Coffee Shops Perfect for Laptop Work and Study in New York City

Coffee is a passion of mine. I go out of my way to get a good cup-o-joe in a stylish space, but I promise you, it’s one of very few addictions! I really try not to be annoying about it, but it’s a side-effect of having a little of everything in NYC.

I’m an official coffee snob, but one thing NYC is sorely missing is space to both drink quality coffee and work/read/write. This is where this article will help you!

Think Coffee on 8th Avenue, Manhattan

As you probably know, the best coffee quality isn’t always in the shop that has charming decor, free wifi, or abundant seating. This article is dedicated to those unique coffee shops that both serve a great cup of coffee while also offering working space with wifi access. I have found they reliably keep this coffee snob both happy and productive at the same time.

Think Coffee’s back room on 8th Avenue, Manhattan

MANHATTAN:

Think Coffee (West Village): 73 8th Ave, New York, NY 10014

Think Coffee (Tribeca): 350 Broadway, New York, NY 10013

Think Coffee (NoHo/NYU) : 248 Mercer St, New York, NY 10012

Think Coffee has several outposts across Manhattan, but not all are good places to work. The three above have the best space, bathrooms, and free wifi connection. They also serve quality pastry and sandwiches. My personal favorite is the West Village (8th Avenue) location. Note that during the academic year, the NoHo location is overrun with NYU students, but also resembles that coffee shop from Friends.

Everyman Espresso (East Village): 136 E 13th St, New York, NY 10003

One of the best cups of coffee in the city is ALSO a solid place to work. Not the largest of cafe spaces, it has at least 10 spots to sit. Additionally, it’s also interesting to spend time here, as it’s located in the lobby of an Off-Broadway theater.

9th Street Espresso (Alphabet City): 700 E 9th St, New York, NY 10009

9th Street Espresso, now seen at Chelsea Market and other spots, started off at this quiet location on 9th Street and Avenue C. There are about 10 tables, strong wifi, and a really great cup of coffee or espresso. And since it’s all the way over in Alphabet City, I’ve always been able to quickly snag a table.

Joe Coffee (Columbia University): 550 W 120th St, New York, NY 10027

Most of the Joe Coffee locations in NYC are quite small and don’t have wifi, but the Columbia University location, which is totally accessible to the public, not only has wifi, it’s large and surrounded by gigantic floor-to-ceiling windows. Who doesn’t like to setup a work station alongside Ivy League students, under the picturesque backdrop of University towers, in hopes some of the epic work ethic rubs off?

VBar & Cafe (NoHo/NYU): 225 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012

My partner insisted I include this spot, but I admit over the years, it has grown on me. It’s located just a block south of Washington Square Park, dead center in the NYU zone, and is a really great place to study if you want to have the option of coffee, sandwich, or even a cold beer while you work! Hey, who’s judging?

BROOKLYN:

BKG Coffee Roasters (Clinton Hill): 557 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

This cafe is somewhat tight in Brooklyn standards, but has a really great dedicated work space in the back. Service is friendly and wifi is strong!

Black Brick Coffee (Williamsburg): 300 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, N

Williamsburg has several hip cafes, but Black Brick is the only one I want to actually spend time at. The decor is cool: a ceiling made of crates, toilet equipped with ancient pull-chain flusher, and stylish wall sconces. They prefer that laptops stick to the back room, but, if you’re lucky enough to find it open, there’s a gigantic secret garden!

Brooklyn Roasting Company (Navy Yard): 200 Flushing Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

I have a love-hate relationship with the Brooklyn Roasting located in DUMBO, but this Navy Yard location is much more my style. It resembles a 1940’s diner meshed with a vintage gas station. It has bright work space on benches underneath huge glass windows. And of course, wifi!

Cafe Grumpy (Greenpoint): 193 Meserole Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

An old personal favorite! I must admit I collect Cafe Grumpy mugs due to a slight obsession with their grumpy-faced bean logo. But the coffee is also top notch. Most of the Cafe Grumpy locations do not have wifi and discourage laptop use, but the Greenpoint location is the exception! It’s a HUGE space and one of the best places to spend hours working.

