This Italian Restaurant Will Give You A Free Bottle of Wine If You Hand in Your Phone

There’s no denying that people are constantly glancing at their phones in nearly every public setting, and bars and restaurants are no exception. But according to The Guardian, a restaurant in Italy is now offering extra incentive for its customers to live in the moment and chat amongst themselves: a free bottle of wine in exchange for patrons’ cell phones during their meal.

“We wanted to open a restaurant that was different from the others,” said Angelo Lella, owner of Verona’s Al Condominio, which opened in March 2024. “So we picked this format – customers can choose to renounce technology while enjoying a convivial moment together. This way they have an opportunity to put it aside and drink some good wine.”

Upon entry, customers are given the opportunity to put their phone in a locked box, after which they are given a key. They can then present their key to the waiter, who will bring them a free bottle of wine.

Unsurprisingly, business has been booming in light of the promise of free wine. “The response has been very positive,” Lella told The Guardian. “It really is a beautiful thing to see people embracing it – they are talking to each other rather than looking at photos or responding to messages on their phone.”

To sweeten the deal even further, diners can leave a handwritten review in their phone box when they leave, and the restaurant will offer a meal on the house to the customers who leave the most positive feedback.

While Al Condominio may be the first restaurant in its region to offer such a promo, other restaurants in Italy have picked up the practice, including Separè 1968 in Tuscany. Time will tell if the phone-wine exchange will take hold in America, but for now, Italy is carrying the torch of a return to a dining culture devoid of cell phone glancing.

Cheers to living in the moment, and more importantly, free wine.

The article This Italian Restaurant Will Give You A Free Bottle of Wine If You Hand in Your Phone appeared first on VinePair.