Bengaluru eatery introduces fee for long meetings, charges Rs 1,000 per extra hour

Bengaluru’s cafe scene has long served as an informal venue for extended conversations, business discussions, casual remote work and startup meetings.

A notice displayed at a cafe in Bengaluru that appears to restrict lengthy meetings has attracted widespread attention on social media, prompting conversation about table use at eateries in the city and the growing “work from cafe” culture.

The photograph of the printed sign was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by local resident Shobhit Bakliwal. It showed a message affixed to the wall of the establishment stating that meetings lasting longer than one hour would incur a charge of Rs 1,000 per hour. The sign also appeared to prohibit meetings altogether.

Bakliwal’s post was captioned, “Saw this notice posted at an eatery in Bengaluru.” It quickly gained traction, accumulating more than 30,000 views in a short period and generating extensive reactions from users across the platform.

Bengaluru’s cafe scene has long served as an informal venue for extended conversations, business discussions, casual remote work and startup meetings, reflecting the city’s broader role as a technology and entrepreneurial hub. However, some small eatery owners have increasingly expressed frustration at tables being occupied for prolonged periods, particularly when orders are minimal or absent, affecting turnover during busy periods.

In response to the notice, users on X offered a range of viewpoints. Some expressed sympathy for cafe operators, describing situations they had observed where groups would sit for hours ordering little or nothing. One commenter wrote that they had “seen this in so many eateries and cafes,” noting that patrons would “sit, chat for hours and not buy any drinks or food,” and added that they felt “sorry for cafe owners.”

saw this notice posted at an eatery in BLR pic.twitter.com/nnEpjPjRjg

— Shobhit Bakliwal (@shobhitic) January 25, 2026

Another contributor contrasted the policy with nightlife establishments, writing that such notices would not be seen at pubs or bars, implying that people at those venues tend to place regular orders.

A number of reactions acknowledged what they saw as straightforward communication from the cafe. One user commented that the notice was refreshingly direct compared with indirect hints. "

These are places with low cost food. People order a plate of food, sit there for hours to do their business meeting. Overall, they would have spent 200-400," a user remarked.

Another user added, "Because a group of uncles occupy their limited seats and start political/business discussion loud."

The owner of the cafe or its management has not issued a public statement on the sign or its policy. Moneycontrol.com could not independently verify the authenticity of the post.