One of my great loves in life is travel; in the last eight weeks alone, I’ve visited eight cities in six countries. I love a change of scenery and the opportunity to explore a new place, and when I’m looking at how to prioritize my spending money, travel consistently lands at the top of my list. That said, it took me a long time to really embrace travel, because as a solo traveler, I had one big fear – dining alone.

I still remember the first time I went to dinner alone. It was a sunny evening in New York, and I nervously snacked on chips and guac while I played with my phone, trying to look like I was just waiting for a friend. As silly as it sounds, this was a life-changing moment – it gave me the courage to travel to Europe for the first time, alone, and to make many subsequent solo trips across the globe.

Here are some tips that helped me learn to love solo dining:

Sit at the bar. Sitting alone at a restaurant bar feels less conspicuous than sitting alone at a table, and if you’re feeling lonely, you can make friends with the bartender. I’ve had great evenings sitting alone at bars, eavesdropping on conversations and swapping stories with bartenders.

Bring a book. Or really, anything to read. I always travel with my Kindle and love getting lost in a book while I enjoy dinner and a glass of wine, but have also found that carrying a paperback can spark some great conversations.

Go to a hotel. I used to think that hotel restaurants felt so sterile and corporate, but that’s changed – there are plenty of spots with great food and ambience, and you’ll likely find yourself amongst other solo travelers.

If you have other tips for solo dining, I’d love to hear them in the comments!