Best Cafes for Working in the Burbs

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When you visit the city, it is great to find the Victorian Government has provided free wifi coverage almost everywhere. Heck, I even got it sitting in my parked car right up near St Patrick's Cathedral in East Melbourne.

But in the suburbs, we are the poor relations. Ask for the wifi password in your local cafe and you are likely to receive a scowl along with some very badly made coffee. So here is the start of a list of some suburban coffee shops that I have found not only offer free wifi with a smile, but also great coffee and food worth travelling to the suburbs for.

Percy's Aeroplane Cafe (Kew)

Seemingly small at first, but I noticed later that there is a backroom where it would be easier to work and a small outside courtyard. Wifi password given with a smile. Excellent coffee. Food was quite remarkable as you can see from the photo of my healthy porridge below. Only issue is that they shut at 3pm.



96 Denmark Street, Kew, Melbourne
03 8899 6642
8:30 AM to 3 PM

Liar, Liar (Hawthorn)



While very busy on weekends this place is a dream on weekdays. Tucked away in Kinkora Rd, just off Glenferrie Road, I had no trouble finding a large table all to myself where I could spread out my laptop and papers. Excellent Proud Mary coffee and of course, free wifi. Just ask. I was there for a few hours without feeling under any pressure to move on.
90 Kinkora Rd, Hawthorn
(03) 9818 8864
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday 7 am to 4 pm
Saturday & Sunday 8am to 4.30pm
Ampersand

This cafe could have been specifically designed for people working couped up in their flats and needing to get out and about. There is free wi-fi, power points for your laptop and comfortable seats.

863 High St, Thornbury
Phone: (03) 9484 2085
Opening Hours:
Monday- Friday7am–4pm
Saturday 8am–4pm
Sunday 8:30am–4pm



Steam Junkies



Staff are always so friendly. If you look at the seating, you can see how they have all these tables for one, where solo people can work. It is well used by freelancers. I think many live in the apartment block above. You can arrive here so many ways as it is on a bike track and near railway stations and the Sydney Road Tram. Tucked away so you have to be in the know. Free wifi of course and really good food that is not overpriced. Small venue but they seem highly responsive to their small army of freelancers that call his place their 'second office.'

7-9 Florence st, Brunswick, 3056 (On the Biketrack at Anstey station)
Call (03) 9973 4309
Mon - Friday 7AM to 4PM
Sat 8AM to 4PM
Sun 8AM to 4PM


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While I happen to live in the Eastern suburbs, I find myself working all over town and am always keen to learn of new places that fit the freelance workers all important requisites. I believe these to be:

1. Great coffee.
2. The owners not being concerned if you linger over your work for
a few hours.
3. Background music that does not distract.
4. Low key cafe chatter. Did you know that such noise is more
conducive to working well - check out the app here )
5. Enough space so that you don't feel you are taking up a table
that other customers might need
6. Healthy but yummy food if you happen to be there at
lunchtime

But most of all FREE wifi. Perhaps, you have some other requirements?

Would love to grow this list as a reference for myself and others. So where do you work that works for you?

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