Bit of a niche request but I am on a brief busienss trip to London and find myself with one free night - tonight - where I would like to go somewhere by myself for something nice to eat and a few drinks, but I don’t really know where to go and it’s such a big city that I don’t know how to narrow down the choice other than suggestion.
I’m staying in Canary Wharf but obviously want to go somewhere less ghoulish. Not interested in gigs or activities solo, just looking for somewhere casual, reasonably priced and quiet enough I can go after work alone and not feel awkward for good food and drinks.
I would recommend Clerkenwell/Farringdon. Lots of good pubs (The Crown Tavern, Three Kings, The Eagle, The White Bear) and restaurants (St John, Luca, Brutto) and it’ll be very quick and easy using Crossrail to/from Canary Wharf
I’d suggest hopping over to Padella in London Bridge where you could sit up the bar as a solo person. Nice pasta and drinks, plenty of pubs there too.
As for Canary Wharf, we have a dishoom here now and Chai Ki is also v nice or there is Ippudo or Maraguame Udon (also maraguame in shoreditch which is good for a solo bite as it’s like a canteen really)
This Chinese place in Holborn does a nice starter and main for ~£15 deal and is solo diner friendly. There’s a few other Chinese/Japanese/Korean places around as backup. You’re then near some nice pubs, I particularly recommend Ye Olde Mitre.
Not sure if this is an obvious one but The Grapes in Limehouse is a short walk along the river from Canary Wharf. Does (or at least used to do) nice food and has views of the river. Part owned by Ian Mckellen and an impressive list of cultural nods on the wiki