Four and Twenty Blackbirds (Gowanus): 439 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

I used to live around the corner from this pie shop and have at times, been known to over-indulge in their salty honey pie. But some may not realize this cafe is also a wonderful place to just grab coffee and get some work done at one of their many large vintage tables. Strong wifi and a young, artsy crowd.

Hungry Ghost (Park Slope/Flatbush Avenue): 253 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Another spot that serves an excellent coffee (Stumptown Roasters) but the space is special: it resembles an architect’s living room! Only some tables are for laptop work, but I have spent some great moments here appreciating the quality of the space, working or not.

WHITE NOISE COFFEE CO. (Boerum Hill): 57 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

A new contender emerged on the scene in 2019: WHITE NOISE! Originally from Queens, this cafe is seriously cool. Everything is clean and designed with purpose. The space is large and airy, with several spots ideal for getting some work done. Wifi and bathroom passwords are on the receipt.

White Noise in Brooklyn has the hip factor AND the free wifi

Bars of New York City

Knowing where to grab a drink in New York may seem like a simple quest, as there are approximately 10,000 NYC bars, but today’s New York is fast-evolving and that spot you loved last year may no longer be around. Some of the factors to consider would be location and atmosphere, of course, but also could be things like comfortable seating or whether they carry your favorite gin.

I’ll go through some of my current favorites around Manhattan and Brooklyn and tell you what I love about them. In general, my favorite bars tend to attract an interesting mix of people; men, women, gay, straight, young, and old. However, I lean towards classic historic-type spaces rather than sleek and modern.

Henry Public in Brooklyn

BROOKLYN:

First of all, I’ll throw out a disclaimer: I live in Brooklyn and I’m quite partial to the borough and therefore, it will come first on this list! Brooklyn, like the rest of NYC, is chock full of bars, but even with endless options, there are just a few places so good, I find myself going back again and again.

Henry Public: 329 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Before ordering at Henry Public, I am smitten taking in the atmosphere. This bar / restaurant is all about quality over options. This place serves up a few great local beers and has perfected a dozen cocktails on menu. Speaking of the menu, it is designed as a vintage “bill of fare” like a menu out of 1890: just a few food items and a burger called the “hamburger sandwich”. I drink and dine here regularly and it’s the kind of place you desperately wish was in your neighborhood.

Brooklyn Inn: 148 Hoyt St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Another Brooklyn bar heavy on historic atmosphere, Brooklyn Inn will charm you before you even step inside. It’s lit wonderfully with tall decorative windows and antique light fixtures. There is a back room for playing pool that is fantastically dark and the whole visit will make you feel like you’re experiencing the long-lost Brooklyn of yore.

The Gate: 321 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

This central Park Slope favorite attracts visitors from all over the borough. There’s a good-sized outdoor patio that is also dog-friendly. They carry a lot of quality beer on tap, even some of my Vermont favorites (hello, Heady Topper!), as well as a well-stocked bar. Walk around and find the unique Obama art piece!

The Double Windsor: 210 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, NY 11215

I may have visited Double Windsor more than any other Brooklyn bar, and that’s because it kind of has it all! There’s a large ever-changing and unique draught beer list, as well as a kitchen serving up one of the best burgers and possibly THE best french fries. This place is wonderfully local, and also attracts all types from Brooklyn hipsters to sports teams, to gay boys on dates. It’s also conveniently located down the street from the Nitehawk Prospect Park for nights you need a good bite before a movie.

Black Rabbit: 91 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

I venture to Williamsburg and Greenpoint every few weeks, even if to just walk around and see what hipsters and artsy tourists are dressing like today. We all know about the boom in popularity of the area, but with so many new restaurants, bars, and cool hotels, I quickly tire of the “scene” and head straight to Black Rabbit for a few drinks. This bar is pretty big, with actual semi-private wooden booths, and an adorable back yard garden. They stock the front with dozens of board games, too. I can unwind in this bar like no other.

