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New York
New York without a membership
Where to work for a day, from free reading rooms to 24-hour lobbies.
Daniel Reyes
Editor, New York and Mexico City
Published
You do not need a monthly membership to work well in New York. Between reading rooms, hotel lobbies and day passes, there is a good option for every kind of day.
Free options
Reading rooms are free, silent and rarely full on weekdays. The Ninth Street Reading Room in the East Village is small but perfect for a deadline.
Cafés that let you stay
Most Manhattan cafés are too small for long sessions. Second Draft in the West Village is the exception: quiet by house rule, with outlets at most tables and hours until 22:00.
Hotel lobbies
The Hotel Vesper Lobby in NoMad never closes and only asks that you order something.
When you need a desk
Day passes cost $30 to $45. Northside Desks in Williamsburg is the best value and opens every day until 22:00, while Mercer Studio in SoHo has the fastest Wi-Fi we tested in the city.
Written by
Daniel Reyes
Editor, New York and Mexico City
A former architect who judges every room by its light, its chairs and its outlets.
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