Hello fellow digital nomad, cafe dweller, and electrical outlet scavenger perpetually in search of connection…in terms of wifi and power. Are you looking for some quick tips on what it’s like as a Oaxaca digital nomad? Or maybe you’re hoping for some valuable info on the best cafes and co-working spots in Oaxaca City that tick all of the boxes for your online working needs?
Awesome, I’ve got the scoop for you in a quick and easily digestible guide that won’t drown you in info, but won’t skimp on the essentials either.
This will be a straight forward guide and I will be listing plenty of information for cafes and co-working spots like overall space, crowds, outlet availability, wifi speeds, food, coffee, and more. All in places I’ve actually been to personally on my adventures getting lost around Oaxaca City.
Let’s dive in!
Also, if you are using spaces like cafes to work from, think of the business and workers and support them. Sitting for hours using wifi and taking up a table with a single coffee purchase can really hurt businesses and workers that rely on tips. Be courteous and purchase some food or drink every so often, and try not to squat for hours during peak times like lunch.
Table of Contents
Oaxaca for Digital Nomads
To put it simply, Oaxaca City is awesome for digital nomads. I’ve lived in Oaxaca de Juarez since August 2020 and the majority of my work is in media or content creation and I rely heavily on reliable wifi in cafes. After 9+ years of traveling on the road and working remotely, Oaxaca City was the first place I felt I could set up a home base and felt an immediate connection to (yes, puns are here).
There is tasty food to be discovered, delicious coffee to be slurped down, vibrant cobbled laneways to gawk at (or snap photos on), and a plethora of places to find your favorite place to work online from. Or change spots every day if you wanted to.
Is Oaxaca Good for Expats and Digital Nomads?
There is no shortage of co-working spaces or cafes around Oaxaca, but the hard part can be finding the right cafe or workspace for you. After all, not all digital nomads are the same, and I know my needs or wants from a co-work space or cafe can be vastly different than yours.
Some cafes have ample power outlets but slower wifi. Other cafes have super fast wifi but no outlets. And plenty of the digital nomad hotspots here have both of these but maybe they lack in the coffee or food department.
That’s why walking miles a day (or kilometers) has helped me discover Oaxaca’s best spots to list in this guide, and to see first hand how they might uniquely fit you.
Wifi Speed in Oaxaca City: Is it Any Good?
It’s better than most of Mexico I’d say besides maybe Mexico City. I want to be straight with you, so I will say that it can be frustratingly inconsistent at times but when one spot might slow to a crawl, you can move onto the next cafe. But compared to my experience in regions like Quintana Roo (Tulum, Playa Del Carmen) or Baja California it’s leaps and bounds better.
CAFE WIFI SPEEDS IN OAXACA CITY
The average speed of most cafes I come across is about 15-20mbps. This is perfectly fine for checking email or writing a blog post and doing any kind of social media work. What it might not be great for is large file exchanges, website editing, Youtube or video uploading, and video conference calls. That’s when you need to hunt down the speedy cafes or hit up a co-working spot.
CO-WORKING WIFI SPEEDS IN OAXACA CITY
Best Co-Working Spaces in Oaxaca City?
This list will be expanding soon, but I do not want to post other selections and lead potential Oaxaca digital nomads astray until I can visit them to give an honest opinion!
Convivio
PERKS
- Wifi
- Outlets
- Lunch & Dinner
- Large Space
- Sitting Tables
- Low Crowds
- Alt Milks
- Veggie / Vegan Grub
- Alcohol
LACKING
- Standing Table
- Open Air
- Alt Milks
- Rooftop
FAVS
- Mind-blowing Wifi
- Homemade Benedict
- Veggie Pho
- Veggie Dumplings
- Veggie Pad Thai
- Great Cocktails
What I like: Awesome co-working space that sets the standard and exceeds it for wifi speeds…like…lightning fast. Large second floor space with outlets at every table, bright and airy, and good space between tables. Free brewed coffee and mezcal included with the co-working pass. Great place for networking and has phenomenal all-day brunch and tasty creative dinner options.
What I dislike: Not much standing table space except for the bar.
What are the Best Cafes for Oaxaca Digital Nomads?
There is a lot to cover, and there are many cafes in Oaxaca that are always changing as well. Cafes are where my creativity and co-working needs in any city I’m in around the world thrive. They just bring out the best in my digi-self, and I can say that Oaxaca has some of the coolest and most artistic cafes I’ve been to. Yet, you want the info on the best ones for your digital nomad needs, so here are my finds.
La Ttertulia Cafe
PERKS
- Wifi
- Outlets
- Lunch & Dinner
- Sitting Tables
- Low Crowds
- Alt Milks
- Veggie / Vegan Grub
LACKING
- Standing Table
- Large Space
- Open Air
- Rooftop
- Alcohol
FAVS
- Veggie Sandwich
- Veggie Bagel
- Kombucha
- Almond Latte
What I like: Quiet place with a cozy feel and tucked away. Fast wifi consistently. Tasty sandwiches and snacks. Great coffee. Tables for 2 with little nooks to sit in. Best spot is the table near the doorway.
