Best Laptop-Friendly Cafés in Charlotte
Sharing what I think of the coffee shops in Charlotte so you can find your next coworking space!
Coffee shops, bakeries, and cafés1 have become so much more than just a shop to grab food and a caffeinated beverage. Over the last decade there’s been a growing appreciation for third places as community builders—as locations to work from that aren’t the home or the office and as neutral connection spaces to meet up for hanging out.
I’ve always been a frequent coffee-shopper/café-hopper myself—not for the caffeine, but for the change in atmosphere. Being surrounded by a new ambiance and having the comforts of home removed are conditions where I find myself most productive in both work and my creative projects.
But café-hopping isn’t always glamorous. Some coffee shops don’t have outlets, some don’t have Wi-Fi, some don’t have great seating, and some just don’t have accessible hours (...my personal list of irks goes on 😂). It’s a risk to try a new place in case it isn’t laptop-friendly and you find yourself driving all over town to try to find a back-up.
In this article, I want to share my list of cafés, coffee shops, and bakeries that I’ve tried to work from, which I would recommend and why, and my criteria for the “best” laptop-friendly spot. Table of contents below, but remember there’s one on the left hand side for easier mid-read navigation 😊
table of contents
COFFEE SHOP GRADING CRITERIA // what I look for in laptop-friendly spaces
CHARLOTTE COFFEE SHOP SCENE // where I take you through the 24 Charlotte coffee shops/cafes/bakeries that I’ve tried working from and how they stack up as laptop-friendly spaces
FINAL RANKED LIST // the conclusion of all of the field research and discussion in a nice pretty sparkly data table ✨
What makes a coffee shop the best?
My criteria isn’t new or groundbreaking, but important to explain so you get why my favorites are what they are. My Perfect Coffee Shop has the following characteristics 👇 (a score of 10 for each criteria that will be averaged for a total score)
Reliable Wi-Fi // it can be an open or password-protected network, as long as there isn’t any issue with connecting and the internet speed can handle multiple users without lag
Artisan Coffee // the coffee menu uses house made syrups, the baristas have mastered great microfoam (even for alternative milks), and the specialty lattes have a balanced flavor composition; bonus points are awarded for using locally roasted coffee
Easy-to-access Outlets // power outlets work and are easy to access around the majority of the tables
Spacious Layout // there are plenty of seats and you don’t need to worry about overstaying your welcome; bonus points if the space doesn’t feel claustrophobic when it is packed
Accommodating Hours // operational hours can accommodate early birds and/or night owls. Hours should be accessible for a classic corporate 9-to-5 with bonus points awarded for later evening hours to allow for studying students, etc.
Food // light bites are offered in case you want/need to camp there all day; bonus points if the food is tasty and nourishing too!
Vibes // there’s a cute or inspiring interior design that is pleasing to look at and gets the working juices flowing. Bonus points if the noise levels aren’t cacophonous and distracting but just an average hum of conversation
Parking Availability // there is free parking and it is easy to find; it can be validated or require a walk, as long as it’s intuitive, communicated, and reliable
Comfortable Seating // the seating is comfortable; you won’t feel achy after a couple of hours
Community Events // the business enjoys hosting events, conducting collaborations, etc. They are very involved in the community and many Charlotteans know them because of that!
The Charlotte Coffee Scene
Now we get to the main event—here are the coffee shops I’ve visited and worked at (total count: 24 😎) and how I would score them based on the criteria explained above. Starting with my favorites!
