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Note: I will be adding current wifi speeds of all the cafes once I get the chance.
Let’s be honest - what you are looking for here is somewhere with wifi and wall-sockets. I have broken out the socket status of each cafe so you can scan the article easily.
If you want to know more about each cafe, read on. I have personally tested each cafe here many times - I do not have an office - so writing this article is the result of painstaking testing and experimentation. It's my Mona Lisa, really.
When I go to cafes to work, I never go for the full day. I would usually go for a half-day at most. I try not to overstay my welcome, and try to order enough coffee so that I will be welcome when I return.
There are many options in Berlin, but these are the ones that have proven to be most reliable for getting some work done in my 5 years of living in Berlin.
Let's get to it - the real laptop-worker review of laptop-friendly cafes in Berlin.
WestBerlin
2024 Update: I visited their new location to review it
Alexandrinenstraße 118-121, 10969 Berlin
Area: Kreuzberg - Moritzplatz
Sockets: Yes
WestBerlin has moved to a new, bigger location in Kreuzberg. It has an interesting layout - the downstairs entrance room is large with a few big tables and a spacious terrace outside. Most people are found in the stylish space upstairs, working or chatting.
There are couches in the centre of the room if you want to hang out and be sociable. Or for laptop workers, there is a long, connected wooden table that lines the perimeter of the wall around the room. It still has that new-wood smell.
There aren't a huge amount of seats, but if you get one it is a very comfortable work spot.
There are plugs here as well and the wifi speed seems to be decent.
There is an outdoor patio on the first floor as well, but I didn't go out there. I was too busy writing blog posts.
The coffee is good here! They do cakes as well but I didn't want to upset MyFitnessPal so I stuck to an Americano. There is also a water jug where you can help yourself.
Overall WestBerlin is still a thoughtfully-styled cafe in a peaceful location to head to if you want to get some work done. They are open 5 days a week - closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Oslo Kaffeebar
2024 Update: I revisited - laptops are not allowed in the cafe anymore. It is still a great cafe though!
Eichendorffstraße 13, 10115 Berlin
Area: Mitte - Nordbahnhof
My favourite cafe in Berlin. The staff are really friendly and the coffee is top-notch. I do warn you that the cookies are dangerous - you can see them baking them in-house while you sit. It is almost impossible to resist getting one with your coffee.
There is something calm and welcoming about Oslo that I really like. They have great music, the atmosphere is really nice, and the wooden interior is easy on the eyes.
St. Oberholz
2024 Update: It's as busy as ever and it's sometimes hard to get a seat.
Google Maps
Rosenthaler Str. 72A, 10119 Berlin
Area: Mitte - Rosenthaler Platz
Sockets: Yes, upstairs only.
St. Oberholz is the mecca for Berlin laptop-workers. It is the original coworking cafe in Berlin. Located at a busy intersection, many remote workers will have darkened their doorway at one stage or another, either from working there or by attending a meetup held upstairs.
If you walk in, you will see almost 100% of people on laptops on both floors - which can seat many people. There used to be sockets everywhere, but they have now restricted the sockets to certain locations upstairs only. Try not to look like too much of a creep as you look at the wall behind people sitting at tables for any glint of a wall-socket.
Since the pandemic St. Oberholz has gotten really busy. It is so big though that there are usually people leaving a seat, so you can get one if you are willing to hang around a bit.
You order at the bar and they will give you your coffee in a little tray. I’m not a fan of this as your table space is limited, and your laptop and tray will be fighting for space.
Another peculiarity: if you order an Americano, you will get the espresso in the cup, and a small jar of hot water separately. You then finish the job yourself. This is probably fine in theory, but I like my coffee hot, and giving the water a separate jar means it cools a little bit. The tables are mostly individual, however, which means that even if it is busy you will have plenty of elbow room.
The staff are nice here and trained for the busyness of the place. You will never be pressured to move on from your seat, so if you get one you can dig into some work.
The prices are fairly high, but the location is prime. They are very patient with laptop-workers who may not order a lot of drinks, so it is fair enough.
Pure Origins Estate Coffee
Georgenstraße 193 Stadtbahnbogen, 10117 Berlin
Area: Mitte - Friedrichstraße
Sockets: Yes, some
This is right by Wayne's Coffee (below), located right across from one of Humboldt University’s buildings. It is more upmarket than Wayne's Coffee, being in a slightly better location. There is plenty of outdoor seating, but what do you care, you will be inside working! It seems to get quite busy at lunchtime.
The back row of tables facing the coffee machines has sockets, so you can work from there. But there is a catch - they give you WiFi codes with a limit of 1 hour. I have not tested the generosity of the staff - perhaps if you ask nicely they will give you 2 codes so you can stay longer.
Buying 2 coffees to get 2 hours for internet and power is not unreasonable, but it does put the pressure on, and means this won’t be a regular of mine. I usually buy enough coffee/food in any cafe to justify my stay there, but having this artificial limit does make it a bit more effort, so I usually go to one of the other options in this list.
Wayne's Coffee
Georgenstraße 14 - 18, 10117 Berlin
Area: Mitte - Friedrichstraße
Sockets: YES, lots!
Welcome to socket heaven! There are sockets of all shapes and sizes for most tables. You will not be without one. They have 4 person tables, and a few 2 person tables, as well as bar-type tables with stools with sockets if you are not planning on staying too long.
The downside is that it is under a train track, and beside Friedrichstraße train station, which is not the most scenic area. The cafe is comfortable enough, but I think because of the busyness of the area outside I don’t end up staying too long. I would not come here to relax with a book, for example, but it is a great little spot to get some work done.
