Eating alone in Vancouver: the best kinds of places for solo dining

Eating alone is one of the great pleasures of travelling, and of everyday city life. You choose exactly what you want, eat at your own pace and often get better service and a better seat than a group would. Vancouver is a particularly easy city for it, thanks to its counter-seat ramen shops, sushi bars, food courts and markets.

Here is how to make solo dining work well.

What kinds of Vancouver restaurants are good for eating alone?

The best solo spots have counters, bars or communal tables:

• Ramen shops, especially in the West End around Robson and Denman, where many diners eat alone at counters.
• Sushi bars, where you can sit at the counter and watch the chefs. Omakase is a particularly good solo experience.
• Izakaya, where small plates let you try several things without over-ordering.
• Pho and noodle houses, quick, cheap and completely normal to visit alone.
• Cocktail and wine bars with food, where the bartender is good company.
• Markets, such as Granville Island and Lonsdale Quay, where you can graze stall to stall.
• Food courts in Richmond and Burnaby, which are built for quick individual meals.
• Cafés, for breakfast or lunch with a book.

Is it awkward to eat alone at a nice restaurant in Vancouver?

Not at all. Vancouver diners are used to people eating alone, and many of the city's best restaurants have bars or chef's counters that suit solo guests. Sitting at the bar often gets you more attention, a view of the kitchen and conversation with the staff, if you want it. Booking a single seat at a restaurant can also be easier than booking for two or four, especially on busy nights.

How do you get a good table when dining alone?

1. Ask for the bar or counter. It is the best seat in the house for one.
2. Book ahead for busy restaurants; many booking systems allow a party of one.
3. Go early or late. A 5:30 p.m. or 9 p.m. table is easier to get and calmer.
4. Walk in confidently. "Just one, at the bar if possible" works almost everywhere.
5. Avoid the busiest group nights at small restaurants with few bar seats.

What should you order when eating alone?

Solo dining is a chance to order exactly what you want, but some formats suit one person better than others:

Works well alone	Harder alone
Ramen, pho, udon	Family-style Chinese banquets
Sushi and omakase	Large Korean barbecue sets
Small plates at an izakaya	Hot pot sharing sets
A main and a glass of wine	Dim sum, if you want variety
Tasting menus at the counter	Big sharing platters

For dim sum alone, go at a quiet time and order two or three dishes; it is perfectly normal, especially on weekdays. Some hot pot restaurants offer individual pots, which are ideal for one.

What cuisines work best for one person?

Some kinds of food are almost designed for eating alone, and Vancouver has plenty of them:

• Ramen and pho, a single bowl that is a full meal, often eaten at a counter.
• Sushi bars, where sitting at the counter lets you order piece by piece and watch the chef.
• Dim sum, which works for one if you order two or three baskets and choose small portions.
• Food courts, where you can sample one dish at a time without a server waiting.
• Wine bars and small-plates restaurants, where a couple of plates and a glass make a relaxed evening.

The hardest for one person are family-style banquets and set menus built for a table. If you want to try a cuisine that is usually shared, go at lunch, when many places offer single-portion specials.

Is solo dining safe in Vancouver?

Vancouver is generally comfortable for eating alone, including in the evening. Use ordinary city sense: sit where you feel comfortable, keep your phone and bag close, and plan your trip home after dark. If you are drinking, transit, a taxi or a ride-hailing service is the easy way back.

How do you tip when eating alone?

The same as anyone else: 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount at table service, including at the bar. Counters and food courts are optional. Some people tip a little more as a solo diner, especially when they have taken up a seat for a long time or the bartender has looked after them well. BC menu prices do not include tax: 5 percent GST on food and 10 percent PST on alcohol.

What are the best solo dining experiences in Vancouver?

A few classic solo outings:

• An omakase at a sushi counter, chosen by the chef, course by course.
• A weekday ramen lunch in the West End.
• A morning at Granville Island, coffee, pastry and a walk.
• A cocktail and bar snacks in Gastown.
• A slow dim sum lunch on a weekday.
• A bowl of pho on a rainy evening.

How do you make eating alone more enjoyable?

Bring a book, sit facing the room or the kitchen, and take your time. Or use it as a chance to try somewhere you have been curious about but could not persuade anyone else to go to.

Eating alone is also a good time to take notes. On Mosey you can rate the places you ate at and the dishes you ordered, with photos, and keep a list of counters and bars that are great for one. Following friends lets you see where they ate on their own solo nights too.

More guides to read next:

• Holiday dining in Vancouver: the Christmas Market, festive menus and booking tips
• Steveston food guide: fish and chips and fresh seafood at Richmond's fishing village
• Where to eat in Surrey: Punjabi food, sweet shops and the Vaisakhi Parade

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.