Welcome to WFHishNYC’s email newsletter. Here you can catch the latest reviews over the course of the month, plus our interview series on interesting New Yorkers ranging from influencers, journalists, activists, small business owners and of course cultural icons.
Additionally follow along for our digital nomad posts featuring the best places to get away to and have a ‘workcation’
You can always catch more regular posts on our website wfhishNYC.co
Before we dive in let me tell you who I am and why I’m doing this.
As someone who spends a lot of time “working from home", a quality remote workspace outside of the home is vital for my own mental health and productivity.
Like many New Yorkers, I know a handful of great places that meet my needs.
I want to take advantage of the fact I work remote and use this change to see other parts of the city I wouldn’t otherwise go to. Unfortunately that can always be a gamble.
Maybe the wifi is spotty, there isn’t a great plug situation, not enough seating etc.
Yelp reviews are unreliable, Workfrom is outdated, and TikTok influencers show a few limited hotspot options in a handful of neighborhoods.
WFHish is a curated list from a long term remote worker in New York City showing great places across the city.
Maybe you’ve heard of some, and maybe others… not so much.
Plus, let’s have a little fun with it. In addition to no frills recommendations
we have interesting features with notable influencers, writers, tech thinkers, artists, filmmakers, and other hands of remote workers that make this city so special for locals and transplants alike.
The mind behind it: It’s me! I’m Andy Hirschfeld and I am a journalist here in New York. After spending several years as a network news producer at CNN, CBS and BloombeRG, In 2020 I took a risk and I joined the start up called Newsnet as its business news anchor and correspondent.
On camera I’ve interviewed six members of Congress, influencers like Paris Hilton and the CEO of a major U.S. airline.Additionally, I write stories on a number of beats ranging from tech to travel to business and politics.
My work as a writer and photographer has appeared in The Daily Beast, Daily Dot, CNBC Make It, Salon, Fortune Magazine, Observer, Eater, Insidehook, Timeout and in Al Jazeera English. I am also a contributor to NPR’s American Homefront Project and TYT Investigates.
and I DO ALL OF THAT WORK (FOR THE MOST PART) FROM A REMOTE WORKSPACE.
As I may have made clear above, I have a lot on my plate. This honestly is an accountablity measure for myself to get to other parts of the city that I wouldn’t otherwise go to rather than the same five places I go to all the time.
I would have otherwise done this for myself but if it helps you why not share? Amiright???
So LETS Get to the good stuff.
Let me start out with this caveat in our first listing. Like many of you, I am often frustrated by blog posts either in a notable publication, blog or in an establishment magazine that sets the stage for a recommendation.
With the exception of this little note, we are getting straight to the point. Is it a good place for remote work? Yes/No and why. That’s all. Pretty short.
This is a pretty basic (but also personable guide) to the top coffeeshops in New York City to get work done — great for remote workers, writers, and students alike.
This list is individually curated. These are all places I’ve personally tried — only me (at least right now). Each listing is carefully curated and assessed.
The ground rules of course for any coffee shop. Don’t be a dick and read the room. Order food and drinks if you are going to post up. Unless, you get the vibe otherwise try not to spend more than like two hours.
Now the main event.
Here
DWEEBS
Neighborhood: Bushwick
Address: 1434 Dekalb Av.
New Yorker Translation:On Dekalb between Knickerbocker and Wilson
Plug Situation:
It's pretty solid. I wouldn’t be worried about getting a plug for your laptop
Seating:
Good options. There are two big square tables and a round one too. These are generally the kind of tables you share with other patrons in the coffeeshop. Also, it has seating facing the window if that’s your cup of tea
Noise Level:
It can vary but it's usually on the quieter side. Music typically fits the vibe.
Bathroom Situation: Yep
Wifi: It’s pretty solid. No complaints.
Lighting: It’s definitely the kind of place that’s more reliant on natural light than anything else.
Food: Yeah it’s top notch. Good coffee too (PLUS Decaf). It’s got pastries and a decent kitchen with breakfast burritos, avocado toast and such – pastries too. The kitchen closes at 2:30 so plan accordingly.
Overall: Fairly cozy and a good place to get work done. It does close around 4-5PM so it’s not exactly great for a late night writer. The staff is also pretty cool. There are a lot of regulars so there is kind of a community built around it. You could easily spend your whole day there and think nothing of it.
