Stammtisch Tables Tables in pubs or restaurants reserved for regulars

We had to whisper, as after all, this was a library, but we got to talking about how, although many people used the RSA library, bar, and other facilities, there was no easy way to meet people and strike up a conversation if you were there on your own.

I talked about some of my conference ideas, such as wearing a badge that said “talk to me” or even creating special tables where people could sit with the expectation of talking to strangers. And we discussed what a great idea it would be if the RSA had something like this.

It was then that one of my new acquaintances told me about the German concept of Stammtisch.

I had never heard about it before, but when he explained the concept, I immediately fell in love with the idea. A Stammtisch is a table in a pub or restaurant reserved for regular customers or alternatively outside of Germany a table reserved for people who would like to meet to practice their German.

I liked the idea of bending the concept a little further and creating tables in bars, cafes, and large conferences, etc, where people can sit if they wish to have conversations with strangers. Many people need a little bit of an excuse to start a conversation, and this would provide it, but maybe it needs an alternative label—maybe a conversation table.

That was in 2007, when I talked to several people at the RSA about the idea, but nothing came of it. So imagine my delight today, in 2018, when I see they have created a conversation table at their new Rawthmells coffeehouse.

Some things take time.