What are some nice spots to read & wifi? (Austin: hotels, houses)

[JCLC]

Coffee shops or whatever... what are some nice relaxed spots to get a drink and chill with a laptop or a good book?

and possibly meet some people on the way lol...(since I just arrived here)

In the general area of Austin...

Thanks!

[Schnaiy]

You can try Borders - great reading, nice food and little bistro tables to sit and drink coffee. They also have wifi.

[twange]

Originally Posted by JCLC

Coffee shops or whatever... what are some nice relaxed spots to get a drink and chill with a laptop or a good book?

and possibly meet some people on the way lol...(since I just arrived here)

In the general area of Austin...

Thanks!

These are my regular hangs simply because of proximity(in no particular order):

Summer moon (outstanding wood-fired coffee)
Bouldin Creek Coffeehouse - animation & site by OceanMedia.net (hippy/hipster hang - decent vegetarian options)
Austin Java Cafe and Coffeehouse - Austin, Texas (good space, decent food - I like the one on Barton Springs and the one on N Lamar)
Flipnotics * Austin, Texas * 512.480.8646 « Flipnotics * Austin, Texas * 512.480.8646 (Barton Springs location - nice outdoor spot)
Garden District (like to sit outside and look at all of the beautiful plants at the nursery
Emerald City Press | 915 North Lamar Austin, Texas 78703 (I usually use the drive-thru but they have a nice spot outside to hang and the coffee is delicious)

Also been to and liked:
http://www.epochcoffee.com/ (24 hour hipster hang)
Thunderbird Coffee (nice clean design, good pastries)
Kick Butt Coffee - Austin, TX (quirky martial arts theme)
Downtown Jo's : 242 West 2nd Street (downtown location better for hangin'g out to read/wi-fi - SoCo location better for people watching)
Cafe Mundi (great spot on the East side with a wonderful outdoor setting)
Mozart's Coffee Roasters, specialty coffee, Austin, Texas. (BEAUTIFUL setting on Lake Austin. This place has a DECADENT selection of pastry and bakery - a bit crowded on weekend nights)

[CptnRn]

Aussie's Bar & Grill Free wifi, food, bar, free volley ball games, etc.
306 Barton Springs Rd
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 474-2255

Schlotzsky's Deli
218 S Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 476-2867

Free WiFi hotspots wi-fi cafes coffee shops hotels wireless airports

[Trainwreck20]

Panera Bread

[TexasGirl@Heart]

Does Starbucks have free WiFi?

I've been to some of the places Twange has mentioned....
-Jo's on S.Congress--he's right...great people watching there.
-Bouldin Creek Coffeehouse....OK..

I want to try that wood fired coffee! Sounds delicious. Oh and Mozart's--I'm all about the decadent deserts/pastries!

[satxguero]

Then there seems to be some people here in Austin taking advantage of free wi-fi in the coffeehouses.

Screens: The Hidden Costs of Free: Is free Wi-Fi killing coffeehouse culture? - The Austin Chronicle

[austinite45]

Originally Posted by JCLC

Coffee shops or whatever... what are some nice relaxed spots to get a drink and chill with a laptop or a good book?

and possibly meet some people on the way lol...(since I just arrived here)

In the general area of Austin...

Thanks!

NONE in the summer (late May, June, July, August, September) if you are talking about outdoor spots ... how can there be? with temperature in the high 90s and 100s, one has to be suffering from idiopathic hypothermia to enjoy wi-fi'ing outdoors.

Have a little sympathy for the laptop, if not for your own body.

[readymade]

Originally Posted by twange

These are my regular hangs simply because of proximity(in no particular order):


Emerald City Press | 915 North Lamar Austin, Texas 78703 (I usually use the drive-thru but they have a nice spot outside to hang and the coffee is delicious)

I WANT to like this place because it's a drive-through... which is awesome (and I'm lazy). But their chai tea is TERRIBLE! Such a bummer. I was surprised to hear their coffee was good (not a coffee drinker, myself).

[AustinExPat]

Originally Posted by JCLC

Coffee shops or whatever... what are some nice relaxed spots to get a drink and chill with a laptop or a good book?

Quack's 43rd St Bakery (43rd and Duval) - The pastries are better than the coffee. Admire the cute dogs and cats when the humane society set up their tables and cages on the sidewalk across the street.

Jo's Hot Coffee South Congress (near San Jose Hotel and Austin Motel) - All outdoor, so wait until it cools off! Nice view of the streetlife on S. Congress. Decent kolaches, when they have them.

Sweetish Hill Bakery (West 6th St, couple of blocks west of Lamar) - Close to Waterloo Records. Overhear the latest gossip about the Austin Independent School District from AISD employees who work across the street.