The best restaurants and cafés to dine alone in Singapore

Fancy a personal hotpot with the soups of your choice and away from pesky double dippers? At this mega-popular Chinese hotpot chain, you can. The individual hot pot sets start at just $28 and you’ll get to choose two out of five soup bases that are crafted with the freshest ingredients. Each set comes with your choice of one platter, unlimited condiments from the buffet-style bar, rice or noodles, ice slushies and highly raved bubble tea from Tea Mi Tea. Perfect for flying solo whenever you're craving some hot pot.

There's no shame in rocking up solo at this casual pizza joint. Your first contact will be nothing short of a warm welcome by the friendly crew that runs it. If you're up for some solid banter, snag a seat by the 12-seater bar counter. But if alone time is what you seek, tuck yourself away by the corners or in the cushy lounge area. Fresh out of the oven, the sourdough pizzas go by the slice so you can work your way around different flavours instead of having to stuff yourself silly with an entire pie. Only got space for one? You won't go wrong with the crisped-up savoury parma ham and sweet pickled chilli combination.

Dining alone? Ask for a seat at the 10-seater chef's counter where you feast your eyes on an engaging performance from Chef Nicholas and his fine team. There are sizzling melodies from the taming of the binchotan-filled Konro grill with meats dancing amongst the smoky fumes and the artful plating sequence on one-of-a-kind ceramicware that will soon end up in front of you. Trust us, the famed Ochazuke rice porridge – a Chef Nicholas forte – would silence even the chattiest of diners.

This sleek pick-me-up spot in Far East Square brings something new to the table. Tuck into a series of Asian bowls crafted by a line-up of culinary powerhouses with the likes of Bjorn Shen of Artichoke, Justin Hammond of Neon Pigeon, and even Mano Thevar of Thevar. It's a menu of eight bowls, representing the flavours of Singapore, Sichuan, Saigon, Bangkok, Bali, Tokyo, Mumbai, and Seoul. For a nutritious meal without an impending food coma, this is just the spot perfect for one. So long, lunch buddy, you're on your own.

Table for one, please. This fuss-free Japanese tendon chain is one of Japan's top tendon chains that serve up a highly affordable range of tendon bowls. A set of its famed rice bowl, accompanied by soba or udon, can go for just under $12. And luckily, its wallet-friendly price tag doesn’t come at the expense of the food quality. Every bowl is prepped fresh upon order, and most ingredients are sourced from the same suppliers as those used in all its outlets in Japan. The tech-forward chain also employs the help of Peanut, a robot server, to help bring the food to the table so you won't have to speak to anyone.

A quick snack run at this stylish monochromatic glasshouse coffee joint sure sounds like a city dweller's daily respite. The sleek futuristic chashitsu (tea ceremony space) vibe is zen, mainly because it sits about five people indoors at one time. So lucky you if you manage to snag a seat. But if you don't, fret not, head outside and there's a pet-friendly al-fresco area that is equally as comforting. Coffees here are smooth and teeming with chocolate, malt and apple notes yet balanced with a touch of acidity. Though despite that, you'll still see a flood of orders for the highly Instagramable Cloud Coffee Iced Cappuccino ($8).

If cocktails can help conversations flow, then Analogue is certainly a talking point in more ways than one. Extra brownie points for the bartending team who are a creative bunch who knows proper fun. Take it easy and breathe, you will settle in just fine. Just so if you can't find a topic to open with, it helps to know that the drinking studio seeks to shed light on issues of food sustainability through its entirely plant-based menu – a first of its kind in Singapore. Or just chat about the striking cerulean 3D-printed countertop. Most cocktails here taste refreshingly light, yet heavy in their thought and intent – certainly not drinks that come from an afterthought.

Specialty coffee and artisanal bakes – that's all the reasons you need to visit The Better Half. A hole in a wall, literally. There's just about enough room for five guests. Anymore, it may turn into a sardine can. To avoid ruining your mornings or afternoons with that, visit alone. Take the glass window-facing seat, have an enchanting slice of cake and a well-crafted cup of coffee while you daze away.

