Espresso House

This is a solid, work-friendly café that manages to outperform nearby chains without trying to reinvent the wheel. It’s particularly well set up for laptop use, with plenty of tables, good table height, and accessible plug sockets for charging. The Wi-Fi is another big win: fast, reliable, and refreshingly simple to connect to, with no sign-up hoops. One odd quirk though, it seems to block git pulls, so if you’re doing anything development-heavy you might need to tether.

The main drawback for productivity is the music. It leans louder and more energetic than ideal, so if you’re after a quieter working environment, noise-cancelling headphones are pretty much essential.

Food is a strong point. The sandwiches stand out, made with proper fresh sourdough and well-seasoned fillings that feel a cut above the usual chain fare. Croissants are also surprisingly good, easily outperforming the typical big-name alternatives nearby. Drinks are more in line with expectations for a chain. The vanilla matcha latte, for example, is overly sweet, which won’t surprise anyone familiar with this style of café.

Location-wise, being right next to a major chain makes for an easy comparison, and this place comes out ahead. It delivers better food, a more functional setup for working, and an overall more satisfying experience.

All in all, it’s a dependable choice, especially if you need somewhere to work, as long as you’re prepared for a slightly louder atmosphere.