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I’ve been meaning to talk about the best cafes to work in Manhattan NYC for quite some time now!
It just seems I wanted to focus on telling you all about study cafes in London before I ventured into the vast topic that is NYC.
Today, we’ll talk about all the best cafes to work in Manhattan and study for as long as you possibly can.
That will include coffee shops to study in Lower Manhattan, the Upper East Side, as well as Midtown and the Village.
So far, I’ve written about the best coffee shops to work in the East Village, West Village, Lower Manhattan, cafes to work in Brooklyn, and other boroughs as well.
For now, I’ve gathered for you all the best cafes to work in Manhattan with WiFi and power outlets to the best of my knowledge.
I’ll mention for each of these study cafes whether there are power outlets or not (although in some cases, you’d better come with your laptop charged).
I’ll throw in information about whether WiFi is free all day long, and whether the coffee shop is actually spacious enough to be able to work at any time of the day.
22 Best Cafes to Work in Manhattan NYC (Laptop-Friendly!)
To be fair, there are quite a few amazing cafes to work in Manhattan.
Think Coffee, Bean, and Kona are probably some of the most famous if you’re looking for the best cafes to write in NYC.
I’d always recommend you visit these coffee shops as early as possible.
There are so many digital nomads, freelancers, and students just looking to get out of their cramped-up apartments!
That’s why the competition is tough to even just get a seat to work and write on your laptop in the New York coffee shops.
And by the way, if you need to ever find more online work to bring more bread to your table, I’ve recently come across the Jooble website and found lots of cool remote work there!
In any case, I’ve tried to choose the most representative pictures as well.
Whether you’re looking for the best cafes to work in Manhattan around Midtown, in the East Village, or in Hell’s Kitchen, you’ll find here some amazing study spaces!
Best Cafes to Work in Manhattan: Think Coffee
First up, we’ve got Think Coffee, an institution of study cafes in New York City.
The branch on Mercer Street in Greenwich Village is actually one of the best cafes to work in Manhattan, not only for freelancers but also for students.
Many NYU students gather at Think Coffee every single day to do work, chat and plan their schedules.
That’s why you might not always have a table to yourself, but there are so many students and freelancers working at Think Coffee that clearly, you’ll feel the productive vibe from the get-go.
If you’re ever looking for other cafes to work in Manhattan, Think Coffee has about a dozen locations scattered across Manhattan, from Tribeca to Bleecker Street.
Many people work there, embraced by a buzzy chatty atmosphere, and the Mercer Street Think Coffee branch is indeed one of the most productivity-inducing study cafes in Manhattan.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work on the Upper West Side
Best Cafes to Work in Manhattan: Black Cat Coffee Lower East Side
Black Cat Coffee on the Lower East Side is one of the more cozy cafes to work in Manhattan, with plush seats, dimmed lights, and dark decor.
It’s also perfect if you’re looking for cafes to write in NYC, since with such decor, who would not feel inspired?
You’ll find lots of people working at Black Cat Coffee as well.
It’s super accessible from all parts of Manhattan, and the atmosphere simply makes Black Cat Coffee one of the best cafes to work on the Lower East Side.
There’s free WiFi, the drinks are pretty good and not overpriced.
Beware though – you’ll have to come with your laptop charged as there aren’t many power outlets available at Black Cat Coffee.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work on the Upper East Side
Best Cafes to Work in Manhattan: The Book Club
Next up, you’ve got The Book Club on 197 E and 3rd.
It doesn’t only offers a really inspiring study space if you’re looking for the best cafes in Manhattan to study and work from, but also books.
Lots of books.
Since The Book Club is open from 8 am till midnight Monday to Friday, it’s a really great cafe to work in Alphabet City, East Village.
The Book Club is certainly one of the most laptop-friendly cafes in Manhattan during the day.
However, said laptops have to be put away after 7 pm, when The Book Club turns more into a party place than a coworking cafe.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Chelsea NYC
Best Cafes to Work in Manhattan NYC: Felix Roasting Midtown
Felix Roasting is probably one of my favorites when it comes to the best cafes to work in Manhattan, especially if you’re close to Nomad.
Located Midtown East, Felix Roasting feels like that uppity place like the cafes where you’d get afternoon tea in London.
Beyond that, it’s definitely one of the best coffee shops to work in Midtown Manhattan.
For starters, the atmosphere.
The vibe.
The feeling of making it happen for yourself when you’re sitting at Felix Roasting – otherworldly.
If you’re looking for the best cafes to write in NYC around Midtown, you’d do well to pay Felix Roasting a visit from 8 am to 5 pm every day.
