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The Best Cafes to Work From in Sydney
From Newtown's Hogwarts/Ghibli-inspired study space to Surry Hills' laptop-friendly haunts, these are the best cafes to work from in Sydney.
If you’re looking for somewhere to settle in for a few hours with your laptop and a brew in Sydney, we recommend beelining your way to Paramount Coffee Project if you’re in Surry Hills, 03 Space for Newtowners and Matinee or Side Story Cafe for our Marrickville pals. Discover why these cafes are doing the most for remote workers in our best cafes to work from in Sydney edit below.
Cafes With Dedicated Work and Study Spaces
03 Space
Created as a third place that is accessible, welcoming and, just for fun, Ghibli-esque, 03 Space has everything you need for a few hours of solid work. Previously home to Newtown’s labyrinthine Gould’s Book Arcade, Sydney’s 03 Space is set across two levels and consists of multiple cosy nooks illuminated by strings of festoon lights. Even without a coffee, guests are granted three hours free access per week, after which you’ll need to grab a $10-a-week membership.
Suburb: Newtown
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Cafe
Best For: Locals, Budget-friendly, Solo dining
Need To Know: Staffed from 10am to 9pm, there’s a plan for this space to be 24 hours!
Side Story Cafe at Marrickville Library
The award-winning Marrickville Library is a remote worker’s dream. Plenty of seating, comfy chairs and oversized windows set the scene for a breezy day in ‘the office’. Built into the library, you’ll find Side Story Cafe, where you can pick up a coffee and lunch and continue your workday.
Sitchu Tip: You don’t have to be a member to use the library, but it’s definitely worth signing up for access to additional spaces like the bookable study rooms.
Suburb: Marrickville
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Cafe
Best For: Breakfast, Brunch, Solo dining, Locals
Cafes With Free Wi-Fi and Power Points
Sappho Books, Cafe & Bar
This beloved Glebe haunt does it all — second-hand bookshop, courtyard cafe and wine bar — which makes it the perfect spot to pull out your laptop and order a coffee, or vino, depending on your stress levels. Plus, being surrounded by shelves of books, it’s hard not to feel productive. In fact, you may even feel a little inspired. And when the motivation wanes, simply reach for a book, settle into one of the cafe’s many nooks, and recharge. If you’re lucky, cafe/bookshop cat Charlie will pay you a visit.
Suburb: Glebe
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Cafe
Best For: Quick bite, Solo dining, Brunch
Cafes to Work From With Excellent Coffee
Genovese
Located inside a converted warehouse, Genovese has you covered for a desk and quality supply of coffee. The atmosphere is intimate and comforting, with a subtle Italian touch that pays homage to the Genovese family heritage. Warm earthy tones, exposed brick, and wood accents fill the space, while ’70s-inspired furniture adds to the charm. They also offer $2 espressos. We’ll have five, thanks.
Suburb: Alexandria
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Cafe
Best For: Breakfast, Brunch, Budget-friendly
Matinee Coffee
Matinee is a Marrickville favourite for a reason. You can almost always find a seat, whether it’s at the communal table, in a cosy booth, or soaking up the sun outside. The retro, quirky interiors spark creativity, while the bottomless filter coffee keeps you going as you tap away. With free Wi-Fi and plenty of power points, it’s a dream setup for remote work.
Sitchu Tip: Order one of the homemade pastries — they’re definitely worth the distraction.
Suburb: Marrickville
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Cafe
Best For: Breakfast, Brunch, Solo dining
Paramount Coffee Project
Tucked away on a Surry Hills lane away from the hustle and bustle, but still only just a stone’s throw from the CBD, Paramount Coffee Project is a buzzing hub for city workers or those in town for meetings. Natural light floods the space through floor-to-ceiling windows, making it a great spot to get work done while soaking up some vitamin D.
Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Cafe
Best For: Solo dining, Brunch, Quick bite
FAQs About the Best Cafes to Work From in Sydney
Some of the best cafes to work from in Sydney include 03 Space in Newtown, Side Story Cafe at Marrickville Library, Sappho Books, Cafe & Bar in Glebe, Genovese in Alexandria, Matinee Coffee in Marrickville and Paramount Coffee Project in Surry Hills. Each offers a mix of comfortable seating, good coffee and a welcoming atmosphere for settling in with your laptop. Whether you’re after a Ghibli-inspired study nook, a library setting or a light-filled laneway spot near the CBD, there’s a work-friendly cafe here to suit every remote-working mood.
Matinee Coffee in Marrickville is a standout for remote workers thanks to its free Wi-Fi and plenty of power points, making it easy to plug in and settle in for a few hours. You’ll find seating to suit every mood, from the communal table to cosy booths and sunny outdoor spots, plus bottomless filter coffee to keep you going.
03 Space in Newtown gives guests three hours of free access per week, after which you’ll need a membership costing $10 a week. Set across two levels in the former home of Gould’s Book Arcade, this Ghibli-esque ‘third place’ is filled with cosy nooks and strings of festoon lights, designed to be accessible and welcoming. It’s currently staffed from 10am to 9pm, though there are plans to eventually make the space open 24 hours.
Several of Sydney’s best work-friendly cafes are easy on the wallet. Genovese in Alexandria serves $2 espressos inside a converted warehouse with warm, industrial-meets-’70s interiors. 03 Space in Newtown offers three free hours a week, then just $10 a week for membership. Matinee in Marrickville keeps you fuelled with bottomless filter coffee, while Side Story Cafe sits within the free public space of Marrickville Library. Sappho in Glebe rounds things out as a relaxed spot where a single coffee buys you hours surrounded by second-hand books.
Paramount Coffee Project in Surry Hills is the pick for anyone who needs to stay close to the city. Tucked down a quiet laneway just a stone’s throw from the CBD, it’s a buzzing hub for city workers and those in town for meetings. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with natural light, making it a lovely spot to get work done while soaking up some vitamin D.
Already ticked off these top work-friendly cafes? Explore more of Sydney’s café culture with our full edit of best cafes in Sydney right now.
