There’s no question that work culture in 2025 looks differently than it used to pre-pandemic. Most companies have adjusted their employees to a hybrid work schedule, but the comforts of working from home can feel old fast. In St. Louis, there are a number of high-quality cafes that come equipped with a tasty menu and an even better work-from-home aesthetic to promote a productive workday. No matter what you are working on, these cafes will support all your needs.
Coma Coffee
While unassuming from the outside, if you walk inside Coma Coffee, you will find a vibrant space filled with your choice of comfortable seating options and a creative menu. Inside the University Tower in Brentwood, you will find Coma Coffee on the first floor. Established in 2016, Coma is a great spot to gather with friends or sit quietly in their upstairs loft to lock into your work. Their food menu ranges from artisan toasts to breakfast bowls to a range of pastry options. Each cup is branded with their unique design to aid in your productivity. If you find yourself a coma frequent flyer, you might enjoy their coffee subscription, which offers a three- and six-month subscription for all your caffeine needs.
1034 S. Brentwood Blvd., Suite 101, Richmond Heights, 314.250.1042, comacoffee.com
Living Room
This family-owned and -operated cafe in Maplewood is the perfect cozy stop to add into your work from home routine. Living Room Coffee and Kitchen is serving up a wide selection of breakfast and lunch options with a large indoor/outdoor space for all your seating needs. Their coffee is roasted fresh in-house. In addition to their delicious menu, Living Room offers coffee classes that will leave you feeling like a coffee connoisseur. The message of the Living Room is all are welcome, which is something you automatically feel when walking into the space.
2810 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, 314.899.0173 livingroomstl.com
Protagonist Cafe
Stepping inside Protagonist Cafe feels like you just stepped inside a Gilmore Girls episode. Located in Soulard, the cafe offers indoor and outdoor seating, but the real star of the show is the floor to ceiling bookshelves stocked with a broad range of genres to discover. Inside the space, you will also find a cafe with a diverse drink selection and a pastry menu for all your sweet tooth needs. Along with the food and drinks options, Protagonist also sells pre-owned books and a table lined with wines and cards for sale. This cafe is a book lover’s dream. Just down the street from Protagonist is their sister location, Antagonist Cafe, where they roast the coffee and make the pastries sold at Protagonist and deliver it weekly.
1700 S. Ninth St. St. Louis, 314.833.3085, protagonistcafe.com
Teleo Coffee
Nestled in the heart of Kirkwood lies a coffee shop that could be mistaken for a house. Teleo Coffee is a cozy cafe that will make you feel right at home. You can take your pick of seating options from an outdoor patio to a space upstairs. Along with a variety of spaces to work, this cafe is perfect for all age ranges. Upstairs you will find a kids playroom filled with play corner and an array of book options. Teleo’s menu is far from boring. Their seasonal menus bring special flavors for all to enjoy. Most recently their summer menu featured drinks inspired by the Italian summer. If you’re indecisive, you might find their Teleo flight menu more appealing, giving the customer three drinks of their choice for a curated tasting flight. While the cozy aesthetic at Teleo is strong, their message imprinted on their signage is even stronger stating “Loving our neighbor one cup at a time.”
132 W. Monroe Ave., Kirkwood, 314.394.0099, teleocoffee.com
This article appears in October 2025.