STABLE HAND
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: Stable Hand has extremely reliable Wi-Fi with accessible outlets near almost every seat. Their space has a good amount of room but it can get crowded (it’s a popular work-from-home spot). They have a sizable menu of hot and cold flavorful light bites, pastry case items, and coffee (they use locally roasted beans from HEX Coffee Roasters). Their specialty coffee drinks are out of this world—the syrups are house made and are just sweet enough while still balancing out the bitterness of the espresso. Stable Hand’s operational hours have good coverage from morning to early evening. And while their seating is wooden with no cushion, it is still surprisingly very comfortable, although the interior can be a little dim. Community Wine Night events are ~monthly. (score: 8.95/10)
the full review 👇
SUMMIT COFFEE
specific location: Eastover
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: Summit Coffee Eastover has reliable Wi-Fi with accessible outlets near every seat, a variety of seating to choose from (but has grown to be a popular third place so can get crowded), and operational hours that span morning to early evening. The seating is very comfortable and the interior is very bright and naturally lit (such a mood lifter). They have weekly community events involving a run club, offer pastries that are baked in-house (but no substantial meal), and use their house beans roasted in Cornelius. Their specialty lattes can lean overly sweet though! tip: their parking lot is small but you can easily find free street parking nearby. (score: 8.55/10)
the full review 👇
THE GIDDY GOAT COFFEE ROASTERS
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: The Giddy Goat is open from early morning to late evening, has reliable Wi-Fi, decent coffee (roasted in-house, house made syrups, but drinks can lean sweet over flavorful), and a relatively easy parking situation (they have a parking lot, albeit always packed, but you can easily find street parking nearby). I love their extensive hot food menu, refrigerated ready-to-eat bites, and pastry case selection, and the interior is well-lit and has a unique layout. The seating is very comfortable, but oftentimes it’s too crowded to find a seat and not all seats have outlets. The Giddy Goat is quite involved in the community, always hosting one event or another multiple times a week! (score: 8.5/10)
the full review 👇
PLATFORM COFFEE
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: A coffee menu that uses house made syrups and house roasted coffee beans, a food menu that includes pastries, breakfast, and lunch, a high-ceilinged room filled with natural light and ample comfortable seating, easy parking, and great Wi-Fi… we’re just missing outlets near every table (only because there are quite a few not near a wall) and regular community events with Charlotteans. (score: 8.45/10)
the full review 👇
DEFINED COFFEE
✨honorable mention ✨ this place is technically located in Mooresville and isn’t “in Charlotte” but it’s too much of a gem to not include!
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: The Wi-Fi is strong, and the interior’s high ceilings and industrial-mill-style windows bring in so much light. The space is very inspiring to work in. The coffee menu uses their house roasted beans (roastery right in the back!), house made syrups that often sport very unique flavors, and “goldilocks” lattes where there’s the perfect amount of syrup flavor and sweetness to balance out the espresso. They also offer a local bakery’s pastries and a light bites menu, in case you get hungry! On the logistics end, they have easy parking and comfortable seating, but only ~half of the seats have access to outlets. All they’re missing is to host some more community events! (score: 8.2/10)
the full review 👇
UNDERCURRENT
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: Undercurrent offers strong and reliable Wi-Fi, ample outlets, bright interiors, and comfortable seating. Their menu includes simple light bites, a well-stocked pastry case, and coffee beans from Night Swim Roastery. Their specialty coffees use house made syrups and are very well-balanced. The interior space is on the smaller end so it’s very difficult to get a table if you go on the weekends, unless you get there early. Undercurrent’s hours cover the normal corporate working hours but don’t dip into the evening, and while there’s no designated free parking lot nearby, you can easily find free street parking. (score: 7.95/10)
the full review 👇
THE COLLECTIVE CAFE
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: This cafe is practically built for co-working (part of its space is a member-only coworking space called Nexus)! They have a fully functioning food menu and pastry case, and a beverage menu that covers everything from coffee to tea to smoothies (although, no house made syrups and the espresso drinks trend sweeter). I love the comfortable seating and strong Wi-Fi, but it can get difficult finding a seat that also has an outlet. The interior is open and well laid out, with a variety of seating options and decor that makes for a fun space to be in, and they have a self-dedicated parking lot that makes parking the last thing you have to worry about. Even though they don’t host regular community events, they’ve been the venue for many people’s special events. (score: 7.85/10)
