Dining Solo: The best addresses to eat alone
When you sit in a restaurant and look around at the other patrons, it often seems like you are surrounded by couples, young families or groups of friends. However, in reality, the restaurant industry is experiencing an increase in the number of solo customers. People are (finally) starting to see it as normal and socially acceptable to go to a restaurant to eat alone.
It’s important to treat yourself, to take time for yourself. Is it Friday night? Book a good restaurant and take yourself out on a date. Is it Sunday morning? Treat yourself to brunch with a delicious coffee. Having a tough day? Take a well-deserved lunch break out. Every reason is a good reason to take a moment for you and you alone.
With that in mind, we’ve decided to put together a list of restaurant recommendations for dining alone. There’s no need to feel awkward asking for a table for one. Quite the opposite. The restaurants on this list are all perfect for a date with yourself. In fact, this list is simply for anyone who loves good food and good service!
So here’s our list of the best restaurants to dine solo.
Il Miglio
This restaurant, which is part of our list of the best Italian restaurants in Montreal, offers a few appetizers, meatballs, pasta dishes — including lasagna and stuffed pasta — and more. You can accompany everything with a good glass of wine and finish your meal with a delicious tiramisu. Il Miglio is the perfect option for a solo Italian lunch!
Montréal
Bar Henrietta
If you are looking for a great wine bar to have a drink and a bite to eat, look no further! Bar Henrietta offers a very interesting wine list full of carefully selected mostly natural private imports. There are also delicious classic cocktails executed with brio as well as Quebec beers on draught. As for food, you will find all sorts of tasty small plates that change regularly. In sum, a Mile-End staple for your next me-time outing.
Montréal
Pumpui
This little counter-restaurant opened its doors in the heart of Little Italy and offers an excellent menu bursting with Thai flavours. Inside, you’ll find a few charming booths, a window-facing counter with stools, as well as several food products from South Asia. Basically, Pumpui is an inviting space that offers excellent food and products, to be enjoyed in house, in a nearby park, or at home. It is one of our favourite Thai restaurants in Montreal.
Montreal
L'Express
If you’re looking to feel like a true Montrealer, come have lunch alone at one of Montreal’s most iconic restaurants! L’Express has been making its mark for almost 40 years now, and there’s no sign of it slowing down. While scrupulously respecting the recipe for classic French brasserie cuisine, the menu at L’Express is both creative and festive. There’s nothing we don’t like about L’Express. A classic to try without hesitation!
Montréal
Café Parvis
Whether it’s for lunch downtown, a late night drink or a delicious evening meal, Café Parvis is sure to satisfy. Whatever time of day, the space is bright, welcoming, and lively. The house food offer is mainly centered around light pizzas (which are among the best pizzas in town), but they also offer other small gourmet dishes. There are salads, falafels, as well as nice brunches on weekends. To accompany everything, we invite you to consult their judiciously prepared wine list which changes regularly. Perfect for those who like to try new things. When we go alone, we like to sit at the bar. You can even work there if you want!
Montréal
Lloydie's St-Henri
After the opening of Lloydies on Saint-Viateur and on Crescent, it is now the turn of Saint-Henri to welcome this delicious address. This Caribbean comfort food counter and épicerie is known for their famous pattys, a classic of Jamaican cuisine. Their Notre-Dame location has a warm vintage charm. We highly recommend a visit soon if you are in need of some Caribbean sunshine — plus, authentic and tasty dishes are guaranteed.
Montréal
Le Majestique
We love Majestique. It’s one of the best bars where you can also eat well in Montreal. The decor — intimate, original and slightly kitschy — is more than inviting. The food — tasty little dishes mostly based on seafood and vegetables — are consistently delicious. The wine list changes every week or so and is largely composed of private imports. Majestique is also one of the best oyster bars in town. An address to discover alone or with friends!
Montréal
Nacarat Bar
We come to Nacarat to live an experience, to drink an excellent cocktail perfectly executed by their mixologists, and to receive very attentive service. The hushed, chic and sophisticated decor of the establishment has earned it a place in our list of the most beautiful bars in Montreal. While the main reason for coming here is to enjoy great cocktails, the place also offers great beers, a nice selection of whiskies and a well-stocked wine/champagne list. In the summer, sit on their beautiful terrace and enjoy the nice weather!
