For many teleworkers, sitting at a corner table overlooking a bustling street and sipping a artisanal cappuccino provides the perfect setup for a day of remote work.
It is no secret that café work culture has boomed in recent years, especially since Covid-19, with numbers of Belgian teleworkers in 2022 almost doubling what they were in 2018.
But not all cafés are equipped for or welcome teleworkers, with some not offering WiFi and others limiting the use of computers and tablets to weekdays.
If you have just arrived in Brussels and are looking for the ideal work-from-café setup, here are our favourite teleworking-friendly coffee shops to explore in the city.
Taylor's Café
Taylor's Café is cozy and bright in equal measure and prides itself on being a planted-based and low waste café. Although the space itself is small, the charging outlets are plentiful and the wall decor is lovely.
Credit: Maud Vandenput / Instagram
While the WiFi is always free, the use of computers and other working equipment is limited to weekdays to allow for more coffee drinkers during weekends.
"But during the week teleworkers are always welcome!" reassures Lydia, owner and manager, who herself used to work in coffee shops before opening Taylor's Café. Investing in WiFi is not expensive, so it is worth it to provide a good connection for your customers, she added.
Rue Haute 228, 1000 Bruxelles. Find more information here.
Belga & Co
With two locations in Brussels, Belga & Co's mission is to "inspire and cultivate the world, one person, one cup at a time." Both locations have comfortable indoor and outdoor seating and provide a relaxing working environment.
Credit: Hekmat Aboukhater
The WiFi is strong, the outlets reachable and the music low enough to allow for intensive work and study sessions. Belga & Co also have plenty of milk-alternative and vegan-friendly options.
Rue E. Solvay 12, 1050 Ixelles and Rue du Bailli 7A, 1000 Bruxelles. Find more information here.
LazyBear
LazyBear is arguably one of the most telework-friendly cafés in Brussels. After all, their slogan is "eat, drink, work." Benjamin, one of the café managers, says that they believe coffee shops are a place of inspiration where customers can intersect productivity with leisure.
Credit: @LazyBear_bxl on Instagram
"It is important to us to provide a comfortable and welcoming space for our customers to work, study or simply relax while enjoying our delicious coffees, pastries and meals," he added. "At LazyBear, we're happy to be a part of café work culture by providing a comfortable space with free WiFi and laptop outlets."
With welcoming staff always on hand, teleworkers can enjoy a selection of hot and cold drinks, alcoholic beverages, breakfast pastries, tapas, burgers, bagels and salads.
Avenue de L'Épée 18/20, 1000 Bruxelles. Find more information here.
Golden Bean
Golden Bean is known for having several locations dotted around Luxembourg, but it also has cafés in Antwerp and in Brussels city centre, just a stone's throw away from the Royal Palace and several national museums.
Credit: @emma_vgu / Instagram
With a lofted floor, hanging plants and many vegan and milk-alternative options, it offers a comfortable working and studying environment with free WiFi and several charging outlets.
Golden Bean has an established reputation as a good spot for remote work on both weekdays and weekends, so get there early to avoid the crowds.
Rue de Namur 29, 1000 Bruxelles. Find more information here.
Kafei
Kafei has three main cafés in Brussels, each with varying Asian-fusion coffee, tea and brunch menus: Kafei Louise, Kafei Dansaert and Kafei Korner.
There is also a fourth location (Kafei Atelier) which has coffee and baked goods to-go, but no WiFi. Co-founder Ping Ping Wang confirms, however, that the other three main locations all have WiFi and charging outlets.
Credit: @photogenicbrussels / Instagram
Just as in Taylor's Café, however, customers are asked not to bring laptops during the weekends, and around lunch time when the cafés are busiest. Kafei Korner only sells coffee, tea and fluffy pancakes so Wang advises that it is the more appropriate and comfortable location for teleworkers.
Chaussée de Vleurgat 147, 1000 Bruxelles (Kafei Louise), Rue Antoine Dansaert 57, 1000 Bruxelles (Kafei Dansaert), Rue Joseph Stevens 2, 1000 Bruxelles (Kafei Korner).
Find more information here.
Café Capitale
In the heart of Brussels, teleworkers and caffeine addicts alike can take advantage of Café Capitale, a "wholesome coffee experience" as one of its reviews raves.
Credit: @kafei_bxl on Instagram
With plenty of seating both indoors and out, there's room for everyone. In fact, you'll often spot other people working on their laptops, and even students studying for their next exams.
The wifi is free and many seats have easy access to charging outlets. Enjoy artisanal hot drinks and delicious pastries while on the grind.
Rue du Midi 45, 1000 Bruxelles. Find more information here.
