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A woman and a man sit in high-backed leather chairs inside Kresge Court at the DIA.
Kresge Court at the DIA.
Michelle and Chris Gerard

18 Dependable Detroit Coffee Shops and Restaurants With Free Wi-Fi

Living in the age of free internet and delicious food just got easier

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Kresge Court at the DIA.
| Michelle and Chris Gerard

There are a lot of advantages to working remotely from home. Pants are a suggestion rather than a requirement, there’s no need to pack a lunch, and the internet connections are reliable. But for all the benefits, there’s also plenty of drawbacks. Taking into the account the noisy roommates, the pets demanding undivided attention, or the latest Netflix show that’s just a click away, distractions await around every turn.

In these moments when it’s time to buckle down, emerge from the cave (AKA the apartment), and get work done, remote workers must gather their laptops and headphones and set out for the closest and fastest Wi-Fi connection. Most of the time that means a coffee shop but occasionally the day calls for a beer at a local bar. It’s always a plus if there’s food to balance out the caffeine.

Below find a guide to tried and true internet cafes and restaurants across the city. Just remember to mind your manners. Order generously and read the room when it’s time to move on (don’t be a table hog). Living in the age of free internet just got easier.

Is your favorite spot missing? Drop a note in the comments or at the tipline

Next Read: These Detroit Bars Were Made For Day Drinking

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Town Hall Caffe

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Grandmont-Rosedale community coffee shop Town Hall Caffe keeps customers in supplied with plenty of caffeine while maintaining an inviting space with lots of seating and an ample supply of outlets for focused work. In terms of food, count on a rotating selection of pastries, grilled paninis, wraps, and soup.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Street Food: Yes

Good Cakes and Bakes

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This welcoming neighborhood bakery and cafe offers a comfortable atmosphere to relax and get some work done. In addition to bars, cookies, and cakes sold by-the-slice, the shop offers hot cups of soup and coffee.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Some Parking: Street Food: Yes

A colorful bakery with yellow and pink walls and two customers seated at a table surrounded by lime green chairs. Good Cakes and Bakes [Official photo]

Narrow Way Cafe & Shop

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This sleekly designed cafe on the Avenue of Fashion offers a strong internet connection and plenty of fresh pastries from Zingerman’s Bakehouse and Avalon International Breads. In addition to coffee and espresso drinks, the shop specializes in fresh smoothies.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Street Food: Yes

Detroit Sip

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This welcoming Bagley neighborhood cafe offers ample seating and a comfortable, bright space to get some work or studying done. Alongside Detroit-themed espresso and coffee drinks, Detroit Sip keeps customers fed with assorted locally-made snacks including cakes, brownies, doughnuts, soup, and chips.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Street Food: Yes

Oloman Cafe

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Located in the heart of downtown Hamtramck, Oloman Cafe offers plenty of coffee and espresso drinks as well as tasty sandwiches and locally-sourced pastries. Around back, the shop features a secluded patio area in the warm months.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Metered street and street Food: Yes

Cafe 1923

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This Hamtramck favorite serves up complimentary Wi-Fi and reasonably priced cups of coffee in a laid-back atmosphere. An assortment of sandwiches and salads is served daily. Grab a seat on a pew or cozy-up in the café’s library.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Some Parking: Street Food: Yes

Avalon Cafe + Biscuit Bar

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The New Center location of this popular Detroit bakery empire offers a reliable Wi-Fi connection with lots of seating ranging from high tops to two tops and couches. The cafe also features a biscuit bar, which assembles everything from biscuits and gravy to biscuit sandwiches.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Metered Food: Yes

Kresge Court at the Detroit Institute of Arts

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Midtown’s museum gem the Detroit Institute of Arts features a central cafe with lots of seating, coffee, snacks, and Wi-Fi. It’s a beautiful spot with glassed-in ceilings to switch up a daily work routine. Check a bag at one of the entrances and head straight for Kresge Court.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Metered and paid lots Food: Yes

SocraTea Detroit

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This subterranean tea shop in Midtown offers a wide selection of loose tea as well and pastries and prepared foods. Grab a full pot of tea and settle in at one of the bars or tables. There’s a range of seating options and an excellent internet connection.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Free lot Food: Yes

Honest John's

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Cass Corridor bar Honest John’s manages to check off a lot of boxes with its breakfast and dinner menu, affordable drinks, and ample seating but remote workers also rely on it as an alternative to the typical coffee shop for its internet connection.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Some Parking: Street Food: Yes

