Bengaluru entrepreneur trolled for seeking cafes with free WiFi, no expectation to order. Viral

Bhavya Arora argued that cafes should accommodate customers who may not order immediately.

A recent social media post by Bhavya Arora, a Bengaluru-based entrepreneur, has sparked a heated discussion about café etiquette, particularly regarding work-from-café culture. Arora, who is as a builder of sales solutions for e-commerce, took to X (formerly Twitter) to seek recommendations for cafes in Bengaluru's HSR Layout that met specific criteria: strong Wi-Fi, no expectation of ordering, and optional comfortable seating.

Her initial post read: "Need suggestions for cafes in HSR layout which have 1. strong Wi-Fi 2. don't expect you to order 3. (optional) - comfortable seating." This quickly escalated into a broader conversation after she followed up with a second tweet addressing the backlash she received: “Folks, why all this rage? Can’t a girl just want to work from an empty café without ordering? I get it if people are waiting for a table, I should and will vacate. But if it is empty—WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?”

need suggestions for cafes in HSR layout which have1. strong wi-fi2. don't expect you to order3. (optional) - comfortable seating
Bhavya Arora (@bhavyaroar) September 9, 2024

Arora argued that cafes should accommodate customers who may not order immediately, explaining that frequent visits would eventually generate revenue for the establishment. She added, “Cafes know this and are okay with it. I might not order today or tomorrow, but if I keep coming to the same cafe every day, I will eventually order. The cafe WILL recoup its costs. In fact, I might invite my friends also. The group will eventually order.”

In a subsequent post, she shared a photo of herself at Starbucks, stating: "Happy to tell y’all—had a productive day at Starbucks. Didn’t order anything, lovely staff didn’t bother even once."

Happy to tell yall - had a productive day at starbucks. didnt order anything, lovely staff didnt bother even once pic.twitter.com/fXPyc5ISJDBhavya Arora (@bhavyaroar) September 9, 2024

This sparked widespread debate, amassing over 200,000 views. Some social media users questioned the ethics of occupying space in cafes without making purchases. One user sarcastically commented, "Brilliant engagement bait. Amazing 10/10. Genuinely impressed. Very smart." Another, named "risky sour," humorously added, "Would you also like them to massage your head and feet while you’re there?" Arora responded in a lighter tone, "No sir, that will be too much, no?"

"Unrealistic expectations," another user noted.

However, the criticism continued, with some users expressing disapproval. A user questioned, "Why would any cafe want to have you while you sit there and not order anything?"

Others questioned the premise of her request. A user asked, "Umm, quick question—are you looking for a cafe or a cyber cafe? Like why would a business that sells food or beverages not expect you to order?"

Bhavya Arora's post has ignited an ongoing conversation about the balance between customer expectations and business sustainability, especially in an era where working remotely from cafes has become increasingly common. The debate also highlighted the growing trend of people using public spaces like cafes as informal co-working spots, and whether such businesses should be expected to provide these services without immediate financial return.