Leave the Screen at the Door

The other day, I was sitting in a Starbucks in Melbourne with a cup of coffee. At some point, I looked up and realized something striking: every single person around me, including myself, was staring into a screen. Laptops open, phones glowing, eyes fixed downward.

In that moment, a line from Ocean’s Eleven (my most favourite movie) popped into my head—the first lesson of poker, “Leave emotion at the door.” Somehow my brain rewrote it: “Leave the screen at the door.”

That phrase stuck with me. What if there were a space—a café, perhaps—where we literally left our screens at the entrance? No notifications, no endless scrolling, no divided attention. Just people, conversations, books, and the simple act of being present.

Why it matters

In today’s world, being screen-free feels almost impossible. Work demands it, social life revolves around it, and even relaxation often means Netflix or YouTube. Yet the constant connection often leaves us more disconnected—from ourselves, from others, from our surroundings.

A café built on the concept of “leave the screen at the door” would create a rare kind of freedom. You’d walk in, hand over your phone, and step into a space where time slows down. Maybe you’d talk to a stranger, sketch an idea in a notebook, or simply enjoy your coffee without distraction.

A different kind of value

It wouldn’t just be about coffee. It would be about experience—an intentional pause from the digital noise. In a way, it would turn screen-free time into a kind of luxury, something to be savored.

For me, this idea isn’t about rejecting technology. It’s about balance. It’s about creating spaces where we can reclaim attention, connection, and inspiration—things we often lose when our eyes are glued to a device.

So next time you sit in a café, try this little experiment: put your screen away, just for a while. You might be surprised at what (or who) you notice when you look up.