5 best New Orleans coffee shops for WFH
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The best part of working from home, if you ask me, isn't working from home. It's working from one of New Orleans' great coffee shops.
Why it matters: There's a beauty and a joy to flexible work spaces, whether it's for your 9 to 5, or for an un-lazy afternoon spending time on a project that's individually meaningful.
Between the lines: Everyone has their list of must-haves when it comes to the ingredients that make for the perfect coffee shop/work experience. This is mine:
- The noise level should land somewhere between monastical library and busy restaurant.
- There needs to be food, and it should be well-executed.
- The coffee itself should be solid, but I need some reasonable un-caffeinated options, too.
- I'm usually on the run, so easy parking matters.
Be smart: These are businesses, so if you plan to hang around for long, make sure your order justifies use of the table and tip more generously than usual.
- If a venue is especially busy, I'll even ask another laptop person if they'd be willing to share tables.
Dig in: Here are my favorite coffee shops for remote working:
🐊 Congregation Coffee's original location in Algiers Point is walkable for me, so I'm biased. But the new shop Uptown looks beautiful, too. Website.
- I love it because the coffee is excellent, the neighborhood gossip is on point and the pastries come from the Ralph Brennan Bakery.
🇫🇷 French Truck has several locations around the city, but I'm partial to those on lower Magazine Street and Dryades Street. Website.
- I love it because every cup of coffee is great, plus the Dryades location has outdoor seating and a fuller lunch menu. (But, word to the wise: It doesn't have any plus for your laptop.)
🧁 Le Cafe Éblouir is a must-stop when I'm in Belle Chasse. Website.
- I love it for the sweet indulgences in their macarons and tiny cakes, but the curry potato-filled hand pie is what keeps me coming back.
🥪 Pontilly Coffee's Gentilly location is super convenient when I'm near Dillard or on my way to or from the East. Instagram.
- But I love it because both its menu and outside seating are expansive.
🍪 The Station is a great for sweet and savory snacking. Website.
- I love it in particular for the Mid-City neighborhood vibes, indoor/outdoor seating and its menu of caffeine-free drinks.