Rasika West End, Blacksalt, Et Voila, Capital Grille in Chevy Chase all are good options. If you are not looking to be picked up, then steer clear of Bourbon. You will be hit on at Four Seasons Bar if you are attractive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anywhere you want. I like bistro liberte. Beautiful bar, great food.

I travel a lot for work and there is nothing I love more than dinner at the bar with a cocktail and a good book.

How do you get people not to talk to you?

Just ignore. If you do engage, tight smile, brief responses, turn back to book.

Jaleo in the Penn Quarter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anywhere you want. I like bistro liberte. Beautiful bar, great food.

I travel a lot for work and there is nothing I love more than dinner at the bar with a cocktail and a good book.

How do you get people not to talk to you?

I am the PP you are quoting. This is literally NEVER a problem for me. Although I am a fit, attractive woman, I am clearly married and wear an invisible sign that says "I am NOT interested. Do not even bother."

Anonymous wrote:Anywhere you choose. Seriously, walk in and give not a second thought.

+1 Though I never want to eat at the bar, so I get a table.

I've eaten alone at Old Ebbitt at the bar. A dozen oysters, some fries, and a couple of glasses of Chablis. Heaven!

The Barcelona in Cathedral Heights has a good bar and I see people eating alone there often

Anonymous wrote:Anywhere you want. I like bistro liberte. Beautiful bar, great food.

I travel a lot for work and there is nothing I love more than dinner at the bar with a cocktail and a good book.

How do you get people not to talk to you?

The only places that are bad to eat alone are those known for being romantic and family restaurants. Once when some work was being done on my kitchen, I popped into a nearby restaurant for a quick meal on my own, without giving any thought to what kind of restaurant it was. It was not very relaxing to overhear all the kids at neighboring tables asking their parents, "Why is that lady eating all alone?"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could eat alone at any bar anywhere. Whether you feel uncomfortable being alone there is entirely in your head. It's not the bar, it's not the other diners, it's you. You can work on it and fix it, maybe start by just going to a bar you like with food you like and having a meal.

I mostly agree with this. Bring a book or newspaper if you’re worried about feeling self conscious. But it’s really about holding your head high and letting go of how you “should” be.

When I dine solo, I like to order quixotically, like four appetizers instead of an entree or ordering dessert first or something else silly. It makes the experience feel like I’m out to be treated like a queen and I will answer to no one! It’s fun!

I love this.

Anywhere. Today I would pick the Dabney. But literally anywhere

Anonymous wrote:You could eat alone at any bar anywhere. Whether you feel uncomfortable being alone there is entirely in your head. It's not the bar, it's not the other diners, it's you. You can work on it and fix it, maybe start by just going to a bar you like with food you like and having a meal.

I mostly agree with this. Bring a book or newspaper if you’re worried about feeling self conscious. But it’s really about holding your head high and letting go of how you “should” be.

When I dine solo, I like to order quixotically, like four appetizers instead of an entree or ordering dessert first or something else silly. It makes the experience feel like I’m out to be treated like a queen and I will answer to no one! It’s fun!

I’ve had good solo experiences at all the Jose Andreas restaurants.

Anywhere by a hotel will be used to seeing solos, as others have noted.

I do NOT recommend Le Diplomate. The flat out refused to accept a reservation for one and were very unkind about it.

You could eat alone at any bar anywhere. Whether you feel uncomfortable being alone there is entirely in your head. It's not the bar, it's not the other diners, it's you. You can work on it and fix it, maybe start by just going to a bar you like with food you like and having a meal.

I’m a big fan of solo dining at restaurant bars. Attentive service and you can go as slow or fast as you want.