Table for one? Prague ranks among the world's best cities for solo dates

No coordinating schedules, no debating where to eat, and no pretending to enjoy an exhibition just because someone else wanted to see it. Welcome to the art of the solo date, where being a little selfish with your time is kind of the whole point.

Once considered a slightly awkward social situation, going out alone is getting a rebrand. Enter the solo date: making plans with yourself, for yourself, and having a pretty great time doing it.

And Prague, it turns out, is an excellent place to practice. The Czech capital recently ranked 12th among the world's best cities for solo dating, ahead of Amsterdam, Barcelona and Edinburgh.

So why are we still waiting for someone else to be free?

First things first, solo dating isn't just a fancy way of saying you went to get coffee alone.

It's about intentionally treating yourself to an experience you'd normally associate with a date. Think dinner at that restaurant you've had saved on Instagram for six months, finally seeing the film nobody else wanted to watch, or spending an afternoon in a gallery without someone asking if you're done yet.

And despite the name, there's no relationship status required. You can be single, happily coupled up, or somewhere in the complicated middle.

According to an October 2026 study by British lingerie retailer Pour Moi, 54% of 1,500 women surveyed in the U.K. had been on a solo date in the previous year.

Among those who had tried it, 62% reported feeling more confident, while 66% said it had improved their mental well-being. These are self-reported experiences, not proof that a dinner reservation for one will magically fix your life.

Psychotherapist Eloise Skinner, consulted for the study, offered a useful distinction:

“Loneliness can come from feeling an absence of those around you, while solitude can bring comfort in one's own company.”

For expats, that distinction feels particularly relevant. Moving abroad often means rebuilding your social circle from scratch, navigating unfamiliar places, and occasionally finding yourself with a free Saturday and nobody available to spend it with.

But that doesn't have to be a problem to solve.

Prague scored 51.45 out of 100 in Pour Moi's Self-Partnered Index, which compared cities using activity options and safety indicators. Bruges, Venice and Florence topped the ranking.

A ranking commissioned by a lingerie retailer isn't the final word on where to find yourself. But you don't need a study to see why Prague makes a compelling destination for a date with yourself.

From live jazz beside the Vltava to underground dance floors, outdoor wine markets, and centuries-old streets waiting to be explored, Prague offers plenty of ways to fill your calendar without having to coordinate with anyone else.

There's almost always something happening, and you don't need to assemble a group chat to enjoy it.

For those living abroad, there's something especially satisfying about getting to know a city independently. Taking a tram to a neighborhood you've never explored, wandering into a gallery you'd normally walk past, or finally visiting that little wine bar you've been meaning to try since you moved here.

It's a chance to build your own relationship with Prague, rather than only experiencing it through the people you spend time with.  

From quiet afternoons to nights on the dance floor, here are five ways to make the most of your own company.

If your idea of romance involves getting lost in a beautiful building surrounded by art, the Trade Fair Palace in Holešovice is calling.

The best part? Nobody can tell you to hurry up. Stare at one artwork for 20 minutes, breeze past the next five, or decide you've had enough and head straight for the café.

Start at Kolektor, inside the palace, for coffee and a little people-watching before exploring the National Gallery's modern and contemporary art collections. 

There's something wonderfully indulgent about taking yourself to the cinema. You pick the film, buy your favorite snacks, and disappear into someone else's world for a couple of hours.

No debating which movie to see. No whispering during the good parts. Sheer perfection.

Bio Oko in Holešovice makes the experience even better with unconventional seating, including beanbags and loungers. Just check the language and subtitles before booking. A surprise two-hour film without subtitles might be more adventurous than you bargained for. 

Who said a good date needs to cost money?

Put on your favorite album and wander through Stromovka, find a quiet spot to sit, or simply walk without having anywhere particular to be.

Alternatively, head to Letná for views over the Vltava and some excellent people-watching.

No reservations, no schedule, no pressure to turn the afternoon into something productive. Sometimes doing absolutely nothing in particular is the whole point.

A date with yourself doesn't have to be a quiet affair.

At Jazz Dock, settle in with a drink and enjoy live music beside the Vltava. For alternative concerts, MeetFactory in Smíchov offers the chance to catch an unfamiliar artist in a former industrial space.

Prefer your music loud and your dance floors dark? Ankali in Vršovice is a destination for underground electronic music where there are no photos allowed.

There's something incredibly freeing about dancing alone. No keeping track of friends, no negotiating when to leave, and no pressure to make conversation over music that's far too loud anyway.

Stay for one song or dance until sunrise. Nobody gets a vote but you.

Ahh yes, the final boss of solo dating: walking into a restaurant and asking for a table for one.

At The Eatery in Holešovice, grab a counter seat overlooking the open kitchen. Watching the chefs work becomes part of the experience.

For something more casual, Kantýna offers a lively, cafeteria-style experience with communal seating and meat prepared to order.

And for a proper occasion, Taro puts diners at the counter for a contemporary Vietnamese tasting-menu experience, with the chefs preparing dishes in front of you.

Order the starter. Get dessert. Have the glass of wine, or three.

And if the waiter asks whether you're waiting for someone, you can confidently tell them no. You're already here.

Maybe solo dating doesn't need to be another self-improvement exercise. Maybe it's simply about having a good time.

For those building a life in Prague, it's also a reminder that the city is yours to enjoy, whether or not someone else is available to join you.

Sometimes you just want to see the exhibition, eat the pasta, or watch the film.

And really, why should you have to wait for someone else?