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Finding the Best Public Workplaces in the US

By February 14 2016Tips and tricks

Looking for the best places to work or just to poach a free reliable wifi can be tricky sometimes when you drive through major cities. You could always stop at Starbucks but what if you could find the coziest coffees and public workplaces in just a few clicks? It feels better to support the local businesses and you’ll probably make great encounters, your vibe attracts your tribe right? Luckily, the community at Workfrom.co is building the largest workplaces and hangouts directory that every digital nomad should know about. Here are 3 cool spots in 4 important cities around the US, see the list below for San Francisco, Austin, NYC and Chicago. By the way, you’ll also find the wifi password for most places listed, so you might not even have to get out of the van!

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San Francisco, California

1. Haus Coffee
Address: 3086 24Th St (At Folsom St), San Francisco, Ca 94110
Description: Individual tables can easily be used for solo working or pushed together for groups. Plenty of outlets, free WiFi, good working environment and great coffee make this an ideal coffeeshop to work out of. Plus, most of the people here will be working on their laptops or reading a book so you’ll be motivated to be productive, too!

2. Sugarlump Coffee
Address: 2862 24th St (Btw Bryant & Florida), San Francisco, CA 94110
Description: Calm, quiet, hip, cozy with cool selection of midcentury furniture. Happy Hour daily 5-7pm. All coffee is certified organic and Kosher and roasted to order in small batches.

3. HanaHaus (Palo Alto)
Address: 456 University Ave (At Kipling St), Palo Alto, CA 94301
Description: It’s a part “pay-to-play” co-working space and part free co-working space. It’s housed in what seems to be an old theatre and retains a lot of the charm. Blue Bottle coffee is inside. Regardless of whether you decide to pay or not, there’s plenty of places to sit. The free section has an outdoor patio with tons of tables. Tons.

Austin, Texas

1. Austin Java
Address: 1206 Parkway (Btwn 12th & Lamar), Austin, TX 78703
Description: The Parkway branch of this chain strives to keep an authentic local vibe – laidback and eclectic. The all day breakfast menu features an Austin staple: fully customizable breakfast tacos with enough options to keep omnivores and vegetarians alike well fed. It’s a roomy place with lots of tables both inside and out; the patio is dog-friendly.

2. Epoch Coffee – Circa 13
Address: 2700 W Anderson Ln, Austin, TX 78757
Description: Access to power for tables/couches along wall. This place is very relaxed, doesn’t get too crowded most weekdays. Sister store of Epoch on N Loop. Music is usually playing. Two open WiFi networks – one for the back and another for the front. Outside patio is covered and partially shaded. Iced coffee and iced tea refills are cheaper if you keep your glass.

3. Wright Bros, Brew & Brew
Address: 500 San Marcos St #105, Austin, TX 78702
Description: If the front room is full, check their side space (with artist pop up shops) for additional group tables, meeting space, lounge/living room seating and outlets. Big variety of brews with a full espresso bar and 38 taps of craft beer. Popular spot for high tech startups, musicians and other remote workers. Coffee is great and so are the croissants.

NYC, New York

1. Freehold (Brooklyn)
Address: 45 S 3rd St, At Kent Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Description: Unbelievable space. Lobby bar, coffee shop and courtyard with ping pong. High ceilings,inspiring artwork..feels like a club. Tons of people working here. It’s so much more than a coffee shop. Meet work play vibe.

2.  The Ace Hotel (Manhattan)
Address: 20 W 29th St, (At Broadway), New York, NY 10001
Description: Long tables are equipped with power outlets, and living-room style couches and tables are great for meetings. Great for meeting other digital nomads. To top it all off — the name of this neighborhood? NoMad (North of Madison Square Park).

3. Joe And the Juice (Manhattan)
Address: 67 Spring St (Btwn Crosby & Lafayette St), New York, NY 10012
Description: Plenty of outlets in the back along the right wall. It can get a bit loud with the music and the juice machines going off, but the space is really big for this area so that’s a major plus! Joe & The Juice is a European chain based out of Denmark.

Chicago, Illinois

1.  Two Zero Three
Address: 203 N. Wabash, Chicago, IL 60601
Description: Two Zero Three is part of the sorta-new Virgin Hotel, in the North Loop and just a stone’s throw from the Chicago River. Designed as a combo coffee/wine bar and with long hours, this is a great spot to work from day or night – open from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM, seven days a week. WiFi here is excellent, as patrons can use the hotel’s network. Almost every seat in the house has an outlet, and staff is super-friendly. They’re here not just for hotel guests, but for locals as well. (And any coffee shop with Cards Against Humanity sitting on a table must be pretty accommodating.)

2. Bourgeois Pig
Address:  738 W Fullerton Ave (At Burling St.), Chicago, IL 60614
Description: Elegant, old-timey space that opens up once you head upstairs. There’s a 3 hour daily WiFi limit if you signup with a valid email address, or you can pay for more time from the network landing page. Upstairs area has 4 smaller tables (seating 2 with laptop), a bigger table (seating 4 with laptop), a couch and a booth. Big space. Left side of the establishment has great sandwiches and salads, right side has coffee and pastries. Between the two sides and the upstairs, there are plenty of places to work and meet. Front patio is open in warmer weather. Staple for DePaul students, but welcome to all.

3.  Cafe Integral
Address: 19 E Ohio St (At State St), Chicago, IL 60611
Description: Great coffee shop in the lobby of the trendy Freehand Hotel. Enjoy a delicious Nicaraguan coffee or a drink at their hip bar in the back while you work. Lots of lounge seating. Social media log on to get on the internet.

Discover more cool hangouts and workplaces almost everywhere you’ll go at Workfrom.co