to enjoy eating alone in restaurants?

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I remembered a thread today about the lady who got stood up by a pal and was agonising about going to a smart restaurant alone. (MN said definitely go!)

AIBU to think it's actually quite lovely having a meal out alone sometimes? I've just had a very nice vegan pizza and glass of red wine and taken my time over it. Have listened to my audiobook and chatted to the waiter and looked out at the rain. Am not on business in a foreign city or in airport etc. am just near my house. I just didn't have anything to do tonight. In my twenties I think I'd have thought it was extremely uncool to eat alone out (the "Billy no mates" thing from school still in mind) but now am in 30s it feels quite indulgent!

AIBU/antisocial

I love it too. Food and reading are two of my favourite things, it's a real treat for me to sit with a book and some lovely food that I've not had to cook

I’ve never done it. It’s something I wouldn’t do and would just get a take away

I do it regularly. My SIL was horrified when she found out...she's the sort who won't go in a cafe to meet someone but waits outside for them. Apparently women shouldn't do it.

I love it too, although I mainly tend to take myself for lunch. I have school holidays off, and apart from other teachers - or if DP takes holidays - I often have no-one to play with in the day. I am a big fan of solo afternoon cinema too.

I used to work with a woman who thought I was really odd for even going for a coffee alone. I asked her what she would do if she was in town shopping and got thirsty, and she said she would buy a can of juice and drink it in the street rather then have the shame of sitting in a cafe alone.

I love eating in restaurants alone. I miss it.

I love it. I have a few days away in one of my favourite hotels coming up. I mooch around sightseeing, shopping etc. during the day then into the hotel restaurant around 8pm. Have a lovely dinner with wine then into the residents lounge where there is complimentary brandy, port etc. Thoroughly enjoy myself. Often get talking to other guests but not always and am perfectly happy with my iPad.

I like doing it to , about once every 2 or 3 months I will get up extra early and take myself to a great cafe a few miles past where I work and have a full breky because its on a market square it opens at 4am so there are always lots of interesting people around and a quiet conversations in lots of languages ,
I always try to get a window seat so I can people watch and watch the market coming to life

Love it. I usually have something to read paper or tablet. Where I am in my own little bubble and getting to chill a little.

Apparently women shouldn't do it

What does a vegan pizza taste like?

“I have even been known to take a book to a pub garden in the summer and have a cider and read in the sun.”

Why ‘even’? This is the best thing. Good opportunity to pretend to be far more comfortable in my skin than I really am.

I will admit when I’m away with work I consider dinner by myself and invariably end up with a takeaway in my room. But breakfast by myself is always good. And I’m away with DD atm and took myself off to the hotel bar for a solo G&T CIA we were annoying each other.

Voted YANBU in the slightest.
I haven't read all the replies.
I love dining alone.
It's not just a getting older thing either, I'd have happily sat and had lunch by myself as a late teenager/ early 20s too!
No whining over menus, who needs dessert etc blah blah, just straight forward people watching or a newspaper or book

Apparently women shouldn't do it
Fuck that lol

Back at uni, I did an Erasmus year in Alicante. I didn't know anyone. Literally not a soul. I used to do it a lot until I got some friends, and after too. I loved it and no one seemed to bat an eyelid. I went at the beach, for coffees, at the restaurant, at the cinema, etc.

YANBU. The only downside is that when travelling, the restaurant staff sometimes talk to me for ages when I’m alone. I’m an introvert but too polite.

I have a fantastic restaurant near me that has just the right/type of noise and ambience for my brain to work through difficult work stuff.

I often move there with my laptop, have lunch, wine, cake coffee. I do it so much I have "my" table.

I take myself to dinner once a week. I love it
I have taken European trips on my own and eaten in some lovely restaurants.
I actually prefer it.

What does a vegan pizza taste like?

Ah well I'm glad you asked. I am DEEPLY suspicious of "vegan cheese" in spite of other vegans constantly declaring each new brand "amazing!", which is almost all made of coconut and is foul (also when melted it goes nuclear hot and clings to the inside of your mouth in manner of scalding peanut butter). If am at a pizza place, I normally just ask for a veggie one with no cheese but one of the chefs at this particular place is vegan (and they're all Italian) so have sourced this Italian faux mozerella made from brown rice somehow?? Anyway it's delightful; melty and creamy. Courgettes, Aubergines, mix
Peppers, Capers and Basil yum yum yum

I often move there with my laptop, have lunch, wine, cake coffee. I do it so much I have "my" table

This is the stuff of dreams

Nubar Gulbenkian once said that the best company at dinner was "myself and a damn good head waiter". He wasn't wrong, although I'll settle for the food arriving on time.

I enjoy it if i can get a window seat, then i can look out. If not then i find i don't know what to do with my eyes. I don't like just looking down but watching others eat is weird, and i find it a faff to read while eating.

I wouldn't choose to do it when I'm home but when I travel I eat alone in airports and hotel restaurants all the time and I LOVE it - always get super attentive treatment too. I order a large gin, open up mumsnet and enjoy a relaxed couple of hours :)