More companies than ever are embracing the idea of working remotely. For some employees, the idea of working from home in a pair of pajamas is as ideal as it gets, but others miss the social nature of working in an office with others. For those who miss the social component of working in an office, but not the commute, here are five of LA's best coffee places to spend part of the day working from.
M Street Coffee
Neighborhood: Sherman Oaks
M Street Coffee is part independent coffee shop and part art gallery, with a fiercely loyal group of regulars as friendly as the staff. Wifi is free for two hours, perfect for taking your conference call and answering a few emails before heading home, and the selection of food and drinks is superb. Conveniently located near the 101 freeway and just a few miles from the 405/101 interchange, M Street Coffee has been operating since 2008, and consistently tops Los Angeles Hot List's coffee shop of the year.
Bricks & Scones
Location: Mid-City
Though it might seem a bit played out, the stereotype of the writer sitting at a coffee shop somewhere in LA hammering out a screenplay on his or her laptop is at least somewhat true. For those who just want a place to work from for a few hours while enjoying a cup of coffee, there's Bricks & Scones in Larchmont Village. With features like "The Study," a quiet, dimly lit lounge area designated for writers and readers to work from, and free wifi, Bricks & Scones is the picture perfect neighborhood coffee spot.
Paper or Plastik Cafe
Location: Mid-City
Paper or Plastik Cafe is the shop for those who absolutely need to get out of the house, but still have a substantial workload to address. Though the Mid-City establishment's wifi has been described as spotty at times, the location, the space and the readily available electrical outlets make it a destination spot for those looking to get work done. Pro tip: wifi and laptops aren't allowed on the weekends.
TOMS Roasting Co.
Location: Venice
Though it might be pretty common these days, finding out an establishment offers free wifi is pretty great. It's another feeling to find out that it's one of the fastest connections in the area. TOMS Roasting Co. isn't your typical coffee shop. The Venice-located shop is also an apparel store. Though patrons will have to stomach crowds of individuals looking to purchase the latest TOMS apparel, the strong wifi and easy access to outlets make this coffee shop the ideal place to work from.
Kaldi Coffee
Neighborhood: Atwater Village
Kaldi Coffee's Atwater Village location puts it in one of the most unique neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Glendale Blvd. and the houses in the surrounding neighborhoods give the area an old-timey, main street sort of feel, but the beards and designer strollers suggest something different. Kaldi's minimalistic decor, knowledgeable staff and prime location make it a fantastic place to spend a few hours working from.
What's your favorite coffee shop to work from? Let us know on Twitter @BuiltInLA.
