silicon valley users guide, coupa cafe, david sze, feature, linkedin, palo alto, reid hoffman, top, wi-fi

A guide to Palo Alto hotspots

I found myself at home in Palo Alto the other day, involuntarily offline thanks to a wonky broadband connection. So I headed to Coupa Cafe to get caffeine and log onto its Wi-Fi hotspot. And, just maybe, overhear an entrepreneur and venture capitalist doing the Sand Hill Road mating dance. Greylock's David Sze likes to hold meetings there, as does LinkedIn founder and angel investor Reid Hoffman. But it's gotten so popular and so packed, that I wasn't able to find an empty outlet — let alone a seat. What to do?

Say you arrive early for a meeting at Coupa, and you need to find a spot to get some work done. Here's your guide to downtown Palo Alto's alternative hotspots, plus a map from Gridskipper. You may not find as many power players — but at least you'll find a power plug.

12:38 AM on Thu Jul 19 2007
By Megan McCarthy
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5 comments

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bbucy at 09:12 AM on 07/19/07
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I am told Happy Donuts in the 4000 block of El Camino is a stealth hangout. Very reliable wireless, as well.
jmccrea at 10:55 AM on 07/19/07
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If you'd rather have a pint with your wifi than a cup of joe, take your laptop to the Rose & Crown pub at 547 Emerson. Popular with the Facebook crowd.
DaveMcClure500Hats at 11:38 AM on 07/19/07
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Connectedness Index: 37
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University Coffee / Cafe has nice people-watching + good food + wifi ... altho occasionally the service can be a bit snooty. but the open-air view onto the street & high ceilings do encourage relaxin' in style.

Coupa's great, but it's so crowded nobody goes there anymore.
Megan McCarthy at 12:31 PM on 07/19/07
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Someone sent in another addition: the Rose & Crown on Emerson. Decent pub food and close proximity to Facebook, along with a great beer selection.

(Full disclosure: I used to bartend there.)
jdhouse4 at 11:03 PM on 07/19/07
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Great bar and restaurant is Zibibbo's, right around the corner from the Apple Store. One night while eating dinner with some friends we overheard a pretty heated argument of some current/past VC's over Steve Jobs and Apple. One person was apparently upset because he missed buying AAPL at $15 or something and thought Jobs run would end soon; mind you, this was in 2005. At other times I've heard the mating dance play out...felt like a voyeur. Patio is a great hangout. And the waitresses can be very cute.