Bengaluru Founder Trolled For Hunting Cafes With Free Wi-Fi And No Orders

A Bengaluru entrepreneur has sparked a debate after defending the practice of working in cafés without making any purchases. Bhavya Arora, who is building sales solutions for e, took to X (formerly known as Twitter to seek recommendations for cafés in HSR with specific criteria.

HSR, a startup hub in Bengaluru, is bustling with young professionals and entrepreneurs. It hosts several cafes catering to the city's tech-savvy crowd. Bhavya's request 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."

Online Debate Over Café Etiquette

Following her initial post, Bhavya faced backlash and responded with a more impassioned message: "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?"

She further argued that cafes should be fine with customers who don't order immediately: "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."

X Users React to Bhavya's Posts

Her posts quickly went viral, amassing over two lakh views and sparking heated discussions on the platform. Responses varied widely, with many questioning the ethics of occupying space in a café without making a purchase.

One user, Komal, commented: "Brilliant engagement bait. Amazing 10/10. Genuinely impressed. Very smart." Another user, risky sour, sarcastically added: "Would you also like them to massage your head and feet while you're there?" Bhavya replied: "No sir, that will be too much, no?"

Darshan Ashok expressed his disapproval: "Why would any cafe want to have you while you sit there and not order anything?" Bhavya countered by reiterating her earlier point: "Because I might not order today or tomorrow, but one day I will. I will invite my friends. The group will. Order will come eventually."

Nayantara Menon Bagla questioned her logic: "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?"

In another post, she shared a picture of herself with the caption: "Happy to tell y'all—had a productive day at Starbucks. Didn't order anything; lovely staff didn't bother even once."