Dining while Solo

I guess dozens any day, roof top restaurants keep on sprouting like mushrooms in Rome. Unless you arrive before 8 PM getting one of those Instagram "omg-what-a-view" tables won't be easy.

What's your question?

just wondering what is a good time to go - don't mind eating early. Also do they mind seating solo travellers. I never had a problem before in Rome dining solo, but never did the roof top dining experience and I think it would be wonderful, based on "instagram" photos.

Except once had lunch at the rooftop cafe at Castel San Angelo, but it was more of a "lunch" thing, but wonderful nonetheless. thanks

Why would they mind solo travelers? Today I had lunch with my wife and two tables on either side were occupied by solo gentlemen. Once I remember dining at the roof top restaurant in Florence on their tower. One of the two tables was occupied by one guy, the other by me, my wife and a childhood friend of mine from Florence. There are plenty of people dining solo everywhere in Italy.

Roberto, as a long time solo traveler, and a female solo traveler, I can say many like me have less than stellar solo dining experiences anywhere in the world. Anywhere from being seated by the bathrooms, or kitchen door, to being told there is no room....in an empty restaurant, to being presented the bill as soon as the main plate is on the table.
Lunch is less of a problem as cukturebis used to solo workers eating alone, but a cautious question about solo dining in high demand locations is not an unreasonable one.

If a restaurant treats a solo diner that way, it’s a tourist trap I never want to set foot on ever again. And if a restaurant brings the check to the table without being asked it will definitely be a tourist trap and if done to an Italian customer it will certainly start an argument, if not worse. This is not America where that is the norm. In Italian restaurants that are not tourist traps, the check is never brought to the table unless requested (and sometime more than once). More often than not, you have to walk to the cash register to pay on your way out.

Some places do “mind” solo travelers. It doesn’t happen often but it did happen to me recently in Florence at a recommended restaurant when I tried to make reservations. I was told no because for 2 yes but not for 1. I live in Emilia Romagna and speak Italian and clearly understood what I was told.

I really appreciate everyone's response. I think I am all set to go and if I get turned away, well, then there are plenty of wonderful restaurants in Rome!! thankyou

Romeisgreat,

I'll also be in Rome solo in a week - mind sharing some of the rooftop places you are considering?

Sharon

@Sewrun- I had that happen in a recommended restaurant in Spain. Absolutely would not seat me, and I speak Spanish. Told me tables were only for two or more people even after arguing with him. So I just went and found another place AND wrote a one-star review on Tripadvisor stating that nowhere did I see a seating limit.

But in several decades of travel-that was the only restaurant that refused me. The funniest thing was that the above restaurant was only 1/2 full.

I’ve never been to one of those rooftop places but have traveled solo and have never had an issue. Maybe the places that are very high-end or popular might be more strict? I have (for lunch) been seated at a four-top with another solo person seated kitty corner from me when the place is busy but that’s not a problem.

Some restaurants, for whatever reason, seem quicker to not seat a solo female than a solo male. It's not right, but it is a fact and I've run into that myself - saw a couple of men eating alone at tables but the host/waiter/owner (whatver) would not seat me, even though there were other open tables. Granted this was about 9-10 years ago and maybe that's changed, but somehow I doubt it.

I didn't try any of the rooftop restaurants in Italy but I dined solo for 2 weeks & never had a problem.

I've experienced that once & it was in 2016 in Amelia Island, FL at a nicer restaurant. Really upsetting in the moment. Soured me on the whole place.