Telecommuting in New York City for a few days, help!

March 18, 2009 4:28 PM

Best coffee shop to do some telecommuting in New York City?

I'm in New York for a few days with my partner but I need to keep up with my workload! Anybody have any recommendations of good coffee places where I could get some work done during the day this week and next? I have to use the phone a bit too, but mostly internet. I'm in Manhattan, I know I can find wifi a lot of places, but anybody have any personal favorite work hang out spots?

posted by Rocket26 to work & money (10 comments total)

The only place I know of downtown with good coffee and plently of power outlets that actually welcomes laptop users during the day is, weirdly, Schiller's Liquor Bar.
posted by nicwolff at 4:41 PM on March 18

Tea Lounge is in Brooklyn, but there are plenty of outlets. (I can vouch for their Park Slope location only.)
posted by Airhen at 5:38 PM on March 18

Tea Spot in the West Village might do you for a few hours. It's an NYU student hangout, though, so if you can find a table near an outlet, hang on to it with your life. Upside is they won't hassle you for being there for a few hours. Downside is that their tea is expensive and sometimes the free wifi kicks out.
posted by greenland at 5:57 PM on March 18

Think Coffee (two locations, although the wireless access is sometimes spotty)
Aroma Espresso Bar (chain-esque, lots of seating, outlets, bring headphones as they play terrible music)
Soy Luck Club (also offers food, free wireless but a minimum purchase required)
Mercury Dime (tons of seating, gelato from Il Laboratorio, Balthazar bakery pastries, cold-brewed iced coffee, supernice staff, and outlets, too I think)
Roasting Plant (LES location only, I think, but they have like 3 seats and it's pretty uncomfortable)
Ost (though it can be quite crowded)

My favorite of those is Mercury Dime.
posted by kathryn at 6:04 PM on March 18 [1 favorite]

second schiller's—they have a zillion power outlets, certainly more than any coffee house i've ever been to, and the coffee/snacks/cocktails are great. also you won't be fighting for a seat/table in the afternoon like you would be in most cafes with wifi.
posted by lia at 7:43 PM on March 18

I'm a visitor sans office in New York next week to, so thanks for this post!

Wait- does Schiller's also have Wifi? This is great news.

The Tea Lounge has an inconsistent signal, awful food, squadrons of Park Slope moms with "Adorable" (read: screaming) children and bathrooms that make you feel like you soiled yourself using them. Oh, and the last time I was there they played an entire Coldplay album coupled with Simon and Garfunkel live. Awful. Use only if desperate.
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 8:36 PM on March 18

Yeah, Schiller's not only has free WiFi and ample power outlets, it's almost empty on weekdays after lunch and there's friendly table service so you can just work instead of jumping up for coffee &c.

One plan-B option is 88 Orchard a few blocks away, more of a normal coffee-shop place but free WiFi and power.
posted by nicwolff at 8:54 AM on March 19

please please please never give 88 orchard your money, both the service and food are terrible. i was coerced into brunch there a few weeks ago and paid $7 for the saddest, worst waffle ever (accompanied by the saddest, worst bacon ever, $1.50 extra), which took about 30 minutes to get to the table—they weren't even busy! they just sucked!
posted by lia at 11:04 AM on March 19

Good info lia — I've never had anything but coffee there. Those waffles do look pretty sad!
posted by nicwolff at 12:20 PM on March 19

Have you thought of working at Jelly?
posted by Muffy at 6:02 PM on March 19