Best Spots for Telecommuters

by Patrick Heig - Citysearch Editor - 191 Reviews - 64 Lists

Updated: October 20, 2009

"Work from home! Make thousands of dollars a week from the comfort of your living room!" Thanks to telecommuting, the ludicrous claims of late-night infomercials are coming true; many professionals can now work in their pajamas. Working from home, however--phase two of the American Dream--can be difficult (urges to clean, cook, nap are powerful; NSFW impulses go unchecked), leaving workers secretly wistful for the efficiency of the office environment. Co-working spaces offer the best of both worlds--full office amenities, but come and go as you please--and we've also tracked down comfy spots with all the necessities (abundant outlets, WiFi, etc.) where you can set up shop all day for free or, at most, the price of a small cup of coffee.

On this page:Co-Working Spaces, WiFi Coffeeshops.

Co-Working Spaces

  1. 1 Hat Factory
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    801 Minnesota St., Ste 8, San Francisco, CA 94107 (map)

    With spacious workspaces, large meeting tables, WiFi and Ethernet and a fully stocked kitchen, this Dogpatch co-working loft has got everything you expect from an office, except harsh florescent lighting, a boss and a dress code.

  2. 2 Sandbox Suites
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    123 10th St, San Francisco, CA 94103 (map)

    In addition to private desks and common areas, this SoMa shared office has all the amenities you need to work efficiently, plus several conference rooms available for meetings, perfect for those who don't want to close deals with people in their living rooms--business deals, that is.

  3. 3 Cubes and Crayons
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    1122 Crane St, Menlo Park, CA 94025 (map)

    With on-site, professional day-care and rentable office space and amenities, Cubes and Crayons in Menlo Park is perfect for young parents who telecommute but want to get away from the spilled Cheerios and Lego piles at home.

  4. 4 PariSoMa
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    1436A Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103 (map)

    This funky, flexible workspace in SoMa for office-less workers looking to get out of their homes caters to quirky and creative types who still prefer an apartment-like feel.

  5. 5 Citizen Space
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    425 2nd St, Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94107 (map)

    This SoMa open-source coworking space has the office equipment you need--WiFi, whiteboards, plugs, people to brainstorm with--and is free for drop-ins, although curiously to become a paying monthly member you must be invited.

WiFi Coffeeshops

  1. 6 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Jumpin' Java Coffee House
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    139 Noe St, San Francisco, CA 94114 (map)

    With an office-like quietness--expect dirty looks if you jabber on your cellie or even have a quiet conversation--Jumpin' Java is always full of Castro-area laptop jockies and has a great little Japanese sidewalk garden out front for fresh-air breaks.

  2. 7 1 Star Rating: Poor Royal Ground Coffees
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    2060 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115 (map)

    This Lower Pac Heights coffeeshop doubles as a workspace for people whose laptop is their office--it could easily be mistaken for an internet cafe--plus you can do your laundry while you work at the connected laundromat.

  3. 8 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Jovino
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    2184 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123 (map)

    If you need a little booze to grease the wheels, along with outlets and WiFi, try this coffee ("joe") and wine ("vino") cafe in the Marina. A full menu of hearty brain food is also available.

  4. 9 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Coffee Bar
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    1890 Bryant St, San Francisco, CA 94110 (map)

    In the warehouse district between the Mission and Potrero Hill, Coffee Bar has abundant parking, free wifi, plenty of outlets, Clover drip coffee, a cute/hip clientele, great view and lunch options; in short, everything you wish an office could be.

  5. 10 Quetzal Togo
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    1234 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109 (map)

    Don't let the quality food and coffee fool you: This place mostly serves as an unofficial office, with spacious tables, free and fast WiFi, tons of outlets and a quiet, distraction-free atmosphere.

  6. 11 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Java Beach Cafe
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    1396 La Playa St, San Francisco, CA 94122 (map)

    Surfers, tourists and neighborhood locals looking for a java fix flock to this Outer Sunset sweet spot, which doubles as well-wired de facto office for Ocean Beach area residents.

  7. 12 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Axis Cafe & Gallery
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    1201 8th St, San Francisco, CA 94107 (map)

    This SoMa cafe has a full breakfast and lunch menu, coffee, plenty of plugs and wireless, as well as rotating art exhibits (clarification: the art changes every few weeks; does not spin).