Are there any late-night coffee places left?

Submitted by jacksonwarg t3_z7j18e in rva

I have searched, the sub and google. The results are outdated as far as I can tell.

I WFH at night. To break the monotony of working from home I enjoy going to get a couple coffees and working elsewhere. Saison market is the only decent spot I've found for this, and they are closing. Most other coffee shops in town close at around 6.

Are there any casual places to hang out in the evening and do a bit of work?

I've considered gather but can't justify the price. I'm planning on checking out the VCU library, but that is less than optimal because I feel a little old to be going to a campus library as a non-student. I also really don't want to work at a place that only serves alcohol- I am cutting back on alcohol, and can't drink while working regardless. Birdie's and Black Lodge almost fit the bill, but both places looked like I'd be out of place on a laptop in the evenings. Like I don't want to take up too much space for people trying to dine, or if it is more of a bar vibe. I try to stay out of the way, and prefer low-key places. Tea would be fine. Any spots I'm missing?

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princessofbeasts t1_iy7a2gy wrote

Wed-Fri VMFA best cafe is open until 9pm

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jacksonwarg OP t1_iy7abs8 wrote

That is really cool- I actually have wanted to go there and didn't realize they had later nights sometimes. I will definitely check it out. Thanks!

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freetimerva t1_iy7ty7e wrote

Richmond lost most of the great old late night spots. Most of the ones people mention here close at 9.

That used to be peak hours for 4th Street Diner coffee.

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lunar_unit t1_iy8bpkh wrote

>4th Street Diner

RIP. I still reflexively look for it every time I drive by their old location, lol.

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dspencer97 t1_iy8sxeq wrote

3rd street?

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freetimerva t1_iy8u916 wrote

4th street diner was at 9 N. 4th -where K-Town just closed down. Between main and franklin on 4th.

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dspencer97 t1_iy8yla3 wrote

Ah alright, never heard of it.

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freetimerva t1_iy92hgg wrote

It was the best and worst. Phone booth in the back for nefarious stuff. Always had coffee on. Food was like McLeans sort of.

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OMGEntitlement t1_iy80afh wrote

Waffle House? People put it down but the coffee's decent and drunks are only usually a problem from like 12:30am-3am.

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_RetroBear t1_iya1unb wrote

They don't do dine in after like 10pm

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OMGEntitlement t1_iyb96tn wrote

Waffle House isn't 24 hours any more? Which one?

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_RetroBear t1_iybnbjd wrote

Half the time they are closed when I pull up and the other half won't answer their phones. I have not been able to get waffle house past like 8ish for like 2 years

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dandelion_w_i_n_e t1_iy7ail4 wrote

Maybe check out Common House? It’s a social club in downtown that is half the price of Gather and includes membership perks beyond coworking space. I’m not 100% confident what goes into membership though, I met a friend there for dinner once.

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jacksonwarg OP t1_iy7c7ci wrote

I heard that that place was nice and cheaper than gather- when I checked it didn't look like co-working was available late, but I might go take a look anyway. Thanks.

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ajsommer t1_iy8jmac wrote

As a former New Yorker with a job that often had me starting work at 7 or 8pm, I got so used to walking by a coffee spot and grabbing a shot of espresso on my way in to work. Sadly, not here. I decided to save up for a year and just recently got my own espresso machine. 10/10 would recommend. All the good coffee shops here close at 2 or 3 pm (other than the Blanchards on broad)

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ZipWyatt t1_iy7rq7v wrote

I don’t know if their hours are exactly the same as the store but how about the Starbucks in Barnes and Noble? The store is open 9.

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coconut_sorbet t1_iy8cfuq wrote

Some libraries are open late - Libbie Mill is open until 9 most nights of the week, for example. You can bring your own coffee in a mug. :)

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Unlucky_Ear_6037 t1_iybcuzy wrote

As a reformed New Yorker I miss the 24 hour diner.

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nj2rva90 t1_iy8higf wrote

Westrays on lombardy is open late Wednesday to Sunday

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Candid-Ear-4840 t1_iy8wbcx wrote

I chilled in Sheetz last week until 1 am. The inside tables were deserted and they serve food and drinks 24 hours a day. Wifi isn’t super fast but it’s there.

Chioccas is also open late with wifi but I don’t think it has coffee. Low key vibe though.

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wwojohn3 t1_iy887lb wrote

Not a location suggestion, but if you find a solid spot, but their coffee is weak/thin and lacking flavor. Pack some quality instant coffee powder (One of the Perks from Kroger is good enough for me), and stir a ~teaspoon of it into the coffee. It makes a robust coffee.

If you want to avoid getting too wired, use decaf instant coffee.

I always do this on airplanes, or at home when I’m tired but don’t want to drink more than a cup.

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coldblackmaple t1_iy91041 wrote

I have this issue one night a week. The VCU library is crowded with undergrads in the evening, and I don’t find it to be a pleasant place to be. There are a few other VCU buildings that are open in the evenings. Panera at Willow Lawn is fair but they start vacuuming around 830pm. I’ve tried the downtown Whole Foods upstairs but got pushed out by a drunk guy playing music loudly on a speaker who wouldn’t turn it down or leave. (I said something directly to him but decided not to approach the staff about it). I didn’t know about the VMFA being open late some nights and will check that out.

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DeannaZone t1_iy9kycz wrote

Anytime I have wanted to go to Waffle house since the pandemic they are closed due to low staff same for Denny's otherwise that was my late night go to when doing photography work.

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PuffyMcScrote t1_iy9qyd0 wrote

I'd be willing to make espresso at my house and charge you a premium (of course) if it's after 10pm. 🤣 Minimum purchase is 2 lattes/capps and expect to pay 20 bucks

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Arcangelathanos t1_iybdyhj wrote

There's Country style donuts. It's open 24 hours T - Sat, I think. I rarely see folks sitting there whenever I go so I can't imagine they would be that upset if you bought a coffee and donut and sat and worked.

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gleepgloopgleepgloop t1_iy8arcb wrote

Kroger has free Wi-Fi at many of their locations.

Similar questions are asked frequently. Might try a search for other suggestions as well.

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cassanovadaga t1_iy714jv wrote

Have you looked at Joes? The booths there might give you some extra privacy. Or maybe Quirk? Lemaire?

Edit: was thinking of places that don’t get super busy and have more of an open environment. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Stellas grocery is also open til 8 or 9 pretty much every night except Sunday

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WhalerBum t1_iy73kt2 wrote

Please do not go to any of those places to drink coffee and work on your computer.

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Asterion7 t1_iy84dmz wrote

I kinda wanna see someone show up at Lemaire with a laptop and order a cup of coffee and sit for two hours...

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[deleted] t1_iy8xu4k wrote

[deleted]

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cassanovadaga t1_iyblik3 wrote

This is something I’ve done in bigger cities as well, hence the rec for quirk and lemaire 🤷🏼‍♀️ I guess not everyone’s done this though, so I get them being negative about it

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cassanovadaga t1_iy84rxo wrote

Worst they’ll do is ask you to leave, right?

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Asterion7 t1_iy84uzc wrote

I think they are too polite for that.... would probably passively ask if you needed anything else every five minutes.

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