Montréal
HÀ Vieux-Montréal
The menu at Hà in Old Montreal offers the same Southeast Asian-inspired cuisine as Hà Mont-Royal, but with a more festive twist. There are meat dishes, soups, buns, vegetarian options, fish and seafood. A small wine list and a nice list of original cocktails are also available. It’s fresh and tasty, and we love it! The simple but inviting decor is perfect for a solo date night.
Montréal
Cadet
Cadet is the sibling address of the popular restaurants Bouillon Bilk and Place Carmin. The regularly changing menu offers small dishes (although they really aren’t that small). A person with a light appetite could be satisfied with one of the more robust dishes. It is recommended to have one or two per person, depending on your hunger. The plates are delicately prepared, and their wine list offers interesting products that perfectly accompany their menu. The service is excellent and efficient. A superb and delicious address that you will never tire of!
Montréal
Patati Patata Jean-Talon Friterie Deluxe
Patati Patata is an unpretentious, friterie de luxe that has been serving up delicious, homemade casse-croûte classics for over 20 years! We come here to enjoy a good burger or a poutine in a simple, relaxed, and welcoming atmosphere. The house also offers classic, yet decadent breakfasts at any time! Patati Patata is a Montreal classic that never goes out of style. There is also a location at the Jean-Talon Market. Try it the next time you have a craving for comfort food.
Montréal
Isle de Garde - Brasserie
Located on Beaubien East, Isle de Garde is a superb craft brewery with a very inviting terrace in the summer (one of the most beautiful bar terraces in the city, and therefore certainly one of the busiest in the neighbourhood). The place offers a menu of classic and comforting dishes. While we eat very well here — from fried chicken, to gnocchi, to pulled pork chili — Isle de Garde is better known for its beer offering. The walls of the counter display a series of 24 beers brewed on site, which change constantly. Whether for lunch or dinner, Isle de Garde is a friendly and unpretentious microbrewery to try. Settling in for lunch and work in the afternoon is one of the neighbourhood’s best kept secrets 😉
Montréal
vinvinvin
Vinvinvin offers a wide range of wines to discover in a colorful and charming space. A varied and truly delicious offer of northern climate “living” wines await. There is also a menu of delicious small dishes prepared with local ingredients. The team is friendly and warm, and the service is attentive and professional. Don’t hesitate to ask for a bit of guidance. It’s not for nothing that vinvinvin is now part of our list of the best wine bars!
Montréal
Neotokyo
This noodle bar with a cyberpunk aesthetic offers delicious ramen soups, mazemen (ramen without broth), some classic sides and a short menu of sakes adn Japanese flavoured cocktails. The opening scene of the movie Blade Runner inspired the concept, which explains the neo-futuristic atmosphere. From the concrete to the fake advertising signs in Japanese, you truly feel like you are elsewhere. When you go alone, we strongly suggest you sit at the bar, on one of the red leather stools. In addition to eating well, you will be amazed by the decor and the atmosphere.
Montreal
Chez Tousignant
Chez Tousignant is a 50’s style snack bar that offers decadent diner fare. Everything here is homemade and delicious, and their burger is on our list of the best burgers in town. Moreover, as soon as you step in, you feel good. The welcome is warm, and the staff is wonderful. If you’re in the mood for a good classic, go to Chez Tousignant! This exceptional little snack bar is a neighbourhood staple.
Montréal
Nolan
You can’t go wrong at Nolan. Whether it’s for a coffee, a drink or a good meal, this chic little neighbourhood restaurant in Little Burgundy will welcome you at any time of day with open arms. The decor is sprinkled with vintage touches that contribute to its warm and welcoming atmosphere. You will quickly feel at home. We invite you to discover this nice address for your next solo date!
Montréal
Satay Brothers Resto 3721 Notre-Dame
Satay Brothers is an address we love in Saint-Henri. The lively restaurant offers delicious dishes that transport you far from the Quebec winter. The place is also part of our list of favourite places to eat well and affordably. All their products are homemade except for the bread used for the sandwiches of the day.
Montréal
Pho Bang New York
This Chinatown staple offers tasty Vietnamese dishes at low prices. There are Tonkinese soups, grilled meats, pork vermicelli, beef rice, imperial rolls and more. However, one of the main reasons to come here is to enjoy one of the best Phở soups in Montreal! Whether it’s for lunch or an evening meal, you’ll definitely feel comforted by one of their authentic dishes.
Montréal
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