F. Private meal taking place in a public setting, such as a hotel or restaurant:[1]

Restaurant: A Mechitza is not necessary between the men and women who are eating in a restaurant, and each family may sit down and eat on their section or table, and so is the widespread custom to not require there to be a Mechitza even amongst the Chareidim.[2]

Hotel: A Mechitza is not necessary between the men and women who are eating in the dining room of the hotel, and each family may sit down and eat on their section or table, and so is the widespread custom to not require there to be a Mechitza even amongst the Chareidim.[3]

G. By a private meal at home, such as Shabbos/Yom Tov:[4]

Family meal: By a private meal of only relatives and family members, a Mechitza is not required and male/female family members may sit together on the same table.[5] [If there are also distance relatives and guests by the meal, the seating is to be set up in a way that the men and woman are on separate areas of the table or room, although a Mechitza is not required.[6]] Nonetheless, some communities are accustomed for the male and female members of the family to eat on separate tables, and at times even in separate rooms, and so was the custom in previous times.[7]

Event meal [i.e. Sheva Brachos, Bas Mitzvah, Upsherenish etc]: This follows the same law as a Seudas Mitzvah and wedding meal, by which we rule that initially a Mechitza is required, and at the very least there should be a divider of ten Tefachim tall.

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[1] See Igros Moshe Y.D. 4:24-3 “A Mechitza is only needed by a public event”; Bnei Banim 1:35; Shiur of Rav Ratzabi as those present have no connection with each other and are each there for their own purpose.

[2] The reason: As the obligation for a Mechitza only applies when the men and women gather for the same event, and hence there is connection between them, and not when they simply happen to be in the same room or space, each for their own purpose. Hence, a Mechitza is not required on a bus, train, plain, restaurant, or hotel lobby and dining hall. [Shaareiy Yitzchak of Rav Ratzabi]

[3] Other opinions: See Om Ani Choma 1:23 who recommends making a Mechitza between the families in the dining room.

[4] See Igros Moshe Y.D. 4:24-3 “A Mechitza is only needed by a public event”; See Hiskashrus 588:11;

[5] Otzer Hageonim on Sukkah 52 p. 70

[6] See Sova Semachos 4:15; Shulchan Aruch Hamekutzar 6:201 footnote 66

[7] See Mur Uketzia O.C. 193:4