Six New(ish) Coffee Shops Perfect for Remote Workers
Catering to professionals and the after-work crowd
Ever since COVID-19 hit in 2020, going to work can mean many different things. In a world where remote work has become the norm, it’s important to find a space where you can lock in.
Coffee shops have also come a long way in serving professionals, offering perks that cater specifically to remote employees and providing spaces to get work done for those going stir crazy at home or without a dedicated work space to call their own.
And with a growing crowd looking for hangouts that don’t center alcohol, plenty of coffee shops are also creating menus to cultivate the after-work crowd, from DJ sets to yoga sessions and any number of community-centered events.
We’ve compiled a list of such coffee shops in Charlotte for folks who need to switch up the scenery and find a new spot to level up their work environment or blow off steam after a long day.
Lottie’s Cafe
Branded as “Your Uptown Third Space,” Lottie’s Cafe opened in the Queen City Quarter in summer 2024, part of the newly rebranded space formerly known as Epicentre. The Black-owned shop offers free Wi-Fi with a soothing aesthetic right near Center City. The menu is made to order and includes items for breakfast and lunch.
The breakfast menu includes Hugo’s Hash Bowl, a handcrafted hash bowl with caramelized onion jam, crumbled bacon, home fries, and over-easy egg, avocado and chipotle aioli. The Deluxe Avo — avocado on white bread, three slices of bacon, an over-easy egg, pecorino and red pepper flakes — is served all day.
The real star of the show, however, is the Airplane Latte, a creamy, caramel Biscoff cookie latte that comes iced or hot.
The shop has a patio that’s perfect for the warm weather on deck if you’re cool with all the traffic passing by on South College Street. But what about that “third space?” Lottie’s hosts events throughout the week to help build a sense of community.
The shop sometimes hosts Align & Unwind, an early-morning, two-hour yoga and journaling session that’s scheduled next for March 15. On March 8, Lottie’s hosted The Coffee Set, where attendees’ morning brew was scored by a curated experience from DJ Erinn Alexx.
Lottie’s Cafe is located on the outer edge of Queen City Quarter at 210 E. Trade St. and open Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Follow them on Instagram at @lottiesclt to learn about other upcoming events.
Archive CLT
The idea for Archive CLT was originally hatched as a book store and literal archive housing Cheryse Terry’s collection of Black history ephemera. It was Tony Santoro with Enderly Coffee that suggested she add some coffee to the mix. After all, you can’t catch bees without honey.
“Archive, the cafe, the vibe, it’s just a tip of the iceberg to get people to come and then have to deal with and listen to the work that I actually wanted to do, the 501c3 that I’m starting: Archive Historic Preservation Society,” she told Queen City Nerve in February.
Read more: Cheryse Terry Serves as Black History’s Protector in West Charlotte
The mission is clear as soon as you step inside: Black magazines litter the tables, iconic Black figures are immortalized on the shop’s interior mural, and there’s plenty of books from Black authors and cultural magazines to keep you distracted from that project you need to finish.
It’s even on the menu; the Nikki Gingervanni (named after poet Nikki Giovanni) is an iced refresher flavor featuring ginger, rosemary, cinnamon and lemon. One of the best-sellers is the Foxy Brown, a latte with brown butter, vanilla and brown sugar. We’re not sure if it’s named for Pam Grier’s 1974 Blaxpoitation film or the Brooklyn rapper popular in the 1990s, we just know it’s damn good.
If you’re looking for a place that cultivates collaboration and community engagement, this is the workspace for you. And if you can handle a little hip-hop while you work, Archive CLT is a great work scene for you.
Archive CLT is located at 2023 Beatties Ford Road and open from Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. but closed on Wednesdays, and Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Follow on Instagram at @archive_clt.
