For remote workers in Austin in search of comfortable and aesthetically-pleasing places to set up their laptops, these 12 venues offer the ideal balance of fashion and function. Check out our picks for Austin’s most stylish places for coworking.
LessOne of the newer boutique hotels to open on South Congress Avenue, the Colton House is home to Simona’s, a welcoming day-to-night cafe and bar with spacious indoor and outdoor seating including a patio or upstairs library for coworking. The decor is contemporary, elegant, and scholarly, and an impressive daytime menu of coffee and tea beverages gives way to a whimsical cocktail list in the evenings. If you get peckish, grab a bite at La Taquicardia, the hotel’s new food truck.
Central Library in the Seaholm District counts among Austin’s most celebrated public places, and for good reason. This state-of-the-art building has everything that a remote worker could want or need: abundant seating, desk and table space, plenty of electrical outlets, private rooms for meetings and calls, and strong WiFi. But Central Library’s best features are its floor-to-ceiling glass windows with postcard-worthy views of downtown, along with its reading terraces and roof garden.
The LINE’s location right on Town Lake makes it highly convenient for remote workers, and this boutique hotel’s lobby has a committed interest in serving WFHers’ needs. The minimalist decor with rustic touches is atmospheric but not distracting, there’s plenty of seating on banquettes and at cafe tables, WiFi access is free, Alfred Coffee is perched right in the lobby to fulfill any caffeine-related wish, and Veracruz All Natural is next door for quality breakfast tacos.
Coworking spaces sometimes get a bad rap for being uncomfortable and impersonal. But The Cathedral, an East Austin gallery and event space located inside a 1930s church building, is determined to offer remote workers a beautiful setting for their daily tasks. Along with a sunny communal work room with plush velvet sofas, plenty of tables and outlets, and picturesque church windows, The Cathedral offers private offices, a full kitchen with coffee and tea, printing access and ample parking.
Boho vibes, healthy eats, and top-notch coffee are all available at Community Garden, a cafe in East Austin that’s an easy favorite among the neighborhood’s laptop crew. A cozy and quirky indoor space with banquettes and cafe chairs and a sizable patio with long picnic tables provide room for either solo coworking or work with groups of colleagues, and in addition to coffee, local beer, and wine, Community Garden serves acai bowls with fresh fruit and granola to keep you fortified.
One of Austin’s most photogenic cafes can be found on the East Side at Palomino. This third-wave coffee shop features a very Marfa-artist-loft aesthetic, and on-trend remote workers regularly gather there to plug in their laptops and hop on Palomino’s speedy WiFi. Specially-roasted java and seasonal beverages are always on offer, along with local pastries and a lobby market with products made by Austin artisans.
Mozart’s counts among Austin’s most beloved hometown roasters, but their coffee isn’t the only reason why WFH Austinites love to visit this Tarrytown institution. There’s also the fact that Mozart’s is located right on the shores of Lake Austin, and taking a seat by the windows or on the outdoor patio grants you a striking and serene view of the water for coworking. Great coffee, tasty pastries, and natural beauty makes Mozart’s a tough remote work spot to beat.
Hotel restaurants are often appealing venues for remote workers to spend time. They’re often conveniently located, they tend to have zippy WiFi and available outlets at the ready, and they’re designed as spots for guests to get comfortable. At the Carpenter Hotel in Zilker, Carpenters Hall brings the hotel’s artsy Southwestern energy into a large indoor-outdoor restaurant space complete with espresso, fresh-pressed juice, kombucha, and a hearty New American all-day menu.
If you’re based in or around Bouldin Creek or North Loop, then you’re luckily close to VUKA, one of the finest membership clubs dedicated to coworking. Membership, which ranges from $35/month to $300/month, provides you access to a large industrial-chic loft space, free parking, handcrafted furniture, bottomless coffee, outdoor tables, and the ability to reserve private offices for important calls and meetings. You’re also welcome to bring your four-legged friends to work with you.
Any Austinite who’s been working remotely for a while knows that the South Congress Hotel is one of the most comfortable and easy-on-the-eyes places to set up shop for a few hours. The hotel lobby features plush sofas and luxurious leather chairs, the lighting isn’t oppressive, the WiFi does its job, and the lobby is just steps away from Mañana, the hotel’s excellent espresso bar. Grab a latte, sink into a chair, and prepare for a productive morning (or afternoon).