ELEVEN PLACES TO WORK REMOTELY IN CAPE TOWN

In the era of social media, digital marketing, and online influencing, it's easier than ever to earn a living from your laptop without ever setting foot in an office building. As I type this, sat in a beachfront café in Sea Point, I'm writing a blog for South Africa, paying some bills in the UK, and catching up with friends on Facebook in Australia. It's 2019, and far more common to walk into a coffee shop and see fellow diners on their laptops rather than reading a newspaper. The joys of technology!

It can be tricky though; the digital nomad lifestyle is often a lonely one, and nobody wants to be that person who asks for a WiFi password in a coffee shop that has a kitsch 'tALk tO eAcH oThEr' sign on the wall (I hate those things). To save you from the wrath of antiquated baristas, I've put together this list of freelancer-friendly establishments in Cape Town where you can enjoy great eats, good coffee (and beer, wine, cocktails...), and get some work done in peace.

V&A Food Market

Open: Daily 10am - 8pm

Connectivity: Wifi T&Cs, unlimited time limit, no plug sockets

Up first is somewhere that doesn't immediately scream 'workplace', but the V&A Food Market has pretty good WiFi and, unsurprisingly, some really great food. Grab yourself some dishes from vendors including Stack That, Afrika Bites, Wicked Waffle, Nonna Lina and more, enjoy a local beer from Bar Upstairs, and take a seat overlooking the hubbub of activity while you answer some emails or finish that article. WiFi registration forms never provide the best connectivity and there are no plug sockets so I wouldn't recommend planning a whole working day here, but it's definitely a good choice for a few hours.

Mojo Market

Open: Daily 8am - 11pm

Connectivity: Short WiFi registration form, unlimited time limit, minimal plug sockets

Sticking with the food market theme, up next is Mojo Market in Sea Point. Opened two years ago, Mojo has thirty food stalls, local clothes and craft retailers, and the largest selection of drinks on tap in the southern hemisphere. This establishment is slightly more suited to the remote working individual than the V&A, as there are plug sockets dotted around and large tables overlooking Sea Point promenade, plus, you saw the thing about the most drinks on tap, right? Again, probably not the best for a full day of knuckling down, but definitely a top choice for procrastination in the form of beer and bites.

Caffé Neo

Open: Daily 7am - 7pm

Connectivity: WiFi password required, unlimited time limit, no plug sockets

I discovered this little gem as it was just a few doors down from my apartment, making it a great spot for both a quick breakfast and a full day of working. With bi-fold doors that open onto a patio overlooking Mouille Point Lighthouse and the seafront, Caffé Neo is one of the more scenic remote working spots in Cape Town, and has great Greek food to top it off. Although there were no plug sockets I could spot, the WiFi is strong and thankfully password protected rather than a registration form, as we all know password WiFi is better than registration WiFi.

V&A Watershed Workshop17

Open: Daily 10am - 7pm

Connectivity: Short WiFi registration form, unlimited time limit, plenty of plug sockets - different regions

Given that the whole concept behind Workshop17 is to provide dedicated workspaces, this was probably my least favourite remote working location in Cape Town. The venue was good; right in the middle of the V&A Watershed, the café was very nice, and I appreciated the variety of regional plug sockets on offer, but the WiFi was absolutely terrible, and they've installed a bird deterrent in the form of a high-pitched alarm that you don't ever grow accustomed to. It still seemed fairly popular though and will always be filled with like-minded, freelance working types, so could be a good spot for networking!

Field Office

Open: Weekdays 7:30am - 4:30pm

Saturday 9am - 2pm

Closed Sunday

Connectivity: WiFi password required, unlimited time limit, no plug sockets

Field Office, a trendy coffee shop in the middle of the modern Woodstock Exchange, was recommended to me by several people who were 'in the know' when it came to remote working spaces. I was expecting a thriving hub of hipsters and web developers, but when I made the journey from Sea Point to Woodstock I happened to be the only patron in there! Although I wasn't going to meet my new freelance bestie there, it was still a great place for laptop work as the drinks were cheap and the food selection was really varied. It also has a mix of solitary tables, comfy sofas, and outdoor benches for a variety of working situations.

