Has working from your AirBnB become a bit too monotonous lately? Worry not, there are plenty of laptop-friendly cafés in Istanbul. You just need to know where to find them.
In this guide, we will introduce to you the 10 best cafes in Istanbul for digital nomads, from crowd favourites, to new arrivals and hidden gems on both the European and the Asian side. And the best part? We visited all of them ourselves just a few weeks ago, so you can trust on getting verified and up-to-date information. Let’s dive right in.
Our 4 Favourite Cafes in Istanbul (TL;DR)
- Cho Coffee Roasters: Exceptional single-origin coffee and in-house roasts, friendly staff, strong Wi-Fi, and comfortable seating.
- Faw Coffee & Bites: Beautiful design, outstanding single-origin coffee, delicious food, and excellent Wi-Fi with air-conditioning.
- Coffeetopia: Wide food selection, friendly service, solid Wi-Fi, air-conditioned space, and comfortable work areas.
- Archive Cafe: Cozy, quirky atmosphere, good quality coffee, diverse food options, friendly staff, and strong Wi-Fi with air-conditioning.
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Why Istanbul Coffee Shops are Perfect for Working Remotely
Istanbul is one of the leading digital nomad destinations of the world, if we believe Nomads.com’s recent survey on digital nomads. It is strategically located, hosting one of the biggest airport hubs in the world, counts on plenty of historic and cultural sites, boasts excellent infrastructure for remote work and offers excellent coffee at every other corner.
In fact, Istanbul has one of the oldest coffee cultures in the world, with some of the oldest coffeehouses of the city dating back all the way to the 1550s. After all, Turkey has authored its very own coffee creation, the traditional Turkish coffee. But, worry not. Today, Istanbul’s coffee culture is not all Turkish coffee, but increasingly features independent specialty coffee shops.
What Makes a Good Cafe for Digital Nomads?
In Istanbul, you will find coffee shops at every other corner. But, not every café in Istanbul is fit for remote work. High traffic, lots of noise and lack of Wi-Fi and power outlets can easily turn your work sesh into a nightmare. So, what makes a good café for digital nomads in Istanbul?
With these 6 criteria, we rated the best, digital-nomad-friendly cafés in Istanbul:
- Coffee: Surely, the biggest green flag for your office of the day is delicious coffee. Nothing powers your work session as well as a well-brewed coffee, preferably single-origin and out-of-the-box, that wakes you up and helps you focus on the task at hand.
- Food: We have all experienced it. You are working on something important and want to grab a quick bite to eat to keep your session going, but all the café offers are cookies and brownies. Good food options, such as breakfasts, sandwiches and salads help you go the long way.
- Staff: Food and drinks aside, you also want to feel welcome in the café you are working from. While there is nothing wrong with a coffee shops not wanting to host remote workers, unfriendly staff and ‘no laptops’ signs can easily break your work session, if you don’t know about them beforehand.
- Wi-Fi & Outlets: Ideally, a laptop-friendly café not only tolerates you working at one of their tables, but also offers free Wi-Fi and power outlets. Generally, we recommend our fellow nomads to head out with their own data plan and power banks, but still, these amenities are an added pro.
- A/C: In the summer months, the importance of good air-conditioning in your co-working spot cannot be overstated. While working from the garden or terrace of a coffee shop may sound romantic, Istanbul’s summer day can soar up to 40°C, making a cool space with A/C an imperative.
- Comfiness: Having a functional space for your work session is one thing. Having a comfortable space that you want to come back to again and again is another thing. This is why we also pay special attention to whether the café offers comfortable chairs, tables, seating and lighting.
On a scale from 1 to 5, we will be rating each café in Istanbul according to the criteria above.
The 10 Best Coffee Shops in Istanbul for Remote Workers
Are you looking to get some work done in Istanbul, all while enjoying some seriously good coffee? We got you. Recently, we spent 3 weeks working remotely in Istanbul, giving us plenty of time to discover and taste the best coffee shops for digital nomads.
These are the 10 best cafés in Istanbul for working remotely with your laptop, in no specific order:
Faw Coffee & Bites (Cihangir)
Throughout our time in Istanbul, there was no café we kept coming back to more often than Faw Coffee & Bites. Located in the heart of Cihangir, Istanbul’s best neighbourhood for digital nomads, this café simply has it all: beautiful aesthetics, outstanding coffee creations and some of the best cookies we’ve ever had.
For digital nomads, Faw Coffee & Bites offers free Wi-Fi and a larger co-working desk inside with power outlets within reach. The menu features coffee classics, some seriously good specials and plenty of sweet and savoury food options. Just a word of caution: This café is a little smaller, so you might not always find a spot at the co-working desk.