Detroit Shipping Company

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This bi-level food hall in Cass Corridor features plenty of food and drink including nitrogen ice cream and coffee slinger -320 Coffee & Creamery. The building is outfitted with Wi-Fi and plenty of tables near outlets — particularly on the second floor.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Street and paid parking lot Food: Yes

New Order Coffee Roasters

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Bright white Brush Park cafe New Order Coffee makes snacks and drinks fit for Instagram but it also attracts plenty of customers hunting for a speedy Wi-Fi connection. In the warmer months the connected patio offers plenty of sunshine. Drop in for a s’mores mocha and a rice crispy treat and get down to business.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Street Food: Yes

The Commons

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This east side cafe was designed as a community space with plenty of room for coffee and community collaboration. The Commons even features a laundromat for the neighborhood. In addition to the beverages, the shop also features a selection of local baked goods including hand pies.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Street Food: Yes

ASHE Supply Co

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This downtown Detroit cafe features lots comfortable seating and snacks sourced from Detroit Institute of Bagels and Sister Pie, plus an extremely fast Wi-Fi connection. It’s a worthy spot to pull out a laptop.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Metered and garage Food: Yes

Customers in jackets and sweaters gather around a curved bar sitting at stools.
Ashe Supply Co.
Michelle and Chris Gerard

Karl’s and Populace Coffee

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The Siren Hotel is home to several unique restaurants, bars, and cafes — a handful of which are good for remote work. Visitors looking for a casual spot to hangout with a laptop can grab a seat in the lobby next to the Populace Coffee bar. For a more substantial menu, a bar, and the very same coffee, head up the staircase to the hotel’s retro diner Karl’s.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Some Parking: Metered, valet, garage Food: Yes

Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters Detroit

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Centrally located in downtown’s Capitol Park area, this big, minimalist coffee bar brews espresso drinks and pour overs while serving a selection of pastries and cheesecakes made in-house. The shop offers a range of smaller tables mixed with communal high tops and bar seats, so there’s always a spot to buckle down and work.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Metered and paid lots Food: Yes

The Apparatus Room

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The Foundation Hotel’s anchor restaurant and cafe features big windows to let in plenty of light and lots of comfy seating around a mid-century fireplace for a comfortable daytime work session. The bar serves coffee daily and the restaurant offers a pastries and a full menu with lots of breakfast and lunch options.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Some Parking: Metered and garage Food: Yes

Lucky Detroit

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Tucked above Detroit Barbers, Lucky Detroit has been covertly serving coffee and cheesecake bites in Corktown for nearly a year. The cafe’s roomy, saloon-like interior features a variety of tables and couches with a quiet atmosphere and nice views of Michigan Avenue.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Some Parking: Metered street Food: Some

Town Hall Caffe

Grandmont-Rosedale community coffee shop Town Hall Caffe keeps customers in supplied with plenty of caffeine while maintaining an inviting space with lots of seating and an ample supply of outlets for focused work. In terms of food, count on a rotating selection of pastries, grilled paninis, wraps, and soup.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Street Food: Yes

Good Cakes and Bakes

This welcoming neighborhood bakery and cafe offers a comfortable atmosphere to relax and get some work done. In addition to bars, cookies, and cakes sold by-the-slice, the shop offers hot cups of soup and coffee.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Some Parking: Street Food: Yes

A colorful bakery with yellow and pink walls and two customers seated at a table surrounded by lime green chairs. Good Cakes and Bakes [Official photo]

Narrow Way Cafe & Shop

This sleekly designed cafe on the Avenue of Fashion offers a strong internet connection and plenty of fresh pastries from Zingerman’s Bakehouse and Avalon International Breads. In addition to coffee and espresso drinks, the shop specializes in fresh smoothies.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Street Food: Yes

Detroit Sip

This welcoming Bagley neighborhood cafe offers ample seating and a comfortable, bright space to get some work or studying done. Alongside Detroit-themed espresso and coffee drinks, Detroit Sip keeps customers fed with assorted locally-made snacks including cakes, brownies, doughnuts, soup, and chips.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Street Food: Yes

Oloman Cafe

Located in the heart of downtown Hamtramck, Oloman Cafe offers plenty of coffee and espresso drinks as well as tasty sandwiches and locally-sourced pastries. Around back, the shop features a secluded patio area in the warm months.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Metered street and street Food: Yes

