Worth it. I've gone to my favorite local bar right after work for a beer and a burger. I'll just enjoy the ability to watch ESPN, check my phone, and get fat. Edit: in public. I do that frequently at home.
Oh my god, it's glorious to find a pretty empty bar on a Sunday in the fall in the US. I'll get there like an hour before football starts, order a drink with lunch and not leave until 7PM.
Eh, I've tried reading a book in a bar. I was interrupted every 5-10 minutes by people going "What?! You're reading a book in a bar?! Fascinating! What's it about? Also, why are you reading in a bar?"
Ebooks. Now you can stare at your phone just like everyone else, but maybe actually improve yourself. Or at least have better entertainment than whatever sportsing is occurring on the tvs.
Seriously, I sit in a pub and read on my phone all the damn time. Oddly more relaxing than doing it at home, cause of the variety of beer I have at my disposal, and the fact I "stay on task" reading and chilling more than at home, so to speak.
When I moved to Phoenix for a few months, I'd take my laptop and my dog to the bar around the corner and get work done. Inevitably I'd end up making friends and getting drunk, but I drafted many an email at that place.
Agree with this. Shortly after moving in to my own apartment after living with room mates for years, I went to a local bar and had lunch and a few drinks on a Saturday by myself. Watched some soccer, talked to the people around me and it was super enjoyable. The hardest part is talking yourself into doing it.
I've been doing this since I turned old enough to drink so I don't really think about it anymore. Can't even remember if it was hard the first time or not.
Yup, I love this too. I travel somewhat frequently for work, and I love having the chance to explore a city on my own. Every night I'll go to a new place for dinner (usually a bar or something similar), eat by myself, talk to whoever I meet there, and generally have a great time. It's amazing how much more you can learn about a place when you're open to meeting new people, not just hanging out with your partner/friends/colleagues/whoever.
Do it! As a former bartender, as long as you are nice and polite you will usually get great service. I loved chatting with the regulars who worked downtown and just wanted a slice of pizza and a beer.
I don't do it often, but this is definitely a great way to spend some time
My last birthday,I went to my favourite pub on my own, early in the afternoon. Just sat in a corner by myself, reading a good book, drinking my favourite cider, put a couple of good songs on the jukebox, it was wonderful. Once it got to about 9pm, and the place started filling up,I was quite drunk, tottered home, picked up a pizza on the way, watched one of my favourite films and fell asleep.
Not saying I'd do that every week, but it was definitely one of the best days I've had in a couple of years
I live in Seoul. I eat at a pub alone all the time.
Well, after about the 5th or 6th time, I knew the bartenders and the other regulars and I was no longer eating alone. That was 4 years ago. I'm never alone now.
This is solid advice, and if bringing a book to a restaurant/bar setting makes you uncomfortable, get an e-book on your phone. All the joy of reading without needing to carry a book and no one can tell what you're doing.
Oddly, I got hit on more while sitting at a bar reading and minding my own business than any other time. Something about a book at a bar seems to scream "talk to me!" Apparently. And they don't take the hint.
"What are you reading?"
silently show cover, keep reading
"Oh, is it good?"
"So far" keep reading
"So what do you do here?"
Oh for the love of burgers, I read, okay? I sit here, and I eat my sandwich, and I drink my cider, and I read. Until now. ARGH.
Fair. But still, with one word non-answers you'd think they'd take a hint. Also, I didn't read every time, I would just hang out and chat with the bartenders, but I rarely got hit on then.
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u/double_ewe Jul 13 '15
one of my favorite things in the world. just bring a book or some blue links and be as social (or not) as you want.