Coffee | Food | Staff | Wi-Fi & Plugs | A/C | Comfiness | Overall Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Score | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4.8/5 |
Reason | Single-origin coffee, seasonal specials | Delicious sweet and savoury options | The sweetest baristas | Strong Wi-Fi, outlets at co-working desk | Strong A/C inside, comfortable room temperature | Chairs uncomfortable during longer work sessions | A café to fall in love with and an absolute must. |
Our recommendation: Try the chocolate-filled cookies. You will not regret it.
Dwell Coffee & Hi-Fi (Taksim)
A rather spontaneous find, Dwell Coffee & Hi-Fi only opened in July and we just so happened to stumble over it a few days after its opening. Located just a few meters from Taksim Square, this café is nudged in-between late-night restaurants and hookah lounges – and still one of the best co-working spots in Istanbul.
At Dwell Coffee & Hi-Fi, you can find single-origin, speciality coffee from all over the world, delicious desserts and some basic sandwich options. Inside, there are plenty of tables to work from comfortably, some with power outlets and the music is set to the perfect volume. The only downside: It got quite hot in there in July and there was no air-conditioning. In winter, this should not be an issue, however.
Coffee | Food | Staff | Wi-Fi & Plugs | A/C | Comfiness | Overall Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Score | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 4.3/5 |
Reason | Single-origin coffee | Good desserts, basic sandwiches | Very friendly and flexible | Good Wi-Fi, some power outlets | No A/C at the time of opening | Comfortable seating, relaxed atmosphere | Beautiful, new café, the best around Taksim Square. |
Our recommendation: Don’t hesitate to ask about coffee creations that are not on the menu.
1 Kahve (Cihangir)
With its large window-fronts, wooden furniture and hanging greenery, 1 Kahve is easily one of the most visually-inviting coffee shops in Istanbul and one designed especially for digital nomads. Located in Cihangir, this café strikes a great balance between good coffee and ample work spaces.
1 Kahve mainly consists of three areas: the bar you order from, some outside seating and separate inside seating with plenty of comfortable chairs and tables for this working on laptops. The café features solid Wi-Fi and plenty of well-placed power outlets. Here, you can find plenty of other digital nomads working at any given time of the day, allowing you to fit right in.
Coffee | Food | Staff | Wi-Fi & Plugs | A/C | Comfiness | Overall Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Score | 5/5 | 2.5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4.4/5 |
Reason | Marzocco-brewed espresso, filter coffee options | Only basic desserts | Rather slow service | Fast Wi-Fi, plenty of outlets | Strong A/C inside, comfortable room temperature | Well-designed for longer work sessions | Very good coffee shop, designed for digital nomads. |
Our recommendation: Skip the coffee and try one of their iced teas for a change.
Havesome Coffee (Cihangir)
With three branches in Istanbul, Havesome Coffee is the first coffee shop chain to feature on our list -and we didn’t even plan for it. We visited Havesome Coffee in Cihangir on our first day in Istanbul, looking for an uncomplicated work option for a few hours and came to be pleasantly surprised.
In the coffee department, Havesome Coffee is surprisingly weak. The coffee menu features classic coffee options and rather conventional specials à la Espressolab or Starbucks. This, however, is totally excusable since the coffee shop itself is a paradise for remote workers. Havesome Coffee features plenty of rooms, nooks and crannies as well as a garden, for you to spend a whole day working there.
Coffee | Food | Staff | Wi-Fi & Plugs | A/C | Comfiness | Overall Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Score | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4.4/5 |
Reason | Rather conventional options, lacking character | Good desserts, basic sandwiches | Friendly staff, self-service | Solid Wi-Fi, power outlets inside | Strong A/C inside, shaded garden | Plenty of different seating options, low lighting | Great option, if working is the priority. |
Our recommendation: Use the 1st room to the left on the ground floor w/ good Wi-Fi signal and power outlets.
Bark Coffee (Sultanahmet)
Once we started exploring Istanbul, we wondered whether the historic centre could keep up with the plethora of coffee shops in Beyoglu. And honestly, you will be hard-pressed to find laptop-friendly cafés between all the restaurants and souvenir shops in Fatih. We did find one great option though: Bark Coffee.
Located just a few minutes away from Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, this café offers a welcome refuge from the busy attractions and bustling streets. On the ground floor, you can find seating for a quick coffee, while the second floor offers much more space and seating for a work session. We can especially recommend the window seats.
