The Nomadic Playwright aka Places I’ve Written Plays: A Living Journal Entry

Pictured above: New York Public Library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, The Rose Main Reading Room

I get bored pretty easily, so one way to combat that is to find new and different places to write at. And here is a gallery of some of them.

LOL… looking at the images above made me think that I should have renamed this website, The Nomadic Playwright. A lot of these spots are from Northern California, but I loved the energy I took in and put on the page in NYC. Aside from the usual coffee shops, I’ve even added a couple of the hotels, restaurants, and a bar where I found some of the muses to help me find a story! Putting this list and photos together has actually made me “starve” to find and post more places which I’ll definitely do in the future!

Key: 🔌 = outlets | 🛜 = wi-fi | ☕️ = coffee | 🧋= boba/tea | 🍺 = alcohol | 🥐 = breakfast/pastries | 🥪 = sandwiches/hot food

Northern California

Major Chains

• Starbucks 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪
  • Alameda, Bay Farm Island, 980 Island Dr, Alameda, CA 94502
  • Alameda, South Shore Center, 2210-J, South Shore Drive, Alameda, CA 94501
  • Alameda, 720 Atlantic Ave, Alameda, CA 94501
  • San Ramon, 6000 Bollinger Canyon Rd, San Ramon, CA 94583
  • Union City, 32240 Dyer St, Union City, CA 94587
  • Vacaville, 180 Nut Tree Pkwy, Vacaville, CA 95687
• Peet’s Coffee 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪
  • Alameda, 1365 Park St, Alameda, CA 94501
  • Alameda, 1901 Webster St, Alameda, CA 94501
  • Berkeley, 2124 Vine St, Berkeley, CA 94709
  • Emeryville, Public Market Emeryville, 5959 Shellmound St Suite 85, Emeryville, CA 94608
  • San Francisco, 2080 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123
  • San Jose, 1295 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126
  • San Leandro, 1500 E 14th St, San Leandro, CA 94577
• Philz Coffee 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐
  • Castro Valley, 3359 Castro Valley Blvd, Castro Valley, CA 94546 (added 2024/01/29)
  • Davis, 521 2nd St, Davis, CA 95616
  • Fremont, 39000 Paseo Padre Pkwy, Fremont, CA 94538
  • Oakland, 6310 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618
  • San Francisco, 5 Embarcadero Ctr, San Francisco, CA 94111
  • San Francisco, 4298 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Alameda

• Alameda Free Library, Main Library, 1550 Oak St, Alameda, CA 94501 🔌 🛜
• Alameda Island Brewing Company, 1716 Park St, Alameda, CA 94501 🛜 🍺
• Beanery of Alameda, 1650 Park St, Alameda, CA 94501 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪
• Blue Dot Cafe & Coffee Bar, 1910 Encinal Ave, Alameda, CA 94501 (added 2023/05/25) 🔌 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪
• Borders Books, 2245 S Shore Cntr Alameda, CA 94501 (Closed)
• Cafe Jolie, 1500 Webster St, Alameda, CA 94501 (added 2024/06/04) ☕️ 🧋 🥐
• China Villa Restaurant, 891-A Island Dr, Alameda, CA 94502
• Coffee Cultures, 1926 Park St, Alameda, CA 94501
• Firebrand Bread, 707 W Tower Ave Suite B, Alameda, CA 94501 (added 2024/03/29) 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪
• Jay’s Coffee Teas and Treats, 1414 Encinal Ave, Alameda, CA 94501
• Lazybird Coffee, 930 Central Ave, Alameda, CA 94501 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪
• Little House Cafe, 1640 Park St, Alameda, CA 94501 (Closed)
• The Local, 1333 Park St, Alameda, CA 94501 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪
• Panera Bread, 2249 S Shore Center Drive Ste 330, Alameda, CA 94501 (added 2023/06/23) 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪
• SIGNAL Coffee Roasters, 1536 Webster St, Alameda, CA 94501 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐
• Spritzer’s Cafe, 734 Central Ave, Alameda, CA 94501 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪
• Wescafe, 1518 Webster St, Alameda, CA 94501 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪

Benecia

• Drift Coffee Shop, 370 1st St, Benicia, CA 94510 (added 2023/06/23) 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪
• One House Bakery, 918 1st St, Benicia, CA 94510 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪

