L.A. Writer's Nooks with Free WiFi

This is where I am sitting right now, so it is clearly one of my favorites and I’ll tell you why: it’s across the street from my apartment. Literally. I can see it from my window. In addition, it’s got some other very important features that I look for when going out to write. Their wifi always works. The staff are friendly but not nosy or loud. On weeknights I am no stranger to being the only one here, so there’s no fighting over outlets for your laptop. It’s clean and their coffee is decent, plus they have a bunch of tea with cute names like “Tea to Tango”.

Complaints: All the tables wobble. I have sat at every table here and they ALL wobble. This is both annoying and completely baffling.

One preemptive caveat here, this is not the best place to write. But it does have free WiFi and maybe if you are not easily distracted, it might be OK for you.

This hip coffee shop/cafe on a cool stretch of Franklin Ave. is a hangout for many Hollywood wannabe types. You can kick back in their vaguely Moroccan themed lounge and take in various conversations about pitch sessions or skinny jeans.

Complaints: The music is loud and oddly incongruous with the vibe. It’s not a club, guys, it’s a coffee shop. Also, the name is pretty lame.

This tiny and plush shop on Beverly is very popular with writers. The most notable feature of this particular cafe is that they are open until 1:30am daily, which is great if you feel creative late at night. Also a good place to get cozy with fellow freelancers.

Complaints: It’s a little snobbish. But what do you expect when you go west of Fairfax. Yuck.

A Hollywood (more like Thai Town) favorite that used to be called “Espresso Mi Cultura” always has a colorful cast of characters hanging out, some writing, some just drinking their fair trade coffee.

Complaints: Yummy desserts. That’s a double edged slice, for me.

I confess to never having done any work here, but they do have great coffee and a very relaxed vibe that I love. The Hollywood (actual Hollywood) location is a draw for lots of attractive and aspiring writers, or actors who write, or people who are just attractive for no good reason.

Complaints: Not a ton of seating and no comfy plush places to park it.

Another middle eastern themed cafe, but this one is in the Sunset Junction area of Silverlake (it’s kind of like a neighborhood within a neighborhood). Small and usually quite full of people with laptops, their internet is not very reliable, but you can usually steal a signal from somewhere nearby if theirs is being finicky. The world music that they play is an interesting backdrop for being creative and they have a really cool selection of teas and treats.

Complaints: Well, the internet wasn’t working the last time I was there. Again, put up a dang sign.

Something about Psychobabble is slightly offputting. It’s kind of dirty and the floors are a weird unfinished cement and all the couches look like something you might find in your grandmother’s basement. But, you will find plenty of people tapping away at screenplays (seriously, I’ve seen more Courier New here than I care to remember) and an internet connection. It’s a lot bigger than it’s narrow storefront suggests so there is also plenty of seating, though you may get stuck at one of the tables instead of a couch. More sanitary, probably, but less comfortable. You’ve got to make a purchase and get a password, but it’s pretty fast and I always feel fairly productive after an evening at Psychobabble.

Complaints: Once I came here and bought my coffee before they told me that the internet was out. Put up a sign, guys.