Cafes to work from in Antigua
Laptop-friendly coffee shops
Antigua is probably the place with the biggest selection of cafés and restaurants to work from. You’re spoilt by choice and Charlie can’t decide which one she liked the most. These are the coffee shops, restaurants and bars Charlie has worked from as a digital nomad in Antigua.
Café Estudio
This coffee shop is around the corner from the famous arch in the heart of Antigua. It is clearly marked by a bicycle that serves as the shop sign. As you pass by the counter where you order your coffee, you enter a stunning inner courtyard in colonial style. Take the spiral staircase on the left and choose your spot on the roof terrace with 360 degree-views over Antigua and the mountains. A great plus, they do crepes and waffles!
There are power plugs, even at the terrace, and the Wi-Fi is strong. Just ask for the password when you order your coffee. There are sun sails at the terrace so you can still see your screen when the sun is out.
Location: 5 calle oriente #12, Antigua Guatemala
Opening hours: Daily 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.*
Alegría
The name suggest pure joy and that’s what you feel when you try their delicious burrito or a smoothie. For breakfast, you can indulge in pancakes or avocado toast. The walls at Alegría are decorated in art and you find strong Wi-Fi and power plugs near every table. You should know though that they don’t allow laptops on weekends.
Location: 5 Calle Poniente, Antigua Guatemala
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday to Sunday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.*
La Vid Coffee Roasters
This is another popular coworking café in Antigua and it even has a coworking sign above the door. You find comfortable sofas and tables, including a spacious coworking table. As the name suggests, La Vid Coffee Roasters is specialized in coffee. You can also get some pastries, but no lunch. There is strong Wi-Fi and power plugs. However, there is no restroom.
Location: 3a Calle Poniente #14, Antigua Guatemala
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays 12 to 6 p.m.*
Fernando’s Kaffee
This place is almost a bit hidden in one of the quieter streets in Antigua. From the outside, it only looks like a tiny take-away coffee stand, however there is a courtyard with table service. It is perfect to also have lunch!
Charlie was sitting at the edge of the courtyard and the Wi-Fi signal was okay, but probably not strong enough for calls and she did not see any power plugs. The Empanada though was delicious.
Fernando’s is close to La Vid and Ojala, so you could go to Fernando’s for lunch and then head back to one of the other coffee shops.
Location: 7a Avenida Norte, Antigua Guatemala
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.*
Ojala Café + Bar
Just a few doors from La Vid Coffee Roasters is a hotel with a beautiful coffee shop in the garden: Ojala Café + Bar. You will sit in between beautiful colonial-style balconies in an urban jungle.
There is good Wi-Fi and power plugs for some tables. The coffee is locally sourced and roasted at a female-owned farm. In the evening, it turns into a cocktail bar with a happy hour.
Location: 7a Avenida Norte, Antigua Guatemala
Opening hours: Daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.*
Café Condesa
You won’t find a café and restaurant that is more central than Café Condesa. It is next to the central park and seems a bit hidden. As you walk through the arched passageway keep an eye out for the entrance. You will pass by some shops and market stalls and reach the restaurant. The tables are split over multiple small inner courtyards with plenty of plants and fountains.
As a café and restaurant, they have a vast offer for breakfast and lunch and there is strong Wi-Fi too. Charlie hasn’t spotted any power plugs. However, she only tried one of the multiple courtyards. There might be some at the indoor seating.
Location: La Casa del Conde, Avenida Norte 5a, Antigua Guatemala
Opening hours: Daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.*
Starbucks
Franchised coffee shops don’t usually make it onto Charlie’s lists, however the Starbucks in Antigua is worth a visit, even if only for that stunning courtyard in colonial style. The outdoor tables are decorated in beautiful mosaic which makes it difficult to use a mouse for your laptop. There is indoor seating too and some larger tables for co-working as well as sofas. Everything else is the same as in any Starbucks worldwide.
Location: 5a Avenida Norte 15, Antigua Guatemala
Opening hours: Daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.*
Café Boheme
In the same street as Café Alegria is another coffee shop with coworking table and a roof terrace: Café Boheme. They have a small breakfast offer and a vast lunch menu. As you come up to the terrace you will find multiple indoor and outdoor spaces to choose from. The nicest part of the terrace unfortunately was busy when Charlie arrived and she felt a bit hushed by the waitress to choose a table to sit. She couldn’t see any power plugs and unfortunately the table she was sitting at wasn’t stable.
