Yelp’s trends for 2025 and how to incorporate them into your business

If there’s one person at Yelp who has their finger on the pulse of industry trends, it’s Tara Lewis. From predicting the rise of espresso martinis before they became a menu staple to documenting the first businesses to offer what is now a must-try Filipino classic: ube, Tara has always been ahead of the game. Over the years, she’s used her spidey-sense for trends to benefit the community.

“It’s interesting because so many trends—they’re not new,” she explained. “They’re just new to maybe the masses or new to our country. [It’s important] to be able to provide that context and also [educate] business owners that maybe hadn’t thought about incorporating [elements like ube] into the flavors, dishes, and drinks that they use. [New trends] might just infuse a little more creativity and not really pivot them too far from what they love to do anyway.”

As Yelp’s resident trend expert, Tara has been helping local businesses reinvent and reimagine their offerings for over 15 years. Discover what’s on the rise in 2025 and how you can leverage these trends for your business.

1. Communities are returning to their roots with plant- and fungi-based options

Lifestyle-based trends are a hot topic across industries, from restaurants introducing mocktails, or zero-proof cocktails, to massage parlors perfecting lymphatic drainage techniques. According to Tara, this year focuses on healthier food and beverage options, as businesses find creative ways to satisfy cravings without compromising on taste, starting with fungi.

“Mushroom-infused beverages have been really popular from cocktails to coffee, and they’re not culinary mushrooms. They’re functional mushrooms, so they have health benefits that are believed to often help and manage body stress, restore balance, and help boost your immunity,” she explained.

Tara reports searches for mushroom coffee are up 87% and mushroom tea up 10%. The trends team has also seen the term “mushroom drink” up 501% in searches compared to last year.

How businesses can leverage this trend

It’s never too late to hit the drawing board and come up with new ways to show up for customers of all backgrounds and needs. Look at your business offerings and assess whether or not it accommodates people with different lifestyles. Take a deep dive into your reviews and document feedback trends. Often, customers will leave suggestions on ways to reinvent your offerings.

You might question if it’s financially feasible to add a new product to your lineup of classics, and the short answer is yes! Renowned bagel spot PopUp Bagels breaks down how it makes its flavor of the week profitable in addition to its original offerings. Spoiler: It works.

2. Consumers are craving connection

The pandemic stripped away the human connection we all need, and Tara says the resurgence for seeking connection is still stronger than ever five years later. With social clubs up 39%, book clubs up 26%, and modern lawn clubs up 682%, along with the rising popularity of chess clubs, trivia nights, and run clubs, people are increasingly seeking new ways to connect with like-minded individuals.

To find connection outside of your communities, Tara says 2025 is the year to book that getaway trip. “Adult camps was a trend that we identified as sort of being the new getaway, and it’s a great vacation alternative for adults. We’ve seen an increase in searches for that, up 347%. Wellness retreats, postpartum retreats, holistic retreats—they’ve all also increased in searches, so people are also looking to connect with others in their vacation getaways as well.”

How businesses can leverage this trend

Connection goes beyond customer-employee relationships. Consider how the dynamic could shift if you created an opportunity for customers to interact with one another. Reflect on what makes your business a bridge between people.

If you’re a florist, ask customers if the community is missing a gardening club. If you’re a general contractor, maybe the local boy scouts and their families could benefit from shadowing you on the job. There are countless possibilities to get the community invested in your business and in each other. When your business becomes a gathering point for the community, it also creates organic marketing opportunities through word-of-mouth and shared experiences.

3. Hobbyists are swapping adrenaline for dopamine

Often referred to as the “feel-good” hormone, dopamine provides a sense of enjoyment and satisfaction, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Tara says this year, dopamine-boosting activities and hobbies are all the rage.

“People are looking for ways to boost some excitement into their lives and to get that feel-good boost that dopamine provides by being very hands on with some of their hobbies. People that maybe had a hobby that they put to the side at different periods of their life, this is a great time for people to reembrace that or reexplore.”

Searches for creative classes surged, with sewing, jewelry making, and songwriting gaining popularity, while blacksmith classes increased by over 500%. For food enthusiasts, pasta-making classes also rose by over 500%, and latte art classes saw a 400% increase.

How businesses can leverage this trend

The Cleveland Clinic also states dopamine drives and motivates people to take action when they’re feeling pleasure. For business owners, getting people to take action and decide to purchase a product or service is difficult if you’re not a natural salesman.

With dopamine’s effects in mind, businesses can get creative with how to increase dopamine levels in their potential customers, thus increasing the likelihood of purchase. Beyond greeting customers when they walk in, what else can you do? Think about the kind of music that’s playing. Think about what freebies or samples are within your budget.

If your business is mainly online, there are still ways to trigger more dopamine through the screen. Consider interactive elements such as gamified experiences, personalized recommendations, or engaging visuals to capture attention. Offering rewards for task completion can also boost dopamine levels and help convert leads into customers.

4. Interior designers are keeping it simple

In 2025, simplicity is key. Tara found minimalist designs with Japanese and Scandinavian influences are what people are scaling down to this year.

“It’s a minimalist design philosophy that blends calming simplicity of Japanese and Scandinavian elements with natural materials, clean lines, and overall room harmony,” she said. “We think it’s likely due to a surge in Japanese tourism as people are looking to embrace Japanese culture and are inspired by home designs and sensibilities of those experiences when they are traveling to Japan.”

The trends team initially featured Japanese design in the 2022 forecast, and the 2025 report indicates that searches for it have risen again, now showing a 105% increase.

How businesses can leverage this trend

Be intentional about how you design your space and how it supplements your overall business vision. Don’t be afraid to be inspired by other cultures or business and incorporate that into your design.

Most of all, less is more. Customers can get overwhelmed by clashing elements and or just too many elements, so make sure your design has just enough substance to tell your story.

These lessons come from an episode of Behind the Review, Yelp & Entrepreneur Media’s weekly podcast. Listen below to hear from Tara, or visit the show homepage to learn about the show and find more episodes.