Every parent needs a go-to cafe for some quiet work time, a meeting, or simply a break from the kids! Our guide of Brooklyn coffee shops features peaceful, laptop-friendly spots with cozy vibes—perfect for getting things done or unwinding. Scroll all the way down for cafes with multiple locations throughout Brooklyn!
DUMBO
Butler | Butler is steps away from Brooklyn Bridge Park, with a stunning view of the Brooklyn Bridge from its front doorstep. The coffee and food are excellent, with breakfast and lunch fare including seasonal avocado toast, yogurt parfait with berries, sandwiches, salads, and grain bowls. For early risers, they open at 6:30am on weekdays and 7:30am on weekends. Butler also has two locations in North Brooklyn: one in South Williamsburg and one in North Williamsburg.
Dawn’s ’till Dusk | From the team behind One Girl Cookies, Dawn’s is an all-day cafe on a picturesque corner of Water Street in DUMBO. There is plenty of seating, and they have a variety of food options, from pastries (and cookies, and cakes!) to breakfast sandwiches, salads, and grain bowls. In the evening, they serve wine, cheese boards, and small bites.
Fontainhas | Fontainhas opened on Jay Street in DUMBO in Summer 2024 and quickly became a beloved spot in the neighborhood for coffee and chai, Indian cuisine, their boutique of South Asian products, and community events for both adults and families. The all-day cafe is a great spot to set up for a quiet work session, with cozy seating, tons of natural light, friendly service, and overall lovely ambiance.
Usagi | Usagi is part-art gallery, part cafe, tucked away in a quiet corner of DUMBO away from the tourists and crowds. A perfect place for focused work, Usagi is never crowded, and has plenty of seating including comfy couches. Start your morning with a coffee, tea, or matcha, and stay for onigiri and bento boxes at lunchtime.
Brooklyn Heights
Joe Coffee | Joe Coffee on Hicks Street is a great place to meet up with friends or colleagues or claim a table and work on your laptop. In addition to coffee, they serve pastries and breakfast tacos from King David Tacos. In the warmer months, set up outdoors and enjoy some people watching in this picturesque corner of Brooklyn Heights.
L’Appartement 4F | Once you’ve braved the line and grabbed your croissant, head upstairs at L’Appartement 4F to their charming seating area. Perched above Montague Street, you’ll have a nice view and a quiet spot to read, work, and savor their French pastries.
Náko | Náko opened in Winter 2024 at 18 Columbia Place, just off Joralemon Street. Columbia Place is one of the most picturesque blocks in Brooklyn Heights, with little traffic, which makes Náko feel like a hidden gem. They offer pour-over coffee, baked goods, and small bites. There are plenty of places to spread out and work, including a large table in the back. They are open during the week from 7am-6pm and on weekends from 8am-6pm.
Vineapple | Vineapple is a Brooklyn Heights institution on Pineapple Street that is a cafe, restaurant, and bar all in one! Grab a table for a work session, a leisurely breakfast or lunch, or a catch up with friends. In the warmer months, they open a seasonal patio in the back.
Downtown Brooklyn
AvaBrew | Downtown Brooklyn does not have a wealth of quiet coffee shops, but AvaBrew is an excellent spot to post up with a book or a laptop, with striking design and lots of comfortable seating. Located inside the residential tower AVA DoBro, AvaBrew is open to both residents and the public.
BoCoCa
Absolute Coffee | Boerum Hill | Located on Atlantic Avenue between Smith and Hoyt, Absolute Coffee has great coffee and a cozy setting to get work done. A friendly neighborhood spot, you’ll find plenty of customers working throughout the day. They serve all your typical espresso and coffee drinks, plus sandwiches, bagels, pastries, plus beer and wine in the evening.
Ace Hotel Lobby | Boerum Hill | The lobby at the Ace Hotel is open to the public, and is a popular communal work space. There is an extra-long table, a light and airy garden, and a bar that comes to life in the evenings. There is free Wi-Fi and lots of outlets for those working on laptops.
Liz’s Book Bar | Carroll Gardens | This bookstore, café, and wine bar is a new addition to Carroll Gardens and serve coffees during the day and wine and beer at night. Their coffee is from Black Acres Roastery, tea is sourced from SerendipiTea, and pastries are from Bien Cuit. Their wine list features wines from France and Italy, and beers are from local Brooklyn breweries. Take a break from your work to browse titles of fiction, philosophy, biography, children’s books, and much more! They also host various events, like wine and beer tastings, author readings, and live crossword puzzling.
Saturn Road | Cobble Hill | Saturn Road is a coffee shop by day and a wine bar by night. Established in October 2024, it’s already become a neighborhood favorite. Breakfast offerings include breakfast tacos, and in the evening, they serve light bites, wine, beer, and cocktails. There is also a great backyard space during the warmer months, often a venue for live music. Work by day, and stay to unwind at night!
