There are more than 70 independent coffee shops and cafés across Erie County, and many of them are designed for the kinds of working visits that conference attendees or remote workers might require. Whether you need a quiet corner to finish a presentation, a table sized for a working lunch, or a space ideal for an hour-long conversation with a colleague, the cafés listed here have the seating, the menus, and the right level of ambient energy for meetings, focused solo work, or anything in between. Several are within walking distance of the Buffalo Convention Center, while the rest are just a short Uber ride away.
Downtown
Penny’s
916 Main Street
pennys.coffee
Penny’s sits on Main Street at the western edge of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Turkish coffee is the specialty, but the Baklava latte and affogato have their own following. Wraps, toasts, salads, panini, and sandwiches make for a full lunch, and a wine list leaning toward Georgian varietals sets it apart from the standard coffee shop, especially after lunch. Comfortable seating for singles and small groups, plus free Wi-Fi, make it a reliable stop for study or a working meeting.
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Prova | 7 minutes from the Convention Center on foot
40 Fountain Plaza
Spacious, modern, and well laid out, Prova offers a grab-and-go case of salads, sandwiches, and snacks alongside savory focaccias warmed to order and baked goods. The counter menu includes warm grain bowls, daily lunch specials, and some of the better coffee drinks in downtown Buffalo. Beer and wine are available, with canned options in the cooler. In good weather, outdoor seating overlooking Fountain Plaza’s reflecting pool provides a rare pocket of calm in the middle of downtown. Indoor counter and table seating work for solo guests and small groups alike. Wi-Fi is available with limited options for plugging in.
The Original Tea House | 6 minutes on foot
392 Pearl Street
Six minutes from the Convention Center, the Original Tea House offers couch and barstool seating in a relaxed setting at Pearl and West Chippewa. The menu includes steeped teas and hot chai sourced from across the Middle East, including Adeni, Masala, Kashmiri, and Teh Tarik varieties, alongside espresso drinks and iced fruit teas. House-made pop-tarts are among the baked goods worth ordering. A convenient and low-key option for meetings, work, or a quiet hour of study, the Original Tea House offers free Wi-Fi and several places to plug in your laptop.
Spot Coffee | 7 minutes on foot
225 Delaware Avenue
Home of Buffalo’s original Spot Coffee, this location first opened in the mid-nineties and is still imbued with Friends vibes and the warmth of that era. It houses an array of seating options, a full menu of now-iconic breakfast and lunch offerings (like the Mike breakfast bagel or its spicy tuna wrap), all the hot and iced drinks one would expect from a 1990s-era coffee house, plus shakes, smoothies, and fresh baked goods. Spot locations have always been built for meetups, work, and study, and this one delivers on all three with good Wi-Fi and several seats with access to electrical outlets. For another nearby option, check out Spot’s Elmwood Village location at 765 Elmwood Ave., a 9-minute Uber ride from the Convention Center.
Undergrounds Coffee House & Roastery | 8 minutes via Uber
580 South Park Avenue or Seneca One
Undergrounds operates two locations within reach of downtown. The Seneca One outpost functions as a brisk takeout spot inside Buffalo’s tallest office building, while the South Park location occupies a former funeral home in the First Ward and is the better choice for unhurried work. Both serve a purpose, but it is the OFW locale that is best suited to long lunches, breakfast meetings, WFH, and study sessions. The multi-level coffee house and roastery serves a full menu of hot and cold beverages, breakfast, and lunch, and has free Wi-Fi.
Caffé Aroma
957 Elmwood Avenue
This Euro-style coffeehouse draws a loyal crowd despite its small footprint. In good weather, regulars spill out onto the sidewalk, where the place’s reputation for unhurried lingering is apparent to anyone passing by. Now run by the team behind Amy’s Place on Main Street, Caffé Aroma offers one free refill on any hot or iced coffee for dine-in customers. Tables turn, so arrive with patience if the room is full. Best suited for solo work or study, Caffé Aroma offers free Wi-Fi but has very limited places to plug in.
Cornelia at AKG | 10 minutes via Uber
1285 Elmwood Avenue
Order at the counter, then settle in anywhere inside AKG’s Town Square underneath artist Olafur Eliasson and architect Sebastian Behmann’s installation, Common Sky. Coffee drinks, tea, bottled beverages, beer, and wine share the menu with midday food that accommodates most dietary restrictions, along with a selection of baked goods. Choose a table for four, a bar-height communal table, or one of the oversized blue upholstered chairs for a relaxed place to get things done. Free Wi-Fi is available, with limited options to plug the laptop in.
Haraz Coffee House | 7 minutes via Uber
471 Elmwood Avenue
Originally from Dearborn, Michigan, Haraz is one of several Yemeni coffeehouses that have taken root in Buffalo. The all-day and late-night hours make it a reliable spot whether you need a morning meeting or an afternoon work session. Hot and iced coffee drinks, chai, and desserts fill the menu, including the honey-scented beehive pastry, khaliat al nahl, and fruit-shaped entremets. A quieter backroom works well for solo study, while the front area has larger tables for groups. With free Wi-Fi and several spots to plug in, this is a laptop-friendly location.
Five Points Bakery & Toast Café | 8 minutes via Uber
44 Brayton Street
More than just a café, Five Points Bakery anchors a formerly neglected yet highly visible corner. This business and community gathering place specializes in a menu of sweet and savory toasts, sandwiches, and baked goods. Hot and iced beverages, as well as a selection of beer and wine, are also available. With tables on two floors and an outdoor seating area, Five Points is suitable for parties of most sizes, meetings, hangouts, and solo work or study. Wi-Fi is available, with limited electrical outlets for laptops.
Gold Lion Coffee House
1255 Niagara Street
Gold Lion is a daylight-flooded space suited to photo-worthy moments, focused work, and one-on-one meetings. Seasonal flavored lattes are its specialty, and pastries and bagels come from local suppliers Fig Tree Patisserie and BreadHive, respectively. The room works for solo work or small groups; Wi-Fi is available with limited options for plugging in.
