5 freelance-friendly cafes in Prospect Lefferts Gardens

Whether you’re studying, writing, or getting your caffeine fix, the merits of Brooklyn’s cafes are numerous. There’s our forever friend, coffee, the presence of other likeminded humans, free WiFi, sweet treats for a snack break. They’re warm in winter, cool in summer, and plenty of them have backyard space. They’re a time-proven haven for artists, writers, and the world-weary, and more than ever they’re popping up all over Prospect Lefferts Gardens. This has not always been the case for PLG, but the area is now more freelancer friendly than ever.

There’s ever more places to choose from the area, but here area a few of our favorites (and if you have questions regarding camping out at your chosen spot, see our guide to cafe camping etiquette).

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PLG Coffeehouse and Tavern
499 Rogers Ave.

PLG Coffeehouse and Tavern (formerly known as Gratitude Cafe) is a funky, local café with an extensive lunch menu, friendly staff, cold beer, organic smoothies and a cozy vibe. The interior of this place is what’s special to me. It has bar seating and cozy two-person tables that can be pushed together for larger groups. The atmosphere is great for lunch with friends, studying or a casual beer. It’s also on Rogers Ave. which is the least busy out of the avenues in PLG and who doesn’t enjoy a slight bit of tranquility in this manic borough. They’re open 7am-5pm on weekdays excluding Tuesday and Wednesday and from 9am-5pm on the weekends.

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Starliner Cafe and Market
1206 Nostrand Ave.

Start your morning out with large windows letting in the perfect amount of sunlight and a quality cup of coffee at Starliner Café. Or, stroll in for an afternoon brunch of Belgian Waffles! Bringing PLG fresh, well-sourced farm to table food from Star Route Farm in Upstate New York, Starliner serves coffee from Bushwick’s Caffee Vita, where beans are ethically sourced and roasted in-house. They open at 7am if you need to grab something early before you start your day – their coffee makes for a great red-eye if you need a serious amount of caffeine to get the engines going. They stay open until approximately 5-7pm depending on foot traffic.

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Pels Pies
446 Rogers Ave.

Pels Pies is a rustic looking place. They make tasty pastries in house and carry a range of Parisian Kusmi tea and Counter Culture coffee. I love this spot because it opens at 7am and doesn’t close up shop till a bit later, serving beer and wine until 10pm. So, if you need somewhere to cram, wind down or just have a sweet tooth, this is the place. In summer, their outdoor garden is open, an added delight.

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Blessings
663 Flatbush Ave.

Blessings does great espresso drinks, tasty brunch and has a decent bar. In summer, the patio out back is open. Brunch hours do get a bit busy but that’s reflective of the great food and drinks they serve as well as their friendly service staff. There’s live music during weekend brunch and a great buzz of people from all necks of the woods. They’re just starting to serve dinner as well so you can visit at whatever time suits you. They are open all day from 7am-10pm.

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Tugboat
546 Flatbush Ave.

The cozy, artsy environment at Tugboat has a simple but lovely menu with locally sourced ingredients and, a recent addition: dinner options. There are great sandwiches for breakfast, French toast for brunch, and classic burgers for something more heavy. Ask about their doughnuts.They’re open from 7am-10Ppm and are located right by the B and Q train’s Prospect Park Station.