Kimpton Unveils 2025 Culinary and Cocktail Trends: From Black Limes to Korean Comfort Food and Clarified Citrus Cocktails

Kimpton Predicts 2025 Culinary & Cocktail Trends: From Black Tahini to Clarified Citrus Cocktails

Annual Report Spotlights Emerging Ingredients, Techniques, and Dining Innovations

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury and lifestyle portfolio, has unveiled its 2025 Culinary + Cocktail Trend Forecast, offering a sneak peek at the flavors, ingredients, and techniques set to define dining and drinking experiences worldwide. Curated by Kimpton’s expert team of chefs and bartenders, this year’s report highlights innovations like black tahini, chili crunch fusions, clarified citrus cocktails, and functional teas, showcasing the cutting-edge creativity shaping menus across the globe.

“Kimpton’s culinary and beverage experts continue to deliver inventive and unforgettable dining experiences,” said Scott Gingerich, Vice President of Restaurants, Bars & Events, Luxury & Lifestyle Americas, IHG Hotels & Resorts. “This forecast not only highlights the next big trends but underscores our commitment to creating extraordinary moments for our guests through bold flavors and immersive dining experiences.”

Kimpton restaurants and bars globally will bring these trends to life, inviting guests to savor the future of food and drink.

2025 Culinary Trends

Rising Ingredients & Techniques

• Black Tahini Evolution: From noodles to ice cream, this richer, toastier sesame paste elevates sweet and savory dishes alike.
• Chili Crunch 2.0: Global influences bring fennel seeds, peppercorns, and Marcona almonds into bold chili crunch blends, redefining toppings for pizza, seafood, and more.
• Black Limes: These sun-dried, brine-soaked limes deliver intense sweet-sour flavors to soups, stews, and seasonings.
• Salted Egg Yolk Spotlight: A Chinese culinary staple adds creamy umami to dishes like pasta and Caesar salad.

Global Comfort Foods

• Korean Soul Food: Traditional Korean flavors meet American comfort classics, such as kimchi-infused Eggs Benedict.
• Southeast Asian Influence: Filipino, Burmese, and Indonesian ingredients inspire dishes from pasta to coffee creations.

Elevated Snacks & Shared Plates

• Middle Eastern mezze platters, seafood-focused boards, and vegan cheese boards are redefining tapas globally.

2025 Cocktail & Beverage Trends

Innovative Ingredients

• Super Juice: Sustainable acid corrections mimic exotic flavors, enhancing cocktails with locally sourced produce.
• Clarified Non-Dairy Milks: Almond and coconut milk cocktails gain richness, while fermented milk like kefir adds salty-sour dimensions.
• Freeze-Dried Garnishes: Zero-waste powders from fruits and veggies intensify flavors and add vibrant textures.

Transformative Techniques

• Techniques like sous vide, forced carbonation, and clarified citrus redefine cocktail bases, yielding creations like sparkling coconut water or salted plum syrup.

Classic Reinventions

• Martini makeovers with wasabi or vanilla, revamped Midori Sours, and Carajillos featuring espresso and Licor 43 are set to dominate menus.

2025 Dining Trends

Newstalgia in Cuisine

Classic comfort foods get modern makeovers, from lobster-topped corn dogs to retro-inspired garnishes that spark childhood memories.

Sensory Dining Experiences

Soundscapes tailored to meal settings enhance the ambiance, from energetic brunch playlists to cozy winter tunes, creating an immersive atmosphere that complements the menu.

Kimpton’s forecast underscores its leadership in culinary innovation, delivering exceptional dining moments that blend creativity, culture, and sustainability. For a closer look, visit Kimpton.com