Best restaurants for a solo meal in Vancouver
One might be the loneliest number, but you’re also more likely to land a seat at a busy restaurant when flying solo. Better yet, you can order what you want, and stay as long as you wish, when seated at the bar. Next time your dinner date cancels, take yourself out instead! Request a table for one and enjoy a solo meal at these Vancouver restaurants. [Photo courtesy of La Mezcaleria]
Mr Red Cafe Inc
2129 Hastings St E, Vancouver, BC V5L 1V2You’ll feel like one of the crowd when dining alone at Mr. Red, where teensy tables placed close together create an intimate atmosphere. Here, the traditional Northern Vietnamese street food menu includes pho, green papaya salad and banh mi, among other dishes. Helpful, friendly staff will make you feel welcome, providing a quick, seamless service that’s ideal for busy lunch hours.
La Mezcaleria
1622 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L 3Y4Grab a seat at the bar inside this authentically Mexican restaurant, which specializes in mezcals – a spirit distilled from crushed, steamed hearts of agaves, originating in Oaxaca. Similar in style to tequila but with a distinct smoky flavour, this strong spirit is folded into crisp cocktails such as the Scorpion Silver and Rey Zapoteco, which pair nicely with fresh south-of-the-border fare like ceviche and pork belly tacos. Plates are small, so be sure to order at least two, three, four, five…
Stable House Restaurant The
1520 13th Ave W, Vancouver, BC V6J 2G4This elegant bistro is tucked away on a South Granville side street, making it a quiet spot for solitude and contemplation. The menu is simple and features an array of European-inspired favourites, including charcuterie and cheese plates, homemade soups and salads, which go nicely with a glass of wine from the impressive in-house collection. Who said drinking alone was faux pas? Here, it’s classy and sophisticated.
Joey Restaurants
1424 Broadway W, Vancouver, BC V6H 1H4Giant flat screens, lip-smacking finger foods, roomy booths and attentive servers make JOEY a perfect spot for watching your favourite sports team while enjoying a bite to eat. You can find a group of spectators or watch solo at the bar, but be sure to take in the contemporary design and mood lighting, which add a unique level of sophistication to game night.
Mexicano Taco Ltd
2450 Yukon St, Vancouver, BC V5Y 0A4Next time you’re in the mood for a light snack, skip your pantry and head to La Taqueria on Cambie Street. Smaller and more functional than most other upscale taco shops in Vancouver, and conveniently located near the Canada Line, this takeout or eat-in restaurant is an ideal place for a solo bite between appointments.
Allegro Coffee Bar
510 W 8th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1C6Most people don’t know that Whole Foods’ upstairs café – Allegro Coffee Bar – offers glasses of wine or local beers with your sandwich or salad. The licensed café is located inside the popular grocery store, which means you can enjoy your dinner from the hot bar or pizza oven here, too. For this reason, café is full with solo diners most weeknights, so if the thought of dining alone makes you feel squeamish, Allegro is a great place to start.
Pidgin Restaurant
350 Carrall St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2J3This Gastown eatery is a very classy, very fun spot for single diners. Strike up a conversation with PiDGiN’s extremely talented, extremely chatty bartenders while enjoying a meal of French-inspired Asian cuisine such as the pork belly rice bowl with quail eggs and poached pear. This hip joint takes on a party atmosphere in the evenings, so you many even cross paths with a future dinner date, if you stick around long enough …
