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.

Go for it if you’re happy. Of o want to do something these days and no one else does I fo it on my own. When you go places alone, you realise how many others do.. sometimes yes I go with DH and DS but sometimes it’s nice just enjoying your own company too. Hope you have a lovely Christmas

Love it

I think it sounds great . A nice meal at a restaurant you like . It sounds like it could be a nice relaxing day .
I personally would take a book as I love to read so good food (that I didn't have to cook) and a good book sounds lovely to me.

Obviously do whatever you want. I'm in my 60s and alone this year which I'm pretty pleased about for the peace and quiet. I've ordered my christmas dinner in this year. The local pub does a lovely one and delivers. I'm happier eating at home and watching a good film. Have a lovely day whatever you decide.

You should know better than to lay the law down about a large city and other people’s experience. Very rarely seen a single diner on Christmas Day and the ones I have were asked to join other tables.

Couples and families who culturally do not celebrate Christmas gravitate towards restaurants that culturally don’t celebrate Christmas either - eg Asian, Persian etc.

I don’t mean repeatedly by the same people I mean by more than one table.

I don't think there's anything wrong with it. If I'm ever on my own xmas day i'd prefer to stay home but that's just personal preference

You know some people actually enjoy their own company, right?

I can’t speak for the OP but I could not imagine anything worse than a random bunch of strangers when I’d rather be left alone with a book.

Alone and lonely are two very different things.

I haven't on Christmas day but I do regularly eat alone while out... theres nothing to 'pity' about enjoying your own company.

Its like women sitting in a bar alone reading a book, just because they're alone doesn't mean they're unhappy and want random company. I think we are getting to a point in society where people are starting to realize that.

I went to a local restaurant alone on Christmas day last year and I've done it abroad before on several occasions . No one has ever tried asking me to join them.

But that is you. I would be fine with it.

I inadvertently had Christmas lunch alone last year when my friend was taken ill on the day so couldn’t join me. It’s a restaurant I dine at regularly and have eaten solo on non-festive lunches with no problems.

People smiled and we exchanged standard ‘doesn’t this look lovely. Merry Christmas’ at the buffet and a brief greeting to the table next door but, apart from that, I was able to eat in peace and had a lovely time, just sad my friend was ill so missed out.

I wouldn’t hesitate to dine alone on Christmas Day again. I hope you have a lovely day and meal. Merry Christmas!

I’d find it hard to sit there alone but if you’re brave enough go for it. I would probably hide away at home. Or I’d book myself a spa break with hotel etc if everyone else is away I’d probably do the same!

Of all the stupid things I’ve read here this year …

And what the hell is wrong with a grown woman being at home alone?

I don't imagine staff in the local Asian restaurant I dined in last year were being "made to work".

Yep I 100% would. I'd take my iPad and watch whatever I wanted with my headphones in then walk home

This is you not actually having noticed that many restaurants have few solo diners on CD, never having noticed diners being asked to join others and never having asked them yourself.

If I had a pound for every time I have had Xmas lunch, alone at a restaurant, I would have a whole tenner now 😂I love it. No cooking, no mess and no washing up. It’s epic. No argy-bargy about who has the best bit of tat in a cracker, it’s just wonderful.
Go, have fun, enjoy your dinner and I hope that you find it liberating. I was too late to book this year, but I’ll definitely be looking at it next year again.

I think it’s cool to have the self confidence to dine alone. I semi-regularly abandon my husband to look after the children and take myself for a meal somewhere without them. The time out from real life is heaven! I always take a book to read with me - I think it makes me less approachable tk anyone who might want to disturb my peace!

do it!

As much as staying at home surrounded by chocolate sounds appealing that maybe makes for a pretty long day?

Breaking it up by going out for a meal sounds ideal.

Have you checked with the restaurant if you'll be sat alone?

Im jealous, sounds fab
I would take a book for between courses though.
Enjoy

I'm the same... and on Christmas there will be crackers on the table and other people just having a good time. I wouldn't know where to look or how to entertain myself in these circumstances but that's my issue.
OP I hope you have a lovely Christmas! Enjoy your meal🙂