Everyone is feeling the heat in Lagos right now. The current heat wave is of epic proportions, leaving many Lagosians scrambling to find ways to feel cooler. There is no category of people affected by this heat wave like remote workers. The majority of the Lagos workforce can’t possibly afford 24-hour air conditioning in their homes. The good thing for them is—spending about 8 hours daily at their respective offices makes up for that.
However, as temperatures soar, remote workers find themselves seeking cool places to maintain productivity and sanity. Fortunately, Lagos is home to an array of serene cafés where one can escape the oppressive heat while getting work done. This article dissects 10 of the best cafés across Lagos and why each of them is an ideal escape from the sweltering heat.
Dulce Café
Located in Ikoyi, Dulce Café by Kajal’s Cookies offers a tranquil atmosphere perfect for remote work. With its cosy interior and refreshing beverages, it provides a welcome respite from the sweltering heat outside. It’s free to work at Dulce Café and the menu items are pretty affordable.
Café One
If you’re a Sterling Bank account holder, then chances that you’ve already heard of Café One are pretty high. Café One is a coffee shop and co-working space owned by Sterling Bank, with locations in Yaba, Lekki Phase 1 and Chevron Drive in Lagos.
Due to its shared ownership with Sterling Bank, account holders have special discounts on coworking fees. For instance, the daily coworking fee is ₦3,780 for Sterling Bank account holders and ₦5,860 for non-Sterling Bank account holders.
One thing about Café One though, is that certain locations can be pretty busy due to its popularity. So if you’re a remote worker who enjoys working in a quiet but busy environment, then this café is for you. All its plans include access to Wi-Fi and its comfortable seating makes it an ideal spot to set up your laptop and tackle your tasks.
Art Café
Art Café is a serene art-inspired café with a wide range menu for its patrons. During the day, its space is quiet and serene. The ground floor of the café is dedicated to stunning art pieces, and the first floor is the main dining area.
This café has rustic decor pieces that stimulate creativity with its inspiring ambiance. It’s the perfect workspace for creative remote workers. With menu items ranging from coffee and breakfast essentials to Nigerian staples like suya, there’s something for everyone at Art Cafe.
Milk & Honey
Milk & Honey is a new kid on the café block owned by Livvy’s Twist cake company. At this point, the cafés on our list owned by cake or dessert companies are our favourite picks. This café has a very small space, so customers usually order food and treats to-go.
However, the tranquillity that Milk & Honey offers is irresistible to some remote workers. With some of the best cold and iced coffee drinks in Lagos, you can have a seat at this café to recharge and refuel during work sessions.
Vestar Coffee
Vestar Coffee is another café with a small space, although not as small as Milk & Honey. Located within Upbeat Recreation Centre in Lekki, this cosy café offers a wide range of coffee and other caffeinated beverages but pretty limited food options.
If all you need to do is work at a café for just a few hours with some pastries to munch on, then Vestar Coffee is a great fit. But if you’d like to have a full meal alongside your work, then it’s best to consider the other options on our list. This café is also a popular choice for remote workers, so we’d advise you to arrive early to get a good spot.
Godaif Village
For a unique escape from the heat, you should head to Godaif Village. Godaif Village is a lot more than just a café. It offers a serene outdoor seating area surrounded by lush greenery, a pool for a relaxing swimming break from work, and an air-conditioned indoor seating area providing a refreshing change of scenery for remote work.
This café has a wide variety of pastries, pizzas, and other delicious dishes to choose from while working, and even has a nice aesthetic for content creation too.
Hans and René
Everyone knows Hans and René for their delectable gelato and sorbets. It’s a favourite dessert spot for Lagosians who want an escape from the regular ice cream served at a lot of other soft-serve spots.
What many don’t realise is that Hans and René can also be the perfect place to focus on work. Apart from sweet treats, their menu also offers a lot of coffee-based drinks, making it an ideal choice for people who work best with coffee. Hans and René offers the perfect opportunity to treat yourself to a sweet treat while beating the heat and staying productive throughout the day. They also have locations across Lagos mainland and island, so there’s a spot for everyone.
Eric Kayser
Eric Kayser combines French elegance with Lagos charm to create a welcoming space. It’s also known as more of a restaurant than a simple café. With a menu offering a gourmet coffee and pastry selection, and many French and Italian delicacies, you never have to worry about finding a good meal here.
It has two locations—one in Victoria Island and another in Ikoyi. The ambience of both locations gives you a refreshing reminder of Paris, and the food is even better. It’s no wonder that it is usually packed with remote workers and families alike. Everyone wants a piece of this perfect spot to escape the heat and enjoy a taste of luxury.
While the Lagos heat wave may be relentless, remote workers can find solace and productivity in the city’s array of cool and calm cafés. Whatever your needs are—a refreshing beverage, a comfortable workspace, or simply a break from the sweltering temperatures outside—these cafés offer the perfect escape. The Deliciously Newsletter has a lot more tips and tricks to offer, so subscribe and don’t miss out!
