What do you talk about at lunch with coworkers?

Food, weekend plans, shows, travel, hobbies and how people ended up in their jobs. Keep work talk light and avoid gossip.

How do I join a lunch conversation with a new team?

Ask a question the whole group can answer, such as "What's the best lunch spot around here?", and ask people about themselves.

Is it okay to eat lunch alone at work?

Yes, sometimes. But joining colleagues once or twice a week, especially early in a job, helps you get to know them.

Should I talk about work at a team lunch?

A little, keeping it light. Mostly talk about other things, so lunch feels like a break.

How do I include quiet coworkers at lunch?

Ask them by name about something you know they can talk about, like a trip or hobby they've mentioned before.

What to Talk About at Lunch With Coworkers or a New Team

Why lunch is different from other work chats

A coffee machine chat lasts a minute. A team lunch can last 30 to 60 minutes, often in a group, often sitting down. You can't make a quick exit, and you can't rely on one opener. You need a few topics that a whole table can share, and the habit of bringing others in.

The upside: lunch is where coworkers become people you actually know. Most work friendships start in exactly these conversations.

Topics that work for a whole table

The best lunch topics are ones everyone can join, whatever their role or background.

Topic	Example question
Food	"What's the best lunch place near here? I'm still finding my way."
The weekend	"Anyone doing anything good this weekend?"
Shows and films	"Has anyone watched that new crime series? I need to know if it's worth it."
Travel and holidays	"Has anyone got a trip coming up?"
How people got here	"How did everyone end up in this team? I feel like nobody plans to work in logistics."
Local area	"Has anyone tried the new place on the corner?"
Pets and kids (if others raise them)	"Is that your dog on your laptop screen? What's his name?"
Hobbies	"What does everyone do when they're not here?"

"How did you end up in this job?" is especially good. Almost everyone has a story, often a funny or unplanned one, and you learn a lot about your colleagues in one round.

Questions that include everyone

In a group, a question to the whole table works better than a one-on-one interview. Good group questions:

"What's everyone's go-to lunch order here?"
"What's the best thing you've eaten on holiday?"
"If you weren't doing this job, what would you be doing?"
"What's the worst job you've ever had?"
"Anyone have a good recommendation for something to watch?"

"Worst job you've ever had" reliably gets laughs, because nearly everyone has a strange first job.

Bringing quieter people in

At most tables, two or three people do most of the talking. Being the person who brings others in is one of the most likeable things you can do.

"Nadia, you went to Japan last year, didn't you? What was the food like?"

"Ben, you haven't said, what are you up to this weekend?"

Ask about something you know they can talk about. Don't put them on the spot with a hard question in front of everyone.

If you're new to the team

Your first few lunches can feel like the hardest part of a new job. A few things help:

Say yes to the first invitations, even if you'd rather eat at your desk.
Ask about them more than you talk about yourself, at first. People enjoy helping someone new: "What should I know that's not in the onboarding?" is a great question.
Have a short answer ready for "So where were you before?" and "What do you think so far?" Keep the second one positive.
Remember names and details, and mention them later in the week. "Did your daughter's swimming gala go well?"

If you missed people's names in the first round of introductions, it's fine to ask again early on; see the first day at work guide for that and more.

Should you talk about work?

A little work talk is normal and often helps new people. But a lunch that's all work feels like another meeting. Aim for mostly non-work, with work topics kept light:

Light work talk (fine)	Heavy work talk (save it)
"How's the big launch going?"	Debating a technical decision in detail
"What's the best thing about this team?"	Complaining about a colleague who isn't there
"Any tips for my first client meeting?"	Discussing pay, bonuses or who's getting promoted
Funny stories from the office	Rehashing a tense meeting

If you're at lunch with your manager, the same applies. The small talk with your boss guide has more.

Topics to avoid at a work lunch

Gossip about coworkers, even light. People assume you'll talk about them too.
Salary and money.
Politics and religion, unless you know the group well.
Detailed health or relationship problems.
Diet comments about what other people are eating.
Constant complaining about the job, the boss or the company.

If the table drifts into one of these, a quick bridge helps: "Okay, changing the subject, has anyone tried the new burrito place?" More lines are in how to change the subject.

Mistakes to avoid

Mistake	Why it hurts	Try instead
Always eating at your desk	You miss the easiest way to get to know people	Join at least once or twice a week
On your phone at the table	Signals you'd rather not talk	Phone away until you leave
Talking only to the person next to you	The table splits	Ask group questions now and then
Dominating with your stories	Others switch off	Share, then hand it to someone else
Joining in on gossip	Hurts trust	Bridge to another topic

Practise joining a group

The trickiest part is usually getting into a conversation between people who already know each other. Saying a few group questions out loud beforehand makes them easier to use. In the Speaking Coach app, the "Chat at the coffee machine" and "Keep a conversation going" scenes give you a coworker to practise with, and you can describe a team lunch so the partner plays colleagues who already know each other.