Essential Coffee Shop Etiquette - The Do's and Don'ts of Spending Time at a Coffee Shop

Although coffee shops will not insist upon it, it is rude not to place an order after securing a seat or a place in a cafe. While it is perfectly acceptable to wait for your partner, friend, or colleague to arrive, it is customary to let the staff know you will order as soon as the other party arrives. If you are spending time at a cafe by yourself to get some work done or even popping by to use the restroom or use the internet access available at a cafe, you should purchase a drink or a food item as a gesture of reciprocation for using the facilities. Cafes may be popular hangout spots but they are also businesses and it is necessary to pay for the comforts you are enjoying within its confines with some sort of purchase.

Patience and tolerance are part and parcel of cafe culture. Unlike other public dining hubs, there is an assumed sense of safety, comfort, and ease inside a cafe. This means angry outbursts or loud complaints or arguments with staff over the quality of their product is uncalled for. If you are unsatisfied with the drinks, food, or service of a particular cafe, it is best to complain to the staff politely and try to reach some sort of compromise or to leave the premises. Orders frequently get mixed up and the circumstances that crop up inside a cafe are not always within the control of the staff so be patient and keep frustrated behaviours at bay.

Whether you are spending a few hours at Nomad Day Bar or any of the other best cafes to work in Dubai, it is necessary to be mindful of the space you are occupying. Avoid placing your belongings in tables or booths next to you, even if they are currently unoccupied and try to set up your table and belongings in a way that does not hinder other customers. Mind your belongings and where you keep them and make sure your devices are not strewn across an area that is too vast to be occupied by a single person.

From loud phone calls to yelling at your children to behave, raising your voice is a faux pas in a coffee shop as most people use cafes as a place for relaxation and concentration. Those around you may be working on their laptops, reading a newspaper/book, or engaged in a meaningful conversation and it is crucial to keep noise levels to a minimum as a courtesy to the other customers.

If you intend to spend the whole day or half a day working at a coffee shop or enjoying the company of a friend or loved one, order meals and drinks accordingly. It is not fair to purchase a single item and occupy a table for more than a couple of hours.