the full review 👇
NIGHT SWIM ROASTERY
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: Night Swim has multiple locations, but all of them close in the early-to-late afternoon. While having operational accessibility isn’t their strong suit, they do have some of the best coffee in Charlotte (house roasted beans with house made syrup), strong Wi-Fi, ample outlets, visually-pleasing interiors to be in, and comfortable seating. If you find yourself hungry, they do offer a standard pastry selection and a very concise menu of light bites. The Roastery location has its own free parking lot and frequently hosts market pop-ups too! (score: 7.8/10)
the full review 👇
HEX COFFEE, KITCHEN & NATURAL WINES
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: HEX Coffee is a gem in Camp North End—I’m always enamored by their minimalistic Asian-leaning interior decor, substantial food and beverage menu (house roasted beans with house made syrup), strong Wi-Fi, and ample outlets. The space can get crowded during peak times (making it difficult to find a seat) and even though the hours are quite accessible, they do transition into dinner after 5 PM. tips: the parking policies are ever-changing, but the garage right next door offers free parking up to a certain amount of time! (score: 7.8/10)
the full review 👇
COMMUNITY MATTERS CAFE
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: Community Matters Cafe has a stunning seasonal food and beverage menu (coffee using house made syrups and house roasted beans), the coziest seating and a beautiful interior, strong Wi-Fi and ample outlets, and it’s one of the rare Uptown businesses with a free parking lot. The one thing that gets frustrating are their limited hours—they’re closed by early afternoon and on weekends—which makes it difficult for 9-to-5 workers to visit. tips: seating can be limited for working since half of the space is designated only for dining (score: 7.8/10)
the full review 👇
SUMAQ COFFEE
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: Sumaq Coffee is built to be a work-from-home space: free parking, late hours, plenty of seats next to outlets, a food menu that includes a vibrant pastry case and savory food, and an inspiring interior that’s pretty on the eyes and filled with natural light. They’ve hosted community events before, but not frequently. The only downsides that don’t make Sumaq my go-to: only some drink syrups are made in-house and their Wi-Fi can be touch-and-go for my laptop. (score: 7.7/10)
the full review 👇
AMELIE’S FRENCH BAKERY & CAFE
specific location: Park Road Shopping Center, but we also enjoyed the location at Pineville for its proximity!
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: Amelie’s has multiple locations with varying hours, but most locations have ample comfortable seating with strong Wi-Fi (not all tables will have easy accessibility to an outlet, but usually at least ~40% do). The food menu includes pastry, dessert, and light breakfast and lunch items. The beverage menu uses coffee from Pure Intentions and artificial syrups, and lacks in microfoam (not velvety) and flavor composition (too sweet and you can clearly taste the artificiality). The Amelie’s location in Park Road Shopping Center is my favorite because of its free parking and later hours, making it perfect for an evening work session. While Amelie’s doesn’t host many, if any community events on their own, many interest groups like to choose Amelie’s as their meeting venue. (score: 7.6/10)
the full review 👇
WATERBEAN COFFEE
specific location: downtown Pineville
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: Waterbean Coffee is another local chain that serves their own house roasted beans on the menu. However, because they use commercial-grade syrup, the espresso drinks have an artificial flavor to them that isn’t my preference. Waterbean Coffee offers baked goods and light snacks, but no substantial meals. Most locations have strong Wi-Fi, ample outlets, accessible hours, comfortable seating, and beautifully bright interiors. The one located in downtown Pineville is especially a favorite for its high ceilings and spacious interior that offers plenty of seating. Community events haven’t been hosted by this coffee shop yet! (score: 7.55/10)
the full review 👇
220C BANH MI & COFFEE
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: A hole-in-the-wall restaurant whose bánh mì are the star of the show, 220C is also a coffee shop (using Pure Intentions Coffee and commercial syrups) that offers house made pastries too! They have strong Wi-Fi, outlets at almost every table, decently comfortable seating, accessible hours, and free parking. The storefront is on the smaller end, so it can be difficult to find a seat and/or it can feel crowded during peak hours. Only a few community events have been held in the past, but not any consistent events. (score: 7.55/10)
the full review 👇
MADO PARIS FRENCH BAKERY & CAFE
✨honorable mention ✨ this place is located in Rock Hill and definitely not in Charlotte but it’s too much of a gem to not include!
