Remember when finding a quiet cafe in Bangkok meant showing up at 7am?

I got so tired of fighting for a table with a plug that I started checking Google Maps for barber shops and small gyms instead, and now I book their back rooms by the hour for less than a coffee a day. It's way quieter, the wifi is solid because they need it for their business, and I'm not fighting tourists for space. Anyone found a similar hack in Mexico City or Lisbon?

3 comments

3 Comments

simonp4714d agoTop Commenter

Ever tried a library, like @robin_lee's guesthouse idea?

robin_lee14d ago

That's a great idea about using barber shop back rooms. I've had luck in Lisbon with small, family-run guesthouses. They often have a common room or a small patio that's empty during the day. For a few euros, they're happy to let you sit there and work, and you get that quiet, local feel.

ross.kevin5d ago

Honestly it's the same with asking to use a hotel lobby bathroom when you're not a guest, people are usually cool about it.