16 Places Where Influencers Aren’t Welcome Anymore (and Why You Should Visit)
I remember when I was in Bali, just walking around you will see dozens of influencers doing photoshoots. Everywhere you turn. They wander off the paths, go into sacred temples, and disrupt daily life for families living there.
Bali isn’t the only place that has a consistent stream of influencers coming through and wanting to make content. While the influencer crowd has been steadily thriving over the years, not everyone is equally happy with them.
Several cafes, hotels, and even towns are closing their doors to social media personalities and influencers. The reasons behind this may not be too surprising at all. Here are some places where influencers aren’t welcome anymore.
1. DAE Cafe
DAE is a Korean-based cafe and wine bar in Brooklyn, New York. It is a popular attraction on Smith Street with its minimalistic and aesthetic vibe.
Hordes of influencers used to carry tripods and laptops and flood the shop. Consequently, DAE banned influencer photography on its premises yet still allows guests to take “quick snaps” at their tables.
2. Brooklyn Dumpling Shop
Influencers would request free meals for four friends on a Saturday night at Brooklyn Chop House and Brooklyn Dumpling Shop. Owner Stratis Morfogen just sighs and says, “We say no to influencers more than we say yes.”
Brooklyn Chop House offers game-changing steakhouse classics, such as dry-aged 30-45-day prime steaks. Meanwhile, Brooklyn Dumpling Shop has Korean BBQ beef and mac and cheese dumplings.
3. Pomfret
Pomfret is a small, rural, quiet community in Vermont with infamous autumn foliage. It is a beloved attraction for its breathtaking farm fields and forest of red and orange leaves during fall.
However, traffic in Pomfret during autumn causes significant safety, environmental, and quality of life problems. Thus, this American town closes its roads to tourists (including influencers) during this time of the year.
4. Venice
Venice, Italy, is a sanctuary of beautiful bridges, winding canals, and striking architecture. Who wouldn’t stand in awe at St. Mark’s Basilica or the Canal Grande?
Sadly, it faces the destruction of landmarks, pollution, and price hikes due to mass tourism. As the influencer craze exacerbated the situation, The Floating City placed restrictions like entry fees to control overtourism. They also limit tour groups to 25 people and banned the use of loudspeakers, to make life a little more peaceful for locals.
5. Viet Shack
The owners of Viet Shack in Manchester, England, call influencers “cheeky” as they pester the restaurant for free food. The establishment receives dozens of messages each week asking for free meals in return for social media posts. They are just a family business trying to pay the bills and can’t afford to give free food in exchange for exposure.
Viet Shack offers Vietnamese street food and brings a taste of Saigon to Arndale Market and Great Ancoats Street. Their menu is a broad array of dumplings, phos, goi cuon, etc.
6. Gyms in the United Kingdom
PureGym, Virgin Active, and other gyms in the U.K. have strict guidelines on influencers filming exercise routines. It is because of concerns about the privacy of other gym members and filming tools that block access to gym equipment for others.
PureGym has over 340 gyms across the U.K. and offers different options and classes for members. Virgin Active has more than 30 gyms, providing nutrition coaching, spa facilities, and more.
7. Portofino
Mayor Matteo Viacava claims tourists would block streets when they stop to take photos and cause chaos in Portofino. The town now designated certain no-waiting spots and imposes a fine on visitors who linger to take pictures.
Portofino is a coastal town in Italy with a hill of olive groves, a serene crescent harbor, and small vineyards. Castello Brown and the Church of San Giorgio are notable destinations here.
8. The White Moose Cafe
The White Moose Café is a five-Michelin-Star restaurant, cafe, and hotel in Phibsborough, Dublin, Ireland. The menu screams “you only live once,” with high-carb, low-protein dishes, and leaves no room for gluten-free meals and non-alcoholic beer.
Owner Paul Stenson banned influencers from the hotel after he turned down Ellen Darby. The YouTuber requested free accommodation in exchange for exposure.
9. Norway
A regulation in Norway prohibits influencers and advertisers from sharing photos online without disclosing whether the images have alterations. With this, the Norwegian government aims to reduce body pressure among young people.
Norway is a Scandinavian country with majestic glaciers, mountains, and fjords. If you love the outdoors, you will enjoy hiking, skiing, and fishing at Lillehammer’s Olympic resort.
10. Andorra
Because internet celebrities and foreign investors trigger real estate price hikes, Andorra banned foreigners from buying property in the country. Prices increased by over 30 percent in five years.
Andorra is a microstate in Europe between France and Spain. Some of its prominent attractions are the skiing slopes of Grandvalira and the historical house Casa de la Vall.
11. Machu Picchu
An ancient city of the Inca Empire, Machu Picchu is a breathtaking place in the middle of a Peruvian mountain forest. You will not know where to look as you see the giant walls, terraces, and ramps, as well as the rich diversity of flora and fauna.
Unfortunately, tourists pollute the place, vandalize the ruins, and enter restricted areas. Social media aggravated the citadel’s worsening condition — that’s why the government imposed several entry restrictions.
12. Hallstatt
Are you a fan of Disney’s Frozen? If so, you would love Hallstatt, Austria, a real-life lookalike of the magical kingdom of Arendelle. It’s complete with picturesque views and glacial trails.
However, the influencer-driven influx of tourists is taking the magic of the place away. The response of the villagers? A wooden fence to shoo selfie-takers away.
13. Gion
Who says Tokyo is the only enchanting place in Japan? Kyoto is a haven of temples, gardens, palaces, shrines, and wooden houses.
However, its geisha district Gion is shutting down tourists from some of its private alleys. Social media boosted the popularity of the place, regrettably leading to overcrowding.
14. Bali
In Bali, content creators and influencers would go off designated paths and cause damage to restricted areas. Thus, filming in certain parts of the island is punishable by fines.
Bali is known for the temple Pura Ulun Danu Bratan and the green fields of Tegalalang Rice Field. You can also watch sunrises up Mount Batur or enjoy the beach at Seminyak.
15. Mittsume Desserts
Mittsume Desserts is an Instagrammable spot in the Zhongshan District of Taipei, Taiwan. The establishment has a no-influencers policy since 2020.
At the cafe, influencers would stand on chairs or move shop furniture when taking photos. They would also take photos of other customers or others’ meals or even bring outside food.
16. White Banana Beach Club
In the Philippines, White Banana would receive messages from many self-proclaimed influencers requesting collaborations for freebies like food and accommodation. The response of the beach resort to these supposed social media personalities? A firm no.
The breathtaking property said that they’re not interested in working with self-proclaimed influencers. If you still want to visit and pay for it, you’re more than welcome. They’re located in Siargao, the surfing capital of the country.
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