Best Coffee Shops with Wifi for Work or Studying in Salem, Oregon
Finding cool new places with wifi where we can work is one of the perks of being digital nomads. Although we’re not coffee aficionados, we really enjoy the “change of scenery” that coffee shops provide to our work week. In bigger cities, there are great resources like workfrom.co to find new cafes, co-working spots, and other work/study-friendly environments. I don’t know of anything similar that exists for my hometown of Salem, Oregon so I thought I’d start a compilation of my own.
All of the coffee shops below happen to have popped up since I grew up and left town, though the old classics are still there – like Gov Cup downtown. These made the cut for the following reasons:
- Good wifi
- Roomy, work-friendly spaces
- Open through the evening
- Good food and drink
- Cool, friendly vibe
Looking for a great hotel or vacation rental in Salem? Read: Where to Stay in Salem >
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Urban Grange Cafe
Urban Grange Coffee in West Salem has done a great job of giving their box-shaped strip mall location a cozy, living room feel. They serve the typical coffee, tea, smoothies, and Italian sodas alongside a nice selection of pastries. I had their seasonal caramel apple sider, which was delicious.
Archive Coffee & Bar
Photo above by SLF via Archive’s facebook page
Archive Coffee & Bar is the classiest spot in Salem where we’ve worked. It’s a specialty coffee shop by day and craft bar by night that also serves pastries and northwest-inspired small plate menu items. I tried their drinking chocolate and will definitely be back for more. Just one year old, Archive gives me the sense that the Salem I grew up in has come a long way in style and sophistication.
Ike Box Coffee Shop
As we discovered in last year’s post, Favorite Spots to Hang Out in Salem, this coffee shop has an amazing story behind it. Not only does Ike Box have a coffee shop and event spaces, they also run a youth life-skills program and partner with a local correctional facility for some of their baked goods. The coffeeshop has a pretty wide variety of drinks and snacks available and plenty of different spots to sit and work.
New: Isaac’s Coffee, Wine & Dessert from the Ike Box Team
Isaac’s Coffee, Wine & Desserts opened in downtown Salem in late 2018, and it just might be our new favorite. The spacious cafe is an extension of the non-profit organization, Isaac’s Room, serving divested youth in our community since 2005. They have a tasty menu and bakery case you can order from at the counter. A variety of seating makes this an awesome place to meet with friends or do a little online work.
Broadway Coffee House
This spacious coffee shop, which we also featured last year in our Favorite Spots to Hang Out in Salem post, focuses on sourcing and serving high-quality coffee. I love how many seating options are in this place, and can’t resist their marionberry-white chocolate scone when it’s available.
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This are the coffee shops in Salem I’d go back to any day to work for a few hours online. Do you have favorites of your own? Any new places we should try?
Read more from the Rediscovering Salem series here: 3 Fantastic Day Trips from Salem 5 Favorite Places to Run (or Walk) in Salem Top Places to Enjoy Salem's Summer Harvest Favorite Spots to Hang Out in Salem, Oregon Guide to Best Breakfast Restaurants in Salem Oregon
