6 Free WiFi Spots Near 86th Street That Are Not Starbucks
The Starbucks on 86th Street is notorious for being packed at all hours of the day — and for no real reason except that it’s Starbucks. Good luck getting a table there. Ever.
Last year, when a pole-wielding lunatic walked into Starbucks and started smashing laptops, many of our readers were like, “figures, he probably couldn’t get a seat.”
So for everyone’s sanity — deranged pole-wielder included — we’ve rounded up six spots near 86th Street that offer free, high-quality WiFi, and usually have seats available.
A bit of WiFi etiquette to keep in mind: For every hour that you occupy a table, make a purchase. Even a small one. It’s the right thing to do.
These are our favorite free WiFi places, in no particular order:
1. Kung Fu Tea
(2174 86th Street)
Pros: Friendly staff. Plenty of outlets.
Cons: No food.
Password? Yes
(2379 86th Street)
Pros: Nice ambiance. Comfortable chairs. Yummy desserts.
Cons: Few seats. Many calories.
Password? Yes.
3. Vegas Diner
(1619 86th Street)
Pros: Plenty of colorful characters to inspire next novel. Jukebox. Server calls everyone sweetheart.
Cons: Expensive food.
Password? No.
(1801 Bath Avenue)
Pros: Self-serve so staff leave you alone. Plenty of seating.
Cons: Annoying, blinking, florescent blue lighting may cause permanent migraines. Feels like a high school cafeteria.
Password? Yes.
(8512 Bay Parkway, near 86th Street)
Pros: Latte art!
Cons: Television, Taylor Swift music, and throngs of teenagers. Too noisy.
Password? Yes.
(1743 86th Street)
Pros: Quiet. Few distractions. No obligation to buy food.
Cons: Strange people streaming porn on the next computer over.
Password? No.