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: Firstly known for their authentic French pastries, they also have a beverage menu (if ordering any specialty drinks, they use commercial-grade syrups) and are also very laptop-friendly! Mado offers strong Wi-Fi, outlets along the perimeter of the store, decently comfortable seating, accessible hours, and lots of natural light. While no substantial food is offered, you could easily make a meal out of their pastries (I’ve definitely done exactly that 😝). They also offer plenty of free parking too, but host no community events. (score: 7.5/10)
the full review 👇
BRAKEMAN’S COFFEE & SUPPLY
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: This neighborhood coffee shop is located in a remodeled house on the main street of downtown Matthews (making it very walkable and super quaint to be in). Brakeman’s does have free parking in the back, but the lot is very compact so you’re better off looking for a spot near the train tracks or on the side of the street. The interior is quite spacious with a variety of seating areas that are also comfortable, but outlets can be tough to come by depending on where you pick your seat. On the menu side of things, they offer a pastry case and snacky items, but nothing substantial, and their espresso drinks use local beans from Haerfest Coffee, commercial-grade syrups, and have an airy microfoam. They are decently involved in the community, hosting yoga on the patio regularly! (score: 7.5/10)
the full review 👇
LITTL MADELEINE
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: Littl Madeleine is first and foremost a bakery known for its beautifully executed, organic madeleines, but they also have some of the prettiest specialty drinks in Charlotte (though not all syrups used are made in house). Their refrigerated case also stocks light savory bites that can make for a decent lunch! I don’t come here as often as I’d like because the interior doesn’t get a lot of natural light, and it’s difficult to find a seat with an outlet…but when you do, the Wi-Fi is reliable and it’s decently comfortable (plus, their hours do cover a typical 9-to-5 PM). Littl Madeleine has plenty of free parking, but they don’t host any community events. (score: 7.25/10)
the full review 👇
NOT JUST COFFEE
specific location: South End
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: Not Just Coffee is a coffee shop with multiple locations across Charlotte, and you can expect them all to have strong Wi-Fi, a decent amount of outlets, and espresso drinks made with Night Swim Coffee beans, house made syrups, and a rockin’ velvety microfoam. The South End location is my favorite because their operational hours are the latest, you can find free parking easily, and they have a good amount of seating. The food looks like a concise light bites menu paired with a humble pastry case, so I don’t typically come for the food. The only downside to their locations are that the seats quickly become uncomfortable if you’re sitting too long (they’re slabs of wood with no fluff). Not Just Coffee does host the occasional community event (i.e., jazz night!), but it happens sporadically so you’ll have to follow them to catch the next! (score: 7.1/10)
the full review 👇
THE HOBBYIST
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: The Hobbyist used to be one of the places I’d go to on repeat to work from because of their later hours and unique space, but it has become such a popular destination that it’s almost impossible to find a parking space in their lot or on the street, nevermind to get a seat near an outlet anymore. But if it happens to work out for you, The Hobbyist has reliable Wi-Fi, offers artisan coffee (that uses house made syrups and has a great microfoam), and is decently comfortable. They don’t offer a food menu, just prepackaged snacks and a pastry case, but they are quite involved in the community! (score: 6.75/10)
the full review 👇
ROSIE’S COFFEE & WINE GARDEN
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: Most people go to Rosie’s for a nice picnic in the garden, but did you know they also have free Wi-Fi and outlets in the main building? That, combined with the later hours and decent coffee (house made syrups!), it’s secretly a great location to do some laptop work. The only downside is the lack of substantial food (they do have prepackaged snacks though) and the lack of free parking (their small lot and even their additional garage parking fills up quickly). Rosie’s is also the venue for many weddings, which can stunt their availability on the weekends during wedding season, so just keep an eye out on their calendar~ (score: 6/10)