In a space that sits not more than 12 at a single time, it's best to visit alone. This charming nook is worth it and you'll find two things that turn good mornings into great ones: solid cuppas and tasty bakes. Pair your single-origin brews with freshly baked goods with the likes of the crowd-popular Apple Crumb ($6). It is a divine creation of buttery crumble and cinnamon-spiced apple slices layered atop a moist pound cake base balanced with a touch of salt. Plan to visit? Do yourself a favour and leave your laptops or even your books behind.

If you think hotpot is supposed to be a communal dining thing, think again. Fufu Pot is rethinking the way we should be enjoying hotpot dining. At Fufu, you only need one spoon to rule them all. Serving one-set individual pots, each set comes with the ingredients picked out for you that best complements the broth. Have any allergies? Just let the staff know and they'll be happy to substitute out anything. The best part is you get the whole pot to yourself and don't have to deal with pesky double-dippers or fussy eaters. The broth comes in many different flavours like Sichuan mala, collagen, tomato, stinky tofu, Korean Army Stew and Thai-inspired white curry. 

It’s now possible to enjoy a barbecue party for one. Settle down at one of Yakiniku Like’s solo-dining booth, which offers individual grills to char choices cuts of meats. Hectic day ahead? The special, smokeless grill ensures that you won’t smell after lunch, and the quick service from the fast-food chain promises to deliver the food from kitchen to table within three minutes. Fill up, get out and be on your way.

Adjoining the largest outlet of Little Farms at Katong is a new, all-day eatery. This is also Little Farms' biggest dine-in venue to date, complete with a full-service bistro, coffee kiosk, and impressive bar counter. Grab a seat by the bar, settle down at a table for one, or snuggle up at a cosy alcove. Then, chow down on a selection of healthy mains, made using the same fresh produce found at its supermarket shelves. 

Japan’s highest-earning conveyor belt restaurant is now available in Singapore. Three sushi-making robots help create parcels of vineyard rice, with air pumped within each morsel to make it less dense. Over 200 varieties of sushi and side dishes are available here – including tuna ($2.20), yellowtail ($3.20), and the special roasted pork with green onion ($2.20). You won’t even need to interact with the waitstaff when ordering. Grab what you want from the lower rotating belt, or order from the iPad and have it delivered straight to your table via the top conveyor belt.

Sichuan Alley is a wood-washed noodle bar in the CBD that serves up spicy bowls of Sichuan-style noodles. The abundance of counter seats makes it convenient to get a table for one; settle in, and slurp down handmade noodles, paired with a colourful array of spices and broth. Try dan dan noodles ($9), a classic treat of the cuisine, or get Korean-inspired shredded chicken kimchi cold noodles ($9). 

Around the world, people flock to celebrity chef Eyal Shani’s casual Israeli eatery to sample his fluffy pita, stuffed with a whole slew of ingredients. While the dine-in tables are limited, Miznon has an informal tiered seating eating area which is great for those solo or in pairs. We like the popular steak and egg ($21), with seared striploin and fried egg; juicy lamb and beef meatballs ($24) drizzled with green chilli; and ratatouille ($17) that has been cooked down to a jam-like consistency, leaving a concentrated pack of flavour.

Play chef and enjoy a smokeless barbecue meal at Yakiniku-GO. This casual heartland eatery utilises an electric grill to cook up cuts of beef and chicken – all without the lingering odour. And having a personal grill means you won't need to share. Most of the sets come priced under $20, and comes with rice, soup, and a choice of salad or kimchi. Sample a wide range of affordably priced sets; the Yakiniku-GO set ($15.80) offers a sampling of beef short plate, ribeye steak, and even slices of beef tongue. 

The good thing about dining in the CBD – the lunch crowd is predictable, and you can plan your mealtime accordingly. Drop by after 1.30pm – that’s when most would have returned to office – and enjoy a wholesome grain bowl filled with tasty veggies and premium meats. Customise your own bowl ($16) with choices that range from salad greens to bulgur wheat, and freshly cooked choices of toppings to go with. It’ll give you the fuel you need, without any of the food coma that comes after.

Most ramen places are usually solo dining-friendly, and Niku King is no exception. The bar counter is typically reserved for those dining alone, where you get to watch the kitchen staff ladle up spoonfuls of hearty broth. Choose from the regular Keisuke Ramen line-up, or order from its meat-heavy Niku King concept where fattier Tontoro pork is boiled for hours to yield a creamier, more umami soup base.