What I dislike: Only a couple of tables with outlets. Tables are closer together, about 3ft apart. The space isn’t very big.
Santa Hierba (Rayón)
PERKS
- Wifi (FAST)
- Lunch
- Sitting Tables
- Standing Table
- Low Crowds
- Alt Milks
- Open Air
- Veggie / Vegan Grub
LACKING
- Large Space
- Rooftop
- Alcohol
- Outlets (Limited)
FAVS
- Great Iced Coffee
- Omelette
- Mushroom Enchilada
- Smoothies
- Metal straws, eco-friendly
What I like: Very quiet and breezy place with lovely food and coffee. Everything seems fresh and vibrant, with a large smoothie selection. Wifi is super fast for a cafe at 80+mbps and a good place to spend the day.
What I dislike: Almost too small, with one outlet. If there are a few people here it’s full.
Oaxaca en Una Taza
PERKS
- Wifi (Good)
- Sitting Tables
- Standing Table
- Low Crowds
- Outlets (Every Table)
- Alt Milks
- Veggie / Vegan Grub
LACKING
- Lunch
- Large Space
- Open Air
- Rooftop
- Alcohol
FAVS
- Good coffee
- Great pastries
- Spinach and Cheese Croissant
What I like: Very quiet and breezy place with lovely food and coffee. Everything seems fresh and vibrant, with a large smoothie selection. Wifi is super fast for a cafe at 80+mbps and a good place to spend the day.
What I dislike: Almost too small, with one outlet. If there are a few people here it’s full.
Muss Cafe
PERKS
- Lunch & Dinner
- Sitting Tables
- Standing Tables
- Low Crowds
- Alt Milks
- Open Air
- Large Space
- Veggie / Vegan Grub
- Wifi: Great
LACKING
- Rooftop
- Alcohol
- Outlets (Limited)
FAVS
- Artisanal Coffee
- Tasty Food
- Variety of Food
- Veggie Bowl
- Veggie Sandwich
Malta y Cafe tasting Room
PERKS
- Lunch & Dinner
- Sitting Tables
- Standing Tables
- Low Crowds
- Alt Milks
- Open Air
- Large Space
- Wifi (Good)
- Outlets (Plenty)
- Alcohol
LACKING
- Rooftop
- Veggie / Vegan Grub
FAVS
- Good Coffee
- Upper Loft
- Grilled Cheese Sandwich
What I like: A coffee roaster with amazing artisanal coffees and homemade alternative milks. The large open air space it well ventilated and spread out. Plus standing tables! Perfect place to disconnect or have some space and privacy.
What I dislike: Slower wifi than most places, but okay for blogging and email. Limited selection for veggie food (mustard on everything, my personal yuck) and nothing for vegan food I’ve seen.
Cafebre
PERKS
- Lunch & Dinner
- Sitting Tables
- Standing Table
- Low Crowds
- Alt Milks
- Open Air
- Large Space
- Wifi (Good)
LACKING
- Rooftop
- Alcohol
- Outlets (Limited)
- Veggie / Vegan Grub
FAVS
- Artisanal Coffee
- Homemade Alt Milks
- Large Coffees
- Brownie
- Choco Cookie
What I like: A coffee roaster with amazing artisanal coffees and homemade alternative milks. The large open air space it well ventilated and spread out. Plus standing tables! Perfect place to disconnect or have some space and privacy.
What I dislike: Slower wifi than most places, but okay for blogging and email. Limited selection for veggie food (mustard on everything, my personal yuck) and nothing for vegan food I’ve seen.
Cactus Locheria
PERKS
- Wifi
- Lunch & Dinner
- Sitting Tables
- Large Space
- Alt Milks
- Veggie / Vegan Grub
LACKING
- Standing Table
- Low Crowds
- Open Air
- Rooftop
- Alcohol
- Outlets (Limited)
FAVS
- Mushroom Sandwich
- Cardamom Coffee
- Cold Brew
- Large Salads
What I like: One of my favorite cafes in Oaxaca City to work at. Bright and open with inviting staff and spectacular food. Delicious coffee and even cold brew options. Very artistic and cozy feeling with high ceilings in a large airy room. Phenomenal sandwiches and salads, with great vegetarian options.
What I dislike: Large tables to work at but no separate tables for personal workspace. The rule is only working at the large shared table…not convenient for pandemic times.
