Cafe-NomadHow to Find Cafes With Fast WiFi for Remote Work
Not all cafe WiFi is created equal. A cafe might have great coffee and cozy vibes, but if the WiFi drops during your Zoom call, it's not a productive work spot. Here's how to reliably find cafes with fast, stable internet for remote work.
What WiFi speed do you actually need?
For basic web browsing and email, 10 Mbps is sufficient. For video calls on Zoom or Google Meet, you need at least 25 Mbps for HD quality. For reliable group calls with screen sharing, 50+ Mbps is recommended. If you regularly upload large files or do bandwidth-intensive work, look for cafes with 100+ Mbps. Cafe-Nomad shows verified speeds for every listed cafe.
Red flags to watch for
Cafe WiFi that requires a password from the counter is actually a good sign — it means they're managing bandwidth. Open networks shared with dozens of users tend to be slower. Avoid cafes that use captive portals with time limits unless you're just stopping by for a quick session. And be wary of cafes where the speed test looks good at 7 AM but crashes at noon — Cafe-Nomad shows speed data from various times of day.
Use Cafe-Nomad to find verified speeds
Cafe-Nomad's community runs real speed tests from inside cafes and submits the results. This means the WiFi speeds you see are actual measured speeds, not what the cafe claims. Filter by 'Fast WiFi Cafes' to see only cafes with 50+ Mbps verified speeds, or check individual cafe pages for detailed speed test history.
Pro tips for reliable cafe WiFi
Always carry a mobile hotspot as backup. Sit near the router (usually near the counter or back wall). If WiFi is slow, politely ask staff if there's a less congested network. Consider getting a VPN for security on public networks — your work data shouldn't be exposed on shared WiFi. And always test the connection before settling in for a long session.