Dining alone: It doesn’t have to be “weird” 

All opinions are mine and mine alone.

Dining alone: It doesn’t have to be “weird” 

With Valentine’s day now been and gone, a lot of the media’s attention has been placed on Single’s Day. In other words, for years we have been used to having the 14th February thrust into our faces at every opportunity, but now the single community is fighting back a day later.Of course, for the purpose of today’s post, you most certainly don’t have to be single. The topic we are tackling today surrounds eating out alone and in truth, you could have been married for the past three decades but still be presented with a window where you have to dine out in a restaurant by yourself.  

It might be because of a work trip, or it might be because you felt a bit peckish on a shopping extravaganza. The point we were trying to make is that singles tend to have more of these opportunities, without generalising of course! Regardless, there is a certain stigma when it comes to dining alone, and today’s article will look at how you can eat out without the whole experience feeling a little bit strange. 

Choose your restaurant wisely 

As we all know, not all restaurants are created equally. Some are more intimidating than others and if you are throwing yourself into a vibrant environment, it can be somewhat daunting to be sat there eating alone. 

This is where somewhere like Covent Garden comes its own. The sheer variety of restaurants here means that you really can’t go wrong, and find a quieter environment where eating solo doesn’t feel like a social faux pas. 

Your timing matters as well 

It’s not just your choice of restaurant which is going to make a difference here either. If you can time your trip to one of the so-called off-peak hours (and there is all sorts that dictates when this is), the situation will immediately be more comfortable. 

Again, the crowds are reduced, and the situation just feels easier to handle. 

You might have to be insistent with your seating preferences 

As you are dining alone, restaurants are naturally not as “attracted” to you. You aren’t going to spend as much as a group, and this can mean that you are relegated to the “less desirable” seats. 

It means that you need to stand your ground, and insist you sit where you want to. It might be tricky at busy periods (which is why we recommended avoiding them!), but it can again be something that makes things more comfortable. 

So, what are “good seats”? 

Following on from the above, what makes a good seat in a restaurant? It should be highlighted that some people won’t be bothered in the slightest about this; but as most of you have stumbled across this article we’re going to assume you don’t fall into a camp. 

Generally, when eating alone, being forced to share a table or sit right in the middle of a restaurant causes people to feel uncomfortable. Most like eating at the bar, if it is possible, as this is regarded as a more socially acceptable place to sit alone.