After the pandemic, many of us are still working “from home,” or any place with WiFi. Often, that means posting up in a coffee shop with other social creatures. There are a few main things I look for in one.
Do I like the ambiance?
What’s the outlet availability?
Does it have comfortable seating?
Is their bathroom in good condition?
Can I lock in for more than two hours there without getting a parking ticket or, worse, getting towed? Unfortunately, in Greensboro, I’ve yet to find a place that has everything. But in my humble opinion, these are my top places to focus.
I’ve already written a love letter to TSCH. In addition to the food and beverage, it’s my favorite place to type. It’s popular for a reason and can get loud. But I’m a person who likes a steady buzz. Sadly, street parking is capped at two hours. Getting a ticket on Tate Street is a rite of passage—that’s where I got my first parking ticket in Greensboro during my first week living here. Plus, come with a charged laptop because chances are you might not snag the seats next to the outlets. But it’s like Greensboro; gritty, energetic, and you’ll figure out the rest.
Another shop with a kind soul, Borough shares a historic mansion with the rural organizing group Down Home North Carolina. It has multiple rooms with a variety of seating, from couches to shareable tables. During the warmer months, the outdoor space is full of folks working and soaking up the sun. It’s a great place to anxiously pace. Street parking can be sparse, but there’s an overflow parking lot nearby.
Downtown across Gate City Boulevard, this eclectic bar, coffee shop, and performance space is pretty quiet during the day and perfect for working late nights, usually closing an hour or two before midnight. I like how big their main tables are with thoughtfully placed outlets and extension cords. After work, you can grab a drink and catch live music, poetry, film, and more in the evenings. The best part—the free parking lot it shares with the Continental Club next door. And the most dangerous aspect: A thrift shop in the back.
Tables galore. A quiet outdoor space. Comfy couches and walls splashed with artwork. You know it’s a good spot to work from when you see the same regulars pretty much every time you go. It almost smells too good there, with a steady stream of breakfast items and more substantial options constantly coming out of the oven. I also think they have some of the prettiest bathrooms in Greensboro. Cons: parking downtown, again.
Off of Battleground Avenue. This is such a hidden gem: Spacious, quiet, great lighting, and close to tasty lunch spots with sweet treats at your fingertips. Plus, a parking lot.
Honorable mentions!
Downtown in front of Pangaea. It’s in a small covered outdoor space, a Puerto Rican flag hangs above the bar. They serve tea, too. And it has an outlet!
Tucked away in a strip mall on Lawndale Drive. It’s got a parking lot, large picnic tables with outdoor seating, and a steady supply of outlets inside.
