A Bengaluru eatery has sparked an online debate after putting up a notice banning long meetings and charging customers extra for extended stays, highlighting growing frustration among restaurant owners in the city.
In India’s IT and startup hub, cafes and small eateries are often used as informal offices. People frequently walk in with laptops, order a cup of coffee, and occupy tables for hours while working or holding meetings. While this culture suits customers, many restaurant owners say it is hurting business.
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Tables blocked, business take hit
According to owners, long meetings and extended conversations mean tables remain occupied for hours, especially during peak time, while orders are either minimal or placed very slowly. This often results in new customers being turned away due to lack of seating, leading to losses.
To address the issue, some eateries have started introducing time limits. One such case came to light after X user Shobhit Bakliwal shared a photo of a printed notice pasted on a wall of a Bengaluru eatery. The notice clearly stated: “No meetings allowed. Meetings lasting more than 1 hour will be charged at 1000 per hour.”
Bakliwal captioned the post, “Saw this notice posted at an eatery in Bengaluru.” The post quickly gained traction, crossing 30,000 views and drawing mixed reactions from users.
saw this notice posted at an eatery in BLR pic.twitter.com/nnEpjPjRjg
— Shobhit Bakliwal (@shobhitic) January 25, 2026
Online reactions pour in
The notice struck a chord with many who sympathised with small business owners. Several users said they had often seen people sit for hours in cafes without ordering enough food or drinks.
One comment read, “Have seen this in so many eateries and cafes people will sit, chat for hours and not buy any drinks or food. Feel sorry for cafe owners.”
Another user pointed out, “You will never see such notices on pubs and bars. There is a lesson here.”
Others reacted with humour and surprise. “Bengaluru eateries have some of the quirkiest rules and regulations,” one user said, while another commented, “This is next level.”
Some found it funny, while others felt the honesty was refreshing. “Looks funny but I completely get why they did this,” a user wrote, adding that work-from-cafe culture may have gone too far.
