I've always been fascinated by cafes, and why some are so successful and others not. Obviously they need to make good coffee. And there is a real skill in that. But atmosphere is just as important, if not more so.
The reason people sit in a particular cafe -- and keep going back -- is because of the way it makes them
feel. It's all about the vibe.
That results from a combination of several factors. There's the aesthetic aspect, for example. The behaviour of the staff is also important. Obviously it's great if they are polite and enjoy their work.
Sydney's inner west has long been known as a great place for "cafe society". There are so many charming little cafes with great atmosphere in the area.
But now, because of the
human rights-trashing control system being implemented ostensibly to protect us all from the dreaded 'rona, that's been pretty much ruined. Take this cafe just opposite Camperdown Park, for example.
I've never been inside but I've often walked past and thought it had a unique atmosphere. It looked like a warm, cozy place to sit and have a coffee and a chat.
But now it's covered in signs. The fear is palpable.
Even if you'd had the jab, could you just ignore all that stuff and enjoy the place like back in the good old days? I don't think so.
This "new normal" ruins everything. But I suppose that's kind of what it's meant to do ...
