates 15–20 per cent year-on-year revenue growth, states the report. Policy Support and Digital Payments Add Momentum Maharashtra’s decision to allow hotel and restaurant bars to operate till 5 am on Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year has further buoyed sentiment. "The extended timings will help establishments manage guest expectations better, ensure smoother crowd dispersal, create additional employment opportunities and enhance the state’s appeal as a vibrant, safe and globally competitive tourism destination," Jimmy Shaw, president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI), said, claims the report. Spending trends underline this momentum. UPI transactions at restaurants jumped 34 per cent to 14 billion in the six months to September, with transaction value rising to Rs 1.9 lakh crore, reflecting robust consumer appetite heading into the festive quarter.
