We don’t know what it is, but there’s just something about working from a café that help makes that mountain of work look just a little more conquerable.
Is it the novelty of getting away from your desk? The happy buzz and natural lighting? The fact that you won’t run into anybody you know, and if you do, it’s just that one guy who asked you to keep an eye on his laptop a few weeks ago?
Whatever it is, we love it, and there are plenty of awesome coffee shops and cafés dotted across the capital that are perfect for remote working.
Here are a few of our favourites. Just don’t forget your laptop charger…
% Arabica
Abu Dhabi is a city of coffee enthusiasts (aka snobs), but even the biggest aficionados will be happy with the brews on offer at % Arabica. If you can’t even vaguely think about starting work without a great cup of joe, then you should definitely swing by here. There is both indoor and outdoor seating, including some cosy sofas that just need to be sunk into.
Sun-Wed 6.30am-midnight, Thu-Sat 6.30am-1am. Al Jazeera Tower, behind Corniche Road (02 677 7335).
Art House Café
Located inside the Etihad Modern Art Gallery, Art House Café is easily one of our favourite spaces to work remotely in Abu Dhabi. It’s bright and colourful, which will no doubt get your creative juices flowing, and you’ll find plenty of other people working here to keep you motivated (if only out of peer pressure). It’s definitely not your typical café, and we love it all the more for it.
Daily 10am-midnight. Etihad Modern Art Gallery, Al Bateen (02 666 0175).
Blacksmith Coffee Company
Pay a visit to Blacksmith Coffee Company and you’re guaranteed two things: great coffee, and lots and lots of students. It is on the New York University Abu Dhabi campus after all, and personally we love people watching and listening into conversations that would only happen at university (oh, to be young again). There’s a healthy buzz, but it’s definitely not too loud, and an excellent spot to get some work done remotely.
Sun-Thu 7.15am-10pm, Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 9am-9pm. New York University Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Marina District (02 650 1881).
Coffee Architecture
This coffee shop on Saadiyat Island is about art in every form, from the design of the café itself to the handpicked furniture, to the artwork on the walls from local artists that are available to buy. It’s a light and minimalist space, and we’re big fans of the outdoor area that looks out to the sea. You can also find coffee beans from all over the world here.
Sat-Wed 8am-10pm, Thu-Fri 8am-midnight. Soul Beach, Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island (055 446 3433).
Fifth Street Café
With fast WiFi, plenty of plug sockets and great coffee, Fifth Street Café has everything you need to work remotely in Abu Dhabi. You’ll no doubt see plenty of other digital nomads tapping away on their laptops, and there’s even a free sharing library for you to give away books you no longer want, or pick up your next read. Don’t miss out on the unlimited breakfast deal at the weekend, where you’ll get plates piled high with food for just Dhs75.
Daily 7am-11pm. Courtyard by Marriott World Trade Centre, Hamdan Street (02 698 2255).
Joud Café
A previous winner of our best café award, you already know that we’re big fans of this spot. The interiors are gorgeous, and we could while away hours upon hours on the cosy sofas. The coffee is exceptional, too. What more could you possibly want?
Daily 8am-11pm. Al Bateen Park Plaza, Al Bateen (056 525 8235).
No. Fifty Seven Boutique Café
The oh-so-trendy, picture-perfect, and just generally hip No. Fifty Seven Boutique Café will no doubt have made it onto your Instagram feed in the past. Aside from the gorgeous interiors and delicious food, it’s also a great spot to get a bit of work done during the week. The breakfast will keep you going for hours.
Daily 9am-10.45pm. Building Two, Al Marasy, Al Bateen Harbour (02 441 6100).
Rain Café
Rainy days call for hot coffee, cosy sofas and a good book. While it might not rain very often in Abu Dhabi, you can always pretend, and we can’t think of a better place to do so than at Rain Café. It’s ultra cosy and has world-class coffee to boot.
Various locations including the Corniche and Yas Mall.
The Third Place Café
When you first start working remotely, it can be difficult to separate your work from your home life, which is why so many people tend to work in cafés or coffee shops across the capital. The Third Place Café aims to be somewhere that’s neither your work nor your home, but a place to read, work and enjoy a superb cup of coffee. It certainly ticks all three boxes, and you’ll find plenty of other digital nomads taking up sofas.
Daily 8am-11pm. Corniche Road, Al Khalidiya (02 681 1877).
