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Eating alone is one of the quiet pleasures of a city break, and London is a wonderful place to do it. The best solo spots make a table for one feel welcome rather than awkward, often through counter seating where you can watch the kitchen at work. This guide covers where to eat well on your own.
What makes a good restaurant for eating alone
The friendliest restaurants for solo diners tend to have counter or bar seating, where a single guest fits naturally and there is always something to watch. Quick, informal places remove any pressure to linger, while some grand rooms are so used to solo diners that a table for one feels entirely at ease. A good book or a seat at the pass does the rest.
Counters and bars made for one
Counter dining is the solo eater's best friend. Barrafina serves superb Spanish tapas along a marble counter with no bookings, ideal for a single seat, and Koya in Soho is perfect for a solo bowl of udon. Bao and Kiln both seat solo diners happily at the counter, and the city's ramen bars and sushi counters, covered in our guides to the best ramen and best sushi in London, are made for eating alone.
Grand rooms where solo feels a pleasure
Eating alone need not mean eating quickly. The grand all-day cafes such as The Wolseley and Brasserie Zedel are gracious to solo diners, offering a fine meal and excellent people-watching without a hint of awkwardness. A seat at the bar of a good restaurant often brings the best of both worlds: full menu, easy company and no wait.
Good to know
Is it normal to eat alone in London restaurants?
Completely. London is a big, busy city where eating alone is entirely normal, and many restaurants, especially those with counter or bar seating, welcome solo diners warmly. Counters, ramen bars and grand cafes are all comfortable choices for a table for one.
Where is best for solo dining in London?
Counter-seat restaurants such as Barrafina, Koya, Bao and Kiln are ideal, as are the city's ramen bars and sushi counters, where a single diner fits right in. For a more leisurely meal, the grand cafes like The Wolseley and Brasserie Zedel are gracious to solo guests.
Where to go next
Travelling alone? Browse the best restaurants in London and our practical London guides.
