10 Coffee Shops/Cafes in Austin to sit and work-Part I
If you're like me, you need a place to work, wherever you are. I usually need a good cafe or coffee shop to sit with my notebook or laptop and sip something good to get work done. Even when I'm traveling, I make it a point to stop by a local haunt to people-watch and absorb the place I'm in. Here are some Austin spots where you can park your stuff to work, watch, and think.
Progress Coffee (500 San Marcos; Tel: 512-479-0097; Mon-Wed: 7am-8pm, Thu-Fri: 7am-9pm, Sat: 8am-9pm, Sun: 8am-9pm; MAP.)
I'm really partial to this place. In fact, I am sitting here as I write this. Located on the East Side, Progress (yes, it does have that colonizing/gentrifying ring to it, I admit) has got everything right: bright interior, plenty of tables, good drinks, and foodie-quality grub for the munchies. It has enough space that I can usually find a place to work, but it also invites just enough clientele that you feel inspired by the energy. It never seems to have that dead lull in customers that make you worry that something is wrong. Plenty of local artists, business folk, students, and professor-types hang here. The music is just loud enough that it drowns out the conversation from the next table, but not too loud to hear your thoughts. The coffee is free-trade, and there is a healthy rotation of art on the walls. And there is free wi-fi, just ask one of the bright-eyed staff what the password is. One word of caution to those anti-hipsters, aside from the name, this is a pretty hip place, complete with its moped shop neighbors. But the laid back atmosphere that seems to be inherently Austin makes it a work-conducive place. Really, I can't rave about Progress enough.
Clementine Coffee Bar (2200 Manor Rd.; Tel: 512-472-9900; Mon-Thur 7 am-11 pm; Fri 7 am-Midnight; Sat 8am-Midnight; Sun 8am-10pm; MAP.)
Its close-enough-but-not-too-close proximity to UT-Austin makes Clementine a popular haunt for graduate students and professors working at UT. Many a term paper, dissertation, and book chapter have been written here. On a corner straddling a quaint residential neighborhood and an up-and-coming restaurant row, this place is really a great location. Big windows and many IKEA-bought tables and couches also make it great for reading and spacing out. Free wi-fi for all. I once had a decaf Americano to die for here (yes, yes, two words of blasphemy to you real cuppers out there, but i was just so surprised how good it was, i am swallowing my pride here to deliver the facts) . Because of its popularity, you sometimes have to hang out for a few minutes at the bar or a short table before an outlet-ready place opens up, but the customer rotation is very healthy. There are also sandwiches and pastries, as well as movie and performance events.
To Be Continued....
