Being a freelancer in London can often feel like an uphill slog; finding structure can be difficult without the rigour of office hours, and finding a spot with a healthy WiFi speed can be impossible at times... so let us hook you up with some solid remote working ideas. We've collected the best bar and restaurants for hot desking in London so you can get your work done in stylish surrounds.
Last edited by Scarlett Welch
Last updated on 21st October 2024
Found at hotel Montcalm East in Shoreditch, Marlowe Café, Bar & Restaurant is a stylish space for hot desking - complete with comfy sofas, a navy colour scheme with golden accents and floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over the busy streets outside.
Feeling peckish while you're here? The tuck into everything from flat iron chicken with crushed new potatoes to sirloin steaks and roast pumpkin tortellini, or one of their delicious sourdough pizzas.
Looking for somewhere to work? Settle into the Spread Eagle in Camden for a delicious meal and a chill ambience. You can sit at the bar or check out the cosy seating inside so you can have the ideal laptop setup.
This gorgeous wine bar and bottle shop is a lovely, relaxed setting to work. Once you're finished, reward yourself with a glass or bottle from their expertly-curated menu of dynamic wines from unique producers using unusual techniques.
This beloved Dalston boozer isn't just a haven for live music and Friday night antics, it's also a cracking place to settle in and crack on with work. In the daytime, it provides a cosy nook for the freelance community to crack on and enjoy a pint once they're all done.
Open from 8am on weekdays, Burdock Café & Cocktail Bar is a great choice for hot desking in the City - found in Finsbury Square's Montcalm Royal London House. Their modern interiors feature plenty of cosy booths and seats to settle down in, with stylish surrounds to admire.
You can enjoy fresh juices and smoothies in the morning, paired with hearty breakfast plates. A little later in the day, tuck into dishes like steak frites, truffle mushroom pizzas or roasted cauliflower soup.
Wondering where to hot desk in Clapham? Bubba Oasis offers you a fabulous, laid-back space where you can finally tick off that work to-do list. While you've got your head down, enjoy brunch and lunch - with cocktails for when 5pm finally hits.
Situated on Northcote Road in Battersea, The Red Setter is a lively venue from the Urban Pubs & Bars that promises a welcoming environment for freelancers. While you work, look out over the likely neighbourhood surroundings and tuck into tasty dishes like Korean fried chicken or salt and pepper squid, with a great brunch menu if you're coming by in the morning.
If you're a freelancer looking for somewhere to work during the day, Finsbury Park's Someday is bound to impress. Not only does this City North Place venue have a great space to work, but there's also reliable wifi and plenty of lunch deals and coffee to enjoy.
Spend a relaxing day typing by the river with a trip to Two More Years. A studio concept and bar in Hackney Wick, this community hub is providing you with coffee and burgers during working hours, before switching to organic wine and award-winning craft beer from a sustainable brewery.
Mix up your WFH setting with a trip to The White Lion in Stoud Green. Offering plenty of space for all of your work bits, plus a fantastic menu of delicious eats, this is a top spot for freelancers to get their head down.
Housed inside a Grade II-listed Georgian mansion, this Hammersmith members club is providing you with the perfect place to freelance in London. Set yourself up in one of their many rooms where you'll be able to work in peace, before stopping for lunch or a coffee and grabbing some sun on their outdoor terrace.
While you're on the move it can be difficult to find a place to work (and even better, one with sockets). The Victory in Waterloo is a modern British pub offering a relaxed space to get your jobs done in the company of fine food and wine, like harissa houmous, plus salt and pepper squid.
Boasting a great space that's ideal for hot desking, The Great Southern on Gipsy Hill is a top South London hub. Sit back and relax with your laptop, all while soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying a great selection of budget-friendly eats.
While working from home may have its upsides, it can get a little boring working between the same four walls every day. To shake things up, why not try out The Lord Palmerston in Tufnell Park? While you have your head down, enjoy delicious food and quirky decor.
If you're in the habit of working away from home, and are looking for something *particularly* pretty, don't miss your chance to hunker down at Bubba Oasis. A top hot desking spot in Angel, this pastel coloured cutie promises speedy WIFI and unlimited coffee (plus a rooftop for when the sun shines).
If you need a moment with your laptop or looking for somewhere to work around Euston Station, then Signal Box is the place for you. It welcomes commuters into its modern surroundings, allowing them to set up camp in a sleek booth and enjoy some delicious grub in the process. Treat yourself to a crispy pint, tea or coffee alongside breakfast plates, or nibbles like halloumi fries and crispy whitebait to keep you going.
Situated in Wandsworth, Spread Eagle Hotel is a great pub for hotdesking. Grab your laptop and a couple of pints while enjoying the chilled atmosphere. In addition, you can chow down on scrumptious dishes whipped up by chef David.
With weekly and monthly passes available for bottomless coffee and fast wifi, Brixton's Canova Hall is likely to become the destination cafe for freelancers in London. Add to that the delicious pizzas, which are served all day, and you've got yourself a freelancers Nirvana.
