[bunderbunder]

Or in places like the USA, not that long ago.

Y'know how, in old movies, single people would live in single-room apartments, often with a Murphy bed that played a part in some amount of slapstick humor? They weren't cooking in there - dinner was served downstairs.

[jhbadger]

Yes -- boarding houses. It was expected that your rent would include at least an evening meal shared with the other residents. And like with many university dorms today, it was against the rules to cook in your rooms.

[namdnay]

I still see them advertised everywhere in India: PGs (public guesthouses?)