St. Louis Free WiFi Options

I spend a lot of time working out of coffee shops. Yes, I do have an office. And I work from home a lot. But, sometimes I find the office too distracting and home just too quiet.

On these days, I go in search of a coffee shop with free WiFi so I can get some work done in an environment with energy & activity, but one where no one knows me and will stop by my table to chat.

I have a few favorites that I tend to hit over and over, but I’m always on the lookout for new places to try.

Free WiFi is Just a Start:

I have a list of requirements for my WiFi spots before I’ll grab my laptop and head out for a work session. My favorite places have all 5 of the features below.

• Free Wi-Fi (free)
• Good coffee with free unlimited refills (coffee)
• Good access to outlets (plugs)
• Real food…not just muffins & dessert (food)
• Easy parking (cars)

To help you decide where you want to take your computer, I am noting these features on my list below for the places that I’ve visited. Some of the WiFi spots came from jiwire’s Wi-Fi finder and some of them came from my friends on twitter, so they won’t all have the features rated.

If you see any free WiFi spots I’ve missed, or can give us any information about the WiFi experience on any of the places I’ve listed below, leave a comment at the end of the post. And definitely let me know if the information is wrong…a place is closed or doesn’t actually offer free WiFi.

I’ve also put together a map with all of the locations other than the libraries and the fast food chains.

Free WiFi Spots in St. Louis:

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS:

Barnes & Noble Bookstores
free, food, cars
In 2009, Barnes & Noble dropped the fees for wifi, making the bookstore a great option for laptop users. They offer a limited menu and Starbucks coffee (no free refills). At the Ladue location (Ladue & 170 in the Schnucks center), I only saw a couple of outlets. I’m guessing that it might be hard to get an outlet and a table during busy times, but there are also a few chairs scattered throughout the store.

Borders Bookstores
free, food, cars

Buffalo Wild Wings

Companion
free, coffee, plugs, food (CWE location)
Companion has 3 locations – Clayton, Central West End and Ladue. I’ve been to both Clayton & the CWE. I wouldn’t take my laptop with me to Clayton. The interior seating is very limited and I’m guessing that there aren’t any oulets. There are patio tables, but again we have an outlet issue. However, I love the CWE location for WiFi work. There is plenty of space and the staff is used to people camped out with a computer. You do have to get your coffee refills at the counter (not self-service) and the menu is limited, but everything that they serve is wonderful. My only negative is that parking for the Clayton & CWE locations are typical for the areas – a pain. But, if it’s a nice day, I don’t mind the short walk from my car. (UPDATE: As of January 2010, the CWE location has been closed due to slow business levels. The Clayton and Ladue locations remain open).

Dairy Queen

First Watch
free, plugs, food, cars
I’ve never taken my laptop into a First Watch, and I’m not sure that they would appreciate someone camping out for a few hours. First Watch is more of a diner style breakfast and lunch spot, with staff buzzing around turning over the tables as fast as they can during the busy times of day. Please note that though First Watch has unlimited free refills on coffee, I think they have some of the worst coffee in town. I think that First Watch could work if you wanted to check your email or conduct a business meeting using your Powerpoint presentation over lunch, but if you are looking for a 2nd office, I would pick another spot on the list.

It’s a Grind
free, coffee, cars
I’ve only been inside the Creve Coeur (update – Creve Coeur is closed) location, but since this is a national franchise I’m guessing that the Chesterfield & St. Charles locations aren’t all that different. I like the small coffee house atmosphere, and the coffee is tasty. I wish they had regular food on the menu (though the pumpkin bread is amazing!). Most of the tables are also too small to work, and only a couple are in reach of an outlet.

