Is going for a coffee alone strange?

Nothing strange about having a solo coffee, although I'd always do it as part of something else - your post make it sounds like you left the house specificaly to go and have a coffee and then come back? To be honest I'd find that slightly odd and would rather just have a coffee at home, but you do you!

I do a feel a bit billy no mates when I sit in a coffee shop on my own, but it is normally when I am going to the theatre on my own, which I do quite a bit on the spur of the moment, as obviously cheaper than taking my dh along, and I usually do this if he has something else on or I just fancy a last minute show that he is not bothered in seeing. But I have noticed while people watching that there are often lone people also having a coffee. I just watch tiktok on my phone, and try not to look like a sad case 😂

@LonelyNight2 no not at all! Some of us who are single (and friendless) have been doing it for years! I’ve actually noticed recently more people having coffee alone and I wonder if the sight of seeing remote workers increasingly in our cafes is ‘normalising’ going alone to such places. I also go to cinemas alone and have been since my late 20s 🙂

I love going for a coffee alone. My DH does too.

Solo trips are all I know, being widowed. After a decade I now feel it’s very strange to go around in couples or packs tbh!

I go out on my own for coffee 3-4 times a week - in my local cafe probably about 1/2 of the people are there alone either working or just chilling with book, kindle or phone

I would do it more if coffee wasn’t so pricey.

Is your h the type to eat meals then leave the table immediately ?

I don’t understand people who don’t/can’t eat in a restaurant alone either.

I regularly have a lone coffee. Yesterday I had to go to another town to have my car serviced. Usually dh comes as well and we take a wander around and have lunch. This time he couldn't come so when I got my car back I went somewhere for lunch on my way home. A place I don't get to very often and it was lovely. It's not the first time I have dined alone. I do like to have something to read or my phone. I have been doing this for years even before I married. Dh also has a coffee or breakfast/lunch alone. We do have coffee plus eating out together in case anyone thinks we don't like each other.

Going for a coffee is weird, going a pint, on the other hand...

What could be strange about it, I wonder?

I had a haircut then went for a coffee on my own afterwards. Loads of people do it. I'd say I go on my own several times a month

What about people who don't have anyone to go with; are they considered strange? I don't think so.

Did exactly that this morning - and the coffee was free with my loyalty points! Sitting for 30mins in the sunshine and people watching with a coffee is my moment of calm meditation in a hectic week ☕️

I've been doing it since I was 20, it's a national sport in France where I'm from and I'm VERY good at it.

I still do it everyday in London, never occured to me that it could be perceived as weird.

I hope it's not weird. I like to go shopping on my own, I hate having to keep someone else in mind and not spend too long in one shop etc., so I go on my own a lot and this usually involves a sit down with coffee and cake.

Nope, definitely a lovely treat! Enjoy x

Nothing better than a solo coffee mumsnetting and watching the world go by.

Same here. There is a lovely coffee house near my hairdresser's. I often stop there after my appointment for coffee and a croissant. They have outdoor seating when the weather is nice, and I sip and watch the world go by.

Nothing strange about it at all. I’m more likely to grab a coffee when I’m already out than go out specifically, but I don’t see any reason why not.

It's lovely to have half an hour or so to yourself, I sometimes do this on a Monday after a hectic weekend.

Getting out, people watching, just being in the moment, having time to finish a coffee without any distractions to me is bliss.

It's your husband who's strange.

I would never purposefully “just” go out for a coffee on my own - I’d do it as part of a shopping trip or if I had a reason like I needed to clear my head or do some work in couldn’t do in the house. But wouldn’t go out with the sole intention of sitting and watching the world go by - even though I do enjoy that as part of the above mentioned activities.

Jesus, it's not odd in the slightest! It's a lovely thing to do. I go in pubs on my own too, I'm a very modern woman.

No, not weird, but has started to feel very self indulgent as prices have spiralled! So I do tend only to do it as a social thing

I usually would prefer to go with a friend. But sometimes it is nice to be alone

He would think I am a total oddball. I go for coffee on my own often. I also go to restaurants on my own quite happily.

Not at all. I probably find myself solo in a coffee shop once or twice a week (and I’m not even a coffee drinker). I’d say at least half of the people I see in coffee shops are solo, killing time.