3 of My Favourite San Jose Coffee Shops for Writing
Sometimes you just have to get out of the house. At least, that’s the case for me. As a stay-at-home mom, I spend a lot of time, well, at home. So, when I have the chance, I like to head out to a few of my favourite San Jose coffee shops to get a little writing done. Or reading. Whatever I’m in the mood for. After all, it’s not too often I get to be out solo.
There’s a particular rhythm to writing at local coffee shops: the hiss of steam, clink of cups, and low hum of conversations fold into the background like a soundtrack that keeps your sentences moving. Strangers become your silent motivators, while the communal buzz eases the pressure of solitude and turns writerly doubt into a shared, tolerable noise.
Writing at a coffee shop also makes me more productive. What about you? I feel like without all the distractions of home—dishwasher to empty, laundry to put away, bathrooms to clean, or the couch to sprawl out on—I can really focus on my work. Right now, I’m working on finishing my 4th book, a Christmas rom-com called The Fashion Girl Goes Home. Also, I’m constantly writing posts for this blog and my Substack blog called Fashion/Fiction.
Let’s get productive and head to a San Jose coffee shop!
3 of My Favourite San Jose Coffee Shops for Writing
Lookout Coffee
Located in Campbell, Lookout Coffee is a spot that looks kind of bland from the outside but is so chic on the inside. I’d driven by multiple times before stopping in. The coffee (and matcha) are great, the food is delicious, and there are plenty of tables and seats to set up shop. They also sell sausage rolls from Mrs Miggins British Bakery. They’re sooo good. 10/10 recommend. Ps. if you’re looking for the WiFi password, it’s written down on a piece of paper near the pick-up counter.
Dr.ink
I love this coffee shop. Not only is the space aesthetically pleasing and photo-worthy but they have an extensive offering of interesting drinks. Unfortunately, at the moment, I’m a bit limited to decaffeinated options. But once I’m back to drinking caffeine to my heart’s content, I’ll be working my way through the menu. As a bonus, San Pedro Square Market is essentially right next door. Grab a coffee and write at Dr.ink and then head over to grab a bite to each for lunch or dinner. The new Toastique location is also down the block.
Voyager
I usually go to the Voyager Craft Coffee location in Cupertino. There’s a Supercharger just down the block, so I’ll plug in and head over to grab a coffee. There’s a new location downtown that I want to check out too. The photo above is once when I took my kids . . . not the best idea if you want to be productive! But we were just grabbing coffee and croissants and heading to the park down the street. There are limited, but usually available, seats along the wall of the cafe.
Of course, the library is always an excellent option too! The WiFi is always free and you don’t have to spend on coffee and/or treats to feel welcome. (And even then . . . sometimes coffee shops get weird about you working there.) There are comfortable seats or tables & chairs for you to set up your laptop at. Plus, you can pick up a book for inspiration while you’re there. I love the Calabazas and Cambrian branches.
Alright, I’m off to grab my laptop, water bottle, Rhode lip tint, purse, and head out to write.
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