14 Best Cafes to Work in the Upper East Side NYC (With WiFi)

What if we talked about all the best cafes to work in the Upper East Side today? Those good coffee shops and places to work remotely where you can stay for hours on end without being disturbed and can study in peace for as long as you want.

There are actually quite a few laptop friendly cafes on the Upper East Side where you can work for a bit, and if you’re a freelancer or a student, chances are you’ve been looking for working coffee shops in NYC more than once.

I have already written quite a lot about the best cafes to work in NYC, including cafes to study in Manhattan, the East village, as well as Brooklyn and Astoria a few days ago. 

Today, we will see some of the most famous and best places to study on the Upper East Side, from really cute and quaint coffee shops to very spacious laptop friendly cafes to get some good work done.

And if you’d like to learn more about amazing cafes to work in NYC and places to work around the world, check out the following guides:

• The Best Cafes to Work in Astoria & Queens
• The Best Cafes to Work in East Village NYC
• The Best Cafes to Work in London
• The Best Cafes to Work in Paris

14 Best Cafes to Work in the Upper East Side NYC (With WiFi)

If you’ve been here before, you know how much I love talking about the best places to do work in NYC, London, Rome, Barcelona, or Paris.

In this guide, you will see some of the best cafes to work on the Upper East Side, and you might even see some laptop friendly cafes I’ve mentioned in the past on The Working Line.

That includes 787 Coffee, which you can also visit in the East Village and Chelsea, and Variety Coffee Roasters, which has several branches all around Manhattan.

In any case, you’ll discover here plenty of good options if you have lots to do and are just looking for good cafes to get work done on the Upper East Side!

Best Cafes to Work in the Upper East Side NYC: 787 Coffee

First up, we have 787 Coffee, which has other branches in Manhattan and offers some really cute backgrounds with free WiFi, perfect if you’re looking to do work on your laptop.

787 Coffee is located at the limit between the Upper East Side and Yorkville, and it offers a few seats perfect to settle down with your books and your laptop. Also, when the sun’s out, you can enjoy the terrace for a while and just grind in the sun’s rays.

787 Coffee is one of the must-visit coffee shops to get some of the best coffee in New York City, and the pastries are must-tries as well.

And even if this is not the biggest cafe to work, the fact that it is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. makes it interesting, in a city where most coffee shops close super early.

Read: The Best Cafes to Work in King’s Cross

Best Laptop Friendly Cafe in NYC Upper East Side: Innocent Yesterday

Innocent Yesterday, located on 77th at the limit between the Upper East Side and Yorkville, is one of the most laptop friendly cafes in the area.

It opens from 8 am to 7 pm almost every day of the week, except at weekends when it’s open from 9 am.

In any case, the Innocent Yesterday coffee shop is known for offering some delicious food, from brownies to empanadas, and some really good coffee.

Obviously, when you come to work all day on your laptop, you need a spacious coffee shop as well as free WiFi, and Innocent Yesterday has both.

A great vegan selection as well, and if you’re looking for the best cafes to work in the Upper East Side, the size of Innocent Yesterday clearly makes it another perfect study spot.

Read: The Best Cafes to Work in East London

Best Cafes to Work in the Upper East Side NYC: Gregorys Coffee

Some good cafes to work from in NYC include, obviously, Gregorys Coffee. I’ve talked about Gregorys Coffee before on The Working Line; the chain of coffee shops offers pretty spacious cafes in the whole of Manhattan.

If you’re looking for cute cafes to work on the Upper East Side, the 1st Avenue coffee shop is a perfect study space.

There’s free WiFi and a few power plugs here and there, and the selection of pastries, coffees, and teas will just make you feel right at home.

Gregorys Coffee on the Upper East Side is open from 7 to 6 on weekdays, and from 7 to 5 on weekends, so I’d definitely recommend coming early to snatch one of the good tables and grind, grind, grind.

Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Tottenham Court Road

Best Cafes to Study in the Upper East Side NYC: Frame

If you want to work in an Upper East Side cafe with your laptop during the week, you can always pay a visit to Frame.