MANHATTAN:

Finding a good bar in Manhattan is a lot harder than it may first seem. Manhattan can offer practically any style and price point, but my list below contains the places where I can show up on any night of the week and know I will have a great time. I spent several years living in Manhattan before moving to Brooklyn, and many of the bars below have persisted and thrived because they’re doing something right (and many are so historic they were here long before I was born). Below are also mostly affordable options with casual or historic vibes, and you should feel comfortable ordering either beer or a mixed drink here, in other words, they aren’t too swanky and not full of frat dudes, either! You’ll want to write these down.

Arts and Crafts Beer Parlor: 26 W 8th St, New York, NY 10011

Come for the decorative wallpaper, stay for the spectacular beer list! This place is also really close to both NYU and Washington Square Park.

Caledonia Bar: 1609 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028

Admit it, you wish you were in Scotland right now. Come to Caledonia Bar on the Upper East Side and experience the next best thing!

Cubbyhole: 281 W 12th St, New York, NY 10014

This gay bar has been a favorite since I discovered it in 2005 and I have celebrated 3 New Year’s Eves here. It’s not easy to find an affordable drinking hole in the West Village that also is full of interesting and friendly people of all genders and orientations. This place may overwhelm you at first with the outrageous decor (just look up!) but you will soon feel like you belong and the notoriously fabulous jukebox will entertain you for hours.

Dive 75: 101 W 75th St, New York, NY 10023

I have never lived on the Upper West Side, but I’ve found it hard to locate a good bar here in the past. Enter Dive 75! This place has a giant fish tank, free bowls of candy (the good kind!), and a solid menu of beer and other drinks. And don’t be discouraged, it’s not a filthy dive, it’s the kind of dive that fits in on the swanky residential 75th Street.

Johnny’s Bar: 90 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10011

OK I know I promised I wouldn’t post a bunch of dive bars, but this one is a must-see. It’s tiny, it’s grimy, and it’s a little uncomfortable. But the location on Greenwich Avenue is unbeatable and I always have a fun time stopping in here for a drink.

Manhattan Cricket Club: 226 W 79th St, New York, NY 10024

This place might be the swankiest spot on my list, but if that’s what you’re looking for, then we’re all good! Manhattan Cricket Club is a must-visit for cocktail lovers and the after-work drink crowd. It’s quality, it’s spiffy, it’s classic, and a little bit romantic!

Swift Hibernian Lounge: 34 E 4th St, New York, NY 10003

I can’t get enough of the historic spots! Give me a hint of literary adornment and I’m hooked. Swift prides itself on quality Irish pours and conversation. Come here for a dark beer and you might even get caught up in a fascinating conversation at the bar.

The Grange: 1635 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10031

Harlem has so much to discover, for both locals and tourists alike, but fails to enter many must-see lists for those who don’t already live in upper Manhattan. This is a newcomer to the Harlem drinking scene that I was happy to see attracts a wonderful mix of local regulars.

The Penrose: 1590 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028

The Upper East Side recently gained a new subway line, the Q. During the years of construction on the Q line, Second Avenue was in disarray and several businesses came and went. The Penrose came strong in 2012 and has proven itself to be a strong contender to best overall bar on the Upper East Side. It’s stylish with a hint of local history and modern sparkle. You will want to dress sharp to sit here at the bar, and it’s a great place to people watch the preppy scene that so defines the Upper East Side.

White Horse Tavern: 567 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014

The last bar on my list belongs to a classic. The White Horse opened in 1880 and became a favorite of Dylan Thomas and other writers. Today, it’s a fun mix of tourists and locals. You can sit in the historic interior or soak up the fascinating street scene of the West Village out on the street tables. Come here as you wait for a table next door at The Spotted Pig, and you will have yourself a wonderful New York evening.