We’re no stranger to typing away at a coffee shop (and in fact, you can check out our very comprehensive guide to which ones work for us). Still, there’s only so many lattes you can buy to justify an extended work stake out before becoming a wiry mess. As an alternative, here are some inspiring, elegant, art-filled or just plain comfy spots—with wi-fi and outlets nearby—to turn into a temporary office.

(Photo by Rachel Kurzius)

READING ROOM AT SCOTTISH RITE OF FREEMASONRY TEMPLE: From the outside, the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Temple looks cinematic—standing in front of its enormous doors makes me feel like Arya Stark of Game of Thrones trying to enter the House of Black and White. The reading room at the temple’s library, which is open to the public and has free wi-fi, has more of the feel of the library from Beauty and the Beast. Along with boasting one of the largest collections of Freemason-themed books in the world, the reading room has marble busts of folks like Plato and Cicerone, if you’re looking for some inspiration as you work. And, as you’ll hear multiple times from the tours that cycle through the room throughout the day, no less than The Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown visited the library to conduct research. If you’re looking for the missing keystone to the Capitol or some other smoking gun for your conspiracy theory, you might be disappointed, but if you want a majestic environment to conduct your business, this is your spot. Just know that when they say it closes at 5 p.m., they really mean it.—Rachel Kurzius

The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Temple is located at 1733 16th St NW.

(Photo via Facebook)

SHARE SPACE DC: On its opening day last month, I went to Share Space DC, otherwise known as Mulebone during dinner hours. The restaurant turned daytime coworking space is… exactly that. The large dining area remains the same, with tables, booths, and couches. The only difference is that there are a lot more people working on laptops, courtesy of the complimentary wi-fi and made possible by extra power cords throughout the space. It’s kind of like the dedicated workspace next door at Busboys and Poets exploded onto Mulebone’s entire first floor. Unlike other typical work spaces, you aren’t allowed to bring your own food to Share Space. Instead, patrons can order from a menu of snacks, salads, burgers, all-day brunch, and sandwiches at the bar. I ordered biscuits and a sweet tea, which served me well as I worked with a friend in a corner booth. Other than a few noisy patrons at the bar (you can also order beer), the space was conducive for remote productivity. It’s open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. —Christina Sturdivant

Share Space DC is located at 2121 14th Street NW.

(Photo courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery)

KOGOD COURTYARD AT THE REYNOLDS CENTER: Here’s a secret: my dream is to get married inside of the National Portrait Gallery’s Kogod Courtyard. But since my bank statements say otherwise, it shall forever remain my favorite place for remote working. Designed by London-based architects in 2004, the room fills with natural light courtesy of a wavy glass and steel roof. Plant life and water streams add additional natural elements to the grandiose space, which sits in the center of the museum. Even when scattered with screaming children, chatty tour groups, and jazz bands, the room retains its soothing vibe. So much so that it’s almost a shame to be glued to a computer screen the entire time you’re there. Fortunately then, there aren’t many power outlets, so when you computer inevitably dies, you can sit, stare, and daydream. Then, take in the rest of the art that museum holds. —Christina Sturdivant

The Reynolds Center (which houses the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum) is located at 8th and F Streets NW.

(Photo via Facebook)

ANACOSTIA ARTS CENTER: I began frequenting the Anacostia Arts Center for, well, arts and culture events. But as my motto goes: where there are couches, tables, and wi-fi, there’s an opportunity to work remotely. Thus, I started visiting the center alone, working for hours on my laptop. I usually go during the day when it’s less crowded and tables by the floor-to-ceiling windows and couches in the corners of the lobby are always available. As with museums, working here is a plus because you can spend breaks exploring artwork, or even better, apparel from one of the best ethnic boutiques in town. You can also get eats and drinks inside the center at Art-drenaline 365 Café. And if you stick around long enough, you can pop into an evening event such as yoga classes, improv shows, and open mic nights. —Christina Sturdivant

The Anacostia Arts Center is located at 1231 Good Hope Road SE.

(Photo courtesy of Montgomery College)

OUTBOX: Through October, folks in Silver Spring can get out of the office and into a box … the Outbox, that is. The vibrant outdoor workspace was created for folks who need free Wi-Fi and creative vibes. It has a roof but no walls to give people the sense of working outside while being blocked from the sun. The quickly popularized space only seats 20 people, and “there are times when there are no seats” available, Dan Figueroa of development firm Peterson Companies told DCist a few days after it opened in June. It stays pretty packed between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., Figueroa said. And it’s open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., so plan your visit wisely. —Christina Sturdivant

Outbox is located along Ellsworth Drive.

(Photo via Facebook)

RENAISSANCE WASHINGTON: There may be dozens of hotels that offer free wi-fi in D.C., but I assure you that the Renaissance Washington provides the most luxurious space for productive working. In addition to a first level with ample seating options, the hotel’s lobby also has smaller rooms designed as libraries and living areas. Each nook has a ritzy vibe and offers a mix of plush seating with accompanying tables. Perhaps, most importantly, there’s no shortage of outlets throughout the entire lobby, which makes remote working feel welcomed. The lobby is adjoined to a Starbucks for daytime caffeine fixes, and it has a bar with evening cocktail options. And should you need food options, Chinatown and Mount Vernon are just a couple blocks away. —Christina Sturdivant

The Renaissance Washington is located at 999 9th Street NW.

