My Story _
My name is Claudia Erickson and I started the Unplugged Village in May of 2018 because I felt the need for a change. Not only for myself, but because everywhere I looked I saw eyes glued to screens. Don't get me wrong, I love technology. I am forever grateful every time Google helps me out, my Maps app takes me exactly where I want to go or I find cheap gas quickly. At some point however, my time with my cell phone, laptop etc. became too overwhelming. I remembered a time before technology when life was less distracting. I found myself talking to friends and strangers about the issue of tech dependency and many people shared my concerns. They would send me articles, ideas and ask how they could help. Parents, doctors, Uber drivers, and restaurant owners all had something to say about the topic and a story to tell. The old adage, "it takes a village" really struck a note with me and thus the Unplugged Village was born.
UNPLUGGED DINING
SAN DIEGO (NO TVS)
Want LESS dining distractions? Here are some San Diego restaurants without TV's in their dining areas. Please note, this list is just a start!
Beaches
The Grass Skirt
Del Mar
Flower Child
Burger Lounge
Pappalecco
Downtown
Cafe Gratitude
Herb & Wood
Herb & Eatery
M. Wine House
Kensington
Blue Boheme
Pappalecco
La Jolla
Seaside Surf Cafe
La Mesa
The Lunch Box Cafe & Deli
La Mesa Wine Works
Public Square
Cosmo's
Sheldon's
Aubrey Rose Tea Room
La Casa Blanca
Pietro's
Narumi
Soup Plantation
The Habit
Trattoria Tiramisu
Liberty Station/Pt. Loma
Breakfast Republic
Con Panne
Fig Tree Eatery
Five Guys
Ikiru Japanese
Panera
Pissa Rotisserie & Cevichieria
Poke 1-2-3
Solare
Tender Greens
San Diego
Nate's Garden Grill
The Big Kitchen
University Heights
Soltan Banoo
El Zarape
Plumeria
Bahn Thai
Redhouse Pizza
Romantic Bleu Boheme
UNPLUGGED DINING - LOCAL & BEYOND
These businesses take it a step further, offering unplugged dining or incentives to enjoy tech-free meals:
CALIFORNIA
Bay Area
White Horse Tavern - San Francisco. Join friends and neighbors for grub, grog and a game of shuffle board at this lovely English Pub in the heart of Union Square.
Swanton Berry Farmstand - Davenport. Fresh farm stand goods and pastries. Enjoy a snack while playing vintage table games, wonderful history, nature displays and good music.
Los Angeles
Vespertine - a gastronomical experience seeking to disrupt the course of the modern restaurant. This reservations-only restaurant asks customers to refrain from using electronics at the table.
Le Pain Quotidien - rustic-chic bakery/cafe chain offers box for your phones and dessert as incentive in summer months.
White Horse Tavern - San Francisco
San Diego
Public Square, La Mesa - Trendy Luncheonette with quaint patio open Mon - Sat 7 am - 6pm, Sun 7 am - 5pm. Located in the heart of the La Mesa Village with no TV's, offering open mic and live music nights, table games, designated laptop free tables and wifi free times.
La Mesa Wine Works - A cooperative urban winery tasting room serving up award-winning vintages from San Pasqual Winery and Wyatt Oaks. Enjoy live music on weekends, trivia nights (Thur), classes, and yoga beginning in May and running through the summer months. This is not a restaurant but there are food trucks that frequent this location.
The Lunch Box Cafe & Deli - family owned restaurant and bakery in La Mesa that offers quiet dining with no TV's, table games and a cell phone box available upon request.
The Big Kitchen - Quintessential community cafe. Eclectic breakfast & lunch locale serving hearty fare & coffee in kitschy digs with outdoor seating. The owner Judy "The Beauty", encourages patrons to unplug and enjoy the experience. No TV's. Table games available.
The Lunch Box Cafe & Deli - La Mesa
Chicago's Speak Easy the Violet Hour
GEORGIA
Savannah
AnalogPub - Pop-up bake shop creating traditionally-crafted, high quality treats, hosting intimate, tech-free events. Plans for a tech-free restaurant are in the works.
ILLINOIS
Chicago
The Violet Hour - Speak Easy, exclusive cocktail lounge where customers are encouraged to part from their phones and engage in conversation.
IOWA
Sioux City
Sneaky's Chicken - casual family dining offers box for your phones and 10% off your bill on Wed nights from 5pm
to close.
NEW JERSEY
Hoboken
Sushi Lounge - Creative sushi & Japanese fare in a clublike lounge. Offers 20% off bill on "Reconnect Tuesday's" if you stash your phone in a champagne bucket.
Bernardsville
The Station Restaurant - offers basket for phones and 5% discount.
NEW YORK
Buffalo
Lebro's - Family Friendly Italian restaurant offering 10% discount for "Disconnect to Reconnect" Sunday nights if you can part with your phone.
Corona
Il Triangolo - Intimate, enduring Italian eatery that prohibts cell phone use for diners.
New York City
Eleven Madison Park - 3-Michelin-star, American fine dining restaurant offers a box for your phone while you dine.
Marco Canora’s Hearth - East Village, upscale Tuscan American restaurant offers a box for your phone while you dine.
Drew Nieporent’s Batard - Modern European restaurant situated in the heart of Tribeca, discourages cellphone use.
RHODE ISLAND
Providence
The Grange - Vegetarian restaurant offering "Mindful Monday's" where customers receive 10% off their bill if they check their phone at the host stand.
Cambridge St. and the Clarendon Cocktail Celler
ENGLAND
Surrey
The Crown Restaurant - this quintessential pub in the town of Dorking (south of London) is dog, kid and all kinds of people friendly. Gladys the bull dog welcomes all well behaved Hoomans!
London
Cambridge Street Kitchen and the Clarendon Cocktail Celler - Intimate neighborhood restaurant with super cool speak easy down below!
GERMANY
Dusseldorf
The Oaks Bar - located in the AltStadt of Dusseldorf ready for classic drinks, light meals, good conversation and meaningful connections.
Cologne
Easy Livin' - Modern coffee & pastry house. Delicious fresh juices and smoothies in a bright and unplugged space.
Cologner Hoffbrau Fruh - German beer house with regional beer and traditional German food.
Vapiano's- trendy vibe where they make fresh custom pastas with herbs served at community tables.
Bad Krozingen
Hotel Gasthaus Rossle - Classic German beer garden and restaurant - est. 1688
Land Gasthof Lowen - Enjoy a rich history and food at the quaint traditional restaurant - est 1742.
Isny/Freisenhofen
Gasthof Schwarzer Adler (Black Eagle)- This beautiful tavern in the heart of Isny dates back to the 18th Century. Beer Garden? Of course!
Alte Post (The Old Post) - Dine in this 300 year old half-timbered house turned restaurant in Winterstetten, Bavaria.
The Oaks Bar - Dusseldorf
Agli Archi - Venice
Alte Post - Bavaria