11 Nifty and Fun Tips for Eating Alone at a Restaurant (Solo Travelers Guide)

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Have you dined alone on your solo adventures? Do you mind eating alone at a restaurant in your own city?

Is it weird to go to a restaurant alone?

Well, absolutely NOT.

Well if you have never had a meal alone outside of your home, it’s time to start now.

While it’s not the most fun experience at first, I can guarantee you it will bring you joy and you can end up making friends and getting things done while you are at it once you get a hang of it.

11 Cool Tips on Eating Alone at a Restaurant (Newbie Friendly Guide)

If you have never dined alone, fret not. I am here to rescue you from your solo dining apprehensions.

At first, during my solo trips, I used to just order take away and eat from the comfort of my homestay/ hotel whilst watching TV. Felt so much easier, better, and less socially awkward to do so.

In some cases it would be simple supermarket food and instant noodles – literally just ‘surviving whilst exploring’ without indulging much in good authentic local cuisines across the globe.

I realized, by missing good local dishes, I was losing out on a big experience of my travels. Afterall tasting local delicacies is a must for every traveler.

So, during one of my solo trips to Boracay, I finally found the courage to start going out to nice restaurants – all by myself. Usually, I made friends in new countries right off the bat – either by staying in a busy hostel or Couchsurfing.

During this trip to Boracay, I made the mistake of booking a new hostel which was totally empty , except for yours truly. This pushed me out of my comfort zone to actually “go out and make friends”.

Eventually, I made tons of friends when I participated in the Boracay pub crawl on one of the weekend nights- but prior to that, I was pretty much a solo explorer.

I learned so much and enjoyed myself in these solo dining experiences. Just on my first lunch out, I made friends with the staff & performers. I soon realized restaurants will often even give you some freebies (Sides/ drinks on the house) if you are by yourself.

This was great stuff, I was missing out on good food and freebies all this time? Maybe dining alone is sometimes even better than going out with people.

Now even when I travel with friends, or make new friends on my trips, I try and enjoy a couple of meals out alone too.

Here’s how you can be a solo diner too –

Start with Coffee

You might not want to opt for a proper 7-course meal on your very first dining out experience so always start small. Buy a dessert (if you are unlike me and actually have a sweet tooth) or a simple cocktail/ mocktail/ coffee/ side.

If Possible, Sit Outdoors

Sitting outdoors can be good for your mood. Plus you will get to watch people, dogs and just feel the vibe of the new city you are traveling to.

Bring Props

Always bring props, period. And no, your phone is NOT a prop. Carry your favorite book so you can read while your order is getting prepared. Do note here some restaurants can take up to an hour to prepare your meal.

You do not want to be starting blankly at your phone or gawk at others faces (or worse – meals) while you wait. So, make yourself useful.

If you don’t enjoy reading, you can get a small journal to write down your thoughts or trip notes. You can even carry a small coloring book or doodle in your journal. Other good options are playing Sudoku, solving Crossword puzzles or reading the newspaper (or just the comic strip if you are like me).

Stay away from your Phone

Nothing spells “bored” more than simply starting at your phone meal throughout the duration of the meal. So avoid using your phone for scrolling Insta reels or other mundane activities. Avoid screens altogether – no laptops/ work stuff either at meal times.

Eat easy Food (aka No Chopsticks)

While dining alone, there is always a bit of nervousness. You don’t want to add to it by using tools like chopsticks or even cutlery (if you are a cutlery virgin like me).

Order simple bite-sized meals which don’t get too messy while eating or require specific tools or skill set. For example – potato wedges, chicken popcorn, fish fingers, salads etc are all absolute no brainers for me.

I would most certainly not want to navigate my way through a steak or slippery glass noodles on my solo dining adventures.

Make Friends with the Staff

Be polite, smile and call your server by their name. This will set the tone for a wonderful dining experience and you might end up getting a freebie or making a new friend this way.

It doesn’t cost anything to smile – so go and show your shiny whites.

Talk to a Friend

This I would keep as a ‘Plan Z’. If nothing else works and you are feeling intimidated / alone or nervous, then just call a friend and talk to them on the phone while you wait for your meal and eat it.

This would be my last resort and it can definitely cheer you up.

Carry A few Different Modes of Payments

Be sure to know what you have ordered and how much you have to pay. Sometimes, specific cards don’t work at specific places so ensure you carry a few different cards plus enough cash to cover your meal with you.

When you are with friends and this kind of misadventure happens, it is easy as someone else can bail you out and you can pay your friend back later.

However, while dining alone if you don’t know the process and/or don’t have the right amount of money and a few different modes to pay, it can be really embarrassing. You don’t want to end up cleaning dishes in a new country.

Reserve for Popular Spots

This is a tip that works well for dining with others too – always reserve in advance for popular places.

Choose your Table Carefully

As is the case with any dining experience, choose your table wisely. Avoid tables close to toilets and noisy kids. Try to find an outdoor seating arrangement or a table by the window.

Dine in off-peak Hours

Dine in off peak hours to avoid the rush crowd. It is much more manageable and less intimidating especially for your very first solo dining experience, to try it in less busy times.

So do you still feel that dining alone can be socially awkward or intimidating? Try this in your own city first and then on your solo travels. Get comfortable with spending time with yourself and you will be surprised you might enjoy your company more.

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Jo has been putting pen to paper from an early age when she started her "Dear Diary" and letters to her pen friends across the globe.
This alongside regular visits to Indian jungles in search of the Royal Bengal Tiger, fueled her zest for adventure, nature and wildlife.
Now she is a renowned travel blogger, outreach expert and has worked with over 500 travel brands in the last 15 years.