Proud Sponsors of the Best Value Category in BRAVO 2026
First Table started when our founder, Mat Weir, discovered a small French restaurant in Queenstown offering 50% off its first table of the night. Excited to try it, he booked the first table for his family, enjoyed a full meal and a bottle of wine, and realised it was a win-win. The restaurant filled slow periods, and diners got great value.
Mat saw the potential to take this idea online. He spent six weeks in a modest seaside resort in Thailand building a custom booking system from scratch.
Back in New Zealand, he pitched to restaurants door to door, refining the platform along the way. From ten initial restaurants to more than 3,600 across three countries today, First Table keeps that original win-win spirit alive.
Now catering to over 3 million diners globally, First Table is a restaurant booking platform redefining the way people dine out. Instead of focusing only on busy mealtimes, it lets diners book the first or last table of the day for breakfast, lunch or dinner and enjoy 50% off their food bill for a small booking fee.
Craving a specific meal? First Table is perfect for discovering new places to eat or finally trying that restaurant you have been curious about. You can search by cuisine, time, location or dietary preferences to find exactly what you are craving.
Bookings are available for two, three or four people, making it ideal for a casual catch-up, a date or an intimate celebration with loved ones. Eating at quieter times often creates a more relaxed atmosphere, giving you the chance to truly enjoy the food and conversation.
At its heart, First Table is about making dining out feel effortless and fun. It gives diners a reason to try new places, supports local restaurants when they need it most, and lets people dine at times that suit them. With its user-friendly app, booking a table is seamless and stress-free.
It is a simple idea that makes sharing good food even more accessible and reminds us that the best meals are often those enjoyed without any rush.
