NYC Work Spots: Solo Edition | Remote Work Cafes & Hotel Lobbies
Traveling to NYC and trying to find NYC work spots on your solo trip? Here’s my list of 8 remote work cafe and hotel lobbies that I explored. They are ranked in order of my favorite spots. My instagram video here shows more of the vibes of these places.
*means it is a Black-owned spot. Want to emphasize that so we support our small Black business owners!
1. Cafe Ginja: East Harlem*
I basically lived in this cafe. Was there frequently. It got to the point that I saw the same people who also loved being there a lot. I loved the afrobeats they play in the background. Their juice was also fire. Bathroom clean. 12/10 experience for real. Don’t really got complaints except that it can get busy. This can make it hard to find a seat. I didn’t have issues though since I mainly came by 10am latest usually.
2. Renaissance Hotel: Central Harlem
A second place I used to live at. Located right beside the amazing Apollo theater. Feels like you are entering a Black Arts Renaissance all over again. I feel like it’s a hidden gem that people don’t know existed. Was always able to find somewhere to sit.
Note: One of my favorite thing about hotel lobbies is that they are free 99 most of the time. On the other hand, most of the time you gotta pay in cafes.
3. El Barrista: East Harlem*
Funny story about this place. I had first posted it on instagram. Then a college friend reached out to me and said her brother’s friend owned the place. So of course this became one of my favorite NYC work spots.
A complaint though is that the wifi tended to work slow. When it was just me there in the back room it wasn’t a problem. But when more and more people came I started having issues. Also, it was BRICK in the winter. I don’t think the heater worked in the common space. I would be freezing. So cold to the point someone asked if I was cold when I wasn’t wearing a lot of cover up that day. Therefore, I didn’t go to too much. But when the weather was getting warmer, I was more drawn to going there
4. One Hotel: Brooklyn Heights
No real complaints since it’s a hotel. Usually at hotels like these they are mad bougie. The greenery is so pretty. It can get kind of busy. But by night it’s pretty empty. Maybe one con is that it’s in Brooklyn. I LOVE Brooklyn but it could just be really far and inconvenient depending on where you live like when I lived in Washington Heights.
5. Ace Hotel: Downtown Brooklyn
Cozy vibes. It can just get dark at night even though they have the lamp lights. I think I still felt drowsy. It can also get quite busy. If you don’t come at the right time it can be hard to find plugs or maybe even a seat.
NYC Work Spots I Never Came Back To
None of the following remote work cafe & hotel lobbies were bad. I would still say they are great! There were just minor inconveniences that bothered me. And if you are someone who doesn’t want to break the bank account everytime you work outside of the airbnb/hotel/home these are things to consider when looking for an NYC work spot.
6. Dear Mama: West Harlem*
I hate bad talking Black owned businesses. This was truly amazing. For example I ate the most delicious breakfast sandwhich of my life here. But they also had these signs on the table that said you had 90 minute limit. So after 90 minutes you would probably have to move to the higher rise stools. The higher rise stools weren’t bad but they also weren’t the most comfortable.
7. PUBLIC Hotel: Lower East Side
Not gonna lie I think I came here for one thing. It was less about me having a new NYC work spot and more about the aesthetic escalators I saw videos online of. But I had to witness it in person. Wifi was $12 though which was baffling. Since I had already been to so many free spots I never came back.
8. PowerHouse Cofee& Roasters
I can’t remember all the reasons why I didn’t like this place. I think it’s cause it gets packed easily. Then I had to pay for food twice I think to stay there and be on wifi. I get it as a small business you understandably want to to get your coin. But as a costumer, the money can add up overtime.
Are there any other spots you’ve tried or you want me to review? Share below any questions you have of these spots!
