Finding The Perfect Seattle Wifi Café

Where do you go when you need to get work done, but are tired of sitting alone in your office? The wifi café, of course. What makes a good wifi café and which ones are the best for web workers?

Written Jan 29, 2008, read 617 times since then.

Being a Vashon Island resident, I try to make myself available for meetings and appointments in Seattle each Wednesday. Since I don't have office space in Seattle, I've developed a keen (read: snobby) sense for what makes a good wife café from a web worker's perspective.

What are the ingredients to a good wifi café?

1. Great Coffee
If I'm going to feel compelled to buy coffee every couple hours, I want it to be good coffee. This is Seattle after all. Actually, good doesn't even really cut it - it's got to be great. I'm a coffee snob. There I said it.

2. Fast, Stable and Free Wireless Connection
This should go without saying, but I've been to many cafés in Seattle that supposedly offer free wifi, purchased coffee and a snack, found a table, plugged in and ... I couldn't connect. No good. If you're going to offer wifi, make sure it works well.

Also, I tend to avoid really large or crowded cafés whose connection will be crowded and slow (Ahem...Victrola...ahem...Bauhaus...ahem).

A minor note of annoyance for me is the log-in screen, where cafés force you to register an account or tunnel you through a terms and conditions page to access the Internet. Not a deal-breaker, just a minor annoyance.

3. Comfortable Seating, Plenty of Power Outlets
This is a big one for me. If I'm going to park myself somewhere for an extended period of time, I want to be comfortable and be able to plug in. It doesn't have to be a plush easy chair or anything, just a nice solid chair or stool, with an un-wobbly desk or bar within close range of a power outlet.

4. Atmosphere
This is a subjective intangible, but I personally like it when the music is not overbearingly loud, but loud enough that I can have a conversation with a friend or client and not feel like everyone in the room can hear me. The spacing of tables has a bit to do with this, as well.

All that said, here's a short list of my favorite caffeinated work environments in Seattle.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters
1115 12th Ave (Near Seattle University)
I am in deep smit with Stumptown right now. Their drip coffee, espresso and beans (my favorite - Guatemala Finca El Injerto) are heavenly. I like the narrow bar at the back of the café. They also have more bar seating downstairs.

Presse
1117 12th Avenue (Near Seattle University)
The people who run Le Pichet opened this informal French restaurant. Not a typical wifi workplace, but they have wireless and they welcome laptops when it's not too busy. I often eat my oeufs plats for breakfast at the bar. They open at 7AM.

All City Coffee
125 Prefontaine Pl S
Lovely, industrial-chic place that is never that crowded. I think the fringe Pioneer Square location still keeps some people away. Their loss, your gain. The also carry Baguette Box sandwiches for lunch.

Cafe Ladro
435 15th Ave E
I like the location on 15th for its warm, orange walls and lack of crowds. I can finally recommend it now that they've stopped charging for wifi.

Liberty
517 15th Ave E
I think a lot of Biznik-ers are on to this place already, since they've hosted a bunch of events. Bonus - drinking in the AM!

Galaxie
3215 Beacon Ave S
I love this little place on top of Beacon Hill. Tip - they have free street parking.

Top Pot Doughnuts
2124 5th Ave
Great place if you're going to be parked somewhere all day. I like the upstairs with the salvaged wall lamps.

Here's a Google Map with all of these locations mapped for reference.

What caffeinated workplaces do you like? Let's discuss in the comments.

Learn more about the author, Daniel Genser.

Comment on this article

Posted by Lori Richardson, Bellingham, Washington | Jan 30, 2008

Daniel, This is a great article. I know for a fact that you have been to these locations, after all, we have had multiple meetings at some of these locations.

I was surprised to learn about a couple of spots that I will be trying out.

All City Coffee stands out in my mind because we had a meeting there early on in our business relationship and I stayed too long and almost got my car towed away! (note: watch the NO PARKING after 3PM signs)

For me, Toppot is a great location. I used to go to Uptown Espresso but that was one of those locations where after my drink was purchased and I'm all comfortable, the wifi didn't work.

In the Greenlake area, I like Revolutions (www.thecoffeerevolution.com ) with great baked goods (my downfall) and a laid back atmosphere.

I've also joined My Day Office in Belltown which can be an alternative for some.

B2B sales coach and fundraising auctioneer
Posted by Ruth Hartmann, Seattle, Washington | Jan 31, 2008

Daniel and Lori - Thanks for the coffee shop tips! A great list to have!
Posted by Elizabeth Bowman, Seattle, Washington | Jan 31, 2008

Thanks for the timely coffee shop tips! I can't wait to try out a few new ones soon.

In the spirit of sharing, one of my favorite spots during the workday is Motore (http://www.motorecoffee.com/). Located at the corner of 9th and Stewart in downtown Seattle. They have a ton of outlets and always great wifi connection. Also, its never too loud since it is a smaller place.
Posted by Andy Boynton, Gig Harbor, Washington | Jan 31, 2008

Pertinent topic, great suggestions, Daniel. Thanks!
Posted by Daniel Genser, Vashon, Washington | Jan 31, 2008

Hi Elizabeth - funny you should mention Motore, I used to work from there quite often when I had a contract job downtown. I get a kick out of the owner there. I forget his name, but he was pretty funny.
Posted by daniel filbin, seattle, Washington | Jan 31, 2008

The thing that bugs me is when people lounge all day at a cafe and consciously spend as little money as possible (ie. 1 coffee plus refills). Gotta remember the people working behind the counter, and the owners who provide said nice atmosphere (which won't last very long with a bunch of freeloaders). Just a pet peeve of mine, since I spend quite a bit of time at 3rd Place Books/Honeybear Bakery in Ravenna, and see people doing this all the time (while reading/wrecking the books they don't buy at the same time... geesh).

What goes around comes around, and for someone running their own business...
Posted by Daniel Genser, Vashon, Washington | Jan 31, 2008

I mostly agree with you, Daniel (I worked as a barista for a few years after high school). However, there is an incalculable benefit to having people spend time in your cafe. People are attracted to people. People in the cafe attract more people to the cafe.

That said, I think most of us Biznik-ers are pretty aware of the freeloading factor. Personally, I'm a coffee-hound and most of the cafes I've spent a good deal of time in I know have appreciated my business. I've brought new customers and have talked up my favorite ones (eg - this article).

I think of it kind of like a parking meter. After an hour or two you have to refill it. I usually don't spend much more than 3 or 4 hours working in any one place due to appointments, so I'll make sure I get an espresso drink and a treat, then get another drink if I'm there after a couple hours.

Do you think that's a good rule-of-thumb?

As in most things, balance is the key word here. Cafés provide wireless, because they want to attract customers who want wireless. Customers come to the wireless café. Customers buy things. Customers use wireless. I think everyone's happy except in extreme cases.
Posted by Don Burrows, Marysville, Washington | Feb 01, 2008

As a resident of Marysville, I read your article with absolute longing. We have a Starbucks, the cafe section in Haggens and a coffee shop that comes complete with its own 30-foot high roaster. When the owner fires that thing up, my teeth rattle and conversation ceases. On the plus side, the coffee is delicious, the wifi is free, the staff is friendly, and four doors down is a new Herfy's with great fish-and-chips. But man, I do envy your cozy options.

Don Burrows -