To eat at a restaurant alone on Christmas day

[Gorganzolabrie]

I'm a single woman in my sixties with no children. This year all my family and friends will be away/with other family for Christmas and for the first time ever I'll be alone on the 25th. This doesn't particularly bother me. It would be nice to have someone to spend Christmas with but I'm not a very Christmassy person and I'm looking forward to going away for a week over New Year.

I discovered that one of my favourite local restaurants is open for a few hours in the afternoon and has a Christmas menu, so I booked myself in. I'm now having second thoughts. I'm wondering if I'll feels self-conscious dining on my own on Christmas day. I don't really want to be an object of people's curiosity or pity and I certainly don't want to be invited to join another table. Should I cancel and have a more relaxing time on my own? I'm also curious about whether any of you have dined alone in public on Christmas day? What was it like? If you saw somebody doing it, would you feel sorry for them?

YABU - Sod what people think - go and enjoy your solo meal

YANBU - Stay at home. It will be less stressful

TIA for your responses.

Think a blow up Santa would work well.
As long as all the kids don’t think it’s real 🤯

I’m early forties and I love eating out by myself, even though I have family. It’s a treat now and again and I feel I get better service when I’m alone and can relax.

I think you should go and if anyone approaches you, just smile, say that you’re spoiling yourself and having a relaxing time, then wish them a very merry Christmas - job done.

Do it. I've eaten alone in restaurants at Christmas, all over Europe. Somewhere like France, it's a perfectly ordinary thing to do. The only thing I feel is important is to book well ahead, else you won't get a table. People are invariably doing their own thing and barely notice you.

One of our favourite local restaurants is opening Christmas day, but only for lone diners, I think it's a brilliant idea. I would totally go to a restaurant on my own

Go for it and enjoy! If someone approaches just thank them, merry Christmas etc but say you’d prefer just to stay on your own. I enjoy a book when eating alone but it’s also fun just to people watch

I agree, I would admire you.

I think if you smile at the waiters and have a generally friendly and open demeanour, if (or when) you are invited to join another table you could easily and truthfully say 'thank you so much, you're very kind but this is a special treat to myself in my favourite restaurant. Enjoy your meal, I know I'm going to!'

Then maybe a cheerful sounding 'Merry Christmas' to everyone (if they're looking).

Wishing you a happy Christmas, and and enjoyable festive meal.

I remember years ago being on holiday, went to a beautiful seafront restaurant in the evening, as far as I could see most tables were filled with couples, young and old.
This one lone woman was eating her meal, she did have a book, but she didn't look at it. No one bothered her, but she fascinated me.
I remember admiring her composure and her confidence...I am such a wimp I could never do it, but how I admire women who do.
Nowadays, I should think it's far more usual to see lone men or women dining.

I hope you enjoy yourself.

Wishing you a lovely Christmas, OP.

💯 go if you fancy it.

I'd go and make sure I was wearing very obvious headphones to stop people (kindly and with good intentions) thinking I want/need an invite to join them!!!

Please go! Have a bloody fabulous time! I’m thinking of you as a pioneer - do it for us and tell us all about it. Next year, inspired by you, there may be an upsurge in restaurants throughout the land offering solo tables to women who want to have peace and quiet to enjoy wonderful food and drink without any need to think of anything but pleasing themselves

Nah, I was young and impressionable and times have changed.
The thread brought back seeing that lovely confident woman, that's all.

A Gavin and Stacey showing on Christmas Day sounds great.

I haven't voted, because both options sound appealing. I enjoy eating out solo, though my circumstances mean that Christmas lunch on my own isn't a thing. If it was though, I'd take a book/Kindle, dig in and enjoy, just as I do at other times.

On the other hand, eating out means a certain amount of interaction, which you may not want. It also means being presentable and you might not want to be bothered with that either! Having lunch at home means you can eat what you like, wear what you want, watch the TV and not have to deal with other people's misplaced pity. Have fun, whatever you decide. 🎅🎄

I worked and lived overseas. So no choice but to eat alone much of the time. I don’t think anyone noticed or cared tbh, but I did always notice the service was much better.

I'd go for a special meal on Xmas even then order takeaway on Xmas day and line up a good movie

purely because On Xmas day people are going to harass you to join them

I am quite good at doing things by myself but I would not do this. I think people will wonder about you and will wonder what your story is and pity you. I would feel very self-conscious.

I think you will be repeatedly asked to join other tables. I know I would ask you. It probably won’t be that relaxing.

Do it!!

We ate in Rick Steins once in Padstow and there was a woman on the table next to us celebrating something alone. She was utterly fabulous, looked stunning had a three tier shellfish banquet type thing and a bottle of champagne.

It didn't occur to me that she might want to join us, she looked so happy on her own.

Just say 'thank you, that's a kind offer but i would like to remain alone', smile and sip.

YABU. Go enjoy being waited on hand and foot. Have some lovely wine.

I love eating alone, & I think it would feel even nicer at Christmas, knowing I had no cooking or dishes to do.

Bring a book if you don't want to be bothered by anyone. & own it, be relaxed and comfortable & look like you're really enjoying the experience, even if you're cringing on the inside a wee bit.

I go to cafés alone for lunch sometimes but take a well mannered, quiet dog ( it’s allowed ) so I would go for Christmas dinner with her as wouldn’t feel alone.