You’re out for a coffee, cake and people watching in a cafe, what annoys you and spoils the experience?

[Britpopbaby]

People who “talk” so loudly that even in a busy cafe you can follow their full conversation.

Background music that's too loud or that I actively dislike.
I took a seat to the side of the counter once and the coffee machine was so loud and 'steam-train like' it impeded conversation. Never again!

People asking to share my table.

I once grabbed an hour when DC were small. I got my lovely cake and coffee and a premium table in the window. Got asked if I didn't mind sharing despite there being other tables - I guess it was because I was on my own at a good table? Anyway, I said it was fine, ate and drank quickly then left blinking back tears. They must have thought I was insane.

Dogs sat on chairs and up at tables.
Kids running around tables and parents ignoring them.
children/adults/anyone playing a noisy game or watching cartoons on phone/iPad - use some headphones!
Heating up my cake/croissant in the microwave without asking me.

Choosing a cake that looks nice and then it's not nice.😟
Someone trying to have a conversation with me (other than brief and necessary)
Spying the best table and then someone bagging it before I get there
Being near a smelly toilet or draughty or bangy door
Random man comments as PP said
So much that can go wrong!

@ClaribelLowLieth
That was just odd though. To ask, I mean, if there were other tables free.

This can be fantastic though - you can hear some brilliant stuff. It’s people
watching with additional storytelling.

Other people being, well other people, is the whole point of ‘people watching’
in a cafe. Surely.

I agree that far too loud background music ruins it. As does a draft. And uncomfortable seating.

They were definitely odd. I think it might have been 'their' table.

I used to sit next to someone at work who had several hot drinks a day. Each time, she stirred the spoon for length periods, ensuring maximum bashing of spoon against the side of the cup. Then she tapped the spoon loudly on the rim several times. To round it off, she dropped the spoon from a height onto the saucer. Drove me potty.

Apart from the above, loud eating noises spoil my cafe experience.

Dogs.
Sticky table or crumbs on the floor.
No napkin.
Bad music.

I don’t mind dc but screaming or crying gets to me anywhere not just cafes

Kids! Especially those with long glowing swords that they beat the tables with and zap people while their mother sits eating cake while pretending to be childless. 😡

Plus bad music or any radio with adverts (latter more likely in hairdressers or Uber)

Children
Dogs
People talking to me
Dirty or sticky tables and floors with food on

@ClaribelLowLieth You could have said no.

For me it's definitely small children being loud/running around, and crying babies. Please leave if your baby is screaming, nobody wants to hear it.

I hate people screeching or laughing loudly. I’ve left places because of this.

l don’t mind children though.

Kids. Dogs. Performative middle class parenting.

People watching videos on their phone with the sound on.

Phone calls on loudspeaker.

Talking too loudly.

Sitting next to me when there are other tables you could sit on.

People wandering in and sitting down without buying anything.

Surely the pleasure of people watching is appreciating their individual differences and uniqueness. Otherwise it would be very boring. Or do you only like to watch people who fit into your quiet people only mould?

I met someone at the weekend who sits and works in cafes and was told off by a woman for playing music on a portable speaker ….. yes he was playing it without headphones. I told him she was right.

I also sat next to a man who worked managing a gym chain apparently and was conducting an interview on Teams for a sales person…. Sadly I cannot update as to whether the candidate got the job. Rude rude people the lot of them.

People making noise with phones or gadgets is my biggest bugbear. Not everyone wants to listen to your racket.

I pick where I go carefully but not having decent tables available, poor service, other people lol

@ElevenSeven some good ones buy I think that may be the winner as it includes overly loud talking.

😂

People watching me

Not in a cafe but on a train at the weekend where a mother spent most of the journey picking nits out of her daughter’s hair.