Live the Digital Nomad Life with 11 Christchurch Cafés That Have Free Wifi

Ozone Coffee on Walker Street is a freelancer’s dream work location; the space is bright and welcoming, there are plenty of tables dotted around the cafe so you never feel like you’re holding one up and best of all the coffee is on point. It also makes for a great meeting spot if you have clients or fellow digital nomad colleagues to catch up with. And as hunger hits and you’re contemplating the leftovers in your fridge, the food menu or cabinet offerings at Ozone could very well tempt you and convince you to stay just a little bit longer.

If you like your work space to also feature the potential for some retail therapy then Little Battersea located inside homewares store Addy & Lou is for you. Named after its Battersea Street location in Sydenham, this cafe ticks all the boxes you’re looking for as a freelancer. With a cabinet that’s well stocked with both sweet and savoury goods, including some delightful treats from Grizzly, ample seating and free car parking to boot, add Little Battersea to your list to check out.

Japandi minimalism is the vibe at Akin in the central city and this pared-back sophistication makes for an excellent spot to work from. With a long communal table at the centre of the cafe - made for the digital nomad, you’re perfectly positioned for a productive work session, a spot of people watching when you need a break and a short distance to the counter when it’s time for a caffeine top up.

We may have stretched the defintion of cafe when it comes to including Scoundrel on this list but it’s such a great spot for freelancers and remote workers we couldn’t leave it off! This St Asaph block neighbourhood eatery was once a mechanics workshop, so the vast space and plentiful couches make it the ideal work location. It’s not uncommon to see several laptops (or more!) on any given day and yet there’s always room for other customers, so you don’t have to feel guilty about taking up space. As you wind down your work day, stick around for tacos and a margarita, you’ll be so glad you did.

For those wanting a casual, friendly café haunt that’s close to the beach, Switch New Brighton is your next port of call. Laid back, with plenty of seating options (from comfy couches to barstool perches), Switch has a lot to offer. Kick back with a plate of killer French Toast, grab some caffeine to fuel your creativity, and maybe book yourself in for a beach walk break. Nothing says work-life balance like the sand in your toes and a coffee in your hand.

If you're a student at nearby Ara, there's a good chance you've popped into Black Betty for a pick-me-up between classes. But this industrial, rugged café is also a great spot to park up for that study period, making the most of the free wifi and great beats. Black Betty turns out quick coffee, with a great loyalty card system, and has a cabinet stocked up with easy, affordable eats. 

Foundation Café serves flavoursome fare and coffee. Seamlessly integrated into Otautahi’s world-class library Tūranga by way of clever design and friendly service, there’s no better place to get your ‘flow’ on than this hub for learning. So sit down, sip on Prima coffee, and get cracking on that to-do list. The central location and plentiful seating makes it a cracking spot for a meeting too. After a couple of hours if you’re in need of a change of scenery or need some serious concentration time, migrate up a few floors in the building and set yourself up in one of the many private workspaces Tūranga has to offer.

C4 Coffee is a Christchurch institution, they sure know a thing or two about producing an excellent cup of coffee, so if that’s at the top of your priority list when searching for a place to work, look no further. It’s city fringe location draws an eclectic group of customers and rest assured you won’t be the only one pulling out your laptop and logging onto the wifi. The environment is cosy and welcoming and with the onsite roastery there’s always a buzz about the cafe.

Occupying the ground floor of the CoCA art gallery building on Gloucester Street, Lux Espresso is a cool and stylish place to spend some of your work day. One of the great things about this place is that there’s no pressure to eat and run. Instead, customers are encouraged to stay as long as they like in the space, chatting with the staff, reading the newspaper or simply getting some mahi done.

Addington Coffee co-op is, simply put, a great café and a true Christchurch institution. You can settle in and watch the hustle and bustle of the fully-functioning roastery while you flick off a few e-mails, and of course, enjoy a cup or two of the black gold with one of their tasty muffins.  

This St Albans café has more than an admirable vegan menu, specialty teas and coffees: it also has unlimited wifi. Bringing pristine interiors, a tranquil vibe and a deliciously eclectic menu to the neighbourhood, The Origin is a great place to escape busy-to-the-brim city haunts. Immaculate, fresh interiors in whites and light wood, The Origin has a Scandinavian feel ideal for decluttering your mind before you sit down for a spell online.

The sleek and sophisticated fitout is complimented by an interesting animal product-free menu and cabinet offerings, as well as micro-roasted coffee and a selection of nut mylks and specialty teas.