Berkeley

• Artís Coffee, 1717 Fourth St B, Berkeley, CA 94710 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋
• Cafenated Coffee Company, 2085 Vine St, Berkeley, CA 94709 (added 2024/06/25) 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪
• Cafenated Coffee Company, 2960 College Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705 (added 2024/07/09) 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪
• Caffé Strada, 2300 College Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
• Casa Latina, 1805 San Pablo Ave Berkeley, CA 94702 (added 2024/06/10) 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪
• CoRo Coffee Room, 2324 Fifth St, Berkeley, CA 94710
• Doe Library, UC Berkeley, Campanile Way, Berkeley, CA 94720
• Victory Point Cafe, 1797 Shattuck Ave. Ste A, Berkeley, CA 94709

Castro Valley

• Cafe 4, 20600 John Dr, Castro Valley, CA 94546
• Pampas Cafe, 22222 Redwood Rd, Castro Valley, CA 94546 (added 2024/01/11)
• Posh Bagel, 20665 Rustic Dr, Castro Valley, CA 94546 (added 2024/06/06) 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪

Concord

• Gratitude Coffee Bar, 1655 Willow Pass Rd B, Concord, CA 94520 (added 2023/08/07) 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪

Emeryville

• Public Market Emeryville, 5959 Shellmound St, Emeryville, CA 94608 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪

Fremont

• Slap Face Coffee & Tea, 37324 Fremont Blvd, Fremont, CA 94536 (Closed)
• Suju’s Coffee & Tea, 4949 Stevenson Blvd, Fremont, CA 94538 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪

Hayward

• The Dirty Bird Lounge, 926 B St, Hayward, CA 94541
• Eon Coffee, 24970 Hesperian Blvd #2440, Hayward, CA 94545
• Seafood City, 24536 Hesperian Blvd, Hayward, CA 94545 (added 2024/05/17) 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪

Monterey

• Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop, 660 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940
• Plumes Coffee & Tea, 400 Alvarado St, Monterey, CA 93940
• Tidal Coffee, 400 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪

Menlo Park

• Cafe Zoe & Neighborhood Pizza Guy, 1929 Menalto Ave, Menlo Park, CA 94025 (added 2024/08/21) 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪 🍕

Moss Landing

• The Power Plant Coffee, 7990 CA-1, Moss Landing, CA 95039 (added 2024/08/01) 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪

Napa

• brewed. 865 Factory Stores Dr, Napa, CA 94558

Oakland

• Ain’t Normal Cafe, 5701 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618 (added 2024/06/27) 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐
• Bicycle Coffee, 364 2nd St, Oakland, CA 94607
• Big House Beans, 4770 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609 (added 2024/11/08) 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐
• Caffe Chiave, 4045 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 9461 (added 2024/08/12) ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪
• Charlie May Coffee & Tea House, 11200 Golf Links Rd #G, Oakland, CA 94605 (added 2024/06/28) 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐
• Damask Rose Coffee, 6606 Shattuck Ave., Oakland, CA 94609 (added 2023/06/01)
• Farley’s East, 33 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94612
• Hudson Bay Cafe, 5401 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618 (added 2024/01/11)
• Kefa Coffee, 422 29th Ave, Oakland, CA 94601 (added 2024/02/29)
• Kinfolx, 1951 Telegraph Ave Suite 4, Oakland, CA 94612 (added 2024/06/19) 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪
• La Farine Bakery, 4094 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611 (added 2024/03/12)
• Starter Bakery, 5804 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618 (added 2024/03/14)
• Timeless Coffee, 4252 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611 (Closed)
• Zocalo Coffee, 101 Clinton Ln, Oakland, CA 94606 (added 2024/01/27)

Pleasant Hill

• Latte Da Espresso & More, 1902 Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

Pleasanton

• Inklings Coffee and Tea, 530 Main St, Pleasanton, CA 94566

Redwood City

• Coffeebar Redwood City, 2020 Broadway, Redwood City, CA 94063 (added 2024/02/26)
• Mademoiselle Colette, 2401 Broadway, Redwood City, CA (added 2024/05/20) ☕️ 🥐 🥪
• SweetU Cafe & Catering, 1201 Radio Rd UNIT 150, Redwood City, CA 94065 (added 2024/03/11)

Rocklin

• Origin Coffee & Tea (now Pause Coffee House), 2168 Sunset Blvd, Rocklin, CA 95765

Sacramento

• The Coffee Garden, 2890 4th Ave, Sacramento, CA 95818 (Closed)
• Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown, 300 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814
• Seasons Coffee Roasters, 2420 N St Suite 105, Sacramento, CA 95816 (added 2024/03/28)
• Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel, 1230 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814
• Temple Coffee Roasters, 2200 K St, Sacramento, CA 95816
• Temple Coffee Roasters, 2829 S St, Sacramento, CA 95816

