if you travel for work, do you eat out alone?

[Readysetcake]

I’ve started a new job where I travel to the northern office every now and then. It’s in a small town so the places to eat are usually dead and I really hate going in to them and sitting alone. I feel really exposed which does nothing for my anxiety. I much prefer to unnoticeable in a sea of people.

Am I the only one that doesn’t like to eat out alone? If you hate it too, what do you do?

I'd love it.
I know it's because of work and not what you'd choose, but I'd feel indulgent and pampered eating a meal out on expenses.

I'm not social and know how you feel. If I can I get room service or a takeaway /fastfood depending on the hotel. Otherwise, you just have to suck it up really!

Yes, and I also go on holidays alone sometimes so eat out then alone too. As PP say - take a book. And I usually ask for a table by a window so I can people watch! The hardest part is walking in, once you are settled at your table you'll be fine

Depends where I am. Very happy to eat alone in a hotel restaurant and I enjoy it.

If I'm in a bustling city again very happy to eat out alone but when I've been in v quiet towns where a woman eating alone could be the focus of attention or pity or overzealous service I've just grabbed a takeaway and taken it back to my room

Yes... You sort of get used to it. I used to travel alone a lot in my late 20s and early 30s... Mostly I ate alone in hotel restaurants or small local friendly ones. Certain places I would get room service as regularly got married men wanting to 'talk'. Oh and always on valentines day.

Now I'm older and fatter I'm invisible 🙈.
But I enjoy it even more now... The not having to cook, the different food, the quiet in comparison to eating at home with children. I just take a book with me and relax.

Think back to the last few times you ate out.

Now ask yourself to describe the other diners.

I'll bet you won't be able to. Because when people go out to eat, whether alone or in company, they tend not to pay the slightest bit of attention to other diners. The same will be true for you. Your fellow diners will be much too interested in their own evening than in noticing a complete stranger doing something as unremarkable as having a meal alone. In hotel restaurants in particular, it's really quite common.

My husband doesn’t enjoy eating out alone when he travels with work. Our solution is that I travel with him 😅. The hotel is already paid for, I do sightseeing and potter while he works through the day, then we go to nice restaurants together in the evenings. The benefits of having adult children and a lovely sister-in-law to babysit the dog 😊

I appreciate I am very lucky.

Eat alone, but always have my phone with me and do emails/mumsnet.
I sometime buy junk food like crisps and eat them in my hotel - I do like to slob out!
I eat out to get healthy food down me, otherwise travelling you eat a lot of junk/rich food and no time to exercise.

Yes but in London where it’s always busy and people just get on with their business. No one bats an eyelid at solo diners thank goodness.

It’s easier in a city I find.

Since I started to get Deliveroo when I’m away it has made eating in the hotel room much nicer, but I do like to do one night in a restaurant.

Enjoy the seafood!

You just get used to it after a while. I now avoid busier places as if you're in a small queue you'll forever be asked if you're wanting a table for 3 with the 2 people in front of you in the queue - then you feel like an idiot saying no, you're on your own .

The easiest place to eat is hotel restaurants as they're used to people eating alone and you'll see loads of others doing the same.

Sometimes I do. As long as I have a newspaper or book I'm fine. Although I do really love getting room service in my dressing gown if it has been a hard day.

All the time when I travel for work, I love it! Good book, nice food.

I love doing things by myself. No one to think/care/worry about.

There are so many people that travel for work I no longer worry - if you look around you will probably see a lot of others doing exactly the same...

I usually go to Wetherspoons as I feel like I can blend in. These days, with a laptop or book, it feels very acceptable. Waiting staff (I used to be one) will deduce you are travelling for work.

I love it, read my book, browse on my phone, etc, find it really relaxing

Ooh no, I hate sitting and eating alone in a restaurant - I just don't enjoy it at all. I travel for work and just have a duvet picnic in front of the telly at the hotel, it's lush. There's generally always a supermarket a short walk or drive away.

I do eat out alone but more in summer with lighter nights. In winter I tend to have a larger meal at lunch at work and then sandwich/picnic type stuff from M and S in the hotel room. Like PP. said - in bed, in a robe, with the telly on!

Yes, I really enjoy the ‘me time’ when I eat out alone. I just take my book and my ipad and i’m sorted. I don’t feel at all uncomfortable and I couldn’t care less what anyone else thinks.

Sometimes I get food delivered to my room, but I generally prefer eating out.

Every trip.
I read a book or browse on my phone
I also just get room service sometimes if I just want a mental break and don’t care about the food as much.

I occasionally eat out alone at home too. I like eating out and don’t always have someone to go with

Yes, I love it.... waiting staff are usually particularly nice to a line diner!

I don’t like it either OP. I either go to a supermarket and get snacky bits to eat in my room or go to somewhere like nandos for takeaway or McDonald’s and again bring it back to my room.

If my hotel has a restaurant I will eat in there by myself (as most people are in the same boat so I feel less awkward)

Always. I take my Kindle and enjoy the peace. I seek out nice places in TripAdvisor as well. I think I've eaten in my hotel room twice, when I wasn't feeling well.

Other colleagues will ONLY eat in their rooms if they are alone, and think it's weird that I go out. They think it's strange for a lone woman to go out. If I'd lived like that when I was single, I'd never have had any life!