The Elgin in North London is a dream pub for freelancers. Opening at 7.30am, it's the perfect place to pitch up early for a coffee and pretend to work through until it reaches a socially acceptable hour to have a beer.
Opening late-morning Tuesday-Sunday, The Exhibit in Balham is an all-day food and drink "youth club for adults" - or more like a homework club for the London freelancer. Reasonably priced, with relaxed, friendly staff and a spacious, open-plan seating area, it's an ideal cafe-restaurant for freelancers.
Cool, calm and effortlessly stylish, Fence is the cafe of choice for the sophisticated out of office worker. It's an oasis of calm in busy Farringdon, with a large beer garden perfect for working in warmer weather.
A bustling café hotspot nestled in South Hackney, Mare Street Market delivers pizza, deli treats, and veggie bites in a communal setting. With a leafy warehouse-chic setup, it's not just a place for brunch or dinner; it's where you can hunt for a vinyl, grab a seat, type up a storm, and sip on top-notch coffee while their friendly attendants keep you fueled for the day.
Freelancing or hotdesking and need a space to focus? At The Albion, the warm and inviting ambiance is perfect for getting work done in the city, while enjoying delicious British eats and award-winning pints in between your breaks.
If you're looking to hot desk, FAIM in Fitzrovia offers a laid-back space that's ideal for working. Enjoy a relaxing atmosphere here, all while you scoff down a variety of mouthwatering plates and pastries. As for drinks? Expect plenty of coffee and tea.
Colourful surroundings, pizza served by the metre and bottomless coffee for £2.50. Shoreditch's Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes is fast becoming the go-to cafe and bar for young freelancers in London.
Of all the bars and cafes for freelancers in London, The Book Club in Shoreditch is a particular treat. Beautiful, comfortable and with obligatory coffee and free wifi, when you're done with work for the day you can hang around to experience a taste of their eclectic events programme.
A student pub in Greenwich, The Lost Hour certainly isn't shy of a study group or two. Head here to enjoy your work with an electric jukebox, wing challenges in your breaks and a lineup of pub grub to keep you ticking over.
On the hunt for somewhere to hot desk? Be sure to head on over to Lanterna on Wyke Road. This Hackney gem is home to a fabulous space to get all your work done, alongside a crackin' food menu to curb those cravings. Think mouthwatering slices of pizza and thirst-quenching sips.
If you're looking for a cosy spot to make yourself comfy while you get on with some work, then head to The Bull & Gate on Kentish Town Road. There's gastro pub grub aplenty, winning hospitality and tipples ready to be poured if it's just been one of those days.
Complementary Prosecco reception on arrival If you book your Christmas party with us Saturday-Monday
A great place to settle into and crack on with work, The Betjeman Arms offers delicious bar snacks to pair with a cheeky pint. And while you're in between breaks, you can watch TV on their screens or order a juicy burger.
If you're someone who finds themselves easily distracted, People's Park Tavern is a great London pub to freelance from. And if you hit a wall completely then you can blow off steam with a couple of rounds of crazy golf in the garden, or enjoy a walk round neighbouring Victoria Park to refocus the mind.
With free wifi and a fabulous British menu, the Founders Arms is a great spot for a spot of work and low-key vibes. Not only is there plenty of space to relax and get things done, but you can also soak in the stunning, yet, inspiring views of the Thames and St. Paul's.
🥂 Cosy Cocktail Bar - Happy Hour Cocktails 2-4-£12 5pm - 7pm 🥂 and 1 other offer
Tucked in between Euston and King's Cross, The Somers Town Coffee House is a cosy, relaxed pub for London freelancers. Just moments away from the British Library, the venue offers free wifi, breakfast from 8am and a selection of beers and great food to motivate and reward yourself with.
Looking for a place to hot desk in Leicester Square? Clubhouse 5 is a great shout. Head along to the cool venue with your laptop in tow to bash out some work. And while you do, you can get stuck into a mouthwatering menu of burgers, wings and more.
If you're a freelancer looking for a top-notch spot to get work done, then head along to The Rosy Hue in Elephant and Castle. This awesome boozer is touting a fabulous range of space both inside and on its outdoor terrace. Feeling peckish? It has plenty of burgers for that.
Need a spot to get some work done? If you're near Notting Hill, it's definitely worth setting yourself up at The Elgin. Nestle in and order delicious British fare or ask for a cheeky pint if you're really feeling it. Plus, you can catch whatever sports game happens to be on TV.
Open from 8am every weekday, Exmouth Market's Caravan offers a top cafe for freelancers in London. Based in the heart of Islington, it does fantastic coffee, tasty breakfast and lunches, and offers a relaxed spot for working in or out on their al fresco terrace.
Serata Hall isn't just known for their gorgeous cocktails and pizzas, they're also a dab hand when it comes to accommodating hot deskers in London. From their ample light and gorgeous seating areas to wifi and coffee, it's a must for freelancers in Shoreditch.