There’s free WiFi, although few power outlets, and Felix Roasting also has other locations in NYC, including one in Soho, and one in Noho.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Astoria & Queens
Best Cafes to Work in Manhattan: Now or Never Coffee
Now or Never Coffee seems to me like one of the most underrated cafes to do work in Manhattan.
And still, its location close to Canal Street station and Soho makes it a perfect coffee shop to study all day long.
You’ve got a really welcoming wooden interior of the kind I love to find in the Caffè Nero cafes in London, and lots of seating space.
Beyond just being one of the best cafes to work in Manhattan in the South Village, Now or Never Coffee also offers freelancers and digital nomads to book the space for events and meetings.
Kind of like a coworking space, but with the really warm vibe of a study cafe.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in West Hampstead
Best Coffee Shops to Study in Manhattan: The Roost
Look wherever you want, but if you’ve looked for the best cafes to work in Manhattan at one point or another, you’ll have come across The Roost.
The Roost is located in the East Village, and its opening hours are such that you’ll definitely find other students and freelancers working in the coffee shop.
Actually, it’s not even just a coffee shop.
The Roost turns into a party place come nighttime, and an almost secret bar becomes the life of the party.
However during the day, if you’re looking for the best cafes to work in the East Village NYC, that’s definitely a good spot to visit.
There are power outlets scattered throughout the coffee shop and free WiFi.
And since The Roost opens at 7 am most days, I think you’ve got here your new favorite study cafe in the East Village.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Barcelona
Best Cafes to Work in Manhattan NYC: The Bean
If you’re ever looking for the best coffee shops to work in the East Village, you’ve got The Bean.
It’s one of the most popular cafes in Manhattan to study and work, and you’ll see lots of laptop people working every hour of the day.
It’s not only the fact that The Bean is an amazing cafe to work, though.
It’s also that the coffee shop offers amazing coffee and specialty drinks, which means even if you don’t want to necessarily work, The Bean is great for a lowkey date with your friends.
The plus side is that The Bean offers free WiFi and is open until 9 pm.
So, after school or after your shift, it’s definitely one of the best cafes to work in Manhattan.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Rome
Best Cafes to Work in Manhattan: Kona Coffee
Next up, and still in the East Village, you have Kona Coffee, which ultimately offers everything and anything a freelancer or a student might wish for.
You’ve got a coffee shop in Manhattan with free WiFi, power outlets, and lots of seating space.
In terms of size, Kona Coffee and The Bean are quite similar, but you will have to come as early as possible during the day, as they tend to get busy after lunch.
Also, like The Bean, Kona Coffee closes at 9 pm, which gives you plenty of time to really get that study motivation and that productivity going.
A really productive and peaceful place, and perfect if you’re looking for the best cafes to work in Manhattan around the East Village…
Especially if you tend to be more productive after classes or your shifts.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Paris
Best Cafes to Work in Manhattan NYC: Amano West Village
Amano is one of the best cafes to work in the West Village NYC, just because you’ve got a really cozy space to study, read, and work should you wish to.
Amano offers outstanding roasted coffee, for starters, and if you’re looking to stay for a while, you’re going to need it.
Delicious bites as well, from pastries to sandwiches, even if I know that as a student, you’d gladly keep that fare for the weekly grocery shopping trip.
At Amano, you’ve got power outlets and free WiFi.
And honestly, if you’d like to break away from busy and buzzy NYC life, you’ll feel this is one of the best cafes to work in Manhattan around West Village.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Midtown
Best Cafes to Work in Manhattan: Pause Cafe
Pause Cafe in the Lower East Side is quickly going to become one of your favorite cafes to work in Manhattan.
Especially if you need a reliable coffee shop in terms of WiFi and power outlets.
Pause Cafe was opened a few years ago by a Moroccan man, which clearly means a lot to me as I’m half French and half Moroccan.
In addition to really good WiFi, there are quite a few power outlets here and there in the Lower East Side cafe.
You can stay for a good few hours without any problem provided you get something to drink every so often.
In any case, you’ll see lots of people working at Pause Cafe, since the community there clearly is made of freelancers and students.
But that’s not only one of the best cafes to work in Manhattan – Pause Cafe makes outstanding Moroccan food, and I’d definitely recommend you try it out.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in West London
Best Cafes to Work in Greenwich Village NYC: Irving Farm
Now, Irving Farm is probably one of the best cafes to work in Manhattan, since it’s located super close to both Washington Square Park and NYU.
