By Lenah Helmke | Photography by Hillary Schave
Tired of slogging away in your home office, or need a change of atmosphere? These cozy coffee shops across the city will spice up your remote work routine.
Lakeside St. Coffee House
The self-proclaimed “Madison’s cafe off the bay” is cozy and eclectic (above). Ample seating is available upstairs and downstairs as well as in a peaceful outdoor patio (weather permitting). It’s the perfect place to go to switch up your work routine and enjoy some lake views. lakesidestcoffeehouse.com
Café Domestique
Pick your ideal location — Café Domestique has three located across the city. The Williamson Street location is a bike cafe, which pairs carefully crafted coffee with an adjoining bike shop. This spot has limited seating, but on a quiet weekday, the space could be yours among the bike-inspired artwork and plants galore.
In the Eken Park neighborhood, Café Domestique joins Bloom Bake Shop and Young Blood Beer Co. under one roof at Northstreet where patrons can pick up baked goods and coffee until 3 p.m. in a convivial atmosphere. Starting at 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and at 11 a.m. on weekends, Young Blood Beer Co. opens for after-work and weekend brews.
On the near west side of Madison, 11 N. Allen St. is home to Café Domestique by day and GlouGlou Wine Bar by night. This tucked-away neighborhood location provides the perfect space to get some work done. cafedomestiquemadison.com
Indie Coffee
Explore this artistic and lively diner filled with the scent of fresh waffles and covered with Madison memorabilia. Indie Coffee on Regent Street serves breakfast all day and is the perfect space to sit, take a deep breath and answer those emails you’ve been pushing off. Their menu consists of seven types of waffles, plus breakfast and focaccia sandwiches. Their creative autumn drink menu has creative names like the nutty professor, pumpkin pie latte and the s’more mocha. shopindiecoffee.com
Wonderstate Coffee
Wonderstate Coffee, voted 2025 Roaster of the Year by Roast Magazine, serves up incredible coffee, a classic seasonal menu — and a view of the capitol. With floor-to-ceiling windows, single booths and barstools, this spot is filled with sunlight — perfect for your productive workday. wonderstate.com
Madison Sourdough
Nothing screams “cozy autumn day” more than a warm loaf of sourdough bread — or selecting something tasty from Madison Sourdough’s huge bakery case. Take a break from your online meetings and enjoy a warm cup of soup and sourdough toast, or a from-scratch slice of spiced blackberry pie. madisonsourdough.com
Forward Craft & Coffee
This stylish home-away-from home coffee shop on Atwood Avenue pours it all, from coffee to cocktails. Find your usual coffee selections plus seasonal beverages. Fittingly, there’s also a great selection of coffee-based cocktails. Slide into a booth, sit at the bar or have a seat in either of the two side rooms. forwardcraft.com
Ledger Coffee Roasters
Escape from the bustle of downtown Madison and head over to Ledger Coffee Roasters, located in Garver Feed Mill. Pick your ideal spot to sit at for the day, whether that’s outside on the patio or in the mill’s common seating area. You’ll be surrounded by plants from Grow Greenhouse, plus other vendors like Kosa Spa, Ian’s Pizza, Calliope Ice Cream and Perennial Yoga. ledgercoffee.com
