I have been taking notes on local (Cambridge/Somerville) cafes as places to get work done. My overall favorite is True Grounds in Ball Square, which is unfortunately not very conveniently located if you don't bike. Petsi Pies in Harvard takes second place. Diesel is my favorite late-night location, as long as you don't need a (free) internet connection. Below are some notes, including comments on food and drinks I've ordered. Harvard ------- PETSI PIES Power: yes Internet: paid only (but apparently they're changing it) Atmosphere: nice Hours: until 9 on weekdays, until 6 on weekends Other: crowded at lunch time; not totally ergonomic Drinks: cofee -- fine, cheap refills; latte -- good; sizes might be the same exc. for espresso amount Food: chocolate croissant -- fine; breakfast sandwich -- good but pricey; turkey sandwich -- fine but overpriced; soup -- filling (note that there are more ingredients than listed); Iggy's pecan & cranberry roll -- yummy DADO TEA (Church St) Power: yes Internet: yes (Harvard's network) Atmosphere: nice Hours: closes at 8 Drinks: bubble tea -- too creamy; coffee -- norma Food: wrap -- meh PEET'S COFFEE Power: yes Internet: yes (Harvard's network) Atmosphere: OK Hours: until 9-ish on Sun (the internet lies) Drinks: coffee -- eh Porter ------ SIMON'S COFFEE SHOP Power: scant Internet: paid only Atmosphere: nice Drinks: capuccino -- fine Davis ----- DIESEL CAFE Power: yes Internet: paid only Atmosphere: good; huge place Hours: until 11 Drinks: hot chocolate -- rich; coffee -- good; latte -- it failed to be hot; mocha - rich! teas -- ginger peach: interesting moroccan mint: pretty good sencha: too green for me green: normal darjeeling: standard, gets overbrewed in a pot Thai ice tea: reasonable as a milky cold drink, but it isn't really Thai ice tea Food: OK pastries Ball Sq (Somerville) -------------------- TRUE GROUNDS Power: lots Internet: yes (kinda flakey) Atmosphere: nice, esp. for good weather Hours: until 9PM M-Th, 7PM F-Su Drinks: iced latte -- fine; cappucino -- nice; iced coffee -- fine Food: yummy sandwiches Central ------- TOSCI'S Power: yes Internet: yes Atmosphere: can get too distracting, esp. on weekends Hours: until 11-ish Drinks: latte -- fine, pricey; mocha latte -- rich; mango black tea -- bad Food: mmm, ice cream ANDALA Power: not everywhere, but some Internet: yes Atmosphere: pleasant Hours: until 11 Other: table service (a downside); has real food; interesting seats Drinks: mocha -- weird, I'm unimpressed; lots of tea options (chocolate mint: more mint than chocolate, which is probably a good thing) Inman ----- 1369 Power: yes, lots Internet: free for half an hour/day Atmosphere: nice Hours: until 10++ on weeknights, 11 Fri/Sat Other: can be crowded Drinks: cappuchino -- fine, bitter; hot chocolate -- nice, no whipped cream is good; tea -- mango ceylon: good, oolong: fine; mexican hot chocolate -- smells great, not very sweet; "black & white" hot chocolate -- eh, too sweet East Cambridge -------------- VOLTAGE Power: yes (at some tables) Internet: ? Atmosphere: chill Hours: until 7 Drinks: hot chocolate -- fine, but pricey Food: reasonable, but selection limited