5 of The Best Cafes In Oaxaca For Digital Nomads

Oaxaca is one of those cities that evokes emotion just by hearing the name. So many beautiful images- and more importantly, flavors, come to mind. Oaxaca is the heart and soul of all things delicious and traditional when it comes to Mexican food. It’s also a photographer’s paradise and one can experience feelings of awe, fascination and child-like wonder when simply wandering the colorful and chaotic streets. While Oaxaca has attracted expats and tourists alike more than ever, there is one downside- the wifi. Finding the best cafes in Oaxaca that are actually work friendly? That’s tough. The downside of enjoying one of the most historic and cultural capitals of Mexico, is the lack of reliable modern conveniences. Here, that means wifi. 

To put it nicely, I’ve had better. To put it bluntly- spending two weeks working non-stop while visiting Oaxaca was a nightmare. Not one video call went uninterrupted. Several work days had full on outages at my apartment and the wifi in public establishments was even worse. This causes problems. But the city was amazing so what’s a girl to do? I will still 100% return and for much longer, but maybe this time I’ll get more data on my sim card. 

So, now that we have the reality out on the table, we have to address the positives. There are some cafes that have pretty okay wifi. It wasn’t impossible to live that digital nomad lifestyle, out in the city and enjoy both the food, the sites, while finishing your work day. While the options were limited and never consistent, these are the five cafes that I can safely pretty much guarantee you’ll be able to work at, and not have your wifi drop. 

1. Cafe Brujula

This is probably the top option I would recommend for a reliable working space, both wifi and environment. There are several locations throughout Oaxaca city, and they are all very workable. Think the convenience and accessibility of starbucks, with more style and a local feel. 

I personally prefer the centro location, because it has a gorgeous open roof patio and attached book store to work from. 

2. Sho Cafe Organico

A relatively newer cafe, I stumbled on this because it was the only thing open early enough to make my work meeting. I was glad I did, because it was probably the second most reliable cafe I found wifi wise. 

While it’s very dark inside, and the food menu is pretty limited, it has several rooms to work from and a lot of privacy. I found this to be the most comfortable location space wise for working. Just a heads up- it’s cash only. As are most cafes in Oaxaca. 

3. LA Ofrenda

Attached to a little hotel, this diner style front restaurant is a relatively good option for wifi and working. Bright, spacious with big tables and a delicious traditional menu (great for breakfast). The main downside is this is a pretty popular local eatery, so it gets crowded.

It definitely seemed like the popular place for school kids to come eat before class, so it wasn’t exactly the quietest cafe option. Plus, it’s off a main road, so there is street noise. Overall, this was one of the better locations to be able to eat a solid meal while working, but I wouldn’t recommend trying to spend all day here. 

4. Boogie Cafe Libreria

Just a tad outside the main centro, this the most aesthetically pleasing, hip cafe that you can work from. Spacious, immaculately decorated, with a delightful food and drink menu, I loved this spot. 

You have both outdoor and indoor seating, plants, and art, it’s one of the greatest cafes in Oaxaca for us digital nomads. 

5. Black Coffee Gallery 

While I definitely prefer to spend my time working at very local cafes, Oaxaca is one of those places where the wifi is too bad for that, and you’re better off working from more chain like, commercial options. Black Coffee Gallery has both.

The easy, picture friendly generic counter service, with a very spacious, comfortable indoor and outdoor seating area and pretty decor. It’s a great place to spend a day working, and you won’t be bothered. Plus, it’s so centrally located, it’s perfect for both sight seeing and exploring in between work hours.

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