Why does the unnamed narrator prefer reception areas to cafes?

In the vignette entitled “Reception Areas At Large Fancy Hotels," the narrator enters a hotel in a rush, pretending that she is meeting someone. Having convinced the porter with her act, she settles down with a cigarette to observe people. She reflects upon the fact that “Reception areas are better than cafes. You don’t have to order anything” (310). She spends a satisfying hour watching the people who move about the hotel.