Kaldi’s
free, coffee, plugs, food
Another of my favorites, Kaldi’s has 2 cozy Clayton locations (DeMun and by the Ritz Hotel) plus large coffee shop/cafes in Kirkwood and Chesterfield. Kaldi’s is also a coffee roaster, so the coffee always tastes great. The menus are limited in Clayton, as are tables and outlets, but Kirkwood and Chesterfield locations meet more of my requirements. Kirkwood has the best mix for me – independent coffeehouse atmosphere, a round counter height area with outlets set up for every seat and a full menu. The only downside is parking, but I can always find a spot within a block and there is a parking garage behind the building (Chesterfield is the only location with easy parking). WiFi is free for 2 hours with a purchase – you’ll need to ask for a WiFi code when you pay at the register. Need more time, ask for another code, or simply buy yourself a cookie and get another 2 hours.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

McDonald’s

Nadoz Cafe
free, coffee, plugs, food, cars
The Richmond Heights location at The Boulevard (across Brentwood from the Galleria) is probably one of my favorite coffee shops/cafes. The staff is friendly, the food is great, and I never have trouble finding an outlet…unless I show up right at lunchtime. They also serve wine and beer and have a St. Louis City mid-town location at the SLU campus (parking not so easy at this location).

Northwest Coffee Roasting Company
free, plugs
Since Northwest Coffee doesn’t have food other than some granola bars and baked goods, and the coffee doesn’t come with free refills, I don’t tend to spend as much time at this coffee house. However, the small corner coffeehouse atmosphere and easy access to outlets makes it a good stop for me in mid-afternoon or early evening. (Note: I’ve only been to the Clayton location)

McAlister’s Deli

Pasta House and Pasta House Pronto!
free, food, cars
I’ve only seen a sign for free WiFi at the University City location and the Kirkwood Pronto! location, but I’m assuming that if one location has it, they all do. With 15 local restaurants (plus restaurants in Union and Farmington) and Pronto! sites in Kirkwood & Brentwood, there is likely a Pasta House near you. The Kirkwood Pronto! site is a small place with a limited number of tables and parking spots, but neither has ever been completely full on any of my visits. I haven’t worked with my laptop there, but I think it would be a good place to hang out and work for a few hours, or until you battery gives out. I’m not sure that I would plan to hang out for a few hours at one of the regular Pasta House locations, but since they advertise the free WiFi, I’m guessing that there are people that do fire them up. It probably depends on the location as to how many people really do use the WiFi.

St. Louis Bread Company (aka Panera Bread)
free, coffee, plugs, food, cars
With multiple locations all over town, Bread Co is the easiest choice for free WiFi. Every cafe has quite a few outlets plus enough seating that you can usually get a table near them. The only drawback – there is a 30 minute time limit on free WiFi from 11:30-2:00 pm. Given how busy they get at lunchtime, I can forgive this limitation. My favorite locations are UCity Loop, Creve Coeur and Brentwood.

St. Louis County Public Library
free, plugs, cars
Reader Comments:
Brett – Daniel Boone Branch (Ellisville) – Not really a place to go if you are going to be on the phone a lot or in need of continuous caffeine, but it is a great environment to get into a “research” frame of mind and knock out some writing. I can’t say what the other branches have, but Daniel Boone has an area set aside for laptop users, complete with tables, (somewhat) comfy chairs, and plenty of electricity.

Starbucks
free, food
According to their website, Starbucks is now offering free unlimited WiFi at all of their company owned stores in the United States. I’m guessing the outlet access and parking varies greatly, so you’ll have to check out each location individually.

Stratton’s
free, coffee, plugs, food
Located on the street leading to the Ritz Carlton, parking can be a pain at the Clayton location. There is a paid parking garage and Stratton’s will valid your parking ticket for a few hours, but you’ll still will have a good walk from your car. The Webster Groves location on Lockwood should have easier parking, but I’ve never been there so can’t be sure. That said, Stratton’s has a full breakfast and lunch menu available all day, with very reasonable prices. They serve Kaldi’s coffee with unlimited self-serve refills. It’s very easy to get a booth with an outlet, but the atmosphere feels more like a lunch spot than a place where people hang out.
Reader Comments:
Sam Volz – Stratton’s in Webster has a decent parking area behind the building. I don’t think there are many outlets, I could be wrong though.
Lori – Strattons Webster – (park in back). Great hangout. Have spent hours there. there is plug access in a booth and at the tall tables by the windows.