Cafe 1923

This Hamtramck favorite serves up complimentary Wi-Fi and reasonably priced cups of coffee in a laid-back atmosphere. An assortment of sandwiches and salads is served daily. Grab a seat on a pew or cozy-up in the café’s library.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Some Parking: Street Food: Yes

Avalon Cafe + Biscuit Bar

The New Center location of this popular Detroit bakery empire offers a reliable Wi-Fi connection with lots of seating ranging from high tops to two tops and couches. The cafe also features a biscuit bar, which assembles everything from biscuits and gravy to biscuit sandwiches.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Metered Food: Yes

Kresge Court at the Detroit Institute of Arts

Midtown’s museum gem the Detroit Institute of Arts features a central cafe with lots of seating, coffee, snacks, and Wi-Fi. It’s a beautiful spot with glassed-in ceilings to switch up a daily work routine. Check a bag at one of the entrances and head straight for Kresge Court.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Metered and paid lots Food: Yes

SocraTea Detroit

This subterranean tea shop in Midtown offers a wide selection of loose tea as well and pastries and prepared foods. Grab a full pot of tea and settle in at one of the bars or tables. There’s a range of seating options and an excellent internet connection.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Free lot Food: Yes

Honest John's

Cass Corridor bar Honest John’s manages to check off a lot of boxes with its breakfast and dinner menu, affordable drinks, and ample seating but remote workers also rely on it as an alternative to the typical coffee shop for its internet connection.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Some Parking: Street Food: Yes

Detroit Shipping Company

This bi-level food hall in Cass Corridor features plenty of food and drink including nitrogen ice cream and coffee slinger -320 Coffee & Creamery. The building is outfitted with Wi-Fi and plenty of tables near outlets — particularly on the second floor.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Street and paid parking lot Food: Yes

New Order Coffee Roasters

Bright white Brush Park cafe New Order Coffee makes snacks and drinks fit for Instagram but it also attracts plenty of customers hunting for a speedy Wi-Fi connection. In the warmer months the connected patio offers plenty of sunshine. Drop in for a s’mores mocha and a rice crispy treat and get down to business.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Street Food: Yes

The Commons

This east side cafe was designed as a community space with plenty of room for coffee and community collaboration. The Commons even features a laundromat for the neighborhood. In addition to the beverages, the shop also features a selection of local baked goods including hand pies.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Street Food: Yes

ASHE Supply Co

This downtown Detroit cafe features lots comfortable seating and snacks sourced from Detroit Institute of Bagels and Sister Pie, plus an extremely fast Wi-Fi connection. It’s a worthy spot to pull out a laptop.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Metered and garage Food: Yes

Customers in jackets and sweaters gather around a curved bar sitting at stools.
Ashe Supply Co.
Michelle and Chris Gerard

Karl’s and Populace Coffee

The Siren Hotel is home to several unique restaurants, bars, and cafes — a handful of which are good for remote work. Visitors looking for a casual spot to hangout with a laptop can grab a seat in the lobby next to the Populace Coffee bar. For a more substantial menu, a bar, and the very same coffee, head up the staircase to the hotel’s retro diner Karl’s.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Some Parking: Metered, valet, garage Food: Yes

Related Maps

Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters Detroit

Centrally located in downtown’s Capitol Park area, this big, minimalist coffee bar brews espresso drinks and pour overs while serving a selection of pastries and cheesecakes made in-house. The shop offers a range of smaller tables mixed with communal high tops and bar seats, so there’s always a spot to buckle down and work.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Yes Parking: Metered and paid lots Food: Yes

The Apparatus Room

The Foundation Hotel’s anchor restaurant and cafe features big windows to let in plenty of light and lots of comfy seating around a mid-century fireplace for a comfortable daytime work session. The bar serves coffee daily and the restaurant offers a pastries and a full menu with lots of breakfast and lunch options.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Some Parking: Metered and garage Food: Yes

Lucky Detroit

Tucked above Detroit Barbers, Lucky Detroit has been covertly serving coffee and cheesecake bites in Corktown for nearly a year. The cafe’s roomy, saloon-like interior features a variety of tables and couches with a quiet atmosphere and nice views of Michigan Avenue.

Wi-Fi: Yes Outlets: Some Parking: Metered street Food: Some

Related Maps