Is It Weird To Eat Alone While Traveling Solo?

Is it weird to eat alone while traveling solo? Absolutely not! In fact, many of the same reasons people choose to travel solo, freedom, self-discovery, and adventure, apply to dining alone, too.

I remember the first time I ate alone. In my early 20s, I was living alone, so I decided one day to go get breakfast at a restaurant alone. It was a good experience for me. I have done many things alone, but eating alone gave me a confidence boost to do even more things alone and feel independent.

Common Concerns About Eating Alone While Traveling

If you are new to eating alone, or very hesitant about eating alone while traveling, you aren’t alone in your concerns. You aren’t alone in being unsure about having a meal on your own, and these feelings are very common. Let’s address the common questions that solo travelers have when considering eating alone.

🍕 Will People Stare At Me If I Eat Alone?

It’s possible that people will stare, but we don’t know why people are staring. If we see someone stare we can put our own meaning on what they are thinking. You could think:

• “They are probably wondering why no one is eating with me” OR they may be thinking, “They sure are brave eating on their own.”
• “They probably think something is wrong with me to be eating alone”, OR they may be thinking, “I wish I could be eating alone.”

You may be laughing, but it’s true! We have no idea what people are thinking, and I encourage you to not try to guess what they are thinking about you, because chances are they aren’t thinking anything at all, or they are totally wrong about the judgment they have.

Either way, the bigger question I want to ask is , “Why does that bother you if people stare?” Eating alone can be so much more than a meal. It can be a growing experience that could change you.

🍕 What Do I Do While I’m Sitting There By Myself?

There are so many things you can do while dining alone! Anywhere from enjoy silence to meeting locals, it depends on what you are in the mood for.

Eating alone gives you the option to decide what kind of experience you want to have at each meal. Do you want to read or work on something? Are you interested in meeting locals to learn more? Do you want to take time to reflect on your trip or what you want to enjoy that day?

I bring a few things with me when I go to eat alone, depending on the type of restaurant. If I want to work on things, read something, listen to something, I have options. Sometimes it’s nice to just sit and take in the experience.

🍕 Is It Safe To Dine Out Alone In A New City?

It can be safe with a little research and awareness. Pick restaurants in safe and popular neighborhoods. Eating at restaurants on main streets or near your hotel can be a safer option, especially at night.

Looking at restaurant reviews and understanding the location and neighborhood can help you make a good decision. You may be able to find reviews by other solo travelers, like on Yelp or TripAdvisors, that can give you a feel for what to expect at the restaurant. I like to research ahead of my trip if possible so I have a list ahead of time to choose from.

Trust your gut when choosing a place to eat. If there are red flags, whether you are reading reviews or even when you arrive, if things feel ‘off’, it’s okay to leave and find something better for you. You want to feel safe and comfortable in your surroundings and have a good experience while enjoying your meal.

🍕 How Do I Find Solo-Friendly Restaurants Or Cafes?

Just like you should research restaurants that will be safe, you can research solo-friendly restaurants the same way.

• Read reviews on platforms like Yelp and TripAdvisor
• Research local restaurants and look over their website
• Call restaurants that look interesting and ask questions

Restaurants aren’t necessarily ‘solo-friendly’, but can offer specific tables or bar seating that may be more comfortable for you. You can go to any restaurant and eat alone, but you can ask what type of tables they have for parties of one so you know ahead of time.

🍕 How Do I Avoid Feeling Lonely Or Awkward?

Not worrying about what others are thinking about you will probably eliminate the concern about being awkward. That is a concern about what people are thinking about you. Feeling lonely may be different. If you are missing someone, this may be a little more challenging, but you can occupy yourself

Why Eating Alone Can Be Enjoyable

Sharing a meal with friends and family can be special. Sharing a meal with yourself can be as well! It’s all in how we look at the experience and what we want to get out of it.

