10 Baltimore restaurants and cafes to fuel your coworking with outlets, food and Wi-Fi

“I get by with a little help from my friends.”

These lyrics from The Beatles’ 1967 song, “With A Little Help From My Friends,” resonate with the approach behind coworking. Whether you do it in a dedicated coworking space or a coffee shop, embracing the community aspect behind taking a break from home and collaborating with friends can pay dividends. This kind of work environment — or, really, any kind — can reinforce the importance of essentials like food, strong Wi-Fi and comfortable seating to the strongest work possible.

Of course, some more traditional coworking spaces did, in fact, struggle or die during or after the pandemic. WeWork is just the most prominent example of a broader trend. But these Baltimore cafes, restaurants and food halls still appear to be standing.

To help the office-less among you, we’ve put together a condensed version of our annual coworking guide that focuses on places more public than the typical rent-requiring spots. They come complete with snacks, because who can resist a little extra fuel for creativity or coding?

Cuples Tea House

409 N. Howard St.

Husband and wife duo Lynnette and Eric Dodson opened Cuples Tea House as a mobile and online tea company. Since then, they’ve opened a brick-and-mortar on “Healthy Howard row” in Baltimore’s Bromo Arts District. The loose tea and teaware at the small shop are available to possible coworkers along with light snacks and an accompanying record shop — also owned by the Dodsons.

Allora

1005 N. Charles St.

This bistro-style restaurant in Mt. Vernon has a mission to bring people together over shared passions and experiences. ​If someone should choose this Roman-inspired spot for coworking, they might find an ample amount of outlets and domes full of baked sweets to go along with espresso and a lunch menu as early as 11 a.m. From light fare like the watermelon beet salad to an arguably heavier carbonara that you can also order online, Allora and owners Brendon Hudson and David Monteagudo aim to serve up a little piece of Rome in Baltimore.

It’s also worth noting, for transparency’s sake, that the owners have been accused of delayed or incomplete payments to employees, lenders and contractors. Hudson also faced lawsuits related to alleged non-payment of vendors and lessees. He previously disputed employees’ accounts to The Baltimore Banner; he also told the publication that he was working on paying back debts.

good neighbor + guesthouse by good neighbor

3827 Falls Rd.

Expecting guests from beyond Baltimore? Need both accommodation and a central meeting point to get some matcha and toast before exploring the town? You may not have to look further than good neighbor and its affiliated guesthouse in Hampden. The restaurant offers an array of amenities for its guests to enjoy and take home at cost, from kitchenware to textiles. The complex is owned by Shawn Chopra and stewarded alongside a small staff. The guesthouse features an Amy Sherald painting among other locally inspired Baltimore touches. Whether you’re solo with your laptop on a random Tuesday morning or wish to extend hospitality to visitors, you might consider this option.

Café Los Sueños

2740 Huntingdon Ave.

Carlos Payes, the owner of this Remington neighborhood cafe, got his start in the coffee fields of El Salvador. After launching a DC roastery, Payes now operates a Baltimore coffee counter where his staff serves “handcrafted coffees” to patrons and people potentially coworking. The cafe offers a few seats, outlets and pastry domes filled with assorted goodies.

R. House and Doppio Pasticceria

301 W. 29th St.

Before the happy hour at R. Bar, there’s a quiet moment for focused work at this food hall — even with the potential disruption of a lunch rush around noon. While you work, you might enjoy checking out Doppio Pasticceria, a Sicilian bakery inside R. House. Teased by a distinctive paint job featuring its logo and menu items on the facade at 300 W. 29th St., the bakery might be moving across the street from the hall soon. Even with this possible relocation, the combination of nearby stops in Remington may still prove productive and yummy for any coworkers.

Rize + Rest Cafe

3100 E. Baltimore St.

Prince George’s County, Maryland native Randall Matthews unveiled this cafe in Patterson Park a few weeks ago. The Baltimore street spot, described on its website as a “dual concept,” features a menu of fresh-baked biscuits and pear pastries. Much like Allora, patrons can make dinner reservations for later in the evening while they work on projects and nibble on snacks.

Cross Street Market and Ceremony Coffee Roasters

1065 S. Charles St.

This Federal Hill food hall offers public Wi-Fi and a coffee merchant. There are plenty of outlets, and it opens at 7 a.m. most mornings. Ceremony, the anchor of the market, serves biscuits with eggs, turkey sausage or bacon. It also has a mint mocha shake for a midday boost before a string of afternoon meetings.

Llamas’ Corner

132 McMechen St.

Founders Marc and Vanessa “Ness” Neufcourt open up their Bolton Hill spot every day (except for weekends) at 8 a.m. For those seeking decaf coffee for their morning ritual or alternative seating, this cafe boasts a large mural of a llama, buzz-free brews, swings and a couch. You might even order your latte and croissant ahead of your arrival. The natural lighting is ample, but you may want to bring a power strip for sharing a limited amount of outlets.

Artifact Coffee

1500 Union Ave.

Not sure whether to stay in your neighborhood or venture out to a cafe? Artifact gives you the flexibility to choose either option. This cafe slings cardamom mochas and other treats via both delivery and a cozy spot at Union Mill, a redeveloped historic stone mill in Hampden. You can learn about the building using these archives.

Dear Globe Coffee

422 W. Mulberry St.

Nestled in the Bromo Arts District, this woman-owned cafe, led by founder LieAnne Navarro, offers a blended culinary and artistic experience. It has a rotating gallery for local artists, often transforming its walls into a canvas of diverse expression. It also has live music in the evenings.