Central Brixton cafes for getting work done (laptop friendly)
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hiraethified
So I'm in Brixton Blend. There's loads of space upstairs although all the exposed wood and the lack of furnishings makes it a bit cold and echoey. Bit of a bummer that the coffee only comes in takeaway paper cups too. Surely it's not too much to get an actual cup? Coffee is good though.
trabuquera
Modesty Bag
^ I raised this with them and was told they don't have facilities or budget for proper china or the dishwashing/dishwasher that cups entail. Even had to beg to borrow the one teaspoon in the shop! It's certainly not your ideal coffee shop in any way but hey. At least it's anther option. It's getting like the Three Bears, this ...
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hiraethified
It actually feels more like I'm sitting in an office or a library than a coffee shop. I'm sure that may be what some people are looking for, but I like to work somewhere with a bit of an atmosphere and maybe the chance to chat if the mood takes. As it people are talking in hushed tones.
Wi Fi is nippy though - but there is a dead spot in the corner upstairs.
editor
hiraethified
No but I've been meaning to go for ages. San Marino is still my first choice although the wi-fi can be absent for days at a time.
aussw9
Well-Known Member
That rules me out. I try and sit in if I've got the time for coffee as it tastes far better out of a proper cup. Not to mention the ridiculous amount of additional wast that using paper only creates.
aussw9
Well-Known Member
I've used it, and its a great set up. Cafe in the front and working space at the back.
£2 per hour for desk space. Wifi is incredibly quick at the pay for space, plenty of power cables and USB outlets to charge your phone. I think the desk space gets cheaper by the day or week.
The coffee is bang on too.
Ms T
Honey-coloured ramparts
Those cups aren't recyclable either. I now try to avoid those cups as much as possible. I feel like a wanker producing my own cup out of my bag but hey.
aussw9
Well-Known Member
Yep, most people think they are being paper.
Mr Retro
Beware hedgehogs
I'm in a cafe in Amsterdam. It's one of those big typically modern Amsterdam type place. There are signs on the table saying "Laptop free during weekends". I like the concept. It does have a nice ambience in here with people chatting and chilling rather than hunched and harried looking
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hiraethified
Finally got to take a look at Caya. It certainly fits the bill for a laptop friendly cafe and they've done it up really well. It looks like it's great for meetings and folks wanting to settle in for a long afternoon on their laptops. That business approach comes at the expense of a slightly less than relaxed vibe but it's still a good addition to the area. Nice staff too.
editor
hiraethified
Review of Brixton Blend here
Review: Brixton Blend, a new speciality coffee shop for central Brixton – great for laptop workers
Review: Brixton Blend, a new speciality coffee shop for central Brixton – great for laptop workers
editor
hiraethified
Much delayed review of Caya:
Caya Coffee on Coldharbour Lane – a new Brixton cafe and workspace designed for freelancers and meetings
Caya Coffee on Coldharbour Lane – a new Brixton cafe and workspace designed for freelancers and meetings
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hiraethified
As I'm still working on the final article, I thought I'd add a few updates.
San Marino is still my #1 choice: good coffee, friendly staff but the wi-fi is often not working
Ritzy cafe: boycotted
Caffe Nero: noisy and not so comfortable, but the wi-fi is reliable
Costa: a new makeover has made the lighting unbearably bright
Starbucks: nope, never
Vera Cruz: average coffee
Brixton Roast: decent coffee but closes early and no crockery
That's it for now. More opinions welcomed!
San Marino is still my #1 choice: good coffee, friendly staff but the wi-fi is often not working
Ritzy cafe: boycotted
Caffe Nero: noisy and not so comfortable, but the wi-fi is reliable
Costa: a new makeover has made the lighting unbearably bright
Starbucks: nope, never
Vera Cruz: average coffee
Brixton Roast: decent coffee but closes early and no crockery
That's it for now. More opinions welcomed!
trabuquera
Modesty Bag
Canova Hall is literally festering with self employed Mac-using knowledge professionals so obviously the wi fi does work, but after several catastrophic fails to get a decent feed in there earlier I couldn't be bothered to risk the £s to see if they've managed to get a grip on the coffee-making yet. You may want to give it an audition even if it's only to be *certain* you never want to set foot in there...
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hiraethified
It really doesn't look like the kind of place I'd want to tarry in but you're right: I should at least give it a go once.
Maharani
Just like Heaven
I cannot stand the food in San Marino’s. Plus, the old lady who deals with the money, the owner I presume, once denied me with my then 3 year old access to use her toilet saying I wasn’t a customer and people use the toilets to do drugs. Now, those of you that will have met me and may know me a little know that I don’t look like a hard core drug user! I also used to go in frequently for one their mozzarella panini so o was a customer, just not one that day. I was really fucked off after that, denying a baby use of her facilities and never went back in until recently and the food is still utterly disgusting imo.
brixtonblade
Well-Known Member
It leaves me a bit cold too... never found them that welcoming and it always seems rammed so it's not a relaxing place
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hiraethified
The food is good, the coffee is good and the prices are affordable - and it's good to support a long term Brixton independent business. They've always been friendly and polite with me. It's not the greatest place to work because it can get noisy, but it's the best choice for me right now.
But if anyone has any alternatives, post 'em here!
editor
hiraethified
I like the Lounge and the people that run it are lovely, but it's never felt much of a 'working' kind of place when I'm looking to do a load of work on my laptop. I still visit from time to time though.What about the Lounge? Although I went there today after 10am and it was closed
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hiraethified
So I thought I'd check out the new Pret store as part of my Brixton work/cafe research. Compared to the other chain coffee shops, the lighting is more friendly than the halogen dazzle of Costa, and the decor is, unsurprisingly, not as scruffy as Caffe Nero. There's fairly minimal seating upstairs, although there's great window seats for people watching.
They have a very odd bouncer here though: he's patrolling the premises like it's some sort of drug dealing hotspot and eyeing up all the customers with great suspicion. Maybe he thinks the place is set in Brixton 1990?
They have a very odd bouncer here though: he's patrolling the premises like it's some sort of drug dealing hotspot and eyeing up all the customers with great suspicion. Maybe he thinks the place is set in Brixton 1990?
shakespearegirl
just worked out taglines
The only other Pret I've ever seen with a security guard is the one in Trafalgar Square.
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hiraethified
He's still standing almost right in front of me, methodically scrutinising every person who comes through the door. It's not very welcoming at all.
Coffee-wise, I don't mind Pret, although the food is at the upper end of the price scale. I'll still mainly be using San Marino.