🥗 The Joy Of Being Present And Savoring Your Food

It can be very relaxing to sit with your food, take your time, and enjoy its taste—no rushing, no distractions, just enjoying a good meal. It’s a little moment of calm that feels special when traveling solo.

I have been to local breweries on my own. I like seeing things unique to the local community, including their food and drink. I can enjoy the taste of what is in front of me because I’m not distracted while I’m eating or having a beer, while socializing.

🥗 People-Watching And Soaking Up The Atmosphere

You may be worried about what people think about you while dining alone. But what about the fun you can have, people-watching and creating interesting stories about what you think of other people dining? All in good fun. People are so interesting, and people-watching is a fun sport!

I enjoy taking in the environment, especially if I am dining in a beautiful or historic restaurant. Recently, I was in Washington, DC, and the architecture is beautiful and has so much history. Sitting in the restaurant and looking at all the details was a real treat. The atmosphere in some restaurants is unique and meant to be part of the experience, whether it’s the staff and service or the decor. It’s enjoyable to soak it all up during your eating experience.

🥗 Journaling, Reading, Or Planning Your Next Adventure

If you would prefer to be busy while at a restaurant, while at your table, either before your food, or even while eating, you may prefer to be distracted and make use of your time being alone. You can bring your journal and write about what you want to do that day, or what you enjoyed about the day. Writing about anything can be a relaxing way to enjoy your meal.

Bringing a book, especially if you struggle to find time to read, may be perfect for dining alone.

🥗 Opportunities For Small Talk With Locals Or Servers

Sometimes, the best resource for finding hidden gems or things to do on vacation is to ask a local. Websites can help you with travel information from those who have visited before, but asking someone from the area can be valuable.

They can tell you about hidden gems and tips for visiting. They could connect you with the right people. They can tell you about the best businesses, parks, trails, and activities only the community knows that a blogger who has visited once wouldn’t know about.

🥗 A Time To Recharge Between Activities

Eating on your own can give you that needed downtime to relax, be in your thoughts, and recharge between activities or at the end of a busy day. It can feel good to have someone serve you and not worry about the planning, cooking, and cleaning. Enjoy the service and being taken care of.

Tips for Eating Solo With Confidence

Getting comfortable eating alone can make you feel more confident during your trip and in other parts of your life.

🌮 Choose The Right Environment

Researching ahead of visiting a restaurant will help you learn if the environment is one you are comfortable with or curious about. If you don’t like loud noises or a bar environment, knowing this ahead of time is key when showing up at a restaurant.

You may enjoy a busy place because you like to people watch or you like the feel of a bustling environment. You may prefer a quieter atmosphere after a long day of sightseeing. Choose what is best for you so you feel you are enjoying the complete experience of your meal.

🌮 Go During Off-Hours

If you prefer a quieter restaurant or experience, going during off-hours may be the perfect time for you. Off-hours at a restaurant is my speed, going during the more peaceful times, whether it’s an earlier lunch or dinner, I like the less busy environment. I can get overwhelmed with noise, so off-hours as a solo traveler is perfect for me.

🌮 What To Bring With You

If you feel more comfortable with a distraction, there are many things you can bring with you to a restaurant. I don’t typically eat at fancier restaurants when traveling solo; I’m more comfortable doing that with my husband. But it may be what you get excited to do!

With the more formal restaurants, I recommend keeping it simpler—a book or reading on your phone, and maybe listening to a podcast with earbuds. I bring a backpack with my notebook or computer if it’s less formal. I decide what to bring into the restaurant, depending on the space I may have, where I sit, and the type of environment. The more you dine alone, the more you will develop a system of what you like to bring to certain restaurants.

🌮 Order Something Special

Since solo travel isn’t something you do every day, treat yourself! Take your time browsing the menu and consider trying something new or extra special—something you wouldn’t usually order. This is your adventure, so have fun and don’t be afraid to experiment!

🌮 Smile And Own It

Remember, don’t worry about what others think about you when traveling solo or dining alone. Chances are, they aren’t noticing you are solo! Everyone is focused on themselves anyways.

