Places in Denver to Work Remotely That are Not Co-Working Spaces or Cafes

WFH without Working from Home

The New Why team works remotely with clients nationwide to provide web development, social media management, online ads, and Google Grants support. Occasionally, you might catch me on a Zoom call working from my backyard or inside a coffee shop. But I like a few other places besides home or co-working spaces and coffee shops to work remotely.

Maybe you’re a remote worker too for a nonprofit or a small business. If so, check out some of our recommendations. All of these locations are free or free-ish (since it’s always good to buy a little something at an establishment using their wifi, lights, and facilities.) 

Stanley Market 

Photo by the incredibly talented From the Hip Photo

Technically, Stanley Market is in Aurora, but it’s on the border with Central Park, so I’m putting it on the list. Plus, it’s my favorite place to bring family and friends from out of town and a great place to work. 

Stanley Market is a former airplane hanger turned local business marketplace. There are over 50 restaurants and retailers that call Stanley Marketplace their home. 

Of the places on this list, Stanley is probably one of the only ones you can get away with not purchasing anything since there are dedicated workspaces throughout the facility. But you probably couldn’t do that because there is so much good food there! Grab a coffee from Logan Coffee House or a snack from Maria Empanada or Mondo Market. Or you can grab a beer in a plastic cup and bring it back to your workstation. The possibilities are endless at Stanley. Plus, they are open pretty long hours, so you can get started early in the day and hang out well into the evening.

IKEA

Image by photo-denver / Shutterstock

I know this is an unusual one, but hear me out. Ikea during the weekday is actually a great place to work remotely. Also, yes, I know Ikea is not in Denver; it’s in Centennial. But it’s Denver metro. 

So, the upstairs cafe has bathrooms, wifi, and food. The downside is that there aren’t many outlets, so try to get there with a charged battery. 

But the Ikea cafe has comfy couches for making calls and large tables to spread out and get some work done. Plus, it’s actually pretty quiet during business hours. Just make sure you join Ikea Family before you go for free bottomless coffee and tea in the upstairs cafe!

Denver Public Libraries

Image by Aranami / Flickr

If you’ve met me, you know I am a huge library fan. Not just because I love books (who doesn’t!?!) but also because of all the great resources for the community that libraries provide. 

A friend once made fun of me for going to the library, and I had to ask him, “What’s wrong with the library? You know it was like the original Netflix?” This was back when Netflix was renting DVDs instead of streaming. I’m dating myself. Plus, I digress. 

Denver Library has 25 branch locations throughout the city, so you’re pretty much almost always near one. Of course, some are better for working than others – but nearly all have dedicated quiet spaces, free wifi, loads of outlets, and did I also mention free books?!? (With a library card, of course!) 

I’m pretty much a library junky, so I’ve been to quite a few, but my favorites are Sam Gary (Central Park), Central (Downtown), and Hampden Branch (Hampden).

Bookstores

The old Tattered Cover in LoDo was a great place to work. RIP. Image by Sheila McClune / Flickr

So we’re back to books again – but this time at the bookstore. I love patronizing my local bookstore. No disrespect to folks who get their books from Amazon (I sometimes do, too). But I try to get something from my local bookstore every now and then.

It’s just fun to browse and see what catches your eye! So many bookstores, like Barnes and Noble, Tattered Cover, etc., have great little cafes or nooks where you can chill out, read, work on your laptop, or answer a few emails. 

Museums

Image by Osbornb / Flickr

Many Denver Museums provide free admission on specific days throughout the year. These days are partly funded by the SCFD 0.1% sales tax administered to residents of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties. 

From my experience, the free days tend to be some of the busiest, but you can still find a place to get some work done in museum cafes. Generally, the cafes aren’t overcrowded, and you can find a place to hang out with your laptop.

Some of the museums included in Denver’s Free Museum days include the Denver Art Museum, Museum of Nature and Science, and all locations of the Botanical Gardens. In addition, Broomfield Veterans Museum, Foothills Art Center, Colorado Music Hall of Fame, and The Aurora History Museum are all free every day. 

If one of the free museum days isn’t happening when you want to go work at the museum, check your local library. Many libraries have free passes that patrons can use at museums.

Bars – Breweries – Distilleries

Image by Westfax Brewing Co

Back when I lived in Boston, I had a friend who worked at a bar up the street from me on weeknights. I was in night school getting my MBA, so I would swing by my friend’s bar on my way home from classes, grab a drink and start my homework. This was when I learned the art of using bars as working environments. 

Denver has so many great bars, breweries, and distilleries (and many have WIFI!), so there are so many options to choose from. And, of course, if you’re working at the bar, you should buy something, probably refrain from Zoom calls, and tip your bartender handsomely. 

But if you get there early enough on a weekday, most bars don’t have a lot of patrons, so you’ll have the place more or less to yourself to get some work done – maybe even over a G&T. One of my favorite spots is Grandma’s House. Great beer. Lots of board games. And for $5 you can make some badass needlepoint when you’re done with work.

That’s our roundup! What about you? Any unusual places in the city (or metro area) where you love to work! Let us know! Maybe we’ll see you there sometime!