This coffee shop probably offers the most seating space out of many study cafes I’ll mention today, and you’ve got power outlets and free WiFi inside.
Really, what more could you wish for?
If it’s your first time here, then you probably don’t know how much of a freak I am for coffee shops with wooden decor, and Irving Farm ticks all the boxes.
If you’re ever around the Village, that’s going to become one of your favorite cafes to write, study, and just do work.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Lisbon
Best Cafes to Work in Manhattan: Stumptown Coffee Roasters
Located in the lobby of the Ace Hotel, two steps away from Madison Square Park and the Empire State Building, you’ve got Stumptown Coffee Roasters.
In my opinion, it’s one of the best cafes to work in Manhattan, but also one of the most underrated.
Stumptown Coffee Roasters offers a view of the passersby going about with their life, as well as free WiFi.
Again, this is one of the study cafes you’ll find lots of people working at, just because it’s so central and has all types of attractions at arm’s length.
But since Stumptown Coffee Roasters is open from 6.30 am most days, if you come early, you’ll definitely be able to get some good work done.
However, the coffee shop does close pretty early, as do many of the New York coffee shops, so, at 5 pm, the work day at Stumptown Coffee Roasters will be over.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Central London
Best Cafes To Work in NYC Midtown: Ground Central
Ground Central Midtown West is not the only location of the Ground Central coffee shop chain.
Yet, it’s clearly one of the most inspiring if you’re looking for the best cafes to work in Manhattan from 7 in the morning.
We’re talking power outlets, laptop people working and studying all day long, and free WiFi.
Everything a digital nomad, a student, or a freelancer would need as a background to be super productive, right?
Ground Central is located between Midtown West and Theater District, and it offers a few different spaces within the coffee shop.
Communal tables, a back room that feels like home with armchairs and books…
Probably one of the very best cafes to work in NYC Midtown overall.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in South London
Best Cafes to Work in Manhattan: Variety Coffee Roasters
Another one of the best cafes to work in Manhattan is located in Lucida, and goes by the name Variety Coffee Roasters.
Even when I’m in London, Paris, or Rome, local coffee roasters are something important to me.
After all, I don’t have an Italian moka tattooed on my forearm to joke about coffee, do I?
Variety Coffee Roasters is known for being one of the best cafes to write in NYC.
The windows are large, there are many power outlets to charge your laptop and your phone, and free WiFi as well.
Whether you’re looking for cafes to study, write, or just read a good book, Variety Coffee Roasters is one of the best cafes to work in the Upper East Side.
Inspiring, beautiful, with tasty coffee and a really laptop-friendly cafe? Yes, please.
Read: The Most Instagrammable Cafes in Paris
Best Cafes to Work in NYC: The Hungarian Pastry Shop
The Hungarian Pastry Shop is an institution amongst people who’ve once looked for the best cafes to write in NYC.
It’s been open since 1961, and you’re at 111th and Amsterdam, close to Columbia.
If you’re looking for cafes to study in Manhattan all day long, The Hungarian Pastry Shop is well-known for offering cheap and good coffee, with plenty of Eastern European pastries.
Open from 7.30 am to 8.30 almost every day of the week, the cafe does not offer free WiFi so you’ll have to hotspot if you want to use the Internet.
Not a lot of power outlets either.
However, the spacious coffee shop and its reputation make up for the lack of WiFi and power plugs, especially if you need a study cafe near Manhattan Valley and Columbia University.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Canary Wharf
Best Cafes to Work in Manhattan: Starbucks Reserve
Another great option for peeps looking for the best cafes to work in Manhattan? Starbucks!
Provided you choose a good one, as Starbucks cafes are notoriously famous for their lack of maintenance in the US.
Luckily, Starbucks Reserve is not only clean and inviting.
It’s also one of the best laptop friendly cafes in Manhattan and, cherry on the cake, the Broadway branch offers plenty of seating space!
Whether you choose to sit downstairs or upstairs, you’ll have plenty of space to sit and spread with your laptop and your books – and be productive for a long, long time.
The most famous landmarks in NYC are scattered all around you, but since you’re coming to be productive with work, get yourself a nice latte and get grinding!
Read: The Most Instagrammable Cafes in NYC
Best Coffee Shops to Study in Manhattan: Cafe Cluny
Located in the Village, Cafe Cluny is at the crossroads between a beautiful brunch place and an outdoor cafe.
You can sit, relax, and read through your notes without being bothered here.
Probably the least laptop friendly coffee shop in this Manhattan guide.
