Most coffee chains treat laptop workers like an inconvenience. EspressoLab treats them like the plan.
I've worked from a lot of cafes in Istanbul - the specialty third-wave spots, the old-school Turkish places, the chains that tolerate you but don't really want you there. EspressoLab is different. Multiple floors with dedicated workspace areas, power outlets that actually work, free wifi with no time caps, and a self-service model that means nobody's hovering over you waiting for you to order again.
They've got over 400 stores across 17 countries now, but the Istanbul branches are where it started in 2014, and the best ones feel nothing like a chain. Here's where to go depending on what kind of workday you're having.
Merter Roastery - the one that doesn't feel real
This is the flagship, and it's not a cafe. It's a 6,000-square-meter coffee experience center built inside Turkey's first cardboard factory. Europe's largest, if you're keeping score.
When you walk in, the first thing you notice is the roasting factory behind glass - the machines running, the smell of fresh-roasted beans filling the entire space. EspressoLab roasts up to 35 tons per month here, and you can watch the whole operation while you work.
But it's the atmosphere that keeps you coming back. There are hanging plants everywhere - actual trees suspended from the ceiling in some sections. Multiple fireplaces, both indoor and outdoor, that make the whole place feel cozy even when it's packed. The outdoor terrace has its own fire pit where you can sit with a laptop in the evening and forget you're in a commercial district.
The coworking areas are real coworking - long tables, quiet zones, and enough space that you're not elbow-to-elbow with strangers. There's also a cocktail bar, a bakery, a workshop station for coffee classes, and a conference hall if you somehow need one.
It welcomes more than 10,000 visitors daily, which sounds overwhelming, but the space is so large that it absorbs the crowd. Mornings are calmer.
Best for: Long deep-work sessions, hosting meetings in an impressive setting, anyone who wants to feel like they're working inside a greenhouse attached to a roastery.
Address: Tozkoparan, General Ali Riza Gurcan Cd. No: 2, 34173 Merter/Istanbul
Taksim Tunel - the view you didn't expect from a coffee shop
Three floors on Istiklal Caddesi, Istanbul's most famous pedestrian street. The ground floor is a normal cafe. The upper floors are where it gets interesting.
The second floor has a terrace overlooking Taksim Square and the mosque. But the real draw is the sea view - you can see the Bosphorus and Maiden's Tower (Kiz Kulesi) from up there. Finding a cafe with a genuine sea view in Beyoglu is rare. Finding one with Japanese-style low desks designed for laptop work is even rarer.
The workspace setup here is intentional: dedicated desks, power outlets at every seat, and enough separation between the cafe crowd and the working crowd that you can actually focus. The Japanese desks on the upper floors are a nice touch - low tables with floor cushions that feel more like a Tokyo coworking space than a Turkish coffee shop.
Afternoons are the sweet spot. The light shifts across the terrace, the Bosphorus turns golden, and you're somehow getting work done while looking at one of the best views in the city. It's close enough to Galata that you can walk down the hill afterward for dinner.
Best for: Afternoon deep work with a view, impressing visiting clients, freelancers who need a beautiful backdrop without paying for a hotel lobby.
Address: Katip Mustafa Celebi Mah, Istiklal Cd. No:233, Beyoglu/Istanbul
Besiktas Meydan - the energy of the square
This one's right on the Besiktas square, which means the view from your laptop is the constant movement of one of Istanbul's busiest neighborhoods. People crossing, ferries arriving, the fish market buzzing. It's not quiet, but if you're the kind of person who works better with energy around you, this is it.
The practical advantage: the Besiktas ferry terminal is a two-minute walk. You can code all morning, close your laptop, and be on a ferry to the Asian side in five minutes. That's a commute that doubles as a break.
The workspace is solid - upper floors are calmer than ground level, outlets available, and the self-service model means nobody's rushing you. The coffee's the same high-quality EspressoLab standard - single-origin options, good espresso, and specialty drinks that are better than what most chains offer.
Best for: People who feed off city energy, anyone working on the European side who wants quick ferry access to Kadikoy or Uskudar.
Address: Sinanpasa, Besiktas Cd. No: 35, 34022 Besiktas/Istanbul
Kadikoy - the Asian side anchor
Set over several floors, with the second and third floors designed as proper work areas. Plenty of power outlets, long opening hours (7 AM to 12:30 AM daily, until 1:30 AM on weekends), and a location that puts you in the middle of Kadikoy's cafe-and-market energy.
It gets busy because of its popularity, so mornings are your best bet for snagging a good spot. The upper floors stay quieter than ground level throughout the day.
This is the branch most Asian-side nomads default to when their apartment wifi goes down or they need a change of scenery. It's nothing flashy - just a reliable workspace with good coffee in a great neighborhood.
Best for: Asian-side nomads who need a consistent daily workspace, late-night workers who need a spot past midnight.
Address: Caferaga Mah, Kadikoy/Istanbul
Emirgan Cinaralti - the Bosphorus-side escape
Tucked into Emirgan, one of Istanbul's greenest neighborhoods on the European Bosphorus shore. This branch sits near the historic Emirgan Grove, which means you're working with trees and water within walking distance.
It's quieter than the central branches and draws a more local crowd. If you need a day away from the Kadikoy-Besiktas-Taksim circuit, Emirgan feels like leaving the city without actually leaving.
Best for: A change of scenery, writing days, anyone staying in the upper Bosphorus neighborhoods.
Address: Emirgan Mah. Dogru Muvakkithane Cad. No:4, Sariyer/Istanbul
What makes EspressoLab work for remote workers
There are a few things that separate EspressoLab from the typical Istanbul cafe experience for nomads:
No wifi time cap. Some cafes in Istanbul cut you off after two hours. EspressoLab doesn't. You sit, you work, you stay.
Self-service model. You order at the counter, grab your drink, and nobody comes back to check on you. This sounds small, but it changes the vibe completely. You're not a customer occupying a table - you're just someone in the space.
Dedicated workspace areas. The bigger branches (Merter, Taksim Tunel, Kadikoy) have actual designated work zones with desks and outlets. It's not "we tolerate laptops" - it's "we designed this floor for laptops."
Specialty coffee, chain prices. EspressoLab sources single-origin beans from Kenya, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Tanzania, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Brazil. They score above 80 on the Specialty Coffee Association scale. You're getting third-wave quality at a price point that doesn't make you wince every time you order a second cup.
Long hours. Most branches open early and close late. The Kadikoy branch stays open until 12:30 AM (1:30 AM weekends). The Merter Roastery runs long hours too. You won't get kicked out at 6 PM.
How to pick your branch
Here's the short version:
- Need to impress someone or want the full experience? Merter Roastery.
- Want a sea view while you work? Taksim Tunel.
- Feed off city energy? Besiktas Meydan.
- Need a reliable daily spot on the Asian side? Kadikoy.
- Want quiet and green? Emirgan.
If you're just arriving in Istanbul, start with whichever branch is closest to your apartment. They're all good. Then explore the others when you want a change. That's the real advantage of a chain that gets it right - you always know what you're getting.
Next step
Browse the rest of our verified spaces directory for more cafes and coworking we actually use, or check the 12 cafes we keep going back to for the full list beyond EspressoLab. If you're ready to commit to a desk instead of cafe-hopping, our top coworking spots in Istanbul breaks down which membership is worth it.