Cafe Brujula (Santo Domingo)
PERKS
- Wifi
- Outlets
- Sitting Tables
- Standing Table
- Alt Milks
LACKING
- Low Crowds
- Open Air
- Rooftop
- Alcohol
- Large Space
- Lunch & Dinner
- Veggie / Vegan Grub
FAVS
- Large Coffees
- Pastries
- Takeaway
What I like: Rustic cafe with large windows and long standing tables near Santo Domingo and Botanical Gardens off one of the main roads. It’s a commercial chain found all around Oaxaca City and is always a good meeting place with decent wifi and nice rustic spaces.
What I dislike: Commercial place that often gets very busy, especially in Oaxaca Centro. Not super vegetarian or vegan friendly for food, just one sandwich option that was pretty terrible in my mind. Can get crowded at certain times.
Quiet Places to Work in Oaxaca City for Digital Nomads
Yes, we are digital nomads and some of us like bustling cafes and working in environments with a liveliness, but sometimes you need to get away from the crowds and noise. And sometimes you also need a spot with little wifi but lots to offer for some much needed you time.
Here is a list of some spots in town that I’ve found to be wonderfully quiet and a good spot to do some quality writing, drawing, thinking, reading, and whatever else!
Café Los Cuiles
PERKS
- Wifi
- Outlets
- Lunch & Dinner
- Sitting Tables
- Open Air
- Low Crowds
- Veggie / Vegan Grub
- Alcohol
LACKING
- Standing Table
- Alt Milks
- Large Space
- Wifi (Slow)
FAVS
- Large Menu
- Cozy Backroom
- Artsy Vibe
- Very Quiet
- Cafe de Olla
What I like: Artsy and traditional style cafe that is tucked away from the bustle of the tourist spots, yet still close to the central area. Large windows to sit at and be inspired by, very low traffic, and a courtyard with open air seating. Back room is nice and private and a good spot to work.
What I dislike: Extremely slow wifi, and no alternative milks if you need it for your coffees.
Digital Detox Spots for Digital Nomads in oaxaca City
When your eyes start crossing and your back starts feeling like you’re 80 years old, it’s time to disconnect and go for a walk or have a break outdoors. Oaxaca has quite a few parks and quieter areas that are perfect for an escape from the laptop.
Guelaguetza
What I like: Beautiful walk up a tree-lined stairway to the Guelaguetza auditorium where they normal have a large cultural performance. Keep walking up to the stadium for stellar views of Oaxaca. Up the road behind the stadium is an old space observatory and dirt trails for a little outdoors hiking.
What I dislike: Not much. Yet, I’ve heard of robberies taking place in this area so go early with no tech, not at night.
Zócalo Oaxaca
What I like: The main gathering spot in Oaxaca City with giant trees, good shade, and great people watching. A good place to sit and read a book or watch the world go by with plenty of benches and areas to sit.
What I dislike: Lots of foot traffic and often hosting protests. Can be extremely busy on weekends.
Arcos Acueducto De Xochimilco
What I like: Beautiful area down the cobbled streets from Centro through Xochimilco. There is a little shaded park just below the old aqueduct that makes it a perfect place to rest after a long walk or to sit and read. There are a few benches and not much foot traffic, and a large paved space where you can do yoga or a work out as well.
What I dislike: Some traffic noise during rush hour, ut not much to dislike.
Is Oaxaca City Safe?
From my experience, Oaxaca is very safe compared to other places I’ve been around the world. Not once have a felt like someone would snatch something from me, though of course you should always be cautious.
From August 2020 until now, I have yet to encounter any hostility or sketchy moment in the city. Though I’d stress against walking around late at night with all of your tech — especially if you’ve been out for drinks.
During times of COVID-19, Oaxaca and the local people were hit extremely hard. As was much of the world. Around Mexico there were reports of increased cases of theft, but Oaxaca has been more open than other states for businesses and workers in 2021.
As a precaution (and some common sense) you shouldn’t leave your things sitting out on a table on the streets, and don’t leave your tech out unattended if you get up to use a restroom. There are places that feel safer to let your guard down than others, but a golden rule anywhere in the world is be responsible for your belongings.
Don’t flash your tech or expensive things when wandering busy streets and markets. Make sure to be aware of your surroundings and not simply be walking and scrolling on your phone.
But in my honest opinion, Oaxaca is very safe for digital nomads and travelers of all kinds.
- Use a taxi or DiDi (Like Uber in Oaxaca) if you are going home late at night.
- Walk on main roads with busy car traffic versus empty dark streets.
- Walk with friends or groups.
- Keep communication when you arrive home, and check in with your friends.
- Don't flash phones, cameras, or tech out in the open. - If you are out working with your computer all day, try to get home to drop it off before dark.
Map of Oaxaca City Cafes and Co-Working
Check out my Oaxaca Digital Nomad List on Google that I will be constantly updating with valuable information!
Looking for a more in-depth guide to living in Oaxaca as a digital nomad? Check out my friend Ian’s extensive digital nomad guide for more info!