Grow Cafe
Grow Cafe is a “play cafe” opened by Stacy and Michael Baker in June 2024. It caters to parents with children, which makes it an awful spot for solo folks to work but a perfect one for those who have their kids in tow. Parents of small children up to 6 years old know what it’s like to be in a bind when daycare is closed or altogether inaccessible. Grow Cafe provides a haven for just such a situation.
“Grow Cafe would help to fill the void for a much-needed family-friendly space for minority families. Parents and caregivers will be able to observe their young children have fun learning, while also being able to fulfill their own mental and emotional needs,” said Renee Johnson, District 4 Charlotte City Council rep, in the lead-up to last summer’s opening.
Read more: Grow Cafe, Charlotte’s First Coffee Shop for Parents, Set to Open in Highland Creek (2024)
The cafe offers a play area and toys where the children can play. On the rare occasion that you have to duck into a private area for a business call or meeting, the staff will help keep an eye on your little one, provided they have your consent to do so.
There are also great pastries and coffee drinks, including specialty drinks like Mom Fuel Latte, Dad Fuel, Sugar Cookie Sweetheart and the Lovers Latte.
Grow Cafe is located at 5342 Docia Crossing Road, Suite B/C, and open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays are reserved for private bookings and events. Follow Grow Cafe on Instagram at @growcafeclt.
Sumaq Coffee
In January, financial media company MarketBeat published a list of the country’s best 145 coffee shops for remote work based on a survey of more than 3,000 business executives and remote workers. Sumaq Coffee was the only Charlotte coffee shop to make the list.
Opened by brothers Joseph and Nick Castro in the Starmount area of south Charlotte in 2022, this café is inspired by South American culture, serving craft coffees, artisanal pastries, and snacks like the panko pesto sandwich or the dulce de leche bread.
Pronounced “sue-mock,” the name is a Quechua word from the old Inca language that means the ideal and beautiful fulfillment of life, according to the website.
“For this reason, this space seeks to be a participant in the encounter and conversation, of what is said and what is silent, under the dim company of a cup of coffee to share and remember.”
That’s a beautiful way of saying this is a great place to hold a meeting. And we’re not just making that up, their own mission statement reads: “Sumaq Coffee is a tribute to beauty, to the simplicity of the meeting.”
The inside of the shop is replete with lush greenery, offering the perfect ambiance for workers. The space provides a varying selection of outdoor seating including covered options and cocoon chairs. There are also heaters available for those brisk days.
Sumaq Coffee is located at 6259 South Blvd. and open daily, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Follow the shop on Instagram at @sumaqclt.
Caffeto
As the weather warms up, you might be working for a chill-but-still-temperate spot to get some work done. Caffeto popped up in a trailer next to Canvas Tattoo and across from the Johnston YMCA in NoDa in January.
The specialty Colombian coffee bar is a great environment if the weather is cooperating, with Wi-Fi and outlets at every picnic table. They serve hot and cold coffee drinks, matcha, chai and lemonade.
There’s a bakery menu with croissants and Danish, but we recommend the cachitos: Venezuelan soft bread stuffed with ham, bacon and cream cheese. The pandebono is also a great meatless morning option.
Once a month, a DJ sets up for Caffeto Sessions, featuring vibes, beats, coffee and arepas.
Caffeto is located at 3012 N Davidson St. and open Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Follow them on Instagram at @caffetospecialtycoffee.
Indigo Tea & Coffee Co.
Opened in January, Indigo Tea & Coffee is a new Black-owned coffee shop tucked away in the Gold District, where they mix up specialty drinks like the Brown Butter Sage with their own specialty syrups made in-house.
February saw the addition of colorful specials like the Neapolitan Latte and Strawberry Shortcake Latte. We’re not sure what’s on the schedule for March, but we’ll certainly be stopping by to find out.
March 8 offers the perfect opportunity to do so when Indigo hosts RnBrew, a coffee house dance party where artisan drinks meet soulful beats.
Indigo Tea & Coffee Co. is located at 412 W. Palmer St. and open Tuesday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Follow them on Instagram at @indigoclt.