Bootleggers 

Open: Weekdays 6:30am - 9pm

Weekends 7:30am - 9pm

Connectivity: WiFi password required, unlimited time limit, several plug sockets

South Africa doesn't have Starbucks, but I'd say Bootleggers is the closest alternative, and yes, I'm basic enough to admit it was my favourite remote working space in Cape Town. I visited three in total; Camps Bay, Sea Point and Green Point, but hung out in the Green Point one most because it was a short walking distance from my house. The WiFi is great quality, there are quite a few plug sockets to choose from (and the staff won't sneer at you if you ask for a table near a socket), and the food and drink selection covers great coffee to G&T on tap. My top reason for frequenting Bootleggers so often though was the happy hour; between half 4 and half 6 everyday they offer 50% off burgers, beer, and wine, so I could have a burger and chips with a couple of pints for R100 while I'm finishing off my work for the day. I know, right?

Jason Bakery

Open: Weekdays 6:30am - 3:30pm

Weekends 7:30am - 3pm

Green Point closed Mondays, Bree Street closed Sundays

Connectivity: Short WiFi registration form, 200MB limit, no plug sockets

Jason Bakery is a Cape Town institution that elevates your standard breakfast coffee and pastry into an art form; just ask their 25,000 Instagram followers. I wanted to visit Jason's anyway because it had been recommended by so many people, and I was desperate to try their version of the cronut, the "doughssant". Turns out they also have good WiFi and a whole table dedicated to people working from their laptops! It's not the sort of place you spend a whole day at as the free WiFi does run out, but it's definitely top of the list for food choices, and is great for people watching if you feel like procrastinating a while.

Folk Coffee Anthropology

Open: Weekdays 7am - 7pm

Saturday 8am - 3pm (closed Sundays)

Connectivity: WiFi password required, unlimited time limit, no plug sockets

I'm going to be honest for a minute; so far everything on this list has been my own discovery, but I pinched Folk Coffee Anthropology from another 'Cape Town coffices' blog. Only because it was a good choice though! Located very centrally on Bree Street, the café was buzzing when I first arrived, and I was lucky to get a table by the window amidst the flurry of activity. The WiFi was great quality and there were plenty of other people using their laptops, so it's definitely an acceptable place for remote working. They also do great food and have a wonderful smoothie selection, bonus!

Bean There

Open: Daily 7:30am - 4pm

Connectivity: WiFi password required, unlimited time limit, several plug sockets

At this point in the list I'd like to draw everyone's attention to the fact that three of these establishments have had decorative bikes hanging on the walls (there's a sneaky one in the Field Office picture), so if anyone can shed some light on why this seems to be a coffee shop thing, I'm dying to know. Moving on, Bean There is located on Wale Street close to Company's Garden, and is a solid choice for remote workers who are passionate about their coffee. Bean There specialises in Direct Fair Trade Coffee and has a wide variety of beans and blends to choose from, so you can try all their options during a full day of caffeine-fuelled work.

Mary-Ann's Mouille Point

Open: Daily 9am - 5pm

Connectivity: WiFi password required, unlimited time limit, no plug sockets

I was invited to this café for a business meeting, but ended up spending the rest of the day there because the food was so nice and the WiFi was top quality. Mary-Ann's is a vegan place with an interesting backstory, serving a buffet style spread of homemade food and delicious fresh juices. If you choose a large plate you can keep going back for more! The staff are mostly made up of the same family so it has that great homely feel, and it's located next door to The Creamery in Mouille Point if you need a dairy fix after all that vegan food. It's not styled as a remote working space but it works!

Origin Coffee Roasting

Open: Weekdays 7am - 5pm

Saturdays 8am - 3pm

Sundays 8am - 2pm

Connectivity: WiFi password required, two hour time limit, several plug sockets

As you can see from the photo, Origin Coffee Roasting definitely is one of those places styled as a remote working space. Located on Hudson Street in De Waterkant, OCR is dedicated to sourcing quality coffee beans, and proudly offers the largest selection of single origin coffees in the country. If you're looking for a coffee shop to work in that actually serves really good coffee, this place is for you. The food was also very good, and they even came round giving free samples of a new menu item! Only downside was the 2-hour WiFi limit, but that's plenty of time to try a few of their signature coffees.