(Photo via Facebook)

YARDS PARK: I recommend visiting Yards Park on a weekday morning in summer when temperatures have yet to peak and nearby Department of Transportation employees haven’t taken over the area for lunch. The 5.4 acre space is one of my favorite D.C. treasures, not only for leisurely visits, but for getting work done with a waterfront view. I usually start at “The Overlook,” a section with about a dozen bistro tables and chairs covered by canvas awnings for shade. After about an hour, I walk a few feet over to the “River Street Gardens” to snag a wooden chaise lounge chair. A more relaxing seating option, these chairs are perfect for reading, but also good for writing or working on a laptop. And nestled between these sections is a lawn that’s great for sprawling out on a blanket. The only downside to this man-made gem is that there aren’t any power outlets, so your computer probably won’t last the entire day. Also worth noting is while I’ve accessed the DC wi-fi network at the park on many occasions, it did not connect on my most recent visit. So if you’re in dire need of power and internet, an easy fix would be walking to the nearby Philz Navy Yard location (and grab an iced mint mojito while you’re there). —Christina Sturdivant

Yards Park is located at 355 Water Street SE.

(Photo by Kevin Harber)

HIRSHHORN MUSEUM AND SCULPTURE GARDEN: While the Hirshhorn’s famously Instagrammable exhibitions keep the art museum well trafficked, I tend to plant myself there for my own work. Although the museum has tables and chairs in the lobby and outdoor sculpture garden, I head up the escalator and to the third floor. After walking through several exhibit spaces, I land in the Abram Lerner room, which takes the name one of the museum’s late directors. This space has one of my most sought-after needs for remote working—a couch. The last time I visited, in fact, there was a row of several leather two-seat sofas. And on previous occasions, the room also had a communal-style table that served as a great workspace. While it sometimes lacks the amount of art as neighboring spaces, the room’s seating faces a balcony overlooking the National Mall, which adds its own artistic element. Oh, and there’s free wi-fi courtesy of the Smithsonian, and at least one power outlet in the room. —Christina Sturdivant

The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is located at 700 Independence Avenue NW.

Photo by Noe Todorovich

UNION MARKET: This bougie fantasia of a food court isn’t just the spot for you to take your friends when none of you can agree on a cuisine. The free wi-fi and plentiful seating options make it a great place to park for a day’s work. Because the majority of tables and chairs are run by the market (with a few exceptions for some of the spots adjacent to sit-down restaurants), you can plug away all day. With lots of choices for munchies within arms length, you can mix and match to your heart’s delight. Plus, as long as you’re a multitasker, you can engage in some top-grade people watching, too.—Rachel Kurzius

Union Market is located at 1309 5th St NE.

(Courtesy of Flow Yoga)

WORKFLOW AT FLOW YOGA: If you’ve ever lain in shavasana and wished you could stay there forever, this one might be for you: working straight from a yoga studio, replete with a midday class and plenty of tea. The Logan Circle studio realized that their light-filled second floor location on P Street (think hippie treehouse) largely sat empty during the day. So they decided to open it up to laptop-toting freelancers and others who can work from “home,” dubbing it workFlow. True to the name, there is an optional midday yoga class and meditation breaks, along with wifi, outlets, and reclining workstations. Members are also welcome to attend any classes at their 14th Street location for free during operating hours. Which brings us to the downside (or upside, if you’re looking for an excuse to cut out of the “office” early): workFlow is only open from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. It also is on the costlier side, with a monthly pass running $90 (that comes out to about $7 a visit if you go three times a week). There is also a drop-in option ($30) or a 5-class pack ($110.00, or $22/visit). Your very first visit is free though, so it might be worth checking out if you have a lot of flexibility in your work day. — Rachel Sadon

Flow Yoga is located at 1450 P St NW

(Photo by Rachel Sadon)

(MOOCHING OFF YOUR FRIEND’S) COWORKING SPACE: At this point in time, we all have at least one buddy who has an office or desk at an industrial-esque coworking space with very speedy wifi, beer on tap, and communal areas. And in my experience, they are usually more than happy to let you up to the land of plenty (I should know, we frequently have guests at our office). The more scrupulous can also do a day pass at Cove ($15); a shorter monthly pass at Impact Hub, which offers a two-day-a-month option ($30) or 50 hours a month ($150); or a $110 monthly pass at The Hive 2.0 that gets 24/7 access to the common spaces. — Rachel Sadon

Dream Lab. (Photo by Benjamin R. Freed)

D.C. PUBLIC LIBRARIES: Imagine, if you will, a temperature-controlled land, filled with books, computers, wifi, and ample space to create your own desktop. There are even different events, like movie screenings and yoga, as well as people whose job it is to help you find what you’re looking for. What is this fantastical place, you ask, and how much do I have to pay to join up? The good news is that it remains entirely free to bask in the glow of the D.C. public libraries, with more than 20 branches throughout the city. Check out the snazzy Digital Commons area (you can set up your own laptop or use computers that come with Adobe software) at Martin Luther King Jr. before the whole library closes for three years for a major modernization project. —Rachel Kurzius

D.C. Public Library has multiple locations.