When you’re a freelancer, the real struggle can be finding a place to work.
Sure, the kitchen table will suffice, as will the local Starbucks. But sometimes, you really need to find a place where you can escape the usual distractions, and settle in for a day (or night) of hard work.
Luckily, the urban sprawl of Los Angeles is packed with hidden gems—from hipster hangouts to old school coffee joints that have served Hollywood’s wannabe screenwriters for generations.
Here are 11 of the best.
Location: Silver Lake
Hours: 7am to 8pm
Wifi: Free
This hip but friendly café in Silver Lake has become a favorite of local screenwriters due to its excellent coffee, buttery pastries, and airy, light-filled space—all of which make it a pleasurable place to spend a few hours chipping away at that pesky project.
Location: Franklin Village
Hours: 8am to 2am
Wifi: Free
Did you somehow let the day slip through your fingers even though you have an urgent deadline? Need to get out of the house to concentrate? Never fear! Bourgeois Pig is open until 2am, with all the caffeinated beverages and sugary fixes you need to get you through the night.
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Location: East Hollywood
Hours: 7am to 9pm
Wifi: Free
The nooks and crannies of this cozy, old school café in East Hollywood are often full of highly-caffeinated students, wanna-be novelists, and scriptwriters engaged in marathon laptop sessions. Still, with two levels, and plenty of couches, tables, and outlets, there’s always room for one more.
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Location: Melrose
Hours: 7am to 8pm
Wifi: Free
The vibe here is pure Melrose—even at 7am it can feel like you’ve stumbled onto a fashion catwalk—so you might want to think twice before turning up unshowered in sweatpants. Excellent coffee, strong wifi, and a good selection of pastries make it a regular haunt for local freelancers.
Location: Brentwood
Hours: 7am to 9pm
Wifi: Free
As the name suggests, you’ll often find novelists toiling away at this old-school Brentwood café. With plenty of tables and outlets, and a large covered patio, it’s easy to see why. Additional draws include good, strong coffee, and an extensive menu featuring soups, salads, burgers, tacos, and anything else you might need to fuel your productivity.
Location: Mar Vista
Hours: 5:30am to 9pm
Wifi: Free
Some people like to get up early and power through their tasks for the day. Unfortunately, there are not many cafes that cater to early risers in LA. One exception is Coffee Connection in Mar Vista. Doors open at 5:30am, when you’ll already find wide-eyed students ready to take advantage of the 15 percent student discount.
Location: Downtown LA
Hours: 11am to 10pm
Wifi: Free
With an opening time of 11am, Mega Bodega is not interested in catering to the morning crowd. However, the late risers will find excellent coffee, strong wifi, and a clean, minimal ambience that’s perfect for getting a few hours of work done. They also have a notable selection of craft beer, for that celebratory moment when you finally hit “send.”
Location: Arts District
Hours: 6am to 8pm
Wifi: Free
An outpost of the Groundwork chain, this spacious coffee shop in the arts district is packed with tables, and features many spacious communal work areas. The vibe is laidback and the coffee is always good.
Location: Hancock Park
Hours: 8am to 3pm
Wifi: Free
If you’re in need of a little inspiration, the upscale vibe of Republique in Hancock Park certainly takes cafe ambience to the next level with its exposed brick interior, arched doorways, and light-filled atrium. A foodie favorite, Republique is no slouch when it comes to food and coffee, either.
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Location: Koreatown
Hours: 7am to 7pm
Wifi: Free
The décor is definitely on the minimal side at Document Coffee Bar, but the long communal tables and strong wifi make it the perfect location to get a little work done down in K-town. If you’re not a coffee fan, there are plenty of teas on the menu here (including Korean teas), and if you stick around in the evening, your might even catch a poetry reading.
Location: Larchmont
Hours: 7:30am to 8pm
Wifi: Free
You could almost get lost in the winding staircases, multiple rooms, and patios of this popular Larchmont café—which makes it the perfect place to hideaway and get some work done if you don’t want to be disturbed. The coffee isn’t bad either, and there are plenty of couches to kick back on while you’re working.