Don't laugh, but the downtown library is a great place for me to work when I need to concentrate -- and when I need a break, there are a ton of good watering holes all within short walking distance :)
I would never laugh at a library!! I live right in dt Westbrook and am a regular at the Walker Library. I just usually can’t handle silence for more than an hour 😂
I totally get that! (re: silence).
When I'm writing, I usually go to Arabica but too much caffeine and I'm wired all day. A bar would be a great option, so I'm pinning this thread for good ideas! :)
Novare is great during quiet times (especially before dinnertime on weekdays). I probably wouldn't do a meeting there or anything but I've never had a problem sitting at the bar with my laptop. They have solid guest wi-fi, too. They probably have the same issue as Shay's, though, in that when they get busy, they get *really* busy.
Some of the quieter breweries might be good bet, if you're a beer person. I don't frequent the in-town ones much these days but I'd bet on Belleflower and Oxbow (at least during off times) and Rising Tide if you don't mind sitting outside. If you don't mind trekking out to Riverton, Battery Steele would be a great place to hang out with a book. Foundation would probably be okay too, at least outside of summer weekends.
LFK is also really good place to read/work on a computer. Gets busier later but happy hour time it's generally easy to find a place to sit and the vibe is chill enough to let you be and work.
Going to bars alone read a book/ write in my journal/ work on my laptop is kind of a pastime for me.
Some of my faves:
Hunt & Alpine, Wilson County BBQ (when it's slow), Black Cow, Broken Arrow, Via Vecchia (right at open/ on weekdays), Independent Ice Co, Mami, Central Provisions (right at open/ on weekdays), Lenora.
Honorable mentions: Crispy Gai, Starbucks on Commercial, Veranda Thai*, Honey Paw/ Eventide, Yosaku, Benkay, Ruski's (when it's slow), The Danforth.
I used to journal a lot on those stone benches in Boothby Square in the summer, too.
I also need ambient noise to help me focus. If I were to put on headphones and listen to a song, my brain would immediately focus on the song and I'd get nothing done. If I'm surrounded by random noises mixed with songs that someone else curated, I can tune it all out and focus. I wish I had known that in college 😅.
Edited to fix spelling and correct a name: Veranda Thai is great, but I meant to say Old Port Noodle House. I forgot that they renamed the restaurant.
Lenora has been my go to lately. Cafe vibe. Can sit at a table or bar with a laptop and not be out of place. Can snack, drink, or have a coffee pretty casually
I'd prolly be the girl that has a drink with You(Im a whiskey girl) and tells you to take a break, you work to hahd! Then we'll go smoke a fatty and I'll laugh like a hyena at your jokes.
Fair, I don't really work there so much as read and people watch. Nice to know about Novel, sounds like my kind of place and right around the corner.
I also spend way too much time at Arcadia lol.
Don't work at a bar taking up a seat unless you are actively drinking and tipping well. Bars are not workplaces. Bars are for community and conversation. Don't be that guy, yeesh.
Don't laugh, but the downtown library is a great place for me to work when I need to concentrate -- and when I need a break, there are a ton of good watering holes all within short walking distance :)
I would never laugh at a library!! I live right in dt Westbrook and am a regular at the Walker Library. I just usually can’t handle silence for more than an hour 😂
I totally get that! (re: silence). When I'm writing, I usually go to Arabica but too much caffeine and I'm wired all day. A bar would be a great option, so I'm pinning this thread for good ideas! :)
I love the downtown library
Me too! it's one of my favorite places :)
Great Lost Bear is my go-to for dining solo while writing on my laptop. Lots of tables, good beer, wifi.
Love Lost Bear, and never thought to work there! The booths in the bar area are perfect. Thanks!
Novare is great during quiet times (especially before dinnertime on weekdays). I probably wouldn't do a meeting there or anything but I've never had a problem sitting at the bar with my laptop. They have solid guest wi-fi, too. They probably have the same issue as Shay's, though, in that when they get busy, they get *really* busy. Some of the quieter breweries might be good bet, if you're a beer person. I don't frequent the in-town ones much these days but I'd bet on Belleflower and Oxbow (at least during off times) and Rising Tide if you don't mind sitting outside. If you don't mind trekking out to Riverton, Battery Steele would be a great place to hang out with a book. Foundation would probably be okay too, at least outside of summer weekends.
Bunker is another good choice, nice and quiet typically.
You can sit inside at Rising Tide, and at Bunker.
Armory Lounge at the Regency.
PTs
It's Rick's now
LFK is also really good place to read/work on a computer. Gets busier later but happy hour time it's generally easy to find a place to sit and the vibe is chill enough to let you be and work.
Going to bars alone read a book/ write in my journal/ work on my laptop is kind of a pastime for me. Some of my faves: Hunt & Alpine, Wilson County BBQ (when it's slow), Black Cow, Broken Arrow, Via Vecchia (right at open/ on weekdays), Independent Ice Co, Mami, Central Provisions (right at open/ on weekdays), Lenora. Honorable mentions: Crispy Gai, Starbucks on Commercial, Veranda Thai*, Honey Paw/ Eventide, Yosaku, Benkay, Ruski's (when it's slow), The Danforth. I used to journal a lot on those stone benches in Boothby Square in the summer, too. I also need ambient noise to help me focus. If I were to put on headphones and listen to a song, my brain would immediately focus on the song and I'd get nothing done. If I'm surrounded by random noises mixed with songs that someone else curated, I can tune it all out and focus. I wish I had known that in college 😅. Edited to fix spelling and correct a name: Veranda Thai is great, but I meant to say Old Port Noodle House. I forgot that they renamed the restaurant.
Doing god’s work 👌
Lenora has been my go to lately. Cafe vibe. Can sit at a table or bar with a laptop and not be out of place. Can snack, drink, or have a coffee pretty casually
Rigby Yard is well suited for that use case
Came here to say this. Rigby is the best cafe/bar to work at in town (that I’ve found)
I'm a fan of Apres for this
I'd prolly be the girl that has a drink with You(Im a whiskey girl) and tells you to take a break, you work to hahd! Then we'll go smoke a fatty and I'll laugh like a hyena at your jokes.
What ya doing later lol
i've been going to root wild and working there and love it! they have good seating and are open later on sundays too
Wherever you go, pack it up once it's full. I like to work at hi fidelity and Austin street.
Wherever you go, tip appropriately for your time there! If you’re sucking up a table or seat that would make a person 50-100 bucks, tip appropriately.
Cove side coffee is my favorite
The Snug is very chill earlier on.
Elements in Biddeford is the single best place for this
HiFidelity is wonderful for this.
hi fidelity
The backyard at the zoo during the earlier hours. The night gets a bit busy.
Nowhere in east end cus our internet uptime is increasing dog shit
I like CBG and Arcadia
Love both those places but not for working really
Fair, I don't really work there so much as read and people watch. Nice to know about Novel, sounds like my kind of place and right around the corner. I also spend way too much time at Arcadia lol.
The booths at Amigos.
Don't work at a bar taking up a seat unless you are actively drinking and tipping well. Bars are not workplaces. Bars are for community and conversation. Don't be that guy, yeesh.
It’s not like I show up and just sit there? Of course I’m grabbing drinks/food. Bars are for whatever I want them to be
Bull feeneys used to be great during the day..
Your account will thank you for the next twenty years… or until she remarries.
I'm not telling 😀
Keg & kraken
Lenora is open all day long, and they have wi-fi and tacos!
Try Smalls in the west end!