Ziferblat – Pay By The Minute Cafe

Ziferblat-pay-by-the-minute-cafe
Imagine entering a warm living room smelling of freshly made coffee and hearing laughter and conversation. You grab a board game off the shelf, help yourself a slice of cake from the communal kitchen, and curl up into a cozy armchair. Though it feels like it could be, this is not your house. Welcome to Ziferblat, a ground-breaking cafe where you pay for the time you spend rather than for what you eat.

Ziferblat isn’t your typical cafe. This is a different idea whereby you pay for the time you spend there instead of the food or drink you consume. Originally presented in Moscow in 2011, this fresh approach has since been adopted in fourteen European countries.

Ziferblat is meant to be a house away from home. You are free to relax, play board games, schedule meetings, work, or just enjoy company of others. Comfortable seating, bookcases, and even a piano help to create the friendly atmosphere.

The cafe boasts a fully equipped kitchen where you could assist yourself to a range of beverages and snacks. There is something for everyone from fruit and cereals to cakes and pastries. Always brewing are coffee and tea; you could also try your hand in cake baking. The sole exception is that, as at home, you are expected to tidy after yourself.

Apart from the kitchen, Ziferblat presents fast internet, a smoking terrace, and a dog-friendly surroundings. Additionally there is a space set especially for events including seminars, presentations, and live music concerts.

Russian businessman Ivan Meetin originated the idea of Ziferblat. People could come and connect in his “tree house for adults”. Originally visited by poets and writers, the first Ziferblat in Moscow soon became a venue for all sorts of creative people.

The idea was polished to include a more formal framework as Ziferblat’s popularity grew. Arriving guests pay for their time in the cafe by minute; they are now greeted with tea or coffee and biscuits. This pay-as—you-go approach guarantees that everyone, regardless of their income, may enjoy the Ziferblat experience.

With sites in big European cities, ziferblat is now a global phenomenon. Every cafe reflects the local culture and community and has own distinct personality. You will find a Ziferblat that feels like home wherever— Moscow, London, Kyiv.