FEELING SOCIAL?
Disconnection is a big issue. Saying hello isn't.
Plenty of us spend our days surrounded by people, yet rarely talk to any of them. Often, it’s because we’re not sure a conversation would be welcome.Small moments of connection matter. Open Tables makes a little more room for them by making the invitation visible.Put a marker on your table to show you’re open for a chat.
See one? You’re invited to say hello.No bookings. No matching. No pressure.
Just a small, everyday way to feel a little more connected.
♡ Making human connections easier.
How it works?
Find a marker. Grab one from the counter, or ask the staff where they're kept.Put the invitation out. Pop the marker on your table when you're up for a chat. On your own or with friends, you can welcome someone in.See a marker? Say hello. The marker's done the hard part. They've already said they're up for a chat, so just say hi.Not sure what to say? Keep it simple. Ask what's good on the menu, whether this is their local, or what brought them in today. Chats usually go better than we expect. Research even shows people tend to like us more after a conversation than we think they do.Stay as long as feels right. A quick chat or a longer conversation, it's up to you. Put the marker away whenever you're done.Ready to wrap up? A simple "Lovely chatting!" does the trick. And if now's not a good time, a smile and "Maybe next time" is perfectly fine, on either side.
TABLE MANNERS
Good table manners aren’t about which fork to use.
They’re about how we make people feel when they sit down with us.Open Tables makes it easier to say hello. A few things help make that hello a good one.Be present.
Listen, ask questions and leave space for the other person.Read the room.
A marker is an invitation to connect, not an obligation to keep talking. Let conversations end naturally.A conversation isn’t content.
Ask before taking photos, posting online or sharing someone else’s story.Keep your boundaries.
You don’t need to share personal details, lend money, click links, make payments or go anywhere with someone.Trust your gut.
If something doesn’t feel right, step away. Ask venue staff for help if you need it.Be friendly. Be curious. Be considerate.
CONNECTION TAKES PRACTISE
We call it social fitness.The term was coined by researchers behind Harvard's Study of Adult Development, the world's longest-running study on happiness. What they found: good relationships don't look after themselves. Like muscles, they need regular use.And they matter more than we might think. One landmark study found the quality of our relationships is a stronger predictor of a long life than staying active or keeping a healthy weight.Online, most of us are pretty well connected. But psychologist Marisa Franco describes scrolling as "a snack of connection." It feels like we've ticked the box, without the real nourishment.The good news? Small moments count. One study found people who had a quick chat with their barista were happier than those who just grabbed their coffee and went. Your barista's great. But with a marker, the whole café is in on it. 😉A hello. A conversation. Welcoming someone in.Small reps. Real results.Open Tables gives you more chances to get them in. 💛
NSW LOCATIONS (22 & growing)
BOUDDI & PENINSULA
COPA → TERRIGAL
Gosford Inlet
NORTHERN CENTRAL COAST
A HELLO IS JUST THE START
I stopped by Duck Duck Moose in Wyong, grabbed a coffee and put a marker on my table.I'll be honest, it took a little while for anyone to take me up on it. That's part of this too. The markers are still new, and sometimes people just need a moment.A few seats away, Jean noticed mine. We shared a smile across the tables, and a few minutes later she and her husband Peter came over to join me.They'd just moved to Australia from the UK, packing up their life to start a new chapter here. We talked about the move, how much they're loving it, and how excited they are to meet new people.A little marker. A visible invitation. And a conversation that probably wouldn't have happened otherwise.It doesn't have to happen instantly. The marker just keeps the invitation open. 🧡Belle x
SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED
AN INVITATION.
Most of us would happily have a chat. We just don't know if the other person would.So we stay in our bubble. Eyes on our phone, coffee in hand, a perfectly good conversation sitting one table away.And those small moments matter more than we think. They're how strangers become familiar faces, and familiar faces become a community.The marker makes them easier to find. It answers the question before anyone has to ask it:I'm feeling social. Come say hello.No guessing. No awkward "are they busy?" moment. Just a clear, friendly invitation.And if a conversation goes a little deeper, that's okay too. You don't need to have all the answers. We've put together some places to turn if you or someone you're chatting with needs a bit more support.
Magna Egestas
Where we started
Arnie's Expresso Bar
The very first Open Tables marker found its home at Arnie's, a little coffee van known for its welcoming atmosphere and strong sense of community. Rick and the team said yes straight away, and the markers have been sitting on the counter ever since.From one coffee van, Open Tables has grown to 22 venues across the Central Coast. And there's always room for one more.Fancy an Open Table at your venue?It's simple. Give the markers a home somewhere easy to spot, pop the poster up, and let your team know what it's about. We'd also love to hear how it's going, and the odd social snap is always welcome.We'll sort the rest: the markers, the poster, ready-made social posts, and a friendly face whenever you need one.No events. No hosting. No extra work for your team. No cost for small cafés.
WHY OPEN TABLES PROJECT
I've always believed some of the best conversations happen unexpectedly.After a tough personal season, I noticed how easily people can become disconnected from one another, even when we're surrounded by people. It's one of those big issues that can feel too big to tackle.But I don't think big issues always need big solutions. Sometimes they need something friendly, simple and easy for everyone to be part of.So I started with one small idea: what if we could make it easier to show we're open to connection?No programs. No sign-ups. No pressure. Just a marker on a table and a simple hello.Since then, I've met so many wonderful people over a coffee. Locals, newcomers, people having a quiet morning, and people who just felt like a chat. Every one of those conversations started with that one small step.My hope is that one day, wherever you grab a coffee or pull up a chair, you'll see a marker on a table and know that a hello is welcome. Cafés, clubs, bookshops, kiosks, anywhere people gather.Open Tables is part of The Welcome Lab, my home for simple, friendly projects that help communities connect. There's more on the way.Because when we each do something small, together it adds up to something big.See you at an Open Table.Belle x
NEED SOMETHING MORE?
Sometimes conversations go a little deeper.Open Tables is about everyday human connection, not professional support. You don't need to have all the answers, and you don't need to fix anything.If someone shares something heavy, it's okay to simply listen, thank them for telling you, and let them know there are people who can help. Pointing someone towards support is a kind thing to do.If you or someone you're talking with needs more support:Lifeline · 24/7 crisis support · 13 11 14Beyond Blue · Anxiety, depression and mental health · 1300 22 4636Kids Helpline · Young people aged 5 to 25 · 1800 55 18001800RESPECT · Domestic, family and sexual violence · 1800 737 73213YARN · Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support · 13 92 76MensLine Australia · Support for men · 1300 78 99 78QLife · LGBTQI+ peer support · 1800 184 527In an emergency, call 000.
