American tourist raises questions about Aussie cafe culture

When we think of Australian cafe culture, images of expertly brewed flat whites, vibrant brunch plates, and the hum of lively conversation come to mind.

Australia, particularly its urban centres, is often lauded for its high-quality coffee and the artisanal approach to cafe life.

However, a visitor recently shared a surprising aspect of Aussie culture that might leave other tourists scratching their heads.


American musician Gabe Pietrafesa, who recently toured Down Under, wanted to immerse himself in the local cafe culture but encountered a puzzling situation.

Despite Australia's reputation for exceptional coffee, Pietrafesa was at odds with the country's cafe hours.

In a video he shared online, Pietrafesa roamed around Perth and lamented his failed attempts to find an open cafe.


compressed-perth.jpeg
American musician Gabe Pietrafesa shared snippets of their Australia tour on social media. Image Credit: TikTok/Gabe Pietrafesa


His joy at spotting a cafe turned to disappointment upon discovering it was closed at 2 pm.

'I'm starting to wonder if Perth hates me,' he joked.

The musician's quest for a late afternoon pick-me-up continued, leading him to a nearby restaurant.


Unfortunately, he met another hurdle: the restaurant's coffee machine was out of order.

'Coffee machine was down? What is this? McDonald's in America with the ice cream machine?' Pietrafesa joked.

His struggle to find an open cafe in Perth was not an isolated incident, as residents also voiced their frustrations.

'Classic Perth, every cafe closes at 2 pm,' one local remarked.

'To be fair, they open at 6 am,' another responded.


'Perth closing times will never fail to shock the outside world,' a third comment read.

'Coffee shops close at 2 pm so the pubs can open,' someone wrote in jest.

Pietrafesa ended up with a cup of iced long black coffee and continued exploring unique sights across Perth.

Watch Pietrafesa’s video here:

Source: 06nissan/TikTok

This facet of Australian culture may surprise visitors who hail from places where coffee culture extends well into the night.

In a previous article, another tourist shared their confusion on social media about customers staying in cafes for an extended period.

In an online post, locals pointed out that Spending 30 to 45 minutes at a café after ordering food and beverages is standard, with some latitude for lingering slightly longer.
Key Takeaways

  • Touring musician Gabe Pietrafesa criticised the cafes' early closing times in Perth.
  • Despite Australia's reputation for excellent coffee, Pietrafesa was frustrated as he could not find an open cafe in the afternoon.
  • His experience of cafes closing by 2 pm reflects a common complaint among Perth residents.
  • Locals sympathised with Pietrafesa's situation and acknowledged Perth's unexpectedly early closing times for cafes.
Were you inconvenienced by the early closing times, or do you see it as a charming quirk of our local lifestyle? Share your thoughts and stories with us in the comments below!
 
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Coffee shops and cafes close at 2pm on the Gold Coast also. Trying to catch up with friends after work from 1 or 2pm we have to actually plan where we might find an open coffee shop who won't be throwing us out by 2pm.
 
I can’t drink tap water when visiting my son in Perth, cant even brush my teeth as I do in Tasmania. We spend a fortune buying bottled water while we’re there but that’s better than suffering upset stomachs & stomachs aches. It’s been this way for almost 20 years. Maybe locals get used to the taste.
The water in Perth tastes awful. I use a water filter that takes many contaminants out, not just for taste.
 
To be fair the cafes do have to close at some point to do their cleaning and other maintenance. In a big city like that you would think they would open an hour later in the morning or close and hour earlier at night.
I know some 7 day supermarkets close when there is least customers and give their stores a thorough clean, especially family operated ones. I know of one in a small country town that closes on Sunday afternoons as there is very rarely any local customers or people passing though that stop. They also do their paperwork and organize their payments then.
 
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Go to a club, if you have one nearby. They are usually open and their coffee is quite reasonable. Also shopping centres usually have a café.
 

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