A lot of the tables at Café Boheme are in the style of recycled wood which unfortunately makes the surface unsuitable to use a mouse, even the big coworking table is like that. The Wi-Fi is strong and the password is written on the napkin holder. Charlie wishes she had had more time to select a good table to work from. She had her breakfast, sent a few emails and went on to the next place. It’s a shame really as Café Boheme is a beautiful place with a great atmosphere.
Location: 5a Calle Poniente #12B, Antigua Guatemala
Opening hours: Daily from 7.30 a.m. to 8 p.m.*
Serve Hope Café
This was Charlie’s favourite laptop-friendly café in Antigua. Why? Because it has a proper coworking set up. It was the only place where Charlie felt she could easily bring her separate screen and they even have a separate meeting room that you can book. Power plugs were easy to spot, tables have a good height and the Wi-Fi was strong.
Needless to say, the coffee was great too and the banana bread was served warm. They only serve drinks and pastries, so for lunch you’d have to pop out.
Serve Hope Café is a non-profit and works closely with the church and supports good causes, mainly to bring clean water to people in Guatemala in Honduras. Another reason to spend your coffee money here!
Location: 6a Calle Poniente 39, Antigua Guatemala
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.*
Artista de Café
There is a coworking café 5 minutes down the road from the Central Park in Antigua: Artista de Café. When Charlie went to check it out, she was lucky to get a seat on one of the larger coworking tables. It was busy!
There were people sitting with laptops everywhere and there were even some groups working on projects together. Artista de Café serves lunch and breakfast and as a “Specialty Coffeeshop”, of course, coffee.
Location: 5a avenida sur #34B, Antigua Guatemala
Opening hours: Daily 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.*
Siena Luz Coffee & Book Shop
As the name suggests, you can get coffee and books at Siena Luz. There is a library room and outdoor seating in a small courtyard. The walls are decorated in beautiful murals. You can get breakfast and Siena Luz as well as sandwiches for lunch.
It was easy to find a power plug and the tables are suitable for working. The Wi-Fi password is conveniently written in several places around the café – you can’t miss it.
Location: 6a Avenida Norte, Antigua Guatemala
Opening hours: Sunday to Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.*
Rainbow Café
This one could easily be missed because it is at a corner of two streets and disguised as a book store. If you pass through the shop though, you reach a courtyard with plenty of tables. The WiFi password is conveniently written on the walls and it was strong enough to have a video call. Charlie did not spot any power plugs. The vast lunch offer at Rainbow Café made it hard for her to choose a meal.
Location: 7a Avenida Sur, Antigua Guatemala
Opening hours: Daily 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.*
Unión Café
This coffee shop came highly recommended and Charlie was not disappointed. Unión Café has a yummy breakfast and lunch offer, strong WiFi and powerplugs. You can choose to sit near the bar or in the courtyard.
Location: 6 Calle Oriente #6, Antigua Guatemala
Opening hours: Daily 7.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.*
Café Sol
This coffee shop is a bit further away from the town centre and it is unlikely that you will pass by just like that. It is worth a detour though! You can choose to sit in the courtyard or take the spiral staircase up to the roof. The terrace is small and very quiet – perfect to work from! The WiFi password is written at the coffee bar and it is strong enough to reach the roof terrace too. They also have a breakfast and lunch offer, Charlie only had a coffee though.
Location: Callejón del Sol #11, Antigua Guatemala
Opening hours: Daily 8 a.m. to 5p.m.*
12 Onzas
It is a small coffee shop and very popular among laptop-workers. You might have trouble getting a spot! There is strong WiFi and powerplugs on every table. They serve breakfast and lunch as well as good coffee.
Location: 4a Calle Poniente #5, Antigua Guatemala
Opening hours: Daily 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.*
A ver quien soy café
Charlie discovered this cute little coffee shop because it is next to the tour agency that organised the hike to Acatenango. The Café A ver quien soy is small and usually not busy. They serve great coffee and some snacks. The WiFi is good and you can choose between a proper table or a more comfy chair with views towards the road. Even though they have old records displayed on the walls, the background music isn’t too loud and perfect for working on your laptop.
Location: 2a Calle Poniente #25, Antigua Guatemala
Opening hours: Daily 7a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays until 9 p.m.*
*Subject to change
