Freelancer Friendly Cafés

One of Prague’s finest assets as a city is its splendid tradition and variety of cafés, but these eclectic and cozy gathering spots aren’t just for chatting away over a vídeňská káva. Cafés are becoming increasingly popular among the freelancer community as an escape from the isolated work-at-home kind of day. However, over the past few years, a handful of coworking spaces have popped up in Prague to fill the need in the growing freelance community of a professional work environment outside the home. Such spaces allow members to work quietly in a clean and organized space, network with other freelancers, meet with clients, or even hold group meetings in a conference room.

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First of all, hanging out for hours at a café is free—instead of a membership at a coworking space, you’re only paying for the food or drink you order. If you only plan on working outside of home on an irregular basis and want to explore a different, new atmosphere each time, then café working just might be for you. Cafés also offer a dynamic, coffee-scented environment with ambient background music (or sometimes none) for stimulation and inspiration. If you don’t care for music and the buzz of conversation, but simply prefer the activity and presence of people around you, just put on your headphones and create your own soundtrack.

The cafés that follow tend to be comfortable and fairly conducive to concentrated work sessions of 3 to 4 hours, usually from mid-morning until mid-afternoon. All listed cafés are non-smoking (or contain a separate non-smoking zone) and offer free wifi. To save time and confusion, ask your server to write down the wifi password or “heslo” if it’s not already printed somewhere on the menu. Also, take note that these cafés were visited during recent summer months when most of Prague was away on holiday. Expect an influx of customers–and therefore a busier café atmosphere—when the cold weather returns.

Vypálené koťátko, Mařákova 5, Prague 6
Although I realize that some people may not deem a pottery painting café to be an ideal space to be productive, there is just something about this spot that draws me in. Electrical outlets are very accessible inside, but a spacious, charming garden awaits in the back if you don’t need to be plugged in. Yes, from time to time, there are screaming babies and running children, but it really depends on the time and day you show up. Sometimes, the long table in the back room will overflow with pottery painters of all ages, so grab a seat in the front to avoid the commotion. Put on your headphones and you won’t hear a thing. The café now serves a few snacks from Ethnocatering.cz, some basic bar food, plus a chips and dip platter. Other than that, expect a refined beverage menu (serving Mamacoffee) and very friendly, unobtrusive service.

Café NONA, Národní 4, Prague 1
If you’re the easily distracted type, then this isn’t the café for you. With tables set along a huge wall of windows looking out over Národní ulice from a third-story elevation, you’re in a great position for people-watching at the Národní Divadlo tram stop below and for being mesmerized by the Art Nouveau magic of the Viola building, and its neighbor, across the street. Electrical outlets aren’t as well-placed here, but seating is plentiful and comfortable, with the very large and airy space carved up into different nooks for different moods, and a couple of bookcases of used books (Czech). A well-priced and unique drinks menu (prepared behind a very long bar against the far wall) includes a “red” espresso, Club Mate (to really get you working) and good Spanish wines.

Kavárna Róza K. (formerly Meduza), Belgická 17, Prague 2
For most of the day, Róza K. tends to swathe itself in that “shhhhh, it’s a library!” feel, with patrons concentrated on their computers or newspapers. Go to this spacious café with vintage décor after office hours, however, and the atmosphere completely changes. If you’re there for serious work, stake out a table in the non-smoking back room, where you’ll sometimes find students gathered together for a study session. The music here might want to make you get up and dance—or leave–so be ready with headphones if you prefer something more calm. Roza K.’s menu contains a wide range of normally-priced drink and food (many sweets here) options.

Long Tale Café, Osadní 35, Prague 7
Used as an event space by the London in Prague project, this off-the-beaten-path café in Holešovice seems to be a peaceful and cheery space for getting some work done—or procrastinating by browsing through a very good collection of English books (mostly fiction and business) and magazines. Local newspapers and magazines are also on offer. Aside from courtyard seating in this very quiet location inside the M Factory complex, the interior is not very large, with just 3 tables upstairs (one with sleek lounge-style couches) and a few more downstairs, next to a delicious display case glowing with tempting cakes and sandwich fillings. The menu is limited but well-selected, including healthy soups made daily, homemade ginger lemonade, and a grilled veggie plate, all for reasonable prices. Open only on weekdays until 18:00.

Friends Coffee House, Palackého 7, Prague 1
Until you walk all the way to the back of this kavarna dressed up in cozy-modern fashion, you won’t realize how large this place really is. Friends is divided into 3 main spaces—the back two rooms are good for group work or even a client meeting. The café also rents out an on-site private conference room (for 20 people), equipped with computer, printer and screen for presentations. Although the front seating area in a winter garden has lovely natural light, just remember that if you set up here, customers will constantly be walking through to get to the other rooms. You’ll also be soothed (or irritated) by the sound of a mini waterfall in the first room and won’t be able to hear well if you have a client meeting. The sprawling back rooms provide a tidy arrangement of larger tables, comfy couches and a browsing library. Overall, this café has an uplifting and motivational vibe for a productive work day. Drinks can be a bit on the pricey side, but the menu boasts coffee concoctions you won’t find elsewhere in the city. The freshly-made sandwiches are of high quality.

Kavárna-vinárna Symbiosa, Jindřicha plachty 28, Prague 5
Tucked away from the madness of Smichov’s shopping crowds is Symbiosa, a relaxing literary kavárna (and vinárna), which often hosts literary events. Head downstairs for complete seclusion from the outside world, and you can focus on your work in the presence of great authors who watch over you from photos on the walls, and in the surroundings of an excellent library of poetry and literature—which will surely inspire either hard work or procrastination. Well-priced menu includes extensive list of coffees, as well as teas and simple food. When your work is done, treat yourself to a good quality wine from the vinárna selection.

Krásný ztráty, Náprstkova 10, Prague 1
Toward the back of this popular hangout, not quite as far as the events space, you’ll find a separated room to the left with just a few simple tables surrounded by glassed-in shelves of old books, magazines and even board games (mostly Czech). Here, you can escape the crowd and the smoke (not allowed in this area), plug in and enjoy a fun and fairly-priced menu of inventive drinks and food. This quiet section of the café looks and feels like a study hall or a library, so take advantage.

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Čajovna ČajIN, Uralská 6 (formerly Qéčko), Prague 6
Probably one of the most unexpected venues for a solid work session is in Prague 6 at Čajovna ČajIN. When you enter, you may think you’re in an elegant Victorian drawing room, with divans upholstered in shiny, striped fabric. And it would be true; but on the way to find the WC—what’s this? You glimpse a set of stairs leading down into a long darkness from where catchy dance beats suddenly float up toward you. Follow the sound and you’ll discover that the basement of this čajovna is a whole other hazy, dimly-lit world filled with high school kids lounging in hammocks and smoking shisha. Still, due to its slightly out of the way location, the upstairs room is a peaceful and comfortable work space that comes with an extra cute dog. Aside from an excellent selection of black, green and white teas from China and Japan, you can also enjoy a true South American mate experience, complete with thermos, kalabasa and bombilla, if that’s your cup of tea. Fairly-priced menu also includes Puerh, a special fermented tea, coffees and basic snacks with a few pastries.