We’re living squarely in the era of remote work, but opening up your laptop at a coffee shop can still feel like you are committing some kind of misdemeanor. There’s the awkward tension of knowing you might be shooed away after an hour. There’s the fear that someone might even disapprovingly remind you this is a laptop-free zone. And possibly nothing is more excruciating than humbly imploring the barista for the wifi password, only to be told that it’s right in front of you, on the sign that says “wifi password.”
We’ve all let these mishaps prevent us from working at a coffee shop at some point or another, but this doesn’t need to be the case. Caffeine, getting out of the house, and mingling with community members are all good reasons to park at a cafe for a few hours of work, and Oakland has plenty of spots that work well for these reasons. Here are a few of our favorites.
Ain’t Normal Cafe
This small, sunny outpost adjacent to the Rockridge BART station is great for folks who prefer working al fresco. The indoor space itself is pint-sized, with just a few tables to accommodate remote workers, but the patio provides ample seating with umbrellas to reduce on-screen glare. Order a coffee and nibble on some house-made baked goods, salads and breakfast items, and check out their selection of take-home wine bottles on your way out.
Ain’t Normal Cafe: 5701 College Ave., Oakland; open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week; aintnormalcafe.com
Bicycle Coffee
Whether you hunker down at the Downtown Oakland or Jack London Square location, Bicycle Coffee is a haven for remote workers seeking strong cold brew and a relaxed, remote worker-friendly environment. The downtown Oakland cafe is tucked inside the lobby of a WeWork building, so it’s a good option if corporate vibes are what you seek. The Jack London Square spot is a little livelier, with more of a neighborhood feel.
Bicycle Coffee: 2201 Broadway (at 22nd St.) and 377 2nd St., Oakland; Broadway location open 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday, Jack London location open daily 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; bicyclecoffeeco.com
Caffè Strada
Beloved by Cal students and longtime residents alike, Caffè Strada is a classic Berkeley institution that can’t be overlooked on a list like this. Find a spot on the sprawling, sun-dappled patio and order a signature white hot chocolate or iced caramel latte before diving into your inbox. (Teas, juices and other espresso drinks are also on offer.) The cafe is open from the wee hours until late at night, and if you’re hungry, you’ve got plenty of sandwiches and baked goods to choose from.
Caffè Strada: 2300 College Ave. (at Bancroft Way), Berkeley; open Monday-Saturday 6 a.m. to midnight, Sundays 7 a.m. to midnight; caffestrada.com
Cafe Réveille
You might recognize Café Réveille’s bubblegum-pink chairs and marble countertops from Instagram, but this trendy spot does live up to the hype. Beyond its aesthetic, Réveille delivers fantastic coffee, matcha, acai bowls, sandwiches and breakfast burritos, all served in a bright space with plenty of seating both indoors and out on the patio. Plus, it’s just a few blocks from McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, making it the perfect spot for a quick lunchtime walk.
Cafe Réveille: 760 Hearst Ave. (at 5th St.), Suite 102, Berkeley; open daily 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; cafereveille.com
Kaleidoscope Coffee
Richmond’s Kaleidoscope Coffee is a neighborhood gem. Family-owned and community-oriented, the cafe offers ample indoor seating and a gorgeous outdoor balcony, plus open mic nights, ice cream and tons of local art. Wifi is available to customers, plus baked goods and snacks like goat cheese toast drizzled in honey are on the menu.
Kaleidoscope Coffee: 109 Park Pl., Richmond; open daily 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; kaleidoscopecoffee.com
Kinfolx
Born out of a desire to connect folks from the Bay Area’s many diverse communities, Kinfolx is a bustling, art-forward “modern public square” that serves as a de facto coworking space. If you plan to sit and stay for a few hours, prepare to arrive upon opening — tables fill up quickly. Fuel up on coffee as well as their many breakfast items, sandwiches and Caribbean pastries, and stay in the loop on Instagram for their abundant community events, which include wine tastings, writing workshops and reading nights.
Kinfolx: 1951 Telegraph Ave. (between 19th St. and Thomas L. Berkeley Way), Oakland; open Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Paulista
Awash in natural light and plentiful seating, Paulista’s spacious cafe is one of Oakland’s finest establishments for coffee shop co-working. Here, you’ll find delicious Red Bay Coffee and fast wifi on offer, plus Brazilian pastries, lunch specialties and several beers on tap (for those of you working after hours). Paulista is known as a coworking space, so you won’t have to worry about being reprimanded for knocking out a few hours of work here. You’ll find a few outlets throughout the space, but it’s recommended to bring a fully charged laptop in case you show up while it’s crowded.
Paulista Brazilian Café, Kitchen and Taproom: 4239 Park Blvd., Oakland; open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sundays 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; paulista510.com
Sana’a
Sana’a is a slam dunk for early risers and night owls alike. It’s open early — from six or seven a.m. — until midnight every night. The cafe, which serves Yemeni coffee, specialty drinks and pastries, offers plentiful seating, outlets and wifi for a productive working session.
Sana’a Cafe: 801 Broadway (at 8th St.), Oakland; open Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to midnight, Saturday to Sunday 7 a.m. to midnight; sanaahousecafe.com
Sirene
By night, Sirene is an acclaimed seafood restaurant, known for its flaky, fire-roasted petrale sole and enviable towers of heaping fried chicken. But by day (well, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Sirene is a fantastic place to grab coffee and a pastry to fuel a few hours of work. There’s something innately soothing about checking off to-dos within the building’s tastefully exposed brick walls; alternatively, the vine-draped back patio also provides a serene (no pun intended) work environment. You’ll find wifi available, but bring a charged laptop — outlets are few.
Sirene: 3308 Grand Ave., Oakland; open every day except Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; sirene-oak.com
