My go-to dining out friend recently moved away and in a desperate attempt to keep out tradition alive, I discovered solo dining.

Now, I do so many things on my own, and I’m usually at cafes alone, so why did the prospect of dining out alone sound like a faux pas?
I don’t know, but I love a good challenge so of course, I rang up a restaurant and booked a table for one.

Truthfully, it was so daunting the first time, but in the months since then, I’ve dined alone more times than I can count, more times than I have with people this year and here are the tips that are helping me hone the craft.

1.

First and most important; start with some sort of prop. Something to keep you busy while you’re settling in, waiting for your food; a safety net. It can be a movie downloaded on your phone (my go-to), an e-book, a camera to take photos, games on your phone. You’d need something to ease you in.

2.

Pick strategic seats. You don’t want to be sandwiched between tables with couples that make you stand out like a sore thumb. Later on maybe, but not while you’re still acclimatising yourself with solo dining. I opt for corner tables (the waiters will LOVE sticking you there anyways), wall tables(my personal favourite); the bar is a good spot if you’re the kind of person open to conversations. When the weather is good, I love patio sitting the best. You don’t need a prop with patio sitting. Enjoying the view, people-watching, and eavesdropping is the best prop.

3.

Frequent restaurants. Easiest way to familiarise yourself with solo dining, in my opinion. What is the quote? “Consistency breeds familiarity, familiarity breeds confidence”. In short, practice makes perfect.

4.

No one is watching you (probably), or thinking about you as much as you assume they are. They might spare a glance or two but they’re not wondering about you, and neither are the waiters. Don’t overthink.

5.

Dress accordingly. The last thing you want is to feel additional anxiety about your outfit.

6.

I don’t drive so I prefer picking restaurants closer to me. It’d be very discouraging to keep trying more restaurants alone if your taxi commute is more than your dinner bill. In the right weather, a 30 minutes walk is ideal, plus I get to spot new restaurants on my way!

My advice?

Solo dining is the sort of thing that gets easier the more you do it. The upside if you’re anything like me is that you get to eat as much as you want (and you can pick up the bread the moment the waiter turns their back).

Let me know your experience or thoughts on dining alone.