It’s open from 7 am to 9.30 pm from Monday to Thursday, and while it opens even later at weekends, Frame has a no laptop policy on those days.

Still, during the week, the large opening hours make frame one of the best cafes to work on the Upper East Side.

There’s everything we freelancers and students love; pretty good seating space, good coffee, good WiFi, and an airy space that will make you want to stare at life passing by when you need some inspiration.

Read: The Best Places to Write in London

Best Cafes to Study in the Upper East Side NYC: Paris Baguette

Paris Baguette is probably one of the more underrated, but still one of the best places to work remotely on the Upper East Side.

You won’t be the only person bringing in their books and laptop; Paris Baguette is one of the most laptop friendly cafes on the Upper East Side while offering oh-so-delicious pastries and cakes.

It’s open from 6 am to 10 pm every single day of the week, so if you’re the kind of person who keeps on working and working until they drop, Paris Baguette is the perfect coffee shop to work on the Upper East Side for you.

Seating space? Check – lots of seating space.

Very good free WiFi as well, and power outlets at almost every table. What more could you really wish for if you’re really looking to grind all day?

The only downside of working remotely at Paris Baguette? The seats are not the most comfortable – so bear that in mind before you decide to work all day there.

Read: The Best Places to Study in Rome

Best Upper East Side Cafes to Study: Variety Coffee Roasters

I’ve mentioned Variety Coffee Roasters in my guide to the best cafes to work in Manhattan, and since the Upper East Side is indeed located in Manhattan… Here it is again.

There are several branches of Variety Coffee Roasters in Manhattan.

Yet, if you’re looking for the best cafes to work on the Upper East Side, the branch on Lexington Ave is one of the best study spots when you don’t want to work from home.

There’s not only free WiFi and amazing coffee; at Variety Coffee Roasters, you have plenty of seating space and a bright, airy coffee shop to work from all day if you wish to.

Not a lot of power outlets at all, but if you come with your laptop and your phone charged, you’ll love that Variety Coffee Roasters is open from 7 am to 9 pm every day of the week.

Read: The Most Colorful Streets in Notting Hill

Best Cafes to Work in the Upper East Side NYC: Stella and Fly

Stella & Fly is one of the best cafes to work on the Upper East Side and offers some really decent seating.

If you’re really looking to get work done, and want to be able to work on your laptop without being interrupted, the atmosphere is perfect for you.

Stella & Fly offers plenty of seating space, along with delicious coffee, great pastries, and of course, free WiFi.

Very few power outlets, but if you come early, you can get a nice table along with fresh cakes – what better way to start the day?

It’s open from 7 am to 2 am on weekdays, and you’ll want to put the laptop and the books away when happy hour starts – no way you’ll remain focused with the music and the party people.

Read: The Most Instagrammable Cafes in London

Best Cafes to Study in the Upper East Side NYC: Starbucks

Starbucks is usually in no way one of the best cafes to work in Manhattan, but the branch on 80th Street is actually super cool if you’re looking for good cafes to work on the Upper East Side.

This Starbucks coffee shop is quite spacious, WiFi is reliable, and there are a few power outlets here and there – super laptop friendly, for starters.

The staff at the 80th Street branch is also super friendly, making you feel welcome – much needed when you’re looking for good places to study and fear someone will give you the side eye.

Starbucks is open from 5.30 am to 8.30 pm, so if you tend to wake up early to grind, that one is definitely one of the best cafes to study on the Upper East Side.

Read: The Best Cafes to Work in West London

Best Upper East Side Cafes to Study: Perk Kafe

I talked about Perk Kafe here and there on The Working Line, and their branch on 2nd Avenue is one of the biggest coffee shops they have.

The Upper East Side branch is open from 7 am to 5 pm, so even if it closes early, you still have a lot of time to make it happen.

You’ll also find other students and freelancers working on their laptops at Perk Kafe, so you know from the get-go it’s a great place to study.

