Windhoek’s 5 Spots to take your work and get it done

Text and Photographs Nina van Schalkwyk

I n big cities, there are always great hangouts where the work-from-home crowd take their laptops and cellphones and get stuff done. Windhoek pulled the short-straw there. Finding somewhere to set your satchel down, where your computer connects automatically to the WiFi is no easy feat. Which is why I’ve put together this handy list for anyone new to town when work suddenly crops up:

1. The Stellenbosch Wine Bar & Bistro

What started as being just one restaurant has now gradually spread to include a pizzeria and wine shop. Look, this wasn’t my top-of-mind location for work-related activities, but it seems like Stellenbosch has become the go-to place for networking. Of course, there’s WiFi (otherwise it wouldn’t have made it onto this list), but more than that, there’s an atmosphere of business getting done. If you don’t want to ruin your holiday with feelings of productivity, then this is not the place for you. For the rest of us: good wine, good food, good work.

2. Joy of Food

Come here right before the work crowd pulls in. The coffee’s great, and there’s always a smarty-pants magazine on the counter that you can pretend to read every time someone walks past. The Joy of Food is right in the centre of what’s known as The Village Complex.

3. Slowtown Coffee Roasters
   

How obvious is it that I’m a fan? I could probably find a way to include Slow Town in any list of any kind, that’s how much I like them. In any case, Slow Town, like coffee shops the world over, has the ability to put you into the zone. Personally speaking, I go there when I want a soy Americano and watching the people go by stirs up my creativity.

4. Deluxe Coffee Works

The Deluxe Coffee guys, originally hailing from Cape Town, recently set up shop at the Mutual Tower building on Independence Avenue. The space itself is moody, with shadows and soft light. A steady stream of people makes it a favourite place for meetings, as well as for just feeling busy (even if you’re not). They don’t provide WiFi, but perhaps in future, they will. Here’s to hoping.

5. Cramer’s Ice Cream
   

How does ice cream combine with knuckling down? Well, to be honest, hand me a spoonful of sugar and whatever I was supposed to be doing gets thrown out the window. However, if you can resist the sweet stuff, rather go for the soul-warming tea or even coffee. Sit outside, relax, hop on the WiFi and you’ll see your tasks go as you churn them out.

Keep your eyes on the page for more in the Nina’s Namibia series.