In New York City, your favorite restaurant is the dining room you do not have. A crowded subway car passes for your psychologist’s office\u2014it’s where you can cry in peace. Hotel lobbies can double as home offices, although not all are made equal for such tasks as ploughing through your inbox or taking a meeting that was initially meant to be dinner, became drinks, and is now a coffee date that still needs to feel \u201cnice.\u201d<\/p>\n
As someone who has worked remotely for the past few years, I take pride in keeping a running list of lobbies with private-feeling nooks, comfortable couches, decent Wi-Fi, and an ambient noise level that doesn\u2019t make it impossible to hear yourself think. It\u2019s a surprisingly rare combination of factors, especially because some hotels lean into their lobby\u2019s role as a post-work drinks hangout or a buzzy date night spot. Others clearly don\u2019t want people lingering in the lobby at all. (I won\u2019t name names, but if you\u2019ve ever seen a lobby sparsely decorated with two wood-backed chairs and a tiny marble coffee table, you know what I mean.)<\/p>\n
Most staff at the spots on this list are perfectly happy and aware that not everyone who hangs out in the lobby is a hotel guest, but that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t some unspoken rules: First, order something\u2014whether that\u2019s an espresso or two, a snack, or a cocktail\u2014every hour or so you\u2019re in the space, and tip like you would at a restaurant. Don\u2019t take a Zoom call, or any call longer than five minutes or so. And lastly, accept your fate in the game of outlet roulette and refrain from bothering other guests with your charging cord. It\u2019s not their fault you didn\u2019t plan ahead. Here’s a list of five hotel lobbies in NYC perfect for working in.<\/p>\n
![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.cntraveler.com\/photos\/69cea664ee69be2e874e53dd\/master\/w_1600%2Cc_limit\/1422_MarltonHotel_Lobby-1_227.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/div>\n