Salinas

• The Beerded Bean, 210 Main Street, Salinas, CA 39301 (added 2023/05/27)

San Francisco

• Abanico Coffee Roasters, 2121 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110 (added 2024/02/23)
• Brew Cha, 3420 18th St #001, San Francisco, CA 94110 (added 2024/03/05)
• Cafe Da Fonk!, 300 De Haro St #330, San Francisco, CA 94103 (added 2024/08/30)
• Compton’s Coffee House, 1910 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115 (added 2023/06/15)
• David Rio Chai Bar, 1019 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103
• Farley’s Coffeehouse, 1315 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94107
• J. Paul Leonard Library, San Francisco State University, 1630 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132
• La Lucha Coffee Bar, 1598 Sanchez St, San Francisco, CA 94131 (added 2023/05/24)
• Noe Cafe, 1299 Sanchez St, San Francisco, CA 94114 (added 2023/05/24)
• Westfield San Francisco Centre, 865 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103

San Jose

• Caffe Bene, 181 E Tasman Dr #80, San Jose, CA 95134 (added 2024/06/22) 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪
• Crema Coffee Roasting Co., 1202 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126
• Lookout Coffee, 2135 S Winchester Blvd STE 100, Campbell, CA 95008 (added 2024/07/22) 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐
• Roy’s Station, 197 Jackson St, San Jose, CA 95112

San Leandro

• Happy Lemon, 699 Lewelling Blvd Ste 35, San Leandro, CA 94579
• Hippies Brew, 699 Lewelling Blvd Ste 182, San Leandro, CA 94579 (added 2024/03/02)
• Sabino’s Coffee Shop, 1273 MacArthur Blvd, San Leandro, CA 94577 (added 2024/03/10)
• Zocalo Coffee, 645 Bancroft Ave, San Leandro, CA 94577 (added 2023/06/17)

San Lorenzo

• Frodo Joe’s Coffee & Tea, 17665 Hesperian Blvd, San Lorenzo, CA 94580

San Mateo

• Kaizen & Coffee, 2337 S El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94403 (added 2023/05/31)

Santa Cruz

• Cat & Cloud Coffee (Abbott Square), 725 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (added 2023/06/07)
• 11th Hour Coffee, 1001 Center St #1, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (added 2023/06/07)

Union City

• Caffé:in, 1788 Decoto Rd, Union City, CA 94587 (added 2024/04/06) 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪
• Hippies Brew, 3900 Smith St, Union City, CA 94587 (added 2023/05/27) 🔌 🛜 ☕️
• Seafood City (Food Court), 31840 Alvarado Blvd, Union City, CA 94587 (added 2024/05/17) 🧋 🥐 🥪
• Suju’s Coffee & Tea, 1752 Decoto Rd, Union City, CA 94587 (added 2023/11/19) 🔌 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪

Walnut Creek

• Caffè La Scala, 1655 N Main St UNIT 110, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 🛜 ☕️ 🧋 🥐 🥪

Chicago

• American Writers Museum, 180 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60601 (added 2023/05/19)
• Cafe Deko, 800 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60614 (added 2023/05/22)
• Dulce De Leche Cafe, 3441 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60625 (added 2023/05/17)
• Te’Amo Boba Bar, 2169 A S China Pl, Chicago, IL 60616 (added 2023/05/18)
• The Understudy, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640 (added 2023/05/20)

Hawaii

• Club Wyndham at Waikiki Beach Walk, 227 Lewers St, Honolulu, HI 96815
• Kona Heaven Coffee, 75-5805 Ali‘i Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 (added 2024/02/13)

New York

• The Bean, 54 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003 (added 2022/08/16)
• The Drama Book Shop, 266 W 39th St, New York, NY 10018 (added 2022/08/10)
• Ground Central Coffee Company, 155 East 52nd Street, 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10022 (added 2022/08/09)
• LaGuardia Airport, Queens, NY 11371 (added 2022/08/16)
• maman, 230 Park Ave, New York, NY 10169 (added 2022/08/10)
• New York Public Library – Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, The Rose Main Reading Room, 476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018 (added 2022/08/11)
• Pause Cafe, 3 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002 (added 2022/08/15)
• Think Coffee, 1 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10003 (added 2022/08/16)

_{Count as of 2024/11/08: 131}