The luxury of slow-mo dining

At a super chic cafe somewhere in Bandra, we walked in for a late-ish breakfast and stayed until late lunch.

I was tempted to blame it on tardy service, but a quick glance around revealed that every other table had been occupied for hours.

And no one was complaining.We were all grazing on the usual – avo-toast, sourdough poha, Turkish çılbır, matcha and mango specials – cafe staples that shouldn’t take long to prepare or finish, yet everything and everyone moved in a dreamy slow-mo.It is a scene playing out across trendy urban eateries, and it speaks volumes about how a deliberately slow meal has become the ultimate luxury.

When time is at a premium, spending hours over eggs benedict and a coffee noir infused with zesty mandarins is less about what you ordered, and more about what you can afford to spend on it.

Brand gurus call it the ‘three-hour flex.’ Let’s simply say, you stay because you can.Look closely and you’ll see that most bougie spaces are engineered for lingering – artsy interiors, carefully curated playlists, eclectic grazing tables, and never-ending brunches.

You step in at noon for a quick bite, only to emerge hours later after multiple rounds of functional beverages, people-watching, and serendipitous run-ins with your run-club or cycling buddies.

At pet-friendly spots, Shih Tzus and Indies find their sweet spot under the tables while kids find innovative uses for crayons.Those of a certain vintage are well-acquainted with this leisure-as-luxury dining at elite clubs.

For the modern diner, however, it has been democratised.

It is a coming together of celebrity architects and well-travelled restaurateurs who host discerning patrons with an experience that is less about the rush of the quick-service kitchen, and more about the slow, deliberate sip.After all, nothing says you’ve arrived better than letting the world know you are in absolutely no hurry to leave.Read the latest Entertainment News and Celebrity updates.

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