I have no idea what the coffee tasted like as I was just in awe of being surrounded by sockets, but it was certainly hot and there was most definitely caffeine in it. The staff seem nice, and it attracts a college crowd. They play punk-rock tunes so the vibe is, well, punk-rock-y.
Espresso House
Google Maps
Gartenstraße 85-87, 10115 Berlin
Area: Mitte - Nordbahnhof
Sockets: No
This is your backup option if you are in Mitte near Nordbahnhof. It is a bit souless (it's a chain) and is the least laptop-friendly option on the list.
Laptops are not allowed for most of the cafe, but you can sit in the area to the right of the cashier desk. The staff claim this is the only place where the WiFi will work, so stick to this area. The WiFi is quite slow, so do not expect to be downloading much or watching HD videos.
The cafe is unpretentious and has everything you need, and has decent opening hours, staying open until 7pm during the week and 8pm on weekends.
Don’t expect specialty coffees and homemade pastries here. Sometimes you just want to keep it simple, and Espresso House is perfect for that.
Cuccuma
Zossener Str. 34, 10961 Berlin
Area: Kreuzberg - Mehringdamm
Sockets: Yes, some
This is a really lovely spot in Mehringdamm. I mostly like it because it is the only cafe in Berlin where the staff respond to me in German (without switching to English) when I speak to them.
While that alone is enough to get a cafe on the list, Cuccuma has another excellent feature - a fantastic balcony upstairs where you can look down on the cafe below and the streets outside whilst sipping coffee. This is the place to be - these seats have sockets, and if you get one you will have a fine workplace. But they are tricky to get and fill up early.
If the balcony is full, then you will have to head into the back room upstairs behind the balcony. I have to say that it is a fairly odd room, and the furniture is made for relaxing and lounging, not for working, with the tables at about knee height, meaning you will have to balance your laptop on your lap.
The coffee here is tasty, and they also make excellent iced coffee. This place gets a lot of locals so there is a nice neighborhood vibe to it - it is not just tech workers on laptops. And, again, they speak German back to you!
Coffee Pony
2024 Update: New discovery
Richard-von-Weizsäcker-Platz 4, 10827 Berlin
Area: Schöneberg
Sockets: No
This was a nice discovery in Schöneberg. The staff are very friendly - you immediately get a good vibe walking in.
It is warmly-lit, there are lots of seating options and it is spacious.
There is an area right at the back for laptop workers behind cage-like barrier (why not). There are also some high tables outside the cage where you can work or study from.
Be warned however - when I asked for the wifi password I was told it was patchy. They weren't lying. I had to use a hotspot on my phone for the first while, and then the internet eventually kicked in.
Overall, a great place to work from for a while - if you have a decent data plan.
Its location on the edge of Schöneberg means it probably won't get as crowded as some of the Mitte/Kreuzberg cafes.
The Visit
2024 Update: Still a great option
Adalbertstraße 9, 10999 Berlin
Area: Kreuzberg - Kottbusser Tor
Sockets: No
Wifi: 56 Mbps
Whenever I am here, it feels like there should be more people taking advantage of this spot. It's not a hidden gem, but it is just enough off the beaten path for it not to be rammed. Perhaps it is because you have to walk through a courtyard to get to it, which is itself a calm space the hectic area of Kottbusser Tor.
The cafe is large and bright, with high ceilings. You have 3 seating options, fellow laptop-worker: the terraced seats (weird but they look cool), a normal table, or high desks.
In the name of being considerate, seeing as a quiet laptop worker doesn't much buzz to the cafe, and I work by myself, I leave the tables to the other customers and take either a space at the high desk or the terrace.
For me the terrace is a bit uncomfortable, but if you do yoga or are able to sit cross-legged you will be fine up there. The other desks are great though, and you can get some good work done.
The wifi speed is definitely fast enough.
The coffee is decent - it is roasted on-site. The staff are pretty friendly. I've never tried the food, I usually focus on increasing my caffeine intake.
The interior is minimalistic - think whitewashed walls and polished concrete.
There are seats in the courtyard if you want to get some fresh(-ish - it is Kottbusser Tor after all) air.
Overall it's a very pleasant place to work from. I will definitely be coming here regularly.
Staatsbibliothek Berlin
Potsdamer Str. 33, 10785 Berlin, Germany
Sockets: Yes
Area: Mitte - Potsdamer Platz
Now for a curve-ball - the library! Bet you didn’t think of that, did you? Well here is why you should do it: it is central, free, there are lots of seats, and the cafeteria is mega-cheap! I like the architecture as well, you get to work in a large, bright room, but it does not feel cavernous.
You may think it is too much hassle to sign up and register for a library card, so I’ll break it down for you real quick:
To register: bring an ID and your Anmeldung, and go to the desks on the right-hand side of the entrance wall, where you walk in. They will give you your card there and then.
Get a lock: you cannot bring rucksacks/bags into the library, so go to the vending machine and buy a padlock. The machine takes cards and it costs €7.
Leave things in a locker: Then, leave your stuff in one of the lockers on the left-hand side of the entrance hall. You cannot bring laptop bags in, so you will have to carry your laptop & headphones in, and a see-through bottle of water (no other liquids are allowed).
That's it, you're in.
Coffee in the cafeteria is €1.60, and you can get a boiled egg for €0.80. They serve hot meals for €5. These are inflation-beating prices if I have ever seen them.
Choose from the vast array of seating options and get stuck into some proper work without worrying about overstaying your welcome or running out of power.
It is a great place to study or work from that is overlooked, so check it out.
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