You used to be able to walk into a coffee shop, a corner bar, or a bookstore and just hang out. That was it. No reservation needed, no reason beyond wanting to sit somewhere that wasn't home or the office, all with a high chance of seeing at least a few people you knew from your community. Essentially, just like Central Perk in “Friends” minus the shenanigans. Sociologist Ray Oldenburg coined the term for that kind of place in 1989, calling it a "third place" in his book "The Great Good Place.” However, these oases away from home and work are quickly disappearing, and researchers point to a mix of economic, social, and technological shifts, as well as the simple fact that modern life leaves less room for aimless hanging out. |
However, a handful of boutique hotels have decided the void is theirs to fill.
The All Inn Hotel in Denver serves both guests and the larger East Colfax neighborhood with not one but two spaces: All Is Well handles the coffee-and-cocktail all-day shift, while FiNO, the hotel's coastal Mediterranean restaurant, takes over for aperitivo hour. "The first goal is to understand what our community wants," Steven Waters, FiNO's owner and operator, shared, noting that even the vintage conversation pit was chosen to make locals and guests want to linger. Summer Goff, the hotel's events and culture manager, added, "The key is offering a solo traveler the opportunity to mingle side by side with a local neighbor."
In New York, locals and visitors will find a similar scene at The Muse, where the hotel's café-turned-cocktail-bar Little Opus, on West 46th Street, moves from pastries and coffee to handcrafted drinks and live jazz throughout the day. "We wanted to create a space that feels both polished and approachable," Natalie Bogan, the hotel's general manager, shared, "a place where locals and travelers alike can gather from morning until night." At Hotel Magdalena in Austin, the Bobbie Nelson Lawn—named for Willie Nelson's sister and built on the 14 acres he once owned—is the rare hotel amenity that comes with zero pressure to buy anything. "It creates a sense of arrival, provides a place to pause and connect, and brings the relaxed, natural character of Austin into the heart of the hotel," Daryl Gomersall, the area general manager of The Standard Austin and Hotel Magdalena. And, at The Kinney in Venice Beach, both guests and locals can enjoy the 1,344-square-foot courtyard called The Quad, which comes stocked with ping pong, a fire pit, and a big screen for streaming your own playlist. "The Quad is designed to be the social heart of the hotel," said Edmund Burnette, the property's general manager, adding, "offering a place where guests can slow down, connect, and settle into the laid-back rhythm of Venice Beach." And in Costa Rica, the Rivella Group offers something similar across two properties at once. Fermata's Beach House in Santa Teresa serves smoothies and local beer to anyone who wanders in, while Nosara's Øutpost has become a coworking hub for the town's booming digital nomad scene. "It's become a real hub for the local community," said Stefanie Tannenbaum, the group's co-founder, "and a great place to network." So go ahead and take a little time today to wander in somewhere new. A new group of “friends” may be waiting for you. |