Stumptown Coffee Roasters | Cobble Hill | Stumptown’s location on Pacific Street is lovely both inside and out, with a charming exterior, beautiful art on the walls, and tons of comfortable seating that invites you to linger. They serve espresso, coffee, and tea, plus pastries and breakfast tacos from King David Tacos.
Fort Greene & Clinton Hill
The Center for Fiction Cafe | Fort Greene | The Center for Fiction has an excellent reading room and workspace, serving a rotating menu of coffee, tea, espresso, beer, wine, cocktails, and light bites. They don’t open until 11am, but the space is open until 8pm daily. Surrounded by towering bookcases, it’s the perfect spot for writers!
Coffee Project NY | Fort Greene | This cafe is work-friendly with a lovely ambiance and inventive coffee drinks, including deconstructed lattes and nitro cold-brew coffee. They are so serious about coffee at Coffee Project, they offer classes at their Long Island City location! The Rockwell Place outpost has plenty of seating and a food menu featuring breakfast sandwiches and toasts, salads and sandwiches, and larger dishes like a burger or cast iron egg skillet chorizo platter.
Smør | Clinton Hill | This Scandinavian all-day cafe based in East Village now has a second location on Putnam Avenue, between Downing Street and Grand Avenue. The daytime menu features mouth-watering pastries such as cardamom buns, plus egg sandwiches and Danish pancakes. In the evening, they transform into a wine bar with full dinner service.
Gowanus
Beanmonger Coffee | Beanmonger is a cozy neighborhood “coffee tavern” that is great for reading, catching up with friends, or getting a little work done. They offer their own signature coffee blend, pastries, and light fare. It’s a truly cozy neighborhood gathering spot.
Bond Street Coffee and Goods | Located right by the Gowanus Canal, this spot serves not only coffee, but also a full menu of breakfast and lunch options, from avocado toast to eggs to a wide variety of hot and cold sandwiches. There’s even a special burger made in collaboration with the famous pizzeria Lucali: a Paisano double patty, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, mustard, ketchup, on a seeded roll.
Park Slope
Cafe Martin | Cafe Martin does not have WiFi, but if you’re in search of a place to cozy up with your book or have a quiet meeting without your laptop, it’s your spot in Park Slope! They serve coffee, tea, pastries, and more.
Casita | This Latin & Greek inspired coffee shop is a cozy spot to post up. Outside of your standard coffee shop drinks, they also serve Greek Frappe, Cafe con leche, Colada Espresso, Freddo Cappuccino, plus Greek and Latin small bites like empanadas, spanakopita, and baklava.
Cuppa Hive | Cuppa Hive is an espresso bar new Prospect Park serving specialty coffee, teas, pastries, and light snacks. There is WiFi and plenty of seating for those working to work or chill.
Kos Kaffe | Kos Kaffe serves coffee and food including baked goods, avocado toast, salads, and more. Their laptop policy restricts use to certain areas of the cafe Monday through Friday 12-3pm, and weekends 10am-4pm. At all other times, laptop use is unrestricted.
Postmark Cafe | Postmark Cafe is a neighborhood hangout that has been in business for more than 20 years now on 6th Street and 5th Avenue. They offer espresso drinks, baked goods, light fare, and WiFi. An added bonus, 100% of their tips go to non-profit charities!
Velvette Brew | This espresso bar is barista owned and operated, serving direct trade coffee. There are actually two locations in Park Slope: 279 5th Avenue and 814 Union Street. Both are lovely spots with great coffee and tea, fresh pastries, and small bites, but the location on Union is slightly larger with more co-working space.
Volare | Volare is a stylish espresso bar specializing in Italian pastries including a pistachio croissants, crema pasticciera croissants, and lemon bomboloni. They also sell breakfast tacos from Parklife, made fresh every morning!
Prospect Heights
Ciao, Gloria | Ciao, Gloria is owned by the former founder of the Red Hook bakery Baked. They serves all sorts of delicious pastries, great egg sandwiches, all day breakfast, and lunch fare. Laptops are allowed in certain areas of the cafe during the week, but are not permitted on weekends due to limited space for diners.
Lincoln Station | If you want to pair your solo outing or work session with a trip to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden or Brooklyn Museum, try the nearby cafe Lincoln Station. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as coffee, beer, wine, cider and kombucha.
Sit & Wonder | This cozy cafe is great for relaxation or focused work. They serve Stumptown coffee, various espresso drinks, plus matcha and kombucha. Food includes pastries and sandwiches. Sit & Wonder also has a seasonal back yard!
Crown Heights
Villager | Villager has a devoted following of coffee lovers, with beans sourced from roasters like Sey, based in Bushwick, and Dayglow, a coffee company from Los Angeles. The space is beautifully designed, with various places to perch with your laptop.