Enjoy your time on your own, savor every bite, read or journal about your experience, or just embrace the downtime and peace. That is the beauty of solo travel—you get to choose what you want to do! So keep smiling and enjoy the experience.

Dining Options for Solo Travelers

Depending on what you have planned during your trip, you can choose the perfect type of restaurant to match your energy or food cravings one meal at a time. Here are a few dining options for solo travelers.

🍔 Best solo-friendly dining styles

1. Food halls and markets – These are open venues offering various food options. They aren’t your typical mall food court; they have more to offer, and local businesses typically run them.
2. Hotel or rooftop bars – These are excellent options if you don’t want to go far. You can stay close to your home base and still be somewhere with activity; your meal can also be billed to your room. Hotel restaurants and rooftop bars can have unique vibes like other restaurants.
3. Room service or takeout picnics—Are you More in the mood to stay in your PJs? Room service or a food delivery service may be what you need after a long day. You could also pick up food and make your own picnic at a local hot spot or park. I love getting a deli sandwich and sitting on my own to people-watch. I don’t need a sit-down meal for every meal.
4. Restaurants and Coffee shops—When you want to be in a more formal environment, get yourself out of your hotel and be around others, or feel like you are being taken care of, a restaurant or coffee shop may be what you need.

It’s cool that there are so many choices! We don’t have to go to the same place for every meal, avoid more formal restaurants, or only eat in seclusion. I encourage you to do a variety! That’s what a vacation is all about: exploring and being curious about a place that is not where you live. Enjoy what the destination has to offer!

🍔 Apps/websites to find great solo-dining spots

You can upload a few apps to your phone to help you make qucik decisions on what restarants you want to try if you didn’t reserch ahead of your trip, or you want to change your mind because a place you thoght would be good turned out to be not what you wanted.

• Yelp – Great for detailed reviews, photos, and filters like “good for solo dining” or “open now.” You can get a feel for the vibe before you even walk in.
• Google Maps – Search “restaurants near me,” then scroll through reviews and photos to see peak hours. The app also shows walking distance and lets you save places to your travel lists. I use this often.
• TripAdvisor – It helps see popular restaurants in a city or location, especially tourist-friendly areas. However, I don’t find hidden gems using this app.
• OpenTable – This app helps make reservations to avoid waiting or ensure a table’s availability. Some listings even show photos of the space to see if it’s solo-friendly. This app is super helpful for reservations, but you may not need it as a solo traveler. You could also call to see if they can seat you if no reservation option shows.
• HappyCow – It’s great for finding vegan and vegetarian options—especially helpful if you’re in a new city and want to stick to your eating preferences.
• Eater (eater.com) – More of a guide than an app, but it can help you discover local favorites, popular new places, and editor picks in big cities.

A Mindset Shift – An Amazing Experience

Traveling solo is about growth and celebration, not just about being alone or feeling selfish because you want to travel alone.

Solo Travel Isn’t About Loneliness

Solo travel is about connection with yourself and the world! It doesn’t have to be lonely, it can be a growing experience that changes your life! Because you are on your own, you are listening to what interests you, bothin activities and with food, and focusing on things that are important to you.

Reframe Your Thoughts About Eating Alone

Eating alone isn’t something to feel awkward about—it’s a quiet kind of confidence. You can choose what you want, enjoy the moment, and thoroughly enjoy the food experience. It’s a chance to reconnect with yourself and the community that you are visiting around you in a way that feels freeing.

Final Thoughts On Is It Weird To Eat Alone While Traveling Solo

There are so many reasons why it isn’t weird to eat alone while traveling solo. Solo travel is full of moments that build your courage, and eating alone is one of them. Eating alone might initially feel uncomfortable, but it quickly becomes something empowering and fun. So the next time you travel solo, grab a table for one, order something amazing or a dish that excites you, and enjoy every bite—you deserve it.

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