Working remotely has been, for good or bad, a way of pandemic life. On the bright side, you can sleep until 8:59 and still be at work on time. You can also snack your way through all 903 emails in your inbox. But there are those days when if you stay at home, you’ll just end up watching three seasons of "Property Brothers." When you’ve reached the point at which you’ll freak out if you don’t leave the house, Irving eateries save the day. We’ve rounded up six spots where you can post-up and plug-in with your tablet or laptop, clack away and crush your task list. Who says you can’t mix business with pleasure?
For All the Feels of the Coveted Corner Office: Café at Williams Square
Towers of Williams Square | 5205 N. O'Connor Blvd. | 214.681.9724
You don’t have to be in the C Suite set to enjoy the view from Cafe at Williams Square. This gem in the West tower of Williams Square is a great place to set up shop when you’re feeling cooped up. First, you can order up your regular Venti Macchiato with two equals. Second, there’s delicious food prepared by La Cima Club - like honey chicken biscuits, scones and muffins, and a diverse selection of salads, bowls, soups and salads. Third, floor-to-ceiling windows make the space bright and offer a fantastic view of the iconic Mustangs of Las Colinas, so you can alternate between sending emails and admiring the sculpture. Open 7 am to 2 pm.
Afternoon Delight at Mesa Mescal
The Westin Hotel |400 W. Las Colinas Blvd. | 469.472.0700
While Irving has plenty of work-friendly coffee shops, sometimes nothing goes better with spreadsheets than a hotel restaurant bar and a margarita. Well, maybe not spreadsheets. But if you need to get the creative juices flowing for a writing project, a little drinky-poo at the Westin Irving Convention Center might do ya right. At Meza Mescal you can enjoy a wide selection of... wait for it... Mezcal flights, beers on tap and crafted cocktails. Work your way to happy hour daily from 4:30 to 7 pm. And If you don’t know which tequila pairs best with the PowerPoint you’re preparing, the bartenders will help you out.
Should you prefer, they can also suggest non-alcoholic creations inspired by local producers and flavors. Mesa Mezcal features an open bar + restaurant design with a large outdoor patio, so you can have some friends meet up with you for Taco Tuesday when you’ve finally finished overthinking that email to your boss explaining why your PowerPoint due by COB is late. Mesa Mezcal is open from 4:30 PM - 10:00 PM daily.
Morning, Noon & Night at Nosh & Bottle
370 W. Las Colinas Blvd. | 469.442.0808
Nosh & Bottle is perfect for people who need a funky, yet comfy, place to sit and do things while noshing on delicious and creative fare.
Honestly, there’s nothing this place doesn’t do well - along with great coffee and a ton of space to work, Nosh also has outstanding breakfast tacos, charcuterie, pizza, salads, sammies and weekly specials, not to mention lovely owners, friendly staff, an abundance of comfortable seating options and a nice patio. Whew! They won’t rush you if you feel like sitting with your laptop, three notebooks, and ten different colored pens; eating some lunch; and then hanging out until it’s an appropriate time to start drinking rosé (probably around 4pm). Not in the mood for rosé? There’s a wine tasting every day (taste four for $20).
It’s no wonder Nosh has been coined as the ‘neighborhood living room.” This place - well the owners and staff actually - wants you to sit and stay a while. It literally says so on their website. Just keep in mind they have live music and/or karaoke some nights starting at 8, which will definitely get in the way of that draft you’re trying to finish.
Find Your Happy Space at The Original Chop Shop
7300 N. MacArthur Blvd.| 972.635.8440
This remote office, aka The Original Chop Shop, is light, airy, big and bright - perfect if you’re bored of staring at the sad blank walls next to your home and/or desk as you type and delete the same line over and over and over again.
They also have a cheery patio for your vitamin D fix and feel good foods to energize you through that marketing budget you’ve been needing to tackle.
And, you can bring your best boo! Cue Pharrell’s lyric “Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof!”
An Over the Counter Work-cation
Omni Las Colinas | 221 E. Las Colinas Blvd. | 972.556.0800
When you want to pretend you’re on a luxurious workation, head to the Omni Las Colinas and start your day at Over The Counter. This upscale gourmet market and coffee shop in the Omni is where you go when you have real work to do and need some inspiration. It has the feel of a shared work space, with industrial lighting, wooden tables, and a few plants. The space is functional - most of the seating is at a narrow counter with outlets at almost every chair. And if you need more surface area, there’s a large table in the center of the room.
The inspiration comes from the fantastic view of the resort poolscape and lovely Lake Carolyn… and the snacks, because you can’t accomplish anything without snacks. Or is that just me?
When you get bored of filing expense reports and sipping espresso, explore the Lakehouse Waterfront Lounge. You know you’ve been jealous overlooking all the lucky peeps that apparently don’t have to work and have been poolside all day. I’m not bitter. Seriously. (insert eye roll)
Cozy Up at Pax & Beneficia
Water Street | 5244 N. O’Connor Blvd. | 214.390.6883
This bustling neighborhood coffee shop makes for a cozy morning office setup. It also (unsurprisingly) serves coffee, duh, and a variety of toasts, six to be exact. I fancy the P&B&J Toast, which is just fun to say. They also offer the obligatory and ah-mazing Avocado Toast and other crunchy creations that include Nutella, Ricotta and some other ingredients that I can’t pronounce. The drink menu offers coffee flights and “Sunshine in a Cup” - a latte with lemon zest and lavender and vanilla syrup in case you wondered what sunshine tastes like. But the popular coffee house is best known for their traditional Turkish Coffee Service. Peruse all of the delightful options here.
Pax & Beneficia’s welcoming environment emanates from the owner’s core principles, one of which is camaraderie. “People come first. We create spaces where you belong. Everyone has a place at our table” - Pax & Beneficia website. So the next time you need to get away to work, find your seat at their table. Basically, you’ll like this place better than your apartment. You can easily spend a whole day there and get some work done too as long as you avoid getting into any productivity-derailing debates about the existence of God.
Bonus: If you need a place to meet with co-workers and be productive they also offer hourly conference room rental for $30 per hour. Hospitality is served daily from 7 am to 7 pm, except on Sundays when they allow themselves an extra hour of sleep. (8 am to 6 pm).
