Quiet Communities Reveals Key Findings from National Restaurant Noise Survey

For over a decade, Quiet Communities (QC) has been a leading voice in the fight against harmful noise exposure. The nonprofit equips communities with the tools to fight noise pollution and consults with researchers and industry professionals to spread awareness about the dangers of excessive noise. 

Late last year, QC conducted a noise survey to capture Americans’ preferences about noise levels in restaurants. The survey was distributed to 1,000 Americans with the help of a leading global market research firm. The results revealed that about 65% of Americans would prefer quieter spaces in restaurants, bars and coffee shops. 

The survey was designed by Quiet Restaurants, a program of QC that works with industry stakeholders to raise awareness and strives to create best practices for noise in restaurants. This can include measures like designating quiet hours, adding sound-dampening technology and design features, lowering the volume on music from sound systems, training staff, and assigning quiet sections. 

“We are encouraged by the public’s growing awareness and interest in making dining not only quieter and calmer, but accessible for everyone,” said Neil Donnenfeld, chair of the Quiet Restaurants initiative and QC board member. 

A randomized group of 1,000 participants between the ages of 30 and 80 around the country participated in the survey. The results show that the public wants less noise when dining out. Sixty-five percent of all respondents indicated that it is often difficult to hear friends and family members when visiting a restaurant or coffee shop. And, 66% indicated that restaurants are more like bars than a place to gather.

A desire for “quiet hours” 

Quiet Communities has long hypothesized that designated “quiet hours” within restaurants would appeal to patrons and potentially increase revenue. The concept of quiet hours proposes a designated time period during which noise levels are intentionally lowered. The concept was included in the national survey, which revealed strong reception by consumers and restaurant patrons. 

For example, the restaurant might choose a time period once a week, such as 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m, during which music and television volumes are lowered. At the same time, avoidable kitchen noise would be minimized, and small notices placed on tables would encourage patrons to limit loud conversation. The restaurant would function normally outside of this period. 

On a scale from 0 to 10 where 10 is the highest receptivity to the idea of quiet hours and 0 the lowest, the average reception to the idea of quiet hours was a 7. Nearly a quarter of all respondents rated the idea at 10. 

Respondents clearly indicated that they would reward restaurants that accommodate quieter spaces and that they would frequent them more often. Forty-six percent (46%) of respondents indicated that they would be much more likely to dine at a restaurant offering quiet hours, and 59% would tell their friends and family about a restaurant with quiet hours as well; thus increasing the restaurant's impact with the community. 

Quiet hours at restaurants would make those spaces more accessible for all, Donnenfeld said. This includes those who are sensitive to noise like veterans with PTSD, people on the autism spectrum, those with hearing loss, the elderly and others who prefer quiet. Nearly 70% of adults indicated that either they or a family member suffer from some form of hearing impairment. Another 33% reported a slight or partial hearing loss. The next step is to develop the quiet hours concept with a participating restaurant. 

Quiet is basic right 

Donnenfeld and the Quiet Restaurants team continue to have discussions with people within the restaurant industry about the benefits of making restaurants more accessible. The sense is that catering to the "low noise" crowd will be revenue positive as it is likely to bring in patrons who otherwise might choose not to go to restaurants because existing noise makes the experience uncomfortable or even impossible. Restaurants that lead on this issue migh gain business as the population on the sidelines chooses their business and not the competitor who make no effort to accommodate the noise sensitive. 

“We believe that the 65% of people who responded to our survey saying that it is often difficult to hear their friends and family when visiting a restaurant or coffee shop are

being denied equal access to a critical human need, the ability to hear each other and connect,” Donnenfeld said. 

Strong social connections are a significant part of overall health and well-being. Former U.S Surgeon General Vivek Murthy stated in a 2023 report on social connection that the U.S. has “an epidemic of loneliness and isolation.” 

“Given the profound consequences of loneliness and isolation, we have an opportunity, and an obligation, to make the same investments in addressing social connection that we have made in addressing tobacco use, obesity, and the addiction crisis … If we fail to do so, we will pay an ever-increasing price in the form of our individual and collective health and well-being,” the statement by Murthy continues. 

Quiet Communities promotes quiet as a valuable natural resource while working to reduce harmful noise and related pollution. 

Contact: Tricia Glass, Executive Director, Quiet Communities 

trish@quietcommunities.org | 617-549-8070 

Key data points 

● Mean reception to the idea was a 7 on a 0-10 scale, noting that 24% of all respondents gave the idea a full 10. Less than one out of 8 (12%) of respondents gave the idea less than a 5 rating. 

● 46% of respondents indicated that they would be “much more likely” to dine at a restaurant offering quiet hours as described, and 59% would tell their family/friends about a restaurant with the offering. 

● Restaurants in general are being viewed as being noisy by most people, with 65% of all respondents indicating that it is often difficult to hear their friends/family when visiting a restaurant or coffee shop, and 66% indicating that “today restaurants are more like bars than a place to gather with friends/family.” 

● Most respondents indicate that they dined outside of the house six times in the past three months, with an average expense of $63.00 for a dinner for two, excluding any tip. 

● Nearly 70% of adults (69%) indicated that they suffer from or have a family member who suffers from some sort of hearing impairment. The most common issue was someone who suffers from anxiety or depression at 39%, followed by 33% indicating a slight/partial hearing loss. 

● Nearly 40% (39%) of adults indicated having a family member or know someone with an emotional or physical disability, and 1 in 6 have a family member or close friend who is on the autism spectrum.