Best Coffee Shops to Work From in Venice

Italy has one of the richest coffee (and café) cultures in the world. Grabbing a morning espresso or meeting with a friend over afternoon coffee are vital rituals for everyday Italian life. Venice is no different. In fact, the Venetian capital has one of the best coffee scenes in Italy. With cobbled piazzas and winding backstreets, Venice cafés lay on the charm. Because Venice is packed into several islands within the Venetian lagoon, it has remained the same idyllic city it was for centuries. Venice cafés reflect that. You won’t find modern coffee shops with tables spread throughout a large retail space. These cafés are decades, if not centuries, old. Seating can be limited or nonexistent. While the espresso will be delicious and the scenery will most certainly be gorgeous, it doesn’t always translate to setting up your laptop and plugging away for a full morning. Luckily, there are a few cafés that are perfectly serviceable for a delicious coffee fix, opening your laptop, and getting your inbox to zero before you head out shopping or exploring a museum. 

Working during your vacation is never ideal, so make sure to stop by one of Bounce’s Venice luggage storage locations and lighten your load so you can focus on work. It is also a great way to store your bags while you peruse all the best shopping locations in Venice when you need a break from the work day. Here are the best coffee shops in Venice for working:

Ae Veste Bar

This is an amazing Venice coffee shop because it has all the best views and all the best beans. Ae Veste Bar sources the highest quality coffee beans for its espresso, and customers get to caffeinate in one of the most storied areas in Venice. The crowds can sometimes spill over from the numerous landmarks in San Marco, but the atmosphere is generally relaxed because the café is situated on a quiet canal. There is plenty of seating, and the space is small enough that the wifi reaches the canalside tables. Just don’t get too distracted by the gondolas and water taxis passing by! 

Address: Calle del Caffettier, 2013, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy

Hours: Open Every Day from 8:00 AM–8:30 PM

illy Caffè

Situated near the mouth of the Grand Canal (across from the resplendent Basilica di Santa Maria Della Salute), this might have the best location of any café on this list. The Reali Gardens surround illy Café, so try not to be distracted by the scenery. You can choose to sit inside if you really need to plug away, but there are tables outside for enjoying the sun and scenery, and their cold brew is the perfect warm weather coffee drink. Inside, there are spacious tables perfect for setting up with a freshly brewed cup to plug away. They also have scrumptious sweet treats, including superb pistachio treats, chocolate mousse cups topped with nuts, and a variety of cannolis. Illy Café is the type of Venice specialty coffee shop you’ll want to stick around even after your work is finished. 

Address: Giardini Reali, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy

Hours: Open Monday to Saturday from 8:00 AM – 8:30 PM

Torrefazione Cannaregio

This unassuming café bar is a coffee lover’s dream and a solid place to get some work done. Since third-wave coffee culture has spawned a new generation of connoisseurs, spots like Torrefazione Cannaregio have been put on the map as a destination where the artisan coffee heads gather. For one, the expertly sourced coffee beans are from an ancient coffee roaster. It’s also an authentic place that feels more like a traditional Venetian café than a hipster hangout. 

There are plenty of spacious tables to lay out your work materials, and the café’s decor and layout will minimize distractions. There may be a few discerning travelers sipping and sniffing their freshly brewed coffee giving tasting notes because this place is massively popular with coffee nerds, but the atmosphere is certainly conducive to getting some work done. The espresso? Potentially the best in Venice, especially at less than a euro for a shot. 

Once you’re finished working, check out the hip Cannaregio neighborhood for great shopping and nightlife. 

Address: Fondamenta dei Ormesini, 2804, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy

Hours: Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM–1:00 PM (Closed Sunday) 

E-workafè (Mestre)

Simply put, this is one of the best coffee shops in Venice for working because that’s precisely what it’s been designed for. E-workafé is a sprawling retail space that has rooms for meetings, along with dedicated charging stations for laptops and tablets. Because it’s located in Mestre, the atmosphere is all business, as this is where the majority of corporate offices are located. There won’t be large groups of tourists loudly lining up for espressos and cannolis, and children (though allowed) are a rare sight here. It’s also air-conditioned, which can make a huge difference for spending hours at a time inside during the summer months. 

You’ll need a delicious coffee fix to caffeinate you through your tasks, and their espresso bar will certainly be up to the task. Although it’s technically a chain, E-workafé is committed to sourcing the best coffee beans for their locations, and the quality only adds to the experience. 

Address: Corso del Popolo, 147, 30172 Venezia VE, Italy

Hours: Monday to Saturday 7:30 AM–7:00 PM (Closed Sunday) 

BAR 1 CIAK

Bar 1 Ciak is located near Carlo Goldoni's House and the Basilica de Santa Maria. Because of the prime location, it can get pretty busy during the afternoons, but there are usually tables available because most patrons are stopping in for a quick espresso before venturing out to explore the neighborhood. While there is WiFi, air-conditioning, and comfortable seating, one of the most important features has to be the numerous power outlets at some of the tables. It can’t be overstated how important that is. No more racing your battery to complete tasks! Because of these features, this has to be one of the best Venice coffee shops for working longer hours, and there is no shortage of other cafés to head to enjoy a spritz and some cicchetti once you’re done working. 

Address: Campiello, Calle del Tragheto, 2807/C, 30100 Venezia VE, Italy

Hours: Open Every Day from 8:AM–8:30 PM

Caffè Vergnano 1882

There are two versions of this bright little café. In the morning and early afternoon, it’s one of the best espresso bars in Venice, one that every coffee fan should visit. Later in the day, Caffè Vergnano turns into a vibrant restaurant that serves some of the best Venetian food in the area. Most nights, there will be live music, with local jazz bands performing for a small but enthusiastic crowd there for an evening drink. This should be expected from a spot that’s so close to historic Rialto Market. 

When you’re touring through one of Venice’s most iconic areas and need a place to work for a few hours, this is as good as you get. The delicious espresso (made with artisan roasted beans) will fuel your productivity, and there’s an underrated menu of lunch and breakfast options to nibble on. The café itself is extremely attractive, with ornate decor, as it’s one of Venice’s most historic coffee houses. That doesn’t mean it’s a standing-room-only locale; there are larger tables for setting up shop, and most customers are usually grabbing an espresso and heading out to explore Ponte de Rialto. Just try not to get too distracted by people watching!

Address: San Polo, 129, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy

Hours: Monday to Sunday - 8:30 AM–12:00 AM

CheBon

Not only can you get your delicious coffee fix at this quaint café, but you can also grab a table and log on for an hour or two. Because of its location in historic Venice, it might not have all the amenities you’d find at a coffee shop in America, but it has perfectly serviceable tables and an atmosphere that isn’t too boisterous. The only downside to this spot is the people watching might get a little distracting. 

If you don’t need WiFi, there is outdoor seating where you can enjoy a laid-back coffee experience in the sun surrounded by ancient architecture. And if your work lasts into the afternoon, reward yourself with a Spritz Veneziano, or some of their delicious Venetian cicchetti. If you’re sticking to drinking coffee, their delicious roasts pair well with their fresh biscuits baked in-house. 

CheBon is conveniently located near the glorious Biennale Di Venezia Arsenale landmark, so after you’ve finished your tasks, head here to take your mind off the work day.

Address: Sestiere Castello, 1787, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy

Hours:  Open Every Day from 7:30 AM–8:00 PM

Coffee Break (Mestre) 

This coffee shop is perfect for business travelers or anyone arriving in Venice via train. It’s convenient for popping in when you have a few hours to kill before traveling. This spacious (and air-conditioned) café also has plenty of seating and larger tables for spreading out and working. Unlike other Venice coffee shops, there will probably be other patrons working on their laptops, which makes it a little less awkward to plug away for a few hours. The atmosphere might be a little bland compared with the traditional cafés of historic Venice, so don’t expect to be snapping selfies. But the WiFi is free, and they serve great coffee. What more could you ask for?

Address: Via Piave, 123, 30171 Venezia VE, Italy

Hours:  Open Every Day from 9:00 AM–8:00 PM

Osteria Ai Do Pozzi

This café is situated off the beaten path in the Costello neighborhood, but it’s only a short walk from some of the area’s best landmarks. Osteria Ai Do Pozzi is a dependable hidden gem locals use to escape crowds of tourists, and one of the most underrated spots in Venice’s coffee scene. Unlike canalside cafés or spots on a piazza, there is plenty of seating for a relaxed lunchtime sandwich or a light snack, and this unassuming café packs its customers inside, as well as on their patio. More often than not, it’s a relaxed environment for working.

While a freshly brewed cup of coffee and the work-friendly atmosphere might bring you to this café, the amazing food will make you stay. Their menu of cicchetti is headlined by these traditional fried dough balls, which pair nicely with a spritz (if you’re done working) and they have excellent toasted sandwiches. If you want to reward yourself further, try a delicious cannoli brimming with melted chocolate. You’ve earned it! 

Address: Sestiere Castello 2613, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy

Hours: Open Every Day from 10:00 AM–12:00 AM

Impronta 

This modern restaurant located near Ponte Foscari has ample seating as well as a bright, sleek design that’s perfect for setting up shop and plugging away for a few hours. Impronta is open as a café during the morning, with a full breakfast menu, delicious pastries (especially the freshly baked jam tarts), and a serious coffee program. If you’re stopping by to work during the afternoon, expect an amazing and eclectic menu of Italian favorites, sandwiches, and even a vegetarian menu. Wifi is free to all customers, and their stylish dining hall has a mix of groups and solo diners. The ambiance is certainly conducive to focusing on the work at hand; the flaky croissants and perfectly bitter espresso are an added bonus. 

Address: Dorsoduro, 3815, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy

Hours:  Open Monday to Saturday from 7:00 AM–3:00 PM and 6:00 PM–11:00 PM

Conclusion

Modern lifestyles and careers can sometimes disrupt even the most carefully-planned vacations. Unless you’re traveling to the most remote wilderness, there’s a chance a dreaded work email might draw you away from sightseeing or an afternoon bar-hopping. While that connectivity might be a double-edged sword, luckily, there are plenty of spaces where you can pop open the laptop and get through that to-do list or put out that fire. This city might be short on coworking spaces, but there are plenty of Venice coffee shops and cafés to set up shop and meet those goals you set. Let Bounce take care of the bags so you can focus on getting your work done and back to enjoying your trip to Venice.