Short Story Review: A Clean Well-Lighted Place by Hemingway

The story is about an old man sitting at a cafe late at night. The two waiters at the cafe are discussing whether to kick him out so they can go home or to let him stay and drink a little while more.

The younger waiter thinks the old man should go to a bar that is made for people who drink late at night.

The older waiter understands that maybe the old man needs a place that is clean and well-lighted. He believes there is a big difference between their café and a dark/dingy bar or bodega.

The reason I believe this short story captivates me so much is that it’s not a topic that is discussed very often. The way a café, restaurant, or bar makes you feel is crucially important but very hard to capture.

I go often to bars and café’s to write. I have the privilege of living in LA and having a multitude of different places to choose from. However, there are not many bartenders or baristas who give much concern to the lighting, the layout, the delivery of your drink, the way you feel when you enter and leave a place. Many more owners/managers who should care about these things, in LA, do not. This leaves me desperate to find the places that do care, and they are hiding, but beautiful when you find them. You can only hope that they are walking distance from your house.

I would put a link to a free pdf of it here but honestly not sure if that’s legal. Just google “A Clean Well-Lighted Place” and a free PDF should pop up. This short story is 5/5—read it.

And keep reading, old friends,