Tourist's frustration brews over Aussie cafés’ early closing hours

The Australian café scene is renowned for its quality coffee, laid-back atmosphere, and delicious brunch options.

It's a cultural staple that locals and tourists alike usually relish.

However, one British tourist was left less than impressed by what she considers an 'annoying' habit of Australian cafés.


Ambar, a Londoner exploring Australia, expressed her dismay at discovering that many Australian cafés shut their doors around 2 pm each day.

She expressed frustration with the café closing times, deeming them the ‘most annoying thing about Australia’ during her travels.


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A British tourist expressed her frustration over many Australian cafés closing after 2 pm. Credits: Shutterstock


In a video, Ambar questioned the business sense behind this practice, asking, 'Why, in Australia, do all the coffee shops close at 2 pm? I will go around looking for a little treat, little pick-me-up at around 3-4 pm, that's the kind of time I like to get maybe a decaf coffee or maybe a little sweet treat back at home.’

‘But in Australia, all the coffee shops and the cafés shut at 2 pm. It's like they don't want to make money. That is my ideal time to go and sit in a café—why?' she added.


The video quickly became a hot topic, with Australians jumping into the conversation to defend the café culture, arguing that there was ‘no point’ to cafés being open past 2 pm.

One café worker responded, 'Sorry, I'm not working past 2 pm when I've been there since 5:30 am.'

Another local added, 'Because they open, and are busy at 6 am, they [have] got to close at some point,' to which Ambar replied, ‘Okay? The café nearest me in London opens at half 6, and closes at 9 pm.’

The second commenter responded, ‘We're just massive morning people, I guess. I've never thought of going to get a coffee past midday.’

‘Because no customers come in after 2 pm, it is pointless to stay open longer. Yes, maybe a few people like you would come in, but that's not enough to justify staying open for another few hours,’ a third explained.

‘It's because we have a great work-life balance, that's the difference,’ another said.


However, not everyone is on board with this aspect of Australian life.

‘I was shocked when I moved to Sydney 11 years ago. All the retail stores close at 5 pm—THE TIME PEOPLE ARE OFF WORK AND HAVE TIME TO GO SHOPPING,’ one commenter complained.

‘Australia turns into a dead town after 5 pm. It needs more life, and for cafés to be open later,’ another agreed.

You can watch Ambar’s full video here:

Source: Tiktok / Ambar Driscoll


Ambar was not the first British person who complained about Australia’s café closing times.

According to another British woman, this is just one of the things that she hates about living in Australia.

There was also another foreigner who complained about some elements of Australian café culture.
Key Takeaways

  • A British tourist expressed her discontent with Australian cafés closing early, typically around 2 pm, which disrupts her late afternoon coffee routine.
  • Her complaints sparked debate among Australians online, with some explaining the early closing times are due to cafés opening early, and Australians being 'morning people'.
  • Others defended the café hours, suggesting that there is limited customer demand in the afternoons, contributing to the early closures to maintain work-life balance.
  • Some Australians agreed with the tourist's frustrations, sharing their own surprise at the early closure of shops, and the lack of activity in towns after 5 pm.
Do you share Ambar’s frustrations? What are your thoughts about the café culture in Australia? Let us discuss them in the comments below.
 
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I get very frustrated in my hometown in rural NSW. when in town for appointments and meetings and decide to go for a late lunch (we have our main meal at lunch). a number of cafes I know start early morning so close around 2 pm but 1 in the shopping center closes at 3pm and a few times I have rushed there and arrived about 2.50 to be told the kitchen is closed (they open at 9 am - I think they should be open the same time as the retail shops). Another coffee shop in a smaller shopping center is supposed to be open until 4 pm but if they are having a quiet afternoon they close early & if the chef is sick (which has happened to me a few times) you can't get much. They don't open weekends either
 
I Brisbane CBD , just about all café’s close at 2-3 pm , they start early and not many people working in the city are buying coffee after that time .
It is different in some European countries , in particular in Germany , many people go with their friends/family to the café’s after dinner and have a coffee and cake in a café. Also in Singapore where I had many stopovers there are café’s who serve beautiful coffee are open until midnight , but they do not start until 10 am or so . It is just what you used to , if you can not find a good coffeeshop , enjoy a good coffee at home , a lot cheaper too.
 
why don't some coffee shops open later in the day and stay open till later in the day/evening? This is especially true need for holiday/tourist destinations but I'm sure would work in the city and the suburbs.
 
Not all cafes close at 2pm. Those who do the early morning trade tend to close between 2-3.30pm. But I also know many cafes in malls that are open until 4-4:30pm. You can have a cafe experience in some restaurants who serve sweet items as well as even breakfast things until they set up for dinner. You are welcome at any time as they are not doing the 6:00am trade. They are open until after 9:00 pm or later if still busy. It’s which place you go to that counts. Sounds like American malls would drive most of us nuts having to go to different places to get our basic shopping. I can’t believe that their so called wonderful malls where kids spend hours don’t have all the basic shops we all need. Supermarkets, butchers, green grocers and chemists are all normal parts of our local life. Shopping without these basics would waste so much time. Only the big malls have department stores so not your normal place to shop. But we have 5 dress shops and a surf and sneaker shop. Beauty shops, hairdressers and a jewellery store As well as a booze shop. the supermarkets are open until 7:00 pm except Thursday -9:00pm and 5-5:30pm on weekends. So not all malls are the same. Closing times depend on the state, but you can usually find what you need somewhere. What’s wrong with that?
 
Poor Ambarrrrrr! I hope that’s all that bothers her in this big bad world. What a shocking thing! Being unable to buy her precious self a cup of coffee! Let’s condemn an entire continent!
 
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I drove to Melbourne from Mildura on Monday and stopped for a coffee and a snack at Swan Hill around 2pm.

All the cafes were closing.

I'm not a café dweller; I'm not knocking or criticising Australia, and I can't get worked up about or offended by café opening hours, BUT I was surprised.
 
Love my coffee and yeah it’s frustrating but it’s not the end of the world. Go home put the kettle on and make your own cuppa!
 
Our beautiful city has many great cafes open in the afternoon and evening. We often go for a coffee late in the afternoon. Love it here in Werribee.
 
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They are in my estimation. I suppose if you are prepared to pay upwards of $15.00 for a cup of coffee and a snack...
No one wants to pay that type of money. That's the problem. Everyone want the cafes to be open when they feel like a coffee and cake but they whinge when told the price. So the poor cafe owner and workers get abused or people walk out.
 
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