TABLE FOR ONE PLEASE?

After living in New York for 5 years, you learn to do a lot of things by yourself – watch movies, eat in restaurants, shop, explore, etc. No, I’m not a loser, I just don’t depend on anyone to have fun.

When I moved back to Manila, I found myself at the receiving end of many disapproving looks as I sat in restaurants by myself to either grab a quick bite or enjoy a good meal. “Kawawa naman si ma’am. Mag-isa.”

Well, thankfully, it is no longer so strange to be seen eating by yourself. Without further adieu, here is my list of restaurants you can eat at by yourself without feeling weird. Because they welcome you being solo. (seriously)

Updated: July 25, 2017 10:31pm

1) Apero (Quezon City) – I love this place.  For breakfast, I enjoy their fresh baked pastries. For lunch onwards, I always order the cavatelli or the fish. Their coffee is also really good and they have free wifi for those days you wanna hunker down and work. Unfortunately, it’s not cheap to linger here as their menu is quite pricey. On the bright side, the parking is free!

2) Bliss Bowls (Megamall) – Ok it’s practically a food stall which in itself, means it’s not a place for large groups or dates. Eating by yourself is common here. Keep in mind their tables are “outdoor” and by outdoor I mean actually in the hallway of Megamall which means high visibility and lots of people. If you’re self conscious just sit with your back to the crowds. If you’re brave, watch them as they walk by. If they look at you with judging eyes, look back at them with defiance and savor the amazing smoothie bowls. My favorite is Green Dream and Cacao Kiss.

3) Cibo (Everywhere) – Alright chill, I know you are wondering why this is even on this list given that it is a place for big groups and families. Well, if you are a pasta lover like me, you can definitely do Cibo by yourself. The portions are good for one anyway. Plus the waiters are really nice (shoutout to the guys in the Shangri-La branch) and they know how to make you feel extra special when they know you are dining by yourself. Pro-Tip: If you ask nicely for a solo portion of chips, they will usually give it to you.

4) 8Cuts (Everywhere) – I love eating here. I can stuff my face full of fries and no one will judge me. No one. But to make myself feel less guilty, I always get my burger with a lettuce wrap instead of a bun. Haha. Go figure.

5) Ukkokei Ramen Ron (Makati City) – The Japanese are masters at eating solo. The servers here don’t even bat an eyelash when I walk in and ask for a table for 1. After all, those Ramen bowls aren’t for sharing. Neither are the Bento Boxes. So, if you dine here by yourself, it is not uncommon to find others doing the same. For solo dining beginners: sit at the bar. For advanced solo diners, take a couch table in the back.

I’m always looking for new places to try. If you have suggestions, leave them in the comments!

xoxo