Is going for a coffee alone strange?

[LonelyNight2]

I’m sat with a nice coffee right now watching the world go by. When I told DH as I was heading out what my plans were, he looked at me as if I had gone mad! Anyone else enjoy a solo coffee occasionally or do you find the idea strange too?

Nothing better than a solo coffee mumsnetting and watching the world go by.

Nope, definitely a lovely treat! Enjoy x

I hope it's not weird. I like to go shopping on my own, I hate having to keep someone else in mind and not spend too long in one shop etc., so I go on my own a lot and this usually involves a sit down with coffee and cake.

I've been doing it since I was 20, it's a national sport in France where I'm from and I'm VERY good at it.

I still do it everyday in London, never occured to me that it could be perceived as weird.

Did exactly that this morning - and the coffee was free with my loyalty points! Sitting for 30mins in the sunshine and people watching with a coffee is my moment of calm meditation in a hectic week ☕️

What could be strange about it, I wonder?

I had a haircut then went for a coffee on my own afterwards. Loads of people do it. I'd say I go on my own several times a month

What about people who don't have anyone to go with; are they considered strange? I don't think so.

Going for a coffee is weird, going a pint, on the other hand...

I regularly have a lone coffee. Yesterday I had to go to another town to have my car serviced. Usually dh comes as well and we take a wander around and have lunch. This time he couldn't come so when I got my car back I went somewhere for lunch on my way home. A place I don't get to very often and it was lovely. It's not the first time I have dined alone. I do like to have something to read or my phone. I have been doing this for years even before I married. Dh also has a coffee or breakfast/lunch alone. We do have coffee plus eating out together in case anyone thinks we don't like each other.

I would do it more if coffee wasn’t so pricey.

Is your h the type to eat meals then leave the table immediately ?

I don’t understand people who don’t/can’t eat in a restaurant alone either.

I go out on my own for coffee 3-4 times a week - in my local cafe probably about 1/2 of the people are there alone either working or just chilling with book, kindle or phone

Solo trips are all I know, being widowed. After a decade I now feel it’s very strange to go around in couples or packs tbh!

I love going for a coffee alone. My DH does too.

@LonelyNight2 no not at all! Some of us who are single (and friendless) have been doing it for years! I’ve actually noticed recently more people having coffee alone and I wonder if the sight of seeing remote workers increasingly in our cafes is ‘normalising’ going alone to such places. I also go to cinemas alone and have been since my late 20s 🙂

I do a feel a bit billy no mates when I sit in a coffee shop on my own, but it is normally when I am going to the theatre on my own, which I do quite a bit on the spur of the moment, as obviously cheaper than taking my dh along, and I usually do this if he has something else on or I just fancy a last minute show that he is not bothered in seeing. But I have noticed while people watching that there are often lone people also having a coffee. I just watch tiktok on my phone, and try not to look like a sad case 😂

Nothing strange about having a solo coffee, although I'd always do it as part of something else - your post make it sounds like you left the house specificaly to go and have a coffee and then come back? To be honest I'd find that slightly odd and would rather just have a coffee at home, but you do you!

All the time ! It’s lush
and all around me a single folk enjoying a break too

It's not strange. Neither is going to the cinema alone. Or to a gig, the theatre, on a course, on holiday, to an art gallery, etc etc.

There's a time for people and there's a time for no people. FACT.

Not only is it not strange, I think one of the great things about coffee shops is that there is no stigma or weirdness about being alone in one. I am very happy to eat alone in a restuarant, and sometimes I do, but I won't lie, I DO feel self conscious sometimes. In a way that no one ever does in a coffee shop. I love that.

This. It's purposely leaving the house just to go for coffee that's strange.

It's not exactly a nice experience, queuing up for an age while they make coffee at snail's pace then ending up near someone talking incessantly and loudly.

I am writing this from my local coffee shop! I’m here at least twice a week on my own. I just love a bit of time away from the house, to think and plan. Some
of my best business ideas have come to me while chilling with a coffee. I think of it as a kind of self care, giving me the luxury of time alone.

I don't get it. I mean, I get that YOU don't LIKE it, but surely you can see it's not "strange" and loads of people do it? There are a million things that I don't do, and would never do, but that I can fully appreciate are not "strange".

Yes, that is what I have done and I think the basis of DH’s view is what you’ve said

No.. not in the slightest!

In the last week I’ve been to see Streetcar named Desire at my local cinema, Austentatious at the theatre, pre theatre dinner and drink and a cream tea at my local garden centre all on my own. Has never occurred to me than anyone would think this was strange.

Totally normal and very pleasant pastime.