the full review 👇
TIFA GELATO
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: For most people, this is a classic in-and-out scoop shop that serves coffee, chocolates, and house made gelato. During a power outage in our neighborhood, my husband and I discovered that they also have free Wi-Fi (albeit it can be spotty) and accessible outlets. Since they’re an ice cream shop, they have later hours and don’t offer any substantial food, but there’s ample free parking, comfortable seating, and a cute interior! They don’t, however, offer any community events. (score: 5.8/10)
SMELLY CAT COFFEE HOUSE & ROASTERY
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: Located in the heart of NoDa, Smelly Cat is a very walkable and popular destination for those in the area looking for a breakfast to-go and a coffee (I don’t hear of them hosting any community events though). Their espresso drinks use commercial syrups and don’t have the best microfoam, so I’d recommend their food menu over getting a latte. Their interior can be quite dim and have cramped seating options, but the Wi-Fi is reliable and there are plenty of accessible outlets. The only downside is their very limited hours—they close at 2 PM, so they’re more geared towards early birds! (score: 5.75/10)
the full review 👇
CHEZ MARIE PÂTISSERIE
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: Chez Marie is definitely a bakery first, but even though it has no intention of being a work-from-home space, it does offer free Wi-Fi (although it can be hit or miss) and a couple of outlets. The space is intimate, so seating is often difficult to find (and if you do find a seat, you may feel bad staying too long). If you’re interested in food, I’d recommend the pastries and entremets over the food menu, and to order a specialty beverage—the microfoam is pretty great (but they use commercial syrups). Lastly, no community events have been hosted here that I know of. (score: 5.6/10)
the full review 👇
RENAISSANCE PÂTISSERIE
honest review as a laptop-friendly space: Renaissance, like Chez Marie, is a French bakery first—so it makes sense that they aren’t very laptop-friendly. While they openly provide the password for their internet, the Wi-Fi is moody and often doesn’t work well. There are also not many seats indoors and few that have outlets nearby. Overall, Renaissance is better enjoyed as a treat or meal destination than a work-from-home location, as their food menu is divine! (score: 5.5/10)
the full review 👇
Final Ranking Table
What would one of these articles be without a summary table? Here’s the quantitative counterpart to the qualitative explanations above!
I won’t try to estimate how much money I’ve dropped on lattes while conducting field research (it might scare both you and me! 🤪), but let me know in the comments below how you like enjoying third places!
And if you have any additional laptop-friendly spots not included in the list above, please share them below~
note to readers:
I’ll be using the words “coffee shops”, “bakeries”, and “cafés” interchangeably when generally talking about laptop-friendly spaces
If an establishment specifically uses one of these monikers, I’ll stick with the one they chose for their coffee shop/bakery/café/etc.
I prefer to spell words with their diacritical marks, which is why you’ll see “cafés” spelled with an “é” (& etc.); if you don’t see diacritical marks on words that would normally have them, it’s because the establishment chose not to use these and I’m matching their choice for consistency!
Great list of spots! Remote worker here in Charlotte, I’m so keen on finding laptop friendly spots. I appreciate the empirical approach you took here. The data, I love the fact that you gave each place a numerical ranking and then that final table, great stuff!
I'm also a lover of well organized data, and have a website where I've tried to catalogue every single third place in Charlotte. I have filters and track if they have free wifi, free parking, and various other things. I think you'd like it.
https://www.charlottethirdplaces.com/
Also, which Tifa Gelato spot did you go to? I haven't been to any of those and now I'm wondering if I should get them added to the site as third places. If they have free wifi, outlets, and a place to sit down and stay a while, that's just about the criteria to be added!
thank you sm for this!