Coffee | Food | Staff | Wi-Fi & Plugs | A/C | Comfiness | Overall Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Score | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4.6/5 |
Reason | Marzocco-brewed espresso, filter coffee options | Good desserts, solid sandwiches | Friendly staff, self-service | Solid Wi-Fi, scattered outlets | Strong A/C inside, comfortable room temperature | Calm second floor, comfortable seating | The best co-working option in the historic old town. |
Our recommendation: Head upstairs for an uninterrupted work session; the toilets are on the third floor.
Coffeetopia (Eminönü)
As the second coffee shop chain on our list, Coffeetopia Eminönü is another great option for those looking for a break from exploring in the historic old town. Located halfway between the Galata Bridge and Gülhane Park, this café knows what it takes to create a laptop-friendly atmosphere.
Over several floors, Coffeetopia in Eminönü offers more than enough space for remote workers on both individual tables and a large communal table on the second floor. The café has a free Wi-Fi network for clients and some power outlets scattered throughout its space. It exclusively serves speciality coffee and plenty of food options, including breakfast, desserts, cookies and sweet and savoury pastries.
Coffee | Food | Staff | Wi-Fi & Plugs | A/C | Comfiness | Overall Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Score | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4.8/5 |
Reason | Single-origin coffee, conventional menu | Widest selection of breakfasts, snacks and desserts | Very friendly staff | Solid Wi-Fi, scattered outlets | Strong A/C inside, comfortable room temperature | Warm lighting, fairly comfortable chairs | Functionally, one of the best cafés for digital nomads. |
Our recommendation: Take a seat a the large co-working desk on the second floor.
Vasalisa (Cihangir)
A common theme of our favourite cafés in Istanbul has been their outstanding coffee, dedicated co-working areas – and relative lack of savoury food options. At Vasalisa in Cihangir, all the opposite is true. Departing from the speciality coffee theme, Vasalisa cares more about serving great food.
In front of the café, inside of the café or downstairs in its backyard, you can start your day right at Vasalisa with a filling breakfast or a balanced lunch. Get a cup of coffee for a caffeine boost and get some work done using their guest Wi-Fi. Just make sure to bring along a power bank, since power outlets are scarce at Vasalisa.
Coffee | Food | Staff | Wi-Fi & Plugs | A/C | Comfiness | Overall Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Score | 3.5/5 | 5/5 | 3.5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4.2/5 |
Reason | Mostly second-wave coffee options | Breakfast, Lunch, Desserts, Snacks | Staff not as attentive, service rather slow | Solid Wi-Fi, a few scattered outlets | Strong A/C inside, lots of shaded outside seating | Limited inside seating, calm backyard seating | Start your day with breakfast and light work. |
Our recommendation: Vasalisa works best for a late breakfast or light lunch w/ a quick work session after.
Cho Coffee Roasters (Bakirköy)
Located much further from the center, Cho Coffee Roasters in Bakirköy quickly became one of our favourite cafes in Istanbul thanks to its outstanding competition-proven, single-origin coffee, varied brewing methods and attention to detail from its drinks to its food and its interior design.
Funnily enough, we didn’t even come to work on our laptops at Cho Coffee Roasters, but solely to try out their coffee, since we had come to explore Bakirköy for the first time and hit seemed like the best place around. It didn’t take us long to realise, though, that Cho Coffee Roasters is a great work spot as well. For remote workers, the second floor provides a calm and spacious environment with Wi-Fi and power outlets.
Coffee | Food | Staff | Wi-Fi & Plugs | A/C | Comfiness | Overall Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Score | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.9/5 |
Reason | Single-origin competition coffee, in-house roasts | Delicious sweet and savoury options | Extremely friendly and passionate staff | Strong Wi-Fi, outlets at tables | Fans inside, comfortable room temperature | Comfortable wooden chairs, lots of space | A hidden gem in a local neighbourhood. |
Our recommendation: Take some time to check out their in-house roasts. Our highlight were their Colombian beans with a hint of passionfruit.
CROS Coffee House (Bakirköy)
While not as refined in the coffee department, CROS Coffee House in Bakirköy finds other ways to shine and attract customers. The popular café on one of Bakirköy’s busier streets has attracted lots of attention for its viral cube croissants. Alongside, you can find classic coffee options and some sweeter specials on the menu.
While CROS Coffee House is mainly a place for a break during a shopping spree, it also works well as a temporary office, if you are running errands in the area. On the inside, it’s less busy, there is guest wi-fi and there are some plug outlets for charging. Just note that the staff might not be as forgiving of long work sessions, if you don’t keep ordering.
