An interesting evolution of coffee shops: at first, they were places people visited not just for coffee, but also to work — having a laptop on the table was considered completely normal, even trendy. Then many quality coffee shops started banning laptops in an effort to make the space more social and conversation-friendly.
Though the main reason, of course, was that people with laptops often consumed nothing but electricity, sometimes forgetting to even buy a cup of coffee out of courtesy.
And now there’s a new trend: you can sit in a coffee shop with a laptop if you… buy a pass or subscription. The photo shows the pricing at Bedford Studio in the West Village:
- One-time access (single day): $10
- Monthly pass: $30
- Annual subscription: $300
Membership also gives 10% off coffee, pastries, and merchandise. But there’s a catch: on weekends from 10 AM to 4 PM, laptops are still prohibited — even with a membership.
📍 Bedford Studio / 62 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014
And here’s an authentic coffee shop where you need to buy a ticket in advance:
