Downtown Cleveland’s Dynamic Workspaces: A 2024 Must

By Julia Matter

Leave working from home in 2023, let’s make 2024 about trying something new and getting out of our comfort zone. Working from coffee shops, malls, and other third places in Downtown Cleveland offers a change of scenery and allows you to leverage the city’s assets to increase your productivity.

Ian and Lia set up shop in LionHeart Coffee at the 5th Street Arcades

Downtown Cleveland, Inc.’s staff decided to conquer the city’s core and test out firsthand locations that provide excellent dynamic workspaces. Work trends continue to evolve as we emerge from the pandemic. We are faced with remote, in-person, and hybrid work models, but many professionals are re-discovering the benefits of working Downtown. From the aroma of freshly brewed coffee to the buzzing energy of the city, there are countless reasons why working from anywhere in Downtown Cleveland is a game-changer.

Our staff pounded the pavement and took advantage of third-location workspaces the core has to offer. Here’s where we went:

Olivia and Julia in Cleveland Public Library’s Indoor Reading Garden.

Cleveland Public Library:

Okay, this may sound like an obvious choice, but when was the last time you went to a library? Offering a variety of workspaces, Cleveland Public Library doesn’t stop there when it comes to amenities. In addition to free WI-FI, you can utilize their Makers Space, an area equipped with 3D Printing and Scanning, Vinyl and Laser Fabrication, and more. Not to mention the Library’s cell phone charging station, collaborative work seating areas (great for team meetings), and 30 TechCenteral computers equipped with a variety of programs.

For those who thrive off caffeine, we’ve got you covered. We visited plenty of coffee shops to see where your creativity and productivity will be best served.

Audrey working hard from East 9th Street’s Phoenix

Phoenix Coffee:

Phoenix Coffee is the only employee-owned cooperative coffee company in Ohio and has been roasting coffee in Cleveland for over 20 years.

Our two Downtown Cleveland Phoenix Coffee Shops (East 9th Street and the Warehouse District) offer free Wi-Fi, a variety of drinks, yummy treats, plants for sale, and very friendly staff!

Phoenix on East 9th has plenty of seating AND access to an outdoor patio that can be enjoyed in the warmer months!

Felicia at Hoyt Block Atrium (700 W Clair Ave.) with her Phoenix brew

If you’re planning on grabbing coffee from the Warehouse district’s Phoenix, we recommend grabbing that coffee to-go and trying out the Hoyt Block Atrium as team member Felicia did! The high ceilings, plants throughout, and natural light give the space an outdoor feel. This is a great spot to get work done during lunch too as it is right next to Jimmy Johns, Camino, Constantino's, and Lulos!

LionHeart:

Formally, Stonefruit, LionHeart Coffee offers big windows with lots of natural light overlooking Euclid Ave, plenty of seating (good areas for both groups and solo working), tasty coffee, pastries, free Wi-Fi, and a cozy yet modern atmosphere. They also have a comfy couch if you’re lucky enough to grab it!

The Browsing Room Bookstore & Café:

Hannah at the brand new Browsing Room Bookstore & Café

The Browsing Room Bookstore & Café (“BRB”) in the Galleria right across from the YMCA and next to the Hungarian Museum, only opened last month! BRB offers plentiful comfortable tables for sitting, working, and reading and they have a kid’s nook too! The European-style cafe set up in the atrium right outside their entry gives an open-air atmosphere to that space. BRB currently offers Rising Star coffee and pastries from a variety of NEO bakeries, however, they are looking to expand their food and drink menu even more soon! More to come on this unique space, but for now know it’s a great place if you need to get some work done.

Drew at The Arcade, the city's first building to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Arcade/ Rising Star:

Work remotely in Cleveland’s Crystal Palace (as it was known when it opened in the late 1800s) The beautiful atrium is full of tables, has fast Wi-Fi, and you have access to delicious coffee and treats from a Cleveland favorite, Rising Star! With plenty of light from the glass skylight, you can soak up the vitamin D, enjoy a slice of history, and bang out that next item on your to-do list!

Kelly and Michael in Skylight Park enjoying the sunlight

Tower City - Skylight Park/The Eatery

Skylight Park in Tower City offers open space, abundant seating (tables, chairs, couches, oh my!), free Wi-Fi, much-needed sunlight, and views of the river. The Eatery has a variety of dining options including, Cleveland Sandwich Co., Charley’s Philly Steaks, Mod bites, Yihi Japan, and more. You can get your coffee fix at Milk and Honey or Dunkin’ and the cherry on top is Tower City offers easy rail access and parking.

Sushi 86 and Bites:

North Coast Harbor Place Manager Alex, supervising where the city meets the lake in Downtown Cleveland

Did you know Sushi 86 moved to North Coast Harbor? Well, they did, with a new and expanded setup! At breakfast and lunch, Bites (owned by Sushi 86) serves coffee, pastries, quiche, salads, grilled chicken sandwiches, and more! Next door, Sushi 86 has expanded its menu of delicious sushi, sashimi, rolls, and poke bowls! With very friendly staff, great coffee and specialty drink selections, ice cream, and free Wi-Fi you can’t go wrong at this location. It will be hard to beat a view from Sushi 86 and Bites as it overlooks beautiful Voinovich Park, North Coast Harbor, and Lake Erie.

Cleveland City Hall Café - A Taste of Excellence

Sam, our Director of Policy & Research, where she feels at home, the café at City Hall

Ending with one you may not expect, A Taste of Excellence, also known as the café in City Hall, serves affordable breakfast & lunch Monday-Friday until 2 pm. Their orders are custom, and the staff is notably friendly. It's a great place to pop in some headphones, enjoy a snack, and engage in some light-hearted civil conversations with city staff you run into. However, if you're looking for a more scenic place to have your lunch and get work done, there are plenty of spots to explore in City Hall with beautiful historic architecture. It’s also just a short walk to the Malls and North Coast Harbor if you are looking to enjoy the outdoors!

Hop out of those PJs because it’s a new year and time to immerse yourself in a vibrant and dynamic work environment. The city's rich history, diverse culture, and thriving business community make it an ideal backdrop for those seeking inspiration, productivity, and a sense of community. So, next time you're contemplating WFH, remember the amenities and ambiance of a downtown coffee shop, mall, or library and the endless possibilities it can offer to enhance your work experience.