Hospitality entrepreneurs ban mobile phones in bars and restaurants: justified?
Anyone who ever eats out or visits a café will recognize it: barely inside, and the first smartphones are already lying on the table. It has become a routine, but chances are that more and more hospitality entrepreneurs will say: enough is enough. Screen-free hospitality venues will soon be the new normal, and that raises questions. Is this justified, or a bit excessive?
Why hospitality entrepreneurs avoid phones
I’ll admit it: I’m one of those annoying people who always has a phone at the ready in restaurants. But in my defense: it’s work-related. Taking photos of dishes, for you. Not continuously scrolling through social media – which, to be honest, is still a strange habit when you’re somewhere other than the toilet (reportedly the most popular place to check Instagram and Facebook).
Many chefs actually hate having their food photographed. And fellow diners often do too. The food is served, but people have to wait because someone first wants to take the perfect Instagram photo. Sigh.
Screen-free hospitality venues: hot topic in 2026
Food trendwatcher Gijsbregt Brouwer says in Entree Magazine that screen-free hospitality venues are becoming increasingly popular: “Hospitality is going unplugged, and screen-free venues will be a hot topic in 2026.” The concept is already underway in cafés run by The Offline Club, where you spend hours completely without your phone. And honestly, it feels wonderfully nostalgic.
Being offline: wonderfully nostalgic
Screen-free evenings aren’t just a trend; they tie in with a broader wave of nostalgia in hospitality. Classic bistros, familiar dishes from France or Italy, and spaces that take you back to the past create an experience you can’t get from your phone.
In cities such as London and New York, this phenomenon is rapidly gaining popularity. People choose to be truly present with their companions, enjoy what is served, and appreciate the hospitality of the venue. Going to the pub or restaurant without a smartphone; it almost feels like a luxury.
The future of phone-free hospitality venues
According to Gijsbregt, screen time in many trendy venues will drop to zero minutes next year. “It’s a bold move by entrepreneurs who take this step. People don’t like being without their phones, but it seems like a logical choice and a movement that will comfortably outlast the nostalgia trend,” he says.
Hopefully I’ll still be allowed to take a few photos of dishes, but I solemnly promise: after that, the thing goes straight back into my bag!
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