Table For One: Eating Well While Traveling Solo
E
ating alone while traveling solo can be a daunting proposition. Not everyone can relish in solitude while surrounded by laughing couples and convivial families. But is that really an excuse to subject yourself to quick bites on the go and repeated room service?
Taking the time to sit down for a meal is actually one of the great luxuries of traveling solo. The experience of sitting at a candlelit table and taking the waiter up on the catch of the day. Letting the new sounds of a language slip into our ears as you sip on a traditional cocktail. Watching how the locals slowly take their time to savor each bite, or chow down with abandon. It’s these immersive moments that grant us a deeper understanding of a culture — where ingredients and new stories color our impression of that singular travel moment.
It's also the best time to wine and dine yourself, an opportunity to be your own date — awkward conversations, not included. So next time you're traveling solo, take yourself out for a good time for each meal.
The first date
Breakfast is the first chance to get to know a new place. It’s a time to ask questions, listen and stay open to the opportunities around you. Start by asking the locals for their all-time favorite breakfast spot. Hotel staff work too, or an insider's Instagram account. The idea is to find a place in the middle of the action, one that will delight you with homegrown breakfast staples and where the hustle and bustle will serve as fodder for the day’s itinerary. Whether you’re grabbing a classic croissant and café-au-lait at bakery Blé Sucré in Paris, a cheesy breakfast sandwich at Tompkins Square Bagels in the East Village or a creamy lababli chickpea soup at El Ali in Tunisia, sit back and take a moment to get in sync with your environment.
The serendipitous date
For lunch, we suggest you let go of expectations and see where destiny takes you. Think of this meal as an opportunity to flirt with local traditions. Mingle with residents in local eateries and markets, wander down backstreets and let the aromas guide you. In Saigon, that spirit may lead you to a sizzling skillet of bánh xèo, in Kraków, a crispy yet tender bite of a pierogi will surely tempt you, and in Mexico City, you may just find yourself smitten with a generously filled taco de carnitas. This is the moment to be adventurous and see what’s out there — new flavor combinations encouraged.
Speed dating
By now you have already gotten acquainted with the local culinary customs, but you haven’t called it a day quite yet, so an afternoon pick-me-up is in order to see what else there is to discover. Find out what the popular snacks are in your city of choice and go to town. You don’t have to commit to a full meal, so try a bit of everything. In the heart of Lisbon, satisfy your pastry cravings with traditional pasteis de nata and flaky Jesuíta puff-pastries. Grab a crispy taiyaki fish-shaped cake or boba tea in Tokyo. And if you find yourself in Rio de Janeiro, pão de queijo, coxinha de galinha, and refreshing açaí cups beckon from every street corner.
The aperitivo date
With your stomach still satisfied from your late-afternoon snacking, it’s time to take yourself out for an aperitivo, that beloved Italian tradition of a little something alcoholic before dinner to stimulate the appetite. Consider this the ideal moment to find yourself a sultry bar or lively terrace with a view and sip on the drink du jour. Every destination has its signature, from a flowery rooibos tea cocktail, aptly named “Vintage Romance,” at NetMar Tea House in South Africa’s Western Cape, to an iconic Birra Ichnusa at The Emerson in Sardinia’s Poetto beach. Perhaps you’ll strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to you, or maybe you’ll just watch the sunset in peace — either way, you’ll get a feel for the ambiance.
The date
Of course, dinner is the pinnacle of this romance. Accompanied or not, that matters little. To get in the mood, all you need are a few drops of your favorite eau-de-parfum and a fresh outfit that makes you feel a little more like yourself. This is the moment to treat yourself — make a reservation at that special location you discovered here at The Suitest and try the renowned local delicacies. Follow your waiter's expertise and say yes to the daily wine selection. In Sydney, a date night might look like oysters with a water-front view at Catalina in Rose Bay. Copenhagen’s much-lauded Noma and their melt-in-your-mouth celeriac shawarma could also be the ticket. Whatever you choose, this is your chance to indulge in the pleasure that comes from good company, especially when that company is yourself.
