I find it absurd that music in cafés and restaurants has become so loud that it’s hard to have conversations with the people on your table. Sound pollution is a real thing.

I bet it's by design. If you actually make things pleasant you might accidentally create a third place and no one can profit from that!

"with this music we are a happening trendy place!"

(and nobody will notice during slow times that we donn't actually have that many customers)

The night clubs I went to in the nineties had loud music and low lights so talking to anyone was a challenge.

hey, it's hard for the employees to enjoy their muzak over the din of all of your conversations!

It's because they don't want you sitting there for any longer than it takes to eat your meal. They deliberately have tile floors and hard walls to amplify the noise.