Luxury Hotels Take on ‘Girl Dinner’ with Small Plates for Summer
The viral social media trend reflects larger trends in luxury hospitality.
Photo: Courtesy of the The Mining Exchange Hotel
A viral, sing-songy social media trend is making an unexpected appearance at luxury hotel restaurants this summer.
“Girl dinner,” the term, was coined by influencer Olivia Maher and popularized by a nine-second video of a TikToker presenting her hastily thrown-together meal of plain pasta and shredded cheese. “This is my meal. I call it girl dinner,” she announces, before vocalizing “girl dinner” in a melodramatic melody that would sweep the Internet in 2023.
The audio clip became the background for more than 350,000 #GirlDinner TikToks that still pop up on social media feeds, depicting the simplest of meals, including comfort foods like dinosaur chicken nuggets and Kraft macaroni and cheese—hardly cuisine you’d ever find at a luxury establishment.
And yet, in summer 2025, upscale hotels have reimagined the trend, finding the intersection between the tastes of a young generation and discerning guests who may not always want to sit down for three courses.
As Jana Smith, general manager of The Mining Exchange Hotel in Colorado Springs, puts it, the “‘girl dinner’ trend celebrated the simple joy of grazing on small, snack-style bites rather than committing to a traditional full meal.”
These days, luxury dining leans into casual fare while still being classy and promoting a social environment. That’s where hotels’ upscale takes on “girl dinner” comes in.
“Luxury in hospitality today is defined by flexibility, personalization, and experiences. Guests want options that feel indulgent but not over-the-top,” said Lisa Fuentes, vice president of brand strategy at Hotel ZaZa Dallas, which launched its Girl Dinner menu for the summer.
Starting in June and running through Sept. 1, Hotel ZaZa Dallas’ Girl Dinner special includes a craft cocktail or curated wine paired with a small plate. Guests can choose from three pairings: Hampton Water rosé and truffle fries, an Aperol spritz and pizza, or a cucumber-basil spritz with pepperjack hushpuppies.
At just $12, Fuentes calls the food and beverage offering “an easy thing to say ‘yes’ to,” whether lounging poolside or dining at the hotel’s Dragonfly bar and restaurant. She adds that Hotel ZaZa’s approach to its menus are always playful, making the girl dinner trend just another “perfect opportunity to create something simple yet elevated for our guests.”
The relevance of “girl dinner” in luxury is also evident at The Mining Exchange, whose indoor-outdoor bar and courtyard, Golden Hour, launched a Girl Dinner special for Saturdays in June. It became so popular that the hotel extended the $28 special—which consists of a Caesar salad, French fries, and either a dirty or espresso Martini—for the entire summer season.
This menu item reflects an overall vibe that luxury hotels like The Mining Exchange strive to create, bringing “a sense of fun and lightness to the dining experience while still maintaining the elevated style and quality,” Smith said.
“The ‘girl dinner’ trend felt like a natural extension of what we offer at Golden Hour—curated, shareable plates paired with high-craft cocktails, served in a setting designed for connection and conversation,” she added. “In a hotel setting, this kind of offering feels thoughtful and elevated without being too overly formal, making it a perfect match for the relaxed, social atmosphere we’ve created at Golden Hour.”
