Laptop-friendly coffee shops
Ivor House, Bridge Street (Little Man Coffee) / 10 Tudor Lane (Little Man Garage)
Little Man Coffee Company has two locations in Cardiff - one in the city centre and the Garage in Riverside. The central branch is a bright, open-plan converted bank that’s open every day (between 8am-5pm on weekdays). The Garage is smaller but cosier, with the seating area upstairs and the coffee preparation area downstairs. It’s only open on weekdays (8am-12pm). Both locations are popular with remote workers; the expertly made flat whites and freshly baked cakes are the optimum fuel for keyboard bashing.
Multiple locations across Cardiff - see the Kin & Ilk website for info
Ever-expanding into new locations, Kin & Ilk is a small chain of contemporary coffee shops in and around Cardiff. All locations are popular with remote workers, professionals having informal meetings and students, so if you’re on a laptop you’ll blend in. Only the two main outlets (St David's shopping centre and Pontcanna) are open on weekends, while all locations are open by 8am during the week. If you get peckish, peruse the all day brunch menu.
One Central Square, Wood Street
Another fast-growing, ampersand-adopting small café chain, Milk & Sugar is as much about providing functional spaces as it is quality produce. Some of its outlets in Cardiff are closed to the public as they are in office buildings. However, the Central Square branch is open to all. Used largely by employees from businesses in and around the Central Square development, the professional buzz will drive you to work hard while you nurse your latte.
185 Clare Road
A mere 10 minute walk along the river from Cardiff Central Station gets you to Lufkin Coffee in Grangetown. The café, which is located in a converted bank, is spacious, pared back and relaxing. Dusky tones on the walls and easy music keep the vibe chilled. The carefully prepared coffee is roasted on site. Pair it with a slice of freshly baked pie or a filled bagel for the perfect power-up.
58 Bute Street
If you find yourself in Cardiff Bay, the family run Quantum Coffee Roasters is the best place for a coffee and laptop session. The bespoke window ledge, deep enough for your notebooks, laptop and cuppa, is a lovely place to sit for an hour or two. There are a variety of other tables too, if you need an extra seat for a meeting.
Coworking spaces in Cardiff
Need somewhere more permanent to turn into your new work home? Cardiff has lots of coworking spaces to choose from, so there's bound to be somewhere that suits your workstyle and needs. Here are three for starters:
103 Bute Street
A bright, casual coworking space aimed at the creative industries, set on the top floor of a Victorian building. Handbuilt desks-for-one, shared hot-desking tables and lots of houseplants fill the open plan main room. Memberships start from six days a month, including access to a small meeting room, communal kitchen and community meet-ups.
Pendyris Street
A smart coworking space for those looking to grow their business. It houses over 50 companies at varying stages of their journey, typically attracting professionals within the digital, creative and tech communities. Memberships start from day passes, with perks including access to bookable rooms, professional development events and the Start-Up Academy.
7 Curran Buildings, Curran Road
A multi-purpose coworking space that attracts makers, artists and creative startups. Set in a repurposed industrial warehouse, it has different spaces to suit the needs of members, including over 20 affordable studios made from reclaimed materials and a performance space. Membership lengths vary depending on the space required.