Whole Foods
free, plugs, food, cars
Both locations (Brentwood and Town & Country) offer tons of seating in the cafe, including plenty of counter seating with access to outlets (Town & Country location). Food…you have an entire grocery store filled with pre-made options, and a microwave in the cafe in case you want to heat something up. Parking is probably better than any other WiFi spot in the city. The only negative is that they don’t have that small cozy coffee shop feel or free coffee refills.

BALLWIN:

Lone Wolf Coffee Company
free, coffee, plugs, food, cars
I haven’t worked with my laptop here, but my friend Bruce works out of the place all the time. There are plenty of tables and seemed to be easy access to electricity. Located at the intersection of Clayton & Kehrs Mill Roads, Lone Wolf is a welcome change in a mostly residential area that doesn’t offer many options for independent casual dining. Though it definitely has the ambiance of a cafe or coffee shop, there is also a room for live music and they serve beer and wine too.
Reader Comments:
Alex Miller – meets all of your requirements
See full review…

CHESTERFIELD:

Fox and Hound Pub Grille

CLAYTON:

City Coffee House & Creperie
free, coffee, food
I’ve never taken my laptop with me here, and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone sitting and working at this tasty cafe. They get a lively weekend brunch and weekday lunch crowd, and I wouldn’t plan on working during these hours. The tables are also a bit small for working. The highlight for me is the wonderful food (crepes, wraps, salads, waffles and quiche).

Krueger’s Bar
free, food, cars
Located a couple of doors down from a place I get take-out often (Crazy Bowls), I’ve walked by Krueger’s a million times. I finally decided to give their food a try once. Figuring that bars are often best at classic bar food, I ordered a carry out burger and fries. I hate to give out bad reviews, but I won’t be ordering one again. The interior was classic corner bar and was really smokey, but that was before Clayton went smoke-free, so it is probably a lot better now. I have no idea if they have easy access to outlets or how often someone really fires up a laptop, but they do have a sign that states free WiFi. If you try it out, share your experiences here.

CREVE COEUR:

Provisions
free, food, cars
Provisions recently started offering WiFi (based on the sign in the window). I haven’t tried it yet, so don’t know if they have any limitations on how long you can work. They do have great food plus plenty of parking. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding a table unless you pop in during lunch hours on a weekday, and though I haven’t looked, I’m pretty sure there aren’t very many (if any) outlets.

Smoothie King

DES PERES:

Daily Bread
free, food, cars
Another spot that offers free WiFi but you rarely see anyone inside with a computer. Local residents flock here for lunch, so grab a table quickly before they fill up.

FERGUSON:

Corner Coffee House
free, food, cars
The coffee house is a point of pride for the locals living in Ferguson, and offers a small town homey atmosphere. The food was very good and there was plenty of space to grab a table. I was there for a business meeting and didn’t break out my laptop, so I’m not sure about the access of outlets. They do have a couple of computers for anyone to use, and both were in use the entire time I was there. My only complaints are that it was a bit smokey for me and coffee didn’t come with refills. I expect to pay for refills at a place like Starbucks, but not for simple brewed coffee at a regular cafe.

MAPLEWOOD:

Foley’s Irish Pub
Reader Comments:
Sam Volz – Foley’s Pub in Maplewood right at the end of sutton on Marshall also has WiFi. They used to have wifi Tuesdays over the summer, where you could IM your order to the bartender.

Foundation Grounds
free, coffee, plugs, food
Another independent coffee house, I would spend more time at Foundation Grounds if it was closer to home. The menu is limited but the food is amazing, though a little on the pricey side in my opinion. This is a small place, but each time I’ve been there I was able to snag a table.

Stone Spiral Coffee & Curios
free, plugs, food, cars
Off the beaten path, this coffee house feels like you are visiting at an unpretentious friend’s house. I’ve only been there in the evening without my laptop, but the owner was very friendly and the pumpkin latte I ordered was amazing. I’m guessing on the outlet accessibility since I didn’t really look that closely.

O’FALLON:

Cappuccino’s Coffee Cafe

OLIVETTE:

Land of Smile
free, food, cars, plugs
This independently owned Thai restaurant doesn’t advertise their free WiFi, but the owner told me that they are happy to give customers a password and they can stay as long as they like. I’m not sure how busy they get at lunchtime, but evenings are pretty deserted. I think they do more carry out than dine in service (at least in the evening), so am sure they would happily have you hang out and web surf as long as you bought something.

