Traveller discovers ‘unspoken rule’ about Australian cafes: ‘Everyone should know this’

A traveler was left scratching his head after a confusing trip to an Australian cafe – and he discovered a secret ‘unspoken rule’ that everyone should know.

The Chinese man asked on Reddit, “Do you have to leave quickly after eating all your food at a cafe?”

He said the waitress asked him an innocent question that led to a surprising realization.

“I had finished my food and coffee but was still reading my book, then a waitress came to do the dishes and asked if I wanted another coffee,” he said.

‘Is that a hint that I should leave if I don’t order anything anymore? I preferred to sit a little longer and read my book. Is that good?’

Australians debated proper etiquette in the comments, with the consensus being to take a closer look at the context.

‘If it is very busy or if there are people waiting for a table, then it is indeed better to leave. Or if it’s close to closing time, or if you’ve been there for hours and haven’t bought much yet, then it would be polite to buy something,” one person summarized.

It is generally accepted that a 30-45 minute stay in a cafe is the standard if you have ordered food and drinks with more than two people.

One even said it was acceptable to stay up to 20 minutes after you’d finished eating.

‘It’s alright [to linger] for a little bit, but that cafe is trying to make money and not give you a place to read. “If you want somewhere fun to read, find a library or a local park with a big tree,” one man suggested.

Some pointed out that the traveler was thinking too deeply about the simple encounter.

‘They ask if you want another coffee, now that you’ve finished eating. You’re reading way too much into this,” one woman said.

‘They are trained to ask if you need any coffee. It’s good customer service and more money in the till if you order another one!’ wrote one.

‘Well-trained floor staff will kindly let you know that they need your table where others are waiting.

‘If the café is not full, they want you to keep reading. A cafe with people in it looks better than an empty cafe,” said another.