Inside the Smartphone-Detox Cafes

A new type of cafe is quietly appearing in major cities. At the door, staff place your phone in a locked wooden box. No screens, for two hours.

Inside, guests read, journal, or talk to strangers. The menu is simple: coffee, tea, and small pastries served on real ceramic.

Owners say weekday bookings fill up a week in advance. The typical patron is between 25 and 45 and cites exhaustion from constant notifications.

Critics roll their eyes, calling it a fad. But regulars describe the experience as a reset they cannot quite replicate at home — not even by putting their phone in another room.