A typical dining experience usually involves a group of friends or families sharing communal dishes, while for the approaching Valentine’s Day, lovebirds flock to all the dimly lit romantic places. So where does that leave the solo (a.k.a. single) diner? Most people tend to be terrified by the very thought of dining alone as there’s still a stigma to the soloist. “Don’t they have mates?” is the implied question from the other customers and staff. Put a sock in it! If it’s good enough for James Bond to enjoy a nice solo steak and a martini, it’s good enough for us!

Baan Phra Athit

Leave the world behind and immerse yourself in one of the cushy sofas at this colonial bakery. Take in the glorious aroma of coffee and sample its sinful chocolate fudge. Since there are only a few tables, Baan Phra Athit can’t take a large group, making it a cozy, peaceful place to spend a lingering afternoon.
102/1 Phra Athit Rd., 02-280-7878/9.
Open daily 11am-10pm.

Bed Supperclub

Dress to kill and head to this ultra-chic, all-white restaurant and bar, which is frequented by the models and hiso crowd. Here you can lay down with fluffy pillows while enjoying the “surprise” menu and Sex on the Beaches/Blowjobs served by foxy waiters and waitresses. If you find it too difficult to break the ice with this crowd, warm up with the friendly young bartenders first.
26 Sukhumvit Soi 11, 02-651-3537.
Open daily 7:30pm-midnight.

Benihana

Food meets fun at this restaurant where the chef is more than willing to be your escort. Forget the big tables where other people’s families and friends surround you. Instead, grab a seat by the counter and be mesmerized by the juggling chefs as they throw, twirl and catch the sizzling teppanyaki.
Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa, 257 Charoennakorn Rd., 02-476-0022 ext. 1416.
Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-10:30pm.

Coffee Society

Thanks to its dark and quiet interior, this café is a good hideaway if it’s peace and privacy you seek. There are plenty of little niches and corners to pass the time alone (sobbing) at any hour of the day or night.
12/3 Silom Rd., 02-235-9784.
Open daily 24/7.

Foodland 

The lunch counter at Foodland is the closest thing Bangkok has to a good old-fashioned American-style diner, and it’s perfectly suited to the antisocial eater. Once you’ve ordered, you can feel free to ignore everyone else around you. Pivoting between grill and counter, seasoned short order cooks serve up consistently delicious Thai and Western standards at reasonable prices.
87 Nai Lert Building, Sukhumvit Soi 5, Klongtoey Nua, 02-254-2179

Gotto Retto

This no-frills eatery is where you can eat, drink and smoke to your heart’s content—perfect for those wanting to get over the ex. During the peak after work hours, it is crowded with Japanese salarymen who are too busy with their Marlboros and sushi, so rest easy that no one will give you that “dude, where is your date?” look. Another plus is that this izekaya opens till 1am (kitchen closes at midnight), so you can always go late.
87 Thonglor Soi 13, 02-381-4272.
Open Mon-Fri 4pm-1am, Sat-Sun 11am-2pm, 4pm-1am.

Mousse and Berries

There is more to this chic café than what its name suggests. For a start, you have a variety of sinful cake and refreshing tropical fruit ice cream to feast on. Then there’s the prompt and professional service, and last but not least, a good view. Order a scoop or two and let the passers-by provide entertainment.
J Avenue, Thonglor Soi 15, 02-712-6054.
Open Sun-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 10am-midnight.

Pranakorn Bar

Friendly diners, cool music, affordable food and nice views of dimly-lit Golden Mountain at night make this four-story restaurant-cum-bar a perfect spot for a solo outing.
58/2 Soi Damnoen Klang Tai, Ratchadamnoen Klang Rd., 02-622-0282.
Open daily 6pm-1am.

Roadhouse BBQ

This three-story tavern couldn’t be more solo-friendly. Rustic barrel tables make a nice seating option for the soloist. TVs showing sports are a legitimate distraction, as are shuffleboard, pool and foosball upstairs.
942/1-4 Rama 4 Rd., 02-236-8010.
Open daily 10am-midnight. BTS Sala Daeng.