SOUTH COUNTY:

LoRusso’s

ST. CHARLES:

Crooked Tree Coffee House
free, coffee, plugs, food, cars
I really like the small town cozy feel in this coffee house and cafe. It feels like a neighborhood gathering place with a tables up front (cafe feel) and a few table tucked away in the back (library reading room feel) separated by a couch and a couple of swivel leather chairs (your friend’s living room feel). Coffee is self-serve and advertises a bottomless cup. The menu is huge and covers breakfast and lunch. See full review, videos and pictures…

Java G’s
Reader Comments:
Julie Hood – Another option for your St. Charles list is Java G’s, just off the Page Extension. I teach social media and internet marketing classes there and love it. Great atmosphere.

Picasso’s Coffee
Reader Comments:
ElizabethL – Picasso’s Coffee on historic main street in st. charles. It’s got live bands on the weekends, free WiFi, outdoor seating, beer, martinis, paninis, pastries, and amazing coffee!

ST. LOUIS CITY:

Downtown St. Louis Hot Zone (42-square-block area bounded by Broadway, Market Street, Tucker Boulevard & Washington Avenue)

6 North (Central West End and Downtown)

Atomic Cowboy (The Grove)
free, food
Located in the newly fashionable The Grove area, parking is hit or miss but isn’t too tough to manage. I’ve never used their WiFi, but have been to Atomic Cowboy for a happy hour. If you are looking for a bar atmosphere where you can check your email and get some food, Atomic Cowboy might be perfect for you.

Bar Italia (Central West End)

Cafe Ventana (Mid-Town)

Coffee Cartel (Central West End)
free, food
Coffee Cartel is a favorite spot for many in the CWE, but I haven’t had as much success there. The one time I went with my laptop, the internet service was spotty and the staff was pretty rude when I asked them about it. But, their late night hours (open 24 hours) is a plus for many. Parking is the normal CWE parking – plan on walking a block or two.

Coffee Oasis (Central West End)

Culture Cafe (Delmar just east of Skinker)
free, plugs, food
I was excited to see another option for free WiFi in the Loop, but left really disappointed after my visit to the Culture Cafe. After feeding my meter for 2 hours, I discovered that the WiFi wasn’t working and no one there seemed to have a clue about how to get it going. They did lead me to their router and let me reboot it (to no avail). The menu was overpriced and portions were very small, and even though I gave me order directly to the cook and told her twice I didn’t want my shrimp & curry rice spicy, she still sprinkled something across the shrimp that made it almost too hot for me to eat. When I asked if they had coffee, the response was ‘we can put it on’. And they don’t have an ice machine, so I ended up with a $1.50 Diet Coke out of the can. The staff could use some lessons in customer service, especially since I was the only diner there when I stopped in. As much as I hate to say it, if you are looking for a place to camp out with your computer, I would keep looking.

Hartford Coffee Company (Tower Grove South)

Kayak’s (Skinker & Forest Park Parkway)
free, coffee, plugs, food
Located on the edge of the Washington University campus and only a few feet from University City and Forest Park, Kayaks is normally filled with college students and a few professors. Still, I find the atmosphere energizing and love the extensive menu. I didn’t give them credit for easy parking since the lot behind the building has 24 hour meters…and in St. Louis most of us expect free parking unless we are in downtown St. Louis or downtown Clayton.

Llywelyn’s Pub (Central West End)

Local Harvest Cafe (Tower Grove South)
free, coffee, food, cars
Located in the budding new business district on Morgan Ford just south of Tower Grove Park, Local Harvest is a new favorite. The extensive menu made from local food products looked so good that it was a challenge to decide what to eat. The menu serves up plenty of options for meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans too. The tasty coffee is self-serve, which I like so I don’t feel guilty about getting tons of refills. I stopped in about noon on a Saturday, and the place quickly filled up with every table filled. I saw a half dozen people either turn around and leave due to a lack of tables or took their food as carry out when they couldn’t sit down. The woman at the register said this was typical at lunchtime on Saturdays. If you plan to bring your computer and camp out, I would try to avoid the lunch rush or at least make sure you spend some money on food to justify using a table while potential paying customers are walking out. I did grab a table by an outlet, but it looked like there were only a couple of options to plug in.
Reader comments:
Lori – Great food, coffee and decent plug access. Busy during lunch/dinner. They don’t mind if you stay during off hours. I leave out of courtesy during rush times or buy a full meal.

