Is it rude to study for hours and hours in a restaurant/cafe?

At times I spend 8 hours during at places like Panera bread and Barnes %26amp; Nobles studying. I've recently started studying in 24 hour restaurants like IHOP in the middle of the night. I always order things and leave gratuity where applicable. Is there an unwritten rule against this? I'm like a vagabond, because I never study at the same location more than one day in a row.Is it rude to study for hours and hours in a restaurant/cafe?
God this is a good question, I would think that if its a place where you go to the counter and place your order, like a Panera, or Starbucks, or any bookstore then its perfectly acceptable. I mean why would they care if your are there all night if you already made your purchase. Barns and Nobles always has so many people there at any giving time that they seem not to care if people fall asleep in there.



Now if you were at a resturant where you are getting served that can be sticky. I would say if the restaurant is "full" and your holding up a table and your waiters tips, then yes its probably rude.



but if you at IHOP (which is never full) then it don't really matter that much because you not taking away that persons tips.



It also doesn't hurt just to ask the waiter "hey you mind if i study here".



Great Question.



When I study I have to be in the library, studying around too many people makes me NOT study..lolIs it rude to study for hours and hours in a restaurant/cafe?
If you leave a generous tip where tipping is applicable and don't go during the lunch/dinner rush time if the place tends to fill up, it should be OK. When you tip, consider whether or not you prevented the waitress from serving multiple larger tables actually eating food and tip accordingly. You don't want the waitress to miss out on money she could have made with a larger table if you don't plan on compensating her as if you were eating that much, and you don't want actual hungry customers having to wait a long time to sit because you're parked there with a cold coffee and a book for the afternoon.
Well, those places are studying environments, and, my take on it is, if you don't stay past their closing time, or hold up the tables or scatter all your books and studying materials about, then you should be fine. Lol there's nothing wrong with it.



You're being courteous by giving the recommended gratuity, and the workers more than likely really appreciate that. And, hey, you're giving them business and more money by ordering coffee, snacks, and such during your stay. If one of the employees doesn't like it, then that's THEIR problem. :)Is it rude to study for hours and hours in a restaurant/cafe?
Our local IHOP has (or had) a sign posted limiting the number of hours students could remain in the restauraunt to study (we're in a university town); at one time, I was spending a few hours there in the mornings, and I asked the hostess about it. She said the sign was basically if students were getting rowdy and not really studying, etc., that they could have fair excuse to ask them to leave, or if the restauraunt got busy and they really needed the tables. So if you feel comfortable with asking the hostess or one of the wait staff you've gotten to know, you could always check to make certain it's not a burden. As far as coffee shops like Starbucks, they seem to be created for people to spend a fair amount of time and get comfortable, so I would just wait until they mention it.
I'm going to take the minority view and say yes, it's a little rude.



Businesses are there to sell things. You're taking up their valuable space and time. Even if the place isn't crowded, someone may have hoped to sit in the seat you're monopolizing, or might see that you're trying to study and would feel uncomfortable about making too much noise. Also, if it's not rude for you to do it, then is it rude for 50 other people just like you to do it, thereby completely filling up the seats with deadbeats?



I hear libraries are very pro-studying!Is it rude to study for hours and hours in a restaurant/cafe?
If the waiterpeople aren't giving you the evil eye or making it clear (whether verbally or by their action) that you need to leave, then assume it is ok although if you are in doubt, as your waitperson if it is ok to study there as long as you are buying/eating their food, paying for it and leaving a gratuity. Having spent many a night in the library (the school library would be open all night--this was a long time ago when libraries were still fairly safe places), I can see the benefits of being in a cafe/restaurant.
As long as you aren't using the restaurant/cafe as your own personal study lounge and aren't taking up space that could be occupied by other paying customers, no it's not rude.



If, as you say, you order something to eat/drink while you're there and leave an appropriate tip, there shouldn't be a problem.
Of course not. Why would it be?



It would only be rude if you're using up a table in a place that's turning away customers due to lack of tablege. If that's happening, the people who work there would let you know they need your table, if you're through eating and drinking.
That is fine. I worked on a paper in a 24hr restaurant before. I just buy food and drinks a lot.





I had this friend who was rude about it. She demanded a table near a plug for her laptop. Fine right? No, it was a nice restaurant.
go to an All you can eat restaurant like Ryans

or something, pay one time get in and eat and drink

all you want for 8 hours!

I wonder if they would eventually notice

and kick you out?

They don't put up Time limits right?

Wheres the Sign?
I believe not, places like Starbucks and McDonald and others are meant for studying. Some restaurants and cafe places even provide WI-FI.
They make the cafe comfortable so you can stay and sit for long periods of time, I don't see why they should kick you out, especially since you bought something from them.
I am a waitress at ihop and it is not rude people do it all the time
If there is more than one waitress working at a restaurant you may be decreasing her tip income which is 95% of her income. Consider tipping very generously. If there is only one waitress and alot of empty tables it is OK.



At panera, barnes%26amp;nobel, and donut shops, the tables are not income generating for the worker.



They will politely ask you to leave if you are too much. You could politely ask if it is OK and offer to use a table in the closed off section of the restaurant.



In a shop where there is wireless and no advertising promoting it, I always ask if it is OK that I use the internet connection. I am worried that some unsophisticated owner who uses wireless for business may not realize he is open to connections. (Yes, I predate personal computers, so I can imagine this.)