Also, one of the best cafes to work on the Upper East Side if you’re planning to stay all day, as Perk Kafe has free WiFi, a few power outlets here and there, and a decent atmosphere that will make you want to grind.

Read: The Best Cafes To Work in Central London

Best Cafes to Work in the Upper East Side NYC: Le Pain Quotidien

When looking for the best cafes to work on the Upper East Side, Lower Manhattan, Chelsea, or East Village, we always tend to forget Le Pain Quotidien.

And yet, there are lots of branches for Le Pain Quotidien in Manhattan, and most are really spacious.

The branch on Lexington Avenue opens from 7 am to 6 pm on weekdays, and it not only offers pretty good WiFi to work, but also power outlets, and delicious pastries and drinks.

One of the best places to study on the Upper East Side with your laptop, and you’ll see lots of people working there as well – it’s really one of the most underrated places to work remotely in NYC.

Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Covent Garden

Best Laptop Friendly Cafe in Upper East Side NYC: Barnes & Noble Cafe

The Barnes & Noble cafe on 5th Ave might open at 10 am, later than most laptop friendly cafes on the Upper East Side, but it also closes at 8 pm.

If you’re after the best places to do work in Manhattan, what could be a better spot than the cafe of a beautiful bookstore?

The Barnes & Noble cafe might not be the biggest coffee shop to work around the Upper East Side, but you’ve got plenty of single tables.

Free WiFi is also available, and while there are very few power outlets, if you come with your laptop charged, you’ll find Barnes & Noble is indeed one of the best places to do work on the Upper East Side.

Read: The Best Cafes to Work in NYC Midtown

Best Cafes to Work in the Upper East Side NYC: Joe & The Juice

Whether I’m working in chain cafes in London or New York, one of my favorite brand names is Joe & The Juice.

The space of these super laptop friendly cafes is usually very decent, and it’s hard to find a Joe & The Juice cafe which doesn’t offer power outlets and free WiFi.

If you’re looking for the best cafes to study on the Upper East Side, Joe & The Juice on Lexington Ave is open from 7 am to 8 pm.

You basically have more than 12 hours in front of you if you really want to make it happen and get work done.

Really overall just one of the best places to study and do work on the Upper East Side, whether you’re coming with your laptop or your books.

Read: The Best Bookshop Cafes to Work in London

Best Upper East Side Cafes to Study: Black Star Bakery & Cafe

Black Star Bakery & Cafe is that study space you’ll visit when you know you just want to study your books and notebooks – there are no power outlets nor WiFi there.

It opens from 7 am to 4 pm on weekdays, and you can still work there provided you hotspot.

Despite the lack of WiFi and power plugs, the Black Star Bakery coffee shop is one of the most welcoming working coffee shops when you want to stay for a while, especially since it offers a bathroom and really nice decor.

Just not one of the best cafes to work on the Upper East Side with your laptop, but still perfect if you want to disconnect for a bit, and study the old school way.

Read: The Best Pink Cafes in London

Best Cafes to Work in the Upper East Side NYC: Ines

If you really need to find a good cafe to work remotely on the Upper East Side and all your favorites are crowded, you still have Ines.

It’s more of a breakfast and brunch place, really cute, and probably one of the most instagrammable cafes in NYC.

Yet, Ines also offers free WiFi, a bathroom, and enough seating space that you can come with your laptop and work there for a bit.

Ines is open from 7 to 5 on weekdays, which is roughly the type of opening times you can find in lots of cafes to work in Manhattan, but if you come early enough, you’ll have plenty of time to grind and make it happen.

Read: The Best Cafes Open Late in London

14 Best Cafes to Work in the Upper East Side NYC (With WiFi)

There you have them, all the best cafes to work on the Upper East Side, from cute coffee shops to perfectly spacious laptop friendly cafes!

Hopefully, you’ll have found here all you need in terms of working coffee shops in Manhattan around the Upper East Side.

Later on, I’ll write about some of the best cafes to work in Soho NYC, Chelsea, and the Village – stick around to learn more about these awesome laptop friendly cafes!

Until next time!

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