Mangia Italiano (South Grand)
Reader Comments:
Bridget – Mangia Italiano in South City has its own proprietary blend from Kaldi’s Coffee Roasters, almost every table has a plug nearby, and there’s an entire parking lot across the street. Plus you can eat the best pasta in St. Louis!

Murdoch Perk (South City)
free, plugs, cars

Shangri La Diner (Benton Park)
I didn’t bring my computer with me when I visited Shangri La, but I wasn’t nearly as impressed as I expected to be. The atmosphere is very 12 year old girl’s bedroom/retro…lots of bright pinks & orange decor and dangley things around. If you aren’t a vegan, you may have some trouble finding items on the menu that appeal to you. I ended up with a quesadilla and sweet potato fries, but both were quite greasy. I will say the staff was very friendly and helpful, and they did have an amazing banana cake.
Reader comments:
Lori – Fabulous healthy food in a cool retro environment. Small, personal service. Easy parking. Plug access. Vegetarian and vegan available. Limited hours, however.

Shaw’s Coffee LTD (Shaw)

St. Louis City Public Library (Central West End)

SUNSET HILLS:

Wired Coffee
free, coffee, plugs, food, cars
I was less than impressed with the food at this coffee shop (I asked for some mayo in my wrap and they tossed the lettuce in mayo like it was salad dressing – yuck!). But, otherwise it is a good pick for a coffee house were you could spend some time with your laptop. They even have a small meeting room that you can use for your group.

UNIVERSITY CITY:

Meshuggah Cafe
free, plugs, food, cars
Another of my favorite coffee shops, Meshuggah has a post college hand-me-down furniture feel to it. There is pretty much seating with a small upstairs area which includes a couple of couches. The menu is somewhat limited, but the food is good and freshly made. My favorite is their pesto and fresh mozzarella covered bagel. They also serve beer and wine and are open late. My only gripe is that the espresso style coffee is too strong for me and doesn’t include free refills. Extension cords snake the floor and every table is typically filled late into the night with students, professors and an assortment of other laptop bearing customers.

University City Public Library
free, plugs, cars
I’m  guessing on this one, since I have to admit that I’ve never taken my computer to the library and haven’t been inside in years. But I would assume that outlets are easy to find and I know that there is a free lot reserved for the library just behind the building.

WILDWOOD:

Brick House

Indigo Joe’s

Papi’s Pizza, Subs and Ice Cream
Reader Comments:
Scott Chervitz – free, plugs, food, cars

Contributing Credits:

Thanks to all of my twitter friends who responded to my request for free WiFi spots:

• @suzyjax
• @billstreeter
• @sccworlds_com
• @17thWard
• @RadishSpirit
• @SandyShores
• @CraigMayhem
• @RobynsWorld
• @garrick_s
• @STLMealDeals

UPDATE: My readers have jumped in and not only pointed out WiFi spots left off the list, but also filled in the gaps so that we can all decide in advance where we want to drag our laptops. I’ll keep this post updated, adding new WiFi spots to the list along with the comments describing them so you don’t have to scroll through all the comments to make a decision about where to go. In return for their generosity, I’m giving commentors who describe the WiFi spots an extra link in the main post.

So, if you leave a comment and include your URL with your comment, you’ll get a Do Follow link from this site as a thank you. (Like most bloggers, the links from the comments are No Follow to reduce spam comments, but people can still click through to your website…including me…so leave a URL even if it is just to your twitter or Facebook fan page. And if you aren’t a website owner/blogger and this was gibberish, just ignore it and skip to the next post.)

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Possibly Related Posts:

1. Coffee House Review ~ Crooked Tree Coffee House
2. Kirkwood Restaurants & Bars Go Smoke-Free
3. St. Louis Business Above & Beyond Award
4. In Search of WiFi

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