The Best Places to Dine Solo in San Francisco — The Bold Italic — San Francisco
By Molly Ditmore
There are people who only eat at restaurants on a date or with friends. I am not one of those people.
Dining alone has its advantages. Solo dining keeps the tab down — no one talks me into a $7 bottle of mineral water or sharing an appetizer I don’t really want. There is usually less of a wait for parties of one because you can opt to sit at the bar or at that awkward table in the corner. I’ve experienced some of the best restaurants by myself and have learned there is an art to eating alone. If it’s a more upscale restaurant, know your surroundings. Evening dining runs the risk of sitting alone next to the Romantic Couple or the Rowdy Birthday Table. To truly enjoy the meal, I try to stay off my phone and instead bring a beloved book to revisit.
Here are my favorite spots in the city to dine alone. Feel free to share yours in the comments.
Zuni Cafe
Zuni Cafe is my favorite restaurant in town. The tiny tables just inside the door are ideal for single diners. I order a bowl of creamy, perfect polenta with mascarpone and parmesan. The sidewalk tables along Market Street are divine on a sunny afternoon, when it’s mandatory that I have a glass of rosé and Marin Miyagi oysters.
Swan Oyster Depot
There is always a line at Swan Oyster Depot on Polk Street. I’ve arrived long before they open at 11 a.m. and been confronted with groups of twos, threes, and fours. My tip is to go alone late in the afternoon when you can fill in a single spot at the bar.
Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe
Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe is classic North Beach. The antique mirror and wood-paneled bar is the spot for slow meals with a half-carafe of the house red. The focaccia sandwiches are served open-faced with melted cheese from the oven. Italian American classics like eggplant parm are just how you want them to be, old school and gooey. Eavesdropping on neighborhood characters is free of charge.
The Rotunda
The Rotunda at Neiman Marcus is my refueling station when I’m in Union Square. Sometimes I go for their classic chicken salad but other times what I really want is a quick martini away from the tourists and construction noise. There is a lounge area but I prefer the small tables that ring the restaurant, offering views that somehow make Union Square seem calm.
Chez Maman
Chez Maman has a few locations but for me there is only the one in Potrero Hill. It’s cozy, seating about 12 people at the counter across from the galley kitchen. This is a place where being alone definitely gets you in faster. I never feel rushed to get out and have lingered over coffee and a book on days when there isn’t a crush of people in line to get in.
Kate’s Kitchen
A lazy weekday solo brunch is absolutely legit. Like many of San Francisco’s favorite brunch places, Kate’s can have a long wait on the weekends. I’ll make any excuse to stop in for the restorative powers of cheddar-bacon pancakes and strong coffee.
Michael Mina
Michael Mina on California Street is one of the most elegant spots in town. At dinnertime, the expansive bar area has its own menu. The cocktails are exquisite. This is the place to take yourself on a date in San Francisco. As a bonus you can hop on a cable car out front.
My Father’s Kitchen
My Father’s Kitchen is a North Vietnamese style restaurant on Divisadero. One benefit to eating pho alone is you can slurp all you want and not be embarrassed. UCSF Mt. Zion is just up the street so it’s an easy stop-over after a doctor’s appointment.
Puerto Alegre
Puerto Alegre on Valencia has a fun bar for a single diner. It’s definitely a place where groups go to celebrate but if you’re in the mood for guac and a margarita, you’re probably not going to mind. The soups are the surprising standout on the menu. If it’s baseball season there is a lively contingent of Giants fan regulars who will likely rope you into their conversations.
The Boxing Room
Some nights I get a mean hankering for fried chicken and the Boxing Room in Hayes Valley has the best in town. Other nights I opt for a simple bowl of their gumbo to warm me up. The bar looks into the kitchen, a view I appreciate when I’m spacing out enjoying just how fine mashed potatoes and gravy can be.
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Photo of Chez Maman by Juliana Su/Flickr