Boule and Cherie (UWS)
Looking to find a place in the Upper West Side???
Not far from the 72nd St 1/2/3 is Boule and Cherie.
This place is a good no frills kind of place not far from Lincoln Center, Columbus Circle and that Fordham campus.
Boule and Cherie
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Address: 172 Amsterdam Av
New Yorker Translation: 69th and Amsterdam
Plug Situation: Eh, not ideal but it does exist. If you’re going to swing by, Have a bit of a charge.
Seating: Decent options! There are tables for two and four people, a couch, and eight stools facing the window. It is a bit tight but doable.
Bathroom Situation: Yep. It exists but there is a code. It’s on the receipt so keep that.
Wifi: It’s not slow but I wouldn’t say exactly fast. If you are downloading or uploading something in a rush. This maybe isn’t your best bet.
Food: It’s not bad but fairly standard. Seems like no frill sandwiches and the kind of pre-made salad you’d find at any more generic cafe anywhere.
The pastries are a different story. There is a bread pudding muffin but I had this banana walnut coffee cake chocolate muffin. It’s a solid choice but not super memorable.
Honestly, if I wasn’t writing this post while I’m in said coffee shop I probably wouldn’t remember what I ordered. Coffee is good, including the decaf.
Noise Level: Music doesn’t appear to be a thing here really but lots of people talking. The acoustics suggest it's not a quiet place.
Lighting: Fluorescent overhead lights with a few overhead sconces by the windows.
Overall: It’s a solid place to go in between meetings if you are in the area. It’s not a bad place to answer some emails for an hour or so but not somewhere I’d want to post for an extended period of time.
Postmark Coffee (PARK SLOPE)
Let’s get straight to the point. This seems like a great neighborhood spot. If you are looking for a destination. Eh. this is probably not your place.
Postmark Coffee
NEIGHBORHOOD: Park Slope , Brooklyn
ADDRESS: 326 6th St.
NEW YORKER TRANSLATION: 6th St and 5th Ave in Park Slope
PLUG SITUATION: There are a good amount. I wouldn’t be worried about finding a place to charge if your laptop is running low.
SEATING: Plenty of options with an array of furnishings to sit on.
WIFI: works fine. No complaints
BATHROOM SITUATION: Yep. It exists. Nothing special though
NOISE LEVEL: Fairly quiet.
LIGHTING: Stereotypical coffeeshop. It’s on the darker side with lamps and focused more on natural light. I’m a fan.
FOOD: It was average. Not super impressed. Otherwise basic.
OVERALL: Not bad and a good place to post up for a few hours. It’s comfortable, quiet and has good coffee (oh and a printer. That’s big!) Not impressed with the food. It’s really a destination though.
Newsbar (union square)
Newsbar
NEIGHBORHOOD: Union Square Area
ADDRESS: 107 University Place
NEW YORKER TRANSLATION: Near Union Square on University between 12th and 13th
PLUG SITUATION: There is a decent amount if you are lucky enough to get next to a wall or in the seats in the back.
SEATING: It’s abundant but tight. Be prepared to accidentally bump into someone.
WIFI: It’s generally pretty fast however there are a few things you should keep in mind. Each customer gets their own individual wifi code that comes along with your purchase. It also only lasts an hour. The restaurant also turns on the wifi during the lunch rush from 11 to 2p. It can still be pretty busy after that.
BATHROOM SITUATION: It exists. Nothing special
NOISE LEVEL: It can be really noisy but not music — people talking. The acoustics are really something.
LIGHTING: Typical coffee shop lower lighting mood vibe.
FOOD: There is a lot going on from sandwiches to plates and soups. It definitely has a neighborhood kind of casual lunch place kind of vibe.
OVERALL: It’s a good place to get some work done for an hour or so and maybe grab a bite in the meantime. I would not say this is the kind of place to spend an extended period of time.I highly recommend this place during the mid-afternoon between 2 and like 5ish.
STARTING NEXT MONTH… The Coffee Break…
That’s the interview series with notable New Yorkers. First up is Theodora “Teddy” Siegel. The mind behind Got2GoNYC aka this person:
I leave you now with this song I am currently obsessed with
See you next month.