On my own in London on Friday night

[Pandaandpurple]

I’m going to be in London on my own on Friday night (I don’t live near so don’t go very often, and this is due to a change of plans). I don’t fancy just staying in my hotel all evening - does anyone have any recommendations for nice restaurants where I can eat alone without feeling too self conscious, or somewhere I could go and get a nice glass of wine? My first thought was somewhere like Wagamama for dinner, which has the big shared tables, but it’s not that exciting a choice. Anything else?

If you can get a booking I’d go to Brasserie Zedel on Piccadilly Circus. It’s not over priced and is a wonderful setting. I ate at Bar Remo last night just off Regent Street and it was a lovely friendly Italian restaurant. However, have you thought of going to see a show?

Whereabouts is your hotel?

https://www.sevenrooms.com/landing/forzawinenationaltheatre - is lovely you can take a walk by the river too

I enjoy eating alone on occasion but on a Friday night in London I think I’d choose to see a theatre show instead.

Either that or have a casual dinner somewhere on the southbank then a stroll around. You could go to a rooftop bar for a cocktail or wine afterwards. The Mercer rooftop at Vintry & Mercer hotel is lovely but not too busy or loud.

Would definitely second Brasserie Zedel, the food and atmosphere are both great and you won’t feel out of place at all. And if you’d like to soak up a bit of culture and fill some of the evening beforehand, the V&A and the British Museum do late opening on Friday evenings - it’s less crowded than daytime so an opportunity to see some of the more popular things without the throngs of people and just have a quiet wander of the galleries.

Thanks! Brasserie Zedel does look good. I’d have thought it too fancy for just one, maybe I shouldn’t just rely on the website though! I’m meeting friends on Saturday and we’re doing lots of culture then. I have looked at a show too, the prices are a bit steep in places, but tickets for Hamilton are available…😀

@Pandaandpurple if you are interested in a show you might be lucky to get a discounted one on the day from
https://officiallondontheatre.com/tkts/

The art deco ornateness of Zedel is what makes it so special: you don’t expect the brasserie to be there or to look like that simply from the location or the exterior. So it’s fancy, but it’s not “fancy” in the sense of being stuffy or exclusive or somewhere you’ll feel self conscious as a lone woman casually having dinner. It’s a great place to dine in that sort of environment without paying top dollar and feeling you should be dressed up.

Above link to discount theatre tickets is a good one. If it’s still out of price range / limited availability, what about a movie at the BFI or Barbican or one of of the central Curzon cinemas? They often show classic or art house movies rather than just the latest releases: it’s one of my favourite things to do if I have an aimless Friday night, take in an old movie and have a nice solo dinner and drink!

Go and see Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York! Loved it and wasn't the only one in the audience on my own

Thanks all! Off to do some planning. 😀

If you like Japanese food but want something a bit fancier then Roka on Charlotte St has a counter and there are always plenty of solo diners. Otherwise seeing a show would be a great shout!

I would go to an exhibition that's open late and have a walk if it's dry and warm and probably eat somewhere quite casual, and go to the cinema, in fact I would probably get myself a cinema picnic from a Prêt type place (one of my favourite types of food) rather than eating out.

A street food type market might suit - e.g. Market Halls near Victoria or Mercato Metropolitano or 7 dials, nice food but more casual setting

Go and see https://222aghoststory.com/?gadsource=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoqzfvIvAhgMVxZVQBh0-zAV5EAAYASAAEgJmvvDBwE

I LOVE brasserie Zedel.

You could join London Lonely Girls on Facebook, you may find people to meet up with if you post. It's a great groups and quite chill.

Hijacking OP’s thread (sorry!) but have you seen this and would you recommend? I’m interested but don’t know anyone who’s actually been.

Depending how far you are, I'd go for a mooch around Soho, and maybe go and see one of the films at the Prince Charles Cinema (a Soho institution) - get something to go from one of the Chinese bakeries, they're fab! (I love the little red bean paste fish) And you'd be totally spoiled for choice as far as dinner goes, but I recommend Andrew Edmunds (if it's still open) for atmosphere and wine.

A lot of museums and galleries are open late on Friday nights. I think the National Gallery is open until 9pm - might be a nice place to hang out before or after dinner
https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/whats-on/art-and-exhibitions/late-museum-and-gallery-openings-in-london

@ComtesseDeSpair - yes I've seen it. I really enjoyed it.

I definitely endorse getting a last minute ticket to the theatre. That’s a great way to spend a Friday on your own.

No one will bat an eyelid in London about you being in your own A enjoy the peace and self care 😊

I was in London for a work trip a few weeks ago, dinner at Shake shack sat upstairs watching the world go by then a 2 mins walk to Hamilton (Wicked also close by).

Shake shack not exciting but we don't have one here so a bit of a treat and plenty of people on their own.

Download the today tix app and you can get rush seats for shows on the day

Wow thanks so much all! I’m so looking forward to it. I say Wagamama isn’t an exciting choice, but for someone visiting from rural mid wales, that (and a shake shack) is definitely something to be excited about! Will investigate the cheaper show tickets, for sure.

The TodayTix app is another good option for cheap(er) on the day tickets - they have rush tickets for some shows which usually go on sale at 10am on the day. They can go quick, so it’s worth setting an alarm.

Very off topic but I’ve seen it described as jury service for lower level celebrities the amount the cast changes with ‘non actors’ in the tiles and that really made me laugh 😁

Dont come all the way to London and go to Wagas OP! The NT forzawine recommendation is a great one.