Coffee | Food | Staff | Wi-Fi & Plugs | A/C | Comfiness | Overall Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Score | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4.2/5 |
Reason | Conventional options, no single-origin | Sweet and savoury croissant options | Friendly to us, but various bad reviews concerning staff | Solid Wi-Fi, scattered outlets | Strong A/C inside, plenty of outdoor seating | Lots of traffic, calmer inside, not for long sessions | Good option for a quick coffee trip and work session. |
Our recommendation: Try to come earlier to beat the afternoon crowd and get a calmer working environment.
Archive Cafe (Kadiköy)
After exclusively raving about the amazing coffee shops on the European side of Istanbul, both to the west and the east of the Golden Horn, it is only right to end the list with one café on the Asian side and, quite possibly, the quirkiest of them all.
Located in the heart of Kadiköy, the fittingly-named archive coffee can easily be mistaken for an antiquity store at first sight thanks to its quirky interior. The café features street-facing table for some light work (and people watching) and a backyard with more tables and power outlets. While the Archive Coffee does not offer any extraordinary coffee, I did enjoy their Flat White. There are plenty of food options, too.
Coffee | Food | Staff | Wi-Fi & Plugs | A/C | Comfiness | Overall Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Score | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4.8/5 |
Reason | Conventional options, but high-quality | Lots of sweet and savoury options | Generally friendly staff | Strong Wi-Fi, outlets at tables | Strong A/C inside, plenty of outdoor seating | Cozy space with various seating options | A must-visit when in Kadiköy. |
Our recommendation: Stick around until the evening and try one of their cocktails.
Scouting digital nomad destinations in the Middle East? Check out these cafes for digital nomads in Dahab!
The Best Areas in Istanbul for Digital Nomads
As you may have been able to figure out already, some areas in Istanbul are better for digital nomads than others. While Cihangir is teeming with nomad-friendly coffee shops, other areas such as the historic center as seemingly void of them.
In short, these are the best areas in Istanbul for digital nomads:
- Beyoglu: The Beyoglu district, including the neighbourhood Cihangir, is THE place to be for digital nomads. This district features many coffee shops starting just behind Galata Tower, as well as plenty of boutique stores, vintage stores, bars and clubs.
- Kadiköy: Located on the Asian side of Istanbul, the Kadiköy district is mainly known as a shopping paradise for both new fashion and old treasures. For digital nomads, the district offers a growing number of nomad-friendly cafés along with plenty of bars.
- Bakirköy: Located west of the Gold Horn, Bakirköy is much more removed from the touristic center, giving you a more local vibe, while still being welcoming to remote workers in cafés. We wouldn’t recommend it to first-time visitors, though, since the commute to the center takes up to an hour.
Busy sketching out your itinerary? Find out what to do in Istanbul in just one day.
The Bottom Line
Istanbul is a treasure trove for coffee aficionados, digital nomads and everything in-between. Here, you can not only enjoy the best Turkish coffee in the world, but also competition-proven speciality coffee and delectable desserts. Additionally, modern neighbourhoods such as Cihangir, feature plenty of laptop-friendly cafés where you can actually get your work done.
Naturally, a list of just 10 cafés is barely scratching the surface of what’s there to discover in Istanbuls’s endless coffee scene. We do hope, however, that we could introduce you to some coffee spots you may not find elsewhere on the internet and work spaces that won’t let you down, when you need them the most. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best coffee shop in Istanbul?
In our humble opinion, Faw Coffee & Bites is the best coffee shop in Istanbul. Located in the modern Cihangir neighbourhood, this coffee shop blew us away with its beautiful interior design, high-quality coffee, unique specials and delectable cookies. Plus, it’s 100% laptop-friendly.
What are Turkish cafes called?
Traditionally, Turkish cafés were referred to as Kahvehane, meaning coffeehouse. This term is rooted in the coffee-house culture that first started to develop in the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. Today, Istanbul is a hotspot for third-wave coffee shops.
What food is Istanbul famous for?
Istanbul is famous for its generous Turkish breakfast, often a staple at coffee shops as well, and its vibrant street food scene, including specialties such as grilled fish sandwiches, kebabs and köfte and desserts such as baklava or Turkish delights.
How much is a cup of coffee in Istanbul?
The price of a cup of coffee in Istanbul varies drastically depending on the coffee shops you visit. At traditional, non-touristy cafés, you may get a Turkish coffee for less than $2, while modern coffee shops often sell their drinks for up to $5 per cup.
Hey! We are glad you are curious about travelling the Middle East.
We are Nancy & Elias.
Over four years of backpacking and digital nomading made us fall in love with the Middle East. We have lived on the Red Sea coast in Egypt, lived in a Bedouin Camp in Jordan and travelled 6+ Middle Eastern countries overland.
As we continue to travel, we share our battle-tested travels advice on this blog, from travel reports and transfer guides to accommodation recs and saving hacks.
