Yes, it’s a tourist destination often clogged with camera-wielding out-of-towners on weekends. But this San Francisco institution is also a neighborhood haunt for those in the area and the bartenders often greet regulars with a friendly nod as they scoot up to a table or belly up to the bar. This bar and restaurant is much more than just a coffee cocktail innovator. Though do make sure to try Buena Vista’s Irish coffee, an absolute must that pairs well with the unfussy menu of breakfast, sandwiches, and entrees like corned beef and fish and chips. 

You’ll be tempted by the menu of excellent fresh pasta at this Italian dinner destination from the team behind Michelin-starred Acquerello, but solo diners who nab a seat at the bar would do well to explore the menu of cicchetti, or Venetian snacks, that’s only available to bar patrons. Compile a feast of small plates like potato chips dusted in cacio e pepe seasoning, thick sausage-stuffed chicken wings, and tender veal meatballs. 

For those seeking a place to be alone in the crowd, the bustling hallways of Japantown’s two malls make the perfect escape. After you peruse every aisle at Daiso, duck into the warm wood-wrapped dining room at Udon Mugizo for a bowl of heart-warming udon. The bouncy noodles are made on-site and are perfectly slurpable whether swimming in a rich tonkotsu broth or drenched in Parmesan cheese sauce. 

The latest offering from the acclaimed State Bird Provisions team, Anchovy Bar indulges chef Stuart Brioza’s obsession with those glittering little fish. It’s an itty bitty restaurant tucked around the corner from State Bird, but getting a seat on the parklet or in the dining room is just a smidge easier if you’re riding solo. And good news: because the menu is built around small plates of cured in-house fish and fresh oysters, even a single diner can get a taste of several items. Live it up with a glass of orange wine or a frothy spritz for the full experience.

This cousin to Fiorella offers a fantastic bar program and upscale menu while keeping things affordable. For the solo diner, a Lovely Day, the restaurant’s $13 cinnamon-infused vodka cocktail served hot, is a welcome reprieve from the hot-and-cold winter weather.

The service staff at this upscale neighborhood restaurant and bar are worth the visit in their own right. Day or night one would never find themselves really dining alone at the Divisadero Street haunt. Talking to the bartenders over house cocktails like the Ol’ Smokey, whiskey and ceylon tea with bergamot, is endlessly entertaining. If you’re hungry, the menu offer a solid burger and a plate of fried chicken that comes with a side of braised collard greens.

Mission Bay’s Spark Social is a chance for fresh air, mini golf, and an ensemble of food and drink options. While it’s definitely an experience worth sharing with friends, the outdoor food park deserves one’s alone time, too. Hitting Nucha Empanadas, about $3.50 for an empanada, while enjoying one of San Francisco’s biggest food truck attractions is well worthwhile.

Jumping right into the Mission District in summer 2021, the bar and service staff at Luna want guests to feel at home. They do just that; drinks like the Midnight Train to Georgia, a $15 tea-infused scotch cocktail, feel like coming home to drink with family after being away for too long. Leaning away from the bistro vibe and into neighborhood go-to energy with its January 2023 remodel, this Valencia Street restaurant looks to be more accessible than ever.

This Portola diner serves pupusas for as cheap as $3 a pop. For breakfast, grab a stool and order the huevos estrellados con platanos, an efficient and delicious way to get proteins and fruits in the same dish. Eating on one’s own here is perfect — the restaurant staff loves to play soccer on the TV in the corner.