However, given how welcoming the setting at Cafe Cluny is, it’s a great place to study without having to use the Internet.
In addition, small plates and big brunch bites are all available when you really want to disconnect.
However, my recommendation is you come during the week, take place on one of the outdoor tables when the weather commands it, and get to studying those midterms!
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in East London
Best Cafes to Work in Manhattan NYC: Devocion Flatiron
In my opinion, the best Devocion branch is in Brooklyn.
It’s large, there are power outlets and free WiFi, and lots of students and freelancers who come to do a bit of work on a daily basis.
But if you’re after the best cafes to work in Manhattan, pay a visit to the Devocion coffee shop in Flatiron.
The opening hours are good enough that you can stay for a few hours (7.30 am to 6 pm most days of the week).
Beautiful place to study in NYC or type away on your laptop, whatever is up your alley.
The only thing I’d say is avoid this place at weekends, as it does get crowded, unless you can focus even when the coffee shop is busy.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Istanbul
Best Coffee Shops to Study in Manhattan: Paper Coffee
Paper Coffee in the Made Hotel is the perfect mix of a hotel lobby and coffee shop.
The atmosphere is that rustic type of vibe suitable for writers and students alike, and you’re right in the heart of Manhattan.
Stay a couple of hours, stay all day, it’s really up to you, as Paper Coffee does provide that relaxing atmosphere perfect to really focus with work.
And since it’s open every single day from 8 am to 6 pm, you have plenty of time to grind.
There are a few power outlets here and there as well as free WiFi, and you’ll really feel sheltered from the bustle of NYC life at Paper Coffee.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Miami
Best Laptop Friendly Cafes to Work in Manhattan: Gregorys Coffee
There are several Gregorys Coffee all around town.
Yet, in this one, you have the best of both worlds: clinging cups and coffee machine noises, and an atmosphere very likely to make you feel focused.
This is not the biggest Gregorys Coffee in NYC, in fact, it can get busy during the day.
However, it’s located right in the heart of Manhattan, a stone’s throw away from every exciting instagrammable cafe and restaurant possible.
Most days of the week, Gregorys Coffee is open from 6 am to 5 pm, so if you need to do some work before a shift or want to stay all day, it’s possible.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Dallas TX
Best Coffee Shops to Work in Manhattan NYC: Bluestone Lane Manhattan West
I mentioned Bluestone Lane in another guide, and if you’re looking for cute coffee shops to study in Manhattan, the Manhattan West branch is probably the cutest ever.
Choose to come to work, or have breakfast (or brunch!)…
Bluestone Lane gives you all those possibilities.
There’s plenty of seating space there, and since the cafe opens from 7 am to 4 pm on weekdays (from 7.30 am at weekends), you can get lots done.
And honestly, if what you’re after are laptop friendly cafes with good vibes in NYC, that’s exactly where you should go.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Boston
Best Cafes to Work in Manhattan NYC: The Granddaddy
Last in this guide to the best cafes to work in Manhattan actually seems like a Godsend, since it’s located right in the heart of Chinatown.
There are not many good laptop friendly cafes in Chinatown compared to other areas like Chelsea, East Village or the Upper East Side.
But The Granddaddy is spacious.
Oh so spacious.
Good WiFi to type away on the computer for a few hours, plenty of natural sunlight, and incredible drinks, from tasty cappuccino to espresso, and tea for whoever feels too ecstatic on coffee.
Where you choose to sit depends on your goals, I guess.
At the front, you’ll have lots of light, while at the back, you’ll find large communal tables to work.
The Granddaddy is open from 8 am to 7 pm every day of the week, so if you’re looking for specific places to write in NYC for a few hours, that’s a good spot to try.
One of the best places to study in Manhattan too; just make sure to come when it’s quiet!
Read: The Best Cafes to Work near Leicester Square
22 Best Cafes to Work in Manhattan NYC (Laptop-Friendly!)
There you have them, all the best cafes to work in Manhattan NYC, from the Lower East Side to Lower Manhattan, and from the East Village to Alphabet City!
Hopefully, you’ll have found here all your new favorite cafes to do work in NYC Midtown, Lower Manhattan, and more.
I’ve tried to tell you about really laptop-friendly cafes, and as much as possible, about cafes with power outlets and free WiFi. Now all that’s left to do is to make it happen!
Until next time!
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The Working Line
Sam is a certified fashion makeup artist, a freelance writer, a blogger and a digital nomad. Since 2019, she roams around the world, from London to Rome and shares her knowledge about makeup, scented candles, travel, blogging and the digital nomad lifestyle.