Nice places for solo drinks??

So every now and then I just want to grab a drink or two in the evening and my friends aren't always free and I'm trying to put myself out there doing things by myself anyway.

Where's a nice place to go as a solo female drinker early eveningish for a few? I like people watching so somewhere that's fairly busy but cosy.

I like small bar a lot but feel like it gets too busy there for me to hog a table for an hour or two

Don't want it to be a manly men drinking pub if that makes sense where if I leave Ill feel paranoid some creeper is going to follow me home.

Following that any local groups where I can go out meet people on my own (I've looked on meet up and used bumble BFF but never seems to be much going on)

Thanks ☺

eta I'm 26f