Word of Mouth | “Book bars” continue to pop up all over the city, and this new Crown Heights spot continues with the trend. It is a combined wine bar, bookstore, and coffee shop that also hosts evening events with authors. There is an all-day food menu, with coffee 8am-3pm, wine 12-10pm, and dinner 5-10pm.
Williamsburg
K’Far | This all day restaurant, cafe, and bar located in the lobby of The Hoxton Hotel is a good spot to hunker down for the day and work your way through multiple meals. The restaurant is Israeli, and they have multiple spaces: a coffee bar, a dining room, with plenty of comfortable seating throughout both. Celebrate your hard work by ending your day with a cocktail at the bar!
Lion’s Milk | Lion’s Milk serves coffee by day, and wine and food starting in the afternoon. They have a stylish space and a lovely backyard in the warmer months. Laptops are welcome and even encouraged at the cozy spot!
Marlow & Sons | This cafe in South Williamsburg serves Pipe & Tabor coffee, house made pastries, breakfast, and lunch offerings. They are open daily from 8am until 4pm.
Partners Coffee | This specialty coffee roaster serves their own coffee, espresso and teas, and has a large cafe space on North 6th Street in Williamsburg. This spot has tons of natural light and comfortable seating.
Greenpoint
Bell Slip Social | Formerly known as Eleva Coffee (and continuing to serve brews by the same name!), Bell Slip Social also serves cocktails, beer, and wine by night. During the day, the cafe remains a light-filled, cozy spot to get work done or relax!
Coffee Check | This Greenpoint coffee shop is truly built for work, as they even have a video production space that you can rent out. It has a full kitchen, living room set, and sound-proof podcast booth; learn more here! The cafe and roasters is modern and spacious, with plenty of space to work.
Milk & Roses | This spot on Box Street is actually not a cafe, but rather a restaurant. However, they serve fantastic coffee and are never crowded during the daytime hours. Open at 11am during the week and 10am on weekdays, come enjoy seating in their unique library or in the garden during the summer. There’s even a fireplace!
Odd Fox Coffee | Odd Fox is very laptop-friendly, with delicious espresso drinks made with Parlor beans, WiFi, and pastries. There is also a backyard that is lovely in the warmer months. Odd Fox also has a location in Bed Stuy, but due to its small size it’s not as conducive for a work session.
Owlee Café & Studio | A mixed-use coffee shop in Greenpoint, Owlee Café & Studio is a joint café and art gallery. They call themselves a “creative coffee shop” that “blends art, productivity, and community.” They have co-working space, a studio for photos and videos, and local art on the walls. They even host networking workshops and events!
Rhythm Zero | This coffee shop in Greenpoint is all about the sleek design and eclectic decor. It’s a great spot in a trendy neighborhood to post up for a work session, and enjoy espresso drinks or a matcha. It’s also not far from WNYC Transmitter Park. Rhythm Zero also has a location on North 11th Street in Williamsburg, as well as an outpost in the West Village.
Multiple Locations
Devoción | DUMBO, Downtown Brooklyn & Williamsburg | Devoción roasts their own beans, which are sourced from Columbia, and all of their locations have stylish interior design, are filled with plants, with tons of natural light. They also have plenty of cozy seating, including leather couches.
Hungry Ghost | Carroll Gardens, Fort Greene, Park Slope & Prospect Heights | Hungry Ghost began in Prospect Heights, and the coffee shop chain now has 12 locations throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan. You’ll find Stumptown Coffee, and food is sourced from local businesses including Lea Bakery, Colson Patisserie and Greenpoint-based bakery Ovenly.
Poetica Coffee | Boerum Hill, Carroll Gardens, Windsor Terrace & Williamsburg | All locations of Poetica have yummy coffee, plenty of space (and outlets!) for those working on their laptops, cozy spots to read, plus pastries and snacks. The Cobble Hill location even has a leafy backyard that is open seasonally.
Swallow Cafe | Cobble Hill, Williamsburg & Bushwick | The original Swallow Hill location is on the border of Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill, and they’ve expanded to Williamsburg and Bushwick. The location on Atlantic Avenue has a unique layout with a little upstairs alcove overlooking the rest of the cafe. The coffee is from Counter Culture, and have a full food menu (including vegan and gluten-free options), plus smoothies. It’s a popular spot for laptop workers, and there are plenty of power outlets.
Variety Coffee | Park Slope, Greenpoint, Williamsburg & Bushwick |With locations all over the borough, Variety Coffee is a go-to cafe for many Brooklynites. They thoughtfully source and roast their own coffee. The newest Park Slope location is spacious with plenty of seating, and not far from Prospect Park.
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Updated: February 11, 2025. Main Image: Fontainhas in DUMBO.