Roti Boy

When times are tough, Roti Boy is happy to fill in the gap where your friends ought to be. The long lines are all gone now, so you can beeline in and out and on to the Skytrain before anyone sees you. This is hardly a square meal, but hey, who counts calories when they’re depressed?
292/1-2, Siam Squre Soi 4, Rama 1 Rd., Phatumwan,02-658-4483.
Open daily 8am-9pm

Tapas Café

What would be better than spending the evening over tasty little Spanish bites accompanied by pitchers of sangria? This modest-sized bistro caters to the spontaneous singles as well as commitment-phobes with a menu that changes daily. An eclectic mix of Spanish jazz and Cuban salsa enhances the informal, welcoming ambiance. The counter could be fun for those in the mood to mingle. And Cheap Charlie’s is just around the corner.
1/25 Sukhumvit Soi 11, 02-651-2947.
Open daily noon-11pm.

Telephone Bar

Most people come here to drink and ogle the local talent, but what most people don’t know is that the pad thai, khai jaew and khao soy are pretty darn delicious, even without the boy parade. Most tables have telephones (yes, they really work). Let your fingers do the walking and order yourself up a cutie from table 5. If you strike out, fret not—you can probably find yourself a take-away dining partner. Bon apetit!
114/11-13 Silom Soi 4, 02-234-3276.
Open daily 6pm-1am. BTS Sala Daeng. www.telephonepub.com.

Just the Two of Us

Investigate this parade of Valentine dining promotions.

Love Cherish by Chao Phraya

The Bangkok Marriott Resort and Spa (257 Charoennakorn Rd, 02-476-0022. www.marriott.com/bkkth) is on a mission to cherish your love with special set menus at all outlets. All couples receive a glass of sparkling wine and a complimentary red rose.

Table for Two

Boost your appetite and spice up your love life with the help from Ember (99/11-12 Lang Suan Balcony Building, Soi Lang Suan, 02-6522086. Open Mon-Sat 11:30am-2pm, 6:30pm-10pm). His and hers six-course meals cost B1,600 per person.

Flight of Love

Booze it up with a purchase of a bottle of Grey Goose Vodka at any of the following venues—Mellenium Hilton, Conrad, Dusit Thani, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, Met Bar, Koi, Hard Rock Café, Hu’u or Q Bar—and an exclusive flower bouquet will be delivered to your loved one on VDay!

Love me Tenderloin

Throughout the month of February, Amapola Bar and Steak House (72/1 Sukhumvit Soi 51, 02-258-7077. Open daily 6pm-12am. www.amapolabkk.com) presents three special Valentine’s promotion six-course menus: Thai seafood set (B1,800 per person), Thai fusion (B1,200 per person) and the Ultimate Valentine’s set (B2,940 per person), featuring Kobe steak sirloin. 

Urban Honeymoon

The Metropolitan (27 South Sathorn Road, Tungmahamek, Sathorn, 02-625-3388. metropolitan.como.bz) presents “Garden of Love” at its chic signature restaurant, Cy’an, featuring a uniquely passionate six-course meal at B3,500 per person.
Spellbound by the River Award winning restaurants at The Peninsula (333 Charoennakorn Road, Klongsan, 02-861-2888. www.peninsula.com) will feature set menus on Feb 14 starting at B4,400 per person. A glass of Kir Royale and a rose are complimentary upon arrival.

Key Factors to Dining Solo

Seating
This is very important—nothing makes you feel more uncomfortable than sitting at a table for four with three empty chairs. Pubs solve this with seating around the bar, while sushi places, especially those with conveyer belts, seem designed with the single diner in mind. Sushi bars have the added bonus of interacting with the chef, and are often worth a visit just for the banter. Pubs, of course, encourage chats with the bartender or your fellow patrons.

The latest glossy magazines, today’s paper and of course BK are welcome diversions for those not yet addicted to iPods, and for a lot of people represent the only spare time they have for a little infotainment. Just remember, it’s hard to hold open a paperback and eat at the same time.

Service
Do you get a look of pity (or scorn) from the manager when you say “Table for one, please”? Yes, it happens, and some places still think it’s fair game to stick you at the table next to the swinging kitchen door or halfway into the alley. The industry thinking is that a table for two represents at least double the spending as it assumes a single diner doesn’t want to linger. Another factor: Just because we are alone doesn’t necessarily mean we want pity chat. We’ll let you know if we feel like talking. It’s advisable to pull up seat at a solo-friendly places.

View
People-watching is a fun way to pass the time and provides a free live show—an insight into the mosaic of the local neighborhood.