Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^People watching. Enjoying an atmosphere. Enjoying a view. Enjoying the weather. Lots of reasons.

And regarding the phone thing. Your bar neighbor does not care what you're looking at on your phone.

A barstool faces the bar. Are you saying you randomly spin 180 degrees and just start looking around the restaurant and making eye contact with random people? I honestly don't get what you mean. Unless I was meeting people and looking to see if they're there and get their attention, I'm not sure why I'd divert how I'm sitting and start looking around a place for extended periods of time.

Sit at the bar when you feel chatty. Sit in a corner when you want to people watch. Sit on the deck when it's sunny. Sit at the window when there's a view of the bay.

I mean, geez lady...

Sorry, I'm just fascinated by how to kill time before being served your food. And I guess while eating too. That's why I assume I'd just quickly hoover up my food, because what else can you do to kill time when you're not talking to anyone.

You don't have to "kill time." Just be alone with yourself and your thoughts for some peace. Part of the joy of work travel is that you can do whatever you want for meals, etc. Enjoy the alone time and don't feel compelled to stimulate yourself constantly. Just try enjoying the atmosphere of wherever you are because presumably it's not a place near where you live. If you must, bring a book or sure look at your phone.

"Joy"? I love my husband and kids. There's no joy about being away from them and alone in a 3-star hotel in some tier 3 city for a week. Even a 5-star hotel in a tier 1 city is boring without anyone to enjoy it with. Going out to eat is a social affair.

DP. You don’t have to enjoy it, that’s fine. Different people like different things. But cherishing one’s family and enjoying alone time aren’t mutually exclusive. Maybe it’s an introvert/extrovert thing, I dunno, but dining out alone has always been a really nice, grounding thing for me. Seeing movies alone, too. YMMV.

Hoping that OP does it a few times and learns that she really likes it. Good luck, OP!

I’ll admit the first couple of times I ate alone on work travel it felt a bit weird, but I got over it quickly and do it all the time now. Sometimes it makes sense to sit at the bar, sometimes I sit at a table or booth.

Truly, no one cares or is paying you any mind at all. And now with phones it’s even easier as you have something to look at if you wish. In the old days you had to plan ahead and bring a newspaper, book, or magazine if you wanted something to read. Now all the articles are at your fingertips.

Americans are so uptight about everything.

OP what do you do for breakfast? Lunch?

Have you ever tried going to a museum or shopping area at home, stopping for a cup or tea or coffee, sitting at a little table and people watching? It's practice having yourself for company.

This depends on where you are traveling too. In Paris I have no problem asking to sit at a table alone. In a trendier restaurant in the US I would sit at the bar. If there’s no tv you just… eat. If you want you can make small talk with the bartender or waiter if it’s not too busy and they seem up to it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^People watching. Enjoying an atmosphere. Enjoying a view. Enjoying the weather. Lots of reasons.

And regarding the phone thing. Your bar neighbor does not care what you're looking at on your phone.

A barstool faces the bar. Are you saying you randomly spin 180 degrees and just start looking around the restaurant and making eye contact with random people? I honestly don't get what you mean. Unless I was meeting people and looking to see if they're there and get their attention, I'm not sure why I'd divert how I'm sitting and start looking around a place for extended periods of time.

Sit at the bar when you feel chatty. Sit in a corner when you want to people watch. Sit on the deck when it's sunny. Sit at the window when there's a view of the bay.

I mean, geez lady...

Sorry, I'm just fascinated by how to kill time before being served your food. And I guess while eating too. That's why I assume I'd just quickly hoover up my food, because what else can you do to kill time when you're not talking to anyone.

You don't have to "kill time." Just be alone with yourself and your thoughts for some peace. Part of the joy of work travel is that you can do whatever you want for meals, etc. Enjoy the alone time and don't feel compelled to stimulate yourself constantly. Just try enjoying the atmosphere of wherever you are because presumably it's not a place near where you live. If you must, bring a book or sure look at your phone.

"Joy"? I love my husband and kids. There's no joy about being away from them and alone in a 3-star hotel in some tier 3 city for a week. Even a 5-star hotel in a tier 1 city is boring without anyone to enjoy it with. Going out to eat is a social affair.

DP: Unless you are traveling for work; then going out to eat is just a necessity for being fed.

Right. So just save yourself the embarrassment and awkward conversation with servers who feel sorry for you and nosh in your hotel room.

I've done it a few times and it always feels like the bartenders and servers feel sorry for you. In the day and age of UberEats and Doordash, eating at a restaurant alone is pointless.

And pretending to work on your iPad is just pathetic. You're not on the clock, you're not actually getting anything accomplished, it's just a crutch because sitting there alone in public is awful.

My goodness, you have to relax.

I don't mind eating alone one bit. And the bar, especially in a place with TVs, would be my last resort.

I ask for a regular table for one. I order whatever I want. I always carry a paperback and I read while I'm waiting for food. I eat at a totally normal pace. Then I get the check (when I'm almost finished) and pay, tipping generously.

It's actually a small, simple pleasure.

If you can't bear the thought of all this interaction, just practice at Panera or somewhere like that. Then work up to a real restaurant.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^People watching. Enjoying an atmosphere. Enjoying a view. Enjoying the weather. Lots of reasons.

And regarding the phone thing. Your bar neighbor does not care what you're looking at on your phone.

A barstool faces the bar. Are you saying you randomly spin 180 degrees and just start looking around the restaurant and making eye contact with random people? I honestly don't get what you mean. Unless I was meeting people and looking to see if they're there and get their attention, I'm not sure why I'd divert how I'm sitting and start looking around a place for extended periods of time.

Sit at the bar when you feel chatty. Sit in a corner when you want to people watch. Sit on the deck when it's sunny. Sit at the window when there's a view of the bay.

