5 top restaurants for solo diners

You can face some challenges when travelling on your own. From trying to take the perfect selfie in front of important monuments to staying safe on city streets by yourself, being a solo explorer can be tough.

Fortunately, not every independent travelling experience has to be difficult. In fact, when sampling the delicious local cuisine, there are some restaurants at which you may prefer to eat alone.

J. Black’s Feel Good Lounge, Austin

Check out the bar experience at J. Blacks in Austin.

When in Texas, check out J. Black’s Feel Good Lounge in Austin. This bar and food establishment has been carefully designed to encourage an open and communal restaurant. Every seat in the place – not just those at the bar – are set to the same height. This means that when you look around from your solo perch at the bar, you can easily make eye contact and feel equal to all other patrons.

However, eating here is not for the fiercely independent, as the platters are meant to be shared, and solo diners are encouraged to buddy-up when the food arrives. So be ready to make some friends and enjoy the delicious meals and atmosphere.

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, London

For a gourmet food experience that leaves you feeling warm and satisfied, rather than lonely and awkward, try L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in London. Solo diners are seated on high stools around the kitchen, which means you can spend you meal watching the chefs at work, rather than contemplating the lack of conversation.

If you’re on a tight financial plan, consider heading in for lunch – or else budget for a blow-out at dinner.

Josephine Chez Dumonet, Paris

Warm up in Josephine Chez Dumonet on a snowy day in Paris.

Paris is a great place to dine alone, as the French culture supports eating good meals in restaurants no matter what your situation is. As long as you make a reservation before stepping foot in Josephine Chez Dumonet, no one will bat an eyelid when you turn up without a date.

At one of the best old-fashioned bistros on the Left Bank, solo diners are not only welcome but encouraged. Be sure to reserve a seat at the banquette tables by the bar up front.

Supernormal, Melbourne

Attentive and knowledgeable staff help you feel at home at Supernormal in Melbourne. The crew also lets you order half-serves of most of the menu so you can sample as much as possible without worrying about over-ordering.

Offering a huge range of Asian-style cuisine, with the lobster roll being a real highlight, Supernormal ensures you enjoy a solo dining experience that makes lone guests feel, well, super normal!

Moomin Cafe, Tokyo

Does the thought of that empty chair sitting across the table make you feel uncomfortable? For something a little different, hit the bustling streets of Tokyo in search of Moomin Cafe. Solo diners at this quirky eatery are given a large stuffed animal, modelled after one of the characters from the Finnish Moomin picture books, to join them for their meal.

There’s no need to feel lonely when dining alone, if you head along to a restaurant that supports your solo travelling lifestyle!