I mean, geez lady...

Sorry, I'm just fascinated by how to kill time before being served your food. And I guess while eating too. That's why I assume I'd just quickly hoover up my food, because what else can you do to kill time when you're not talking to anyone.

You don't have to "kill time." Just be alone with yourself and your thoughts for some peace. Part of the joy of work travel is that you can do whatever you want for meals, etc. Enjoy the alone time and don't feel compelled to stimulate yourself constantly. Just try enjoying the atmosphere of wherever you are because presumably it's not a place near where you live. If you must, bring a book or sure look at your phone.

"Joy"? I love my husband and kids. There's no joy about being away from them and alone in a 3-star hotel in some tier 3 city for a week. Even a 5-star hotel in a tier 1 city is boring without anyone to enjoy it with. Going out to eat is a social affair.

DP: Unless you are traveling for work; then going out to eat is just a necessity for being fed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^People watching. Enjoying an atmosphere. Enjoying a view. Enjoying the weather. Lots of reasons.

And regarding the phone thing. Your bar neighbor does not care what you're looking at on your phone.

A barstool faces the bar. Are you saying you randomly spin 180 degrees and just start looking around the restaurant and making eye contact with random people? I honestly don't get what you mean. Unless I was meeting people and looking to see if they're there and get their attention, I'm not sure why I'd divert how I'm sitting and start looking around a place for extended periods of time.

Sit at the bar when you feel chatty. Sit in a corner when you want to people watch. Sit on the deck when it's sunny. Sit at the window when there's a view of the bay.

I mean, geez lady...

Sorry, I'm just fascinated by how to kill time before being served your food. And I guess while eating too. That's why I assume I'd just quickly hoover up my food, because what else can you do to kill time when you're not talking to anyone.

You don't have to "kill time." Just be alone with yourself and your thoughts for some peace. Part of the joy of work travel is that you can do whatever you want for meals, etc. Enjoy the alone time and don't feel compelled to stimulate yourself constantly. Just try enjoying the atmosphere of wherever you are because presumably it's not a place near where you live. If you must, bring a book or sure look at your phone.

"Joy"? I love my husband and kids. There's no joy about being away from them and alone in a 3-star hotel in some tier 3 city for a week. Even a 5-star hotel in a tier 1 city is boring without anyone to enjoy it with. Going out to eat is a social affair.

I have not read any of the replies, but I don't know what's crazier, that OP has to crowdsource how to [checks notes] eat at a restaurant, or that she's apparently never heard of a book.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^People watching. Enjoying an atmosphere. Enjoying a view. Enjoying the weather. Lots of reasons.

And regarding the phone thing. Your bar neighbor does not care what you're looking at on your phone.

A barstool faces the bar. Are you saying you randomly spin 180 degrees and just start looking around the restaurant and making eye contact with random people? I honestly don't get what you mean. Unless I was meeting people and looking to see if they're there and get their attention, I'm not sure why I'd divert how I'm sitting and start looking around a place for extended periods of time.

Sit at the bar when you feel chatty. Sit in a corner when you want to people watch. Sit on the deck when it's sunny. Sit at the window when there's a view of the bay.

I mean, geez lady...

This!

I love eating out alone. But I enjoy doing almost anything alone except going dancing…(trying to think of something else). Sometimes I’m chatty, sometimes not. Book/kindle/phone - rarely TV - either one in the restaurant or on my phone.

Now - I DO notice other people eating alone, but it’s not judgy at all.

I was somewhat nervous when I ate dinner alone at a “nice” restaurant when I was in San Francisco as a senior in college (visiting to look at grad schools and had a free day or two). I read (pre smart anything) I remember seeing another woman who looked a bit older than me eating alone and that reassured me/made me feel so much less awkward. And then I ran into her on some tour the next day and we spent the rest of the day doing touristy stuff together!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^People watching. Enjoying an atmosphere. Enjoying a view. Enjoying the weather. Lots of reasons.

And regarding the phone thing. Your bar neighbor does not care what you're looking at on your phone.

A barstool faces the bar. Are you saying you randomly spin 180 degrees and just start looking around the restaurant and making eye contact with random people? I honestly don't get what you mean. Unless I was meeting people and looking to see if they're there and get their attention, I'm not sure why I'd divert how I'm sitting and start looking around a place for extended periods of time.

Sit at the bar when you feel chatty. Sit in a corner when you want to people watch. Sit on the deck when it's sunny. Sit at the window when there's a view of the bay.

I mean, geez lady...

Sorry, I'm just fascinated by how to kill time before being served your food. And I guess while eating too. That's why I assume I'd just quickly hoover up my food, because what else can you do to kill time when you're not talking to anyone.

You don't have to "kill time." Just be alone with yourself and your thoughts for some peace. Part of the joy of work travel is that you can do whatever you want for meals, etc. Enjoy the alone time and don't feel compelled to stimulate yourself constantly. Just try enjoying the atmosphere of wherever you are because presumably it's not a place near where you live. If you must, bring a book or sure look at your phone.

Anonymous wrote:OP, you are really putting out center-of-the-universe vibes here. There are 8 billion people on the planet. Nobody cares what you do for dinner when you're on business in Peoria. So do what you like, when you like.

NP... I disagree. Why does DCUM need to go to the meanest possible answer and to throw in some dumb, trite overused saying? Maybe she just feels awkward. OP.. I have traveled a lot and eat out alone. I never sit at the bar because I don't drink and I know bartendars depend on drinkers tipping. I never have trouble getting a table. I usually bring a book, magazine or newspaper to read. ( I am not a phone scroller). Take your time, leave a good tip and enjoy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you an actual adult?

congrats on being a perfect human. spoiler alert you're not.

Nope. But pretty damn close