Best Cafes in Novi Sad for Digital Nomads and Laptop Work

Novi Sad is the second-largest city in Serbia.

Compared to the capital, Belgrade, it is a much smaller city. However, it is a great choice for people who prefer a calm and relaxed atmosphere.

I stayed in Novi Sad for about one month from March to April 2024 and worked remotely during that time.

On this page, I will introduce five cafes that I often used while living there.

If you know any other good cafes in Novi Sad that are not listed here, I would be happy if you could share them.

*Please note that smoking inside cafes is common in Serbia, so the environment may not be ideal for non-smokers.

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① Coffeedream

Coffeedream is a popular coffee chain in Serbia.

There is only one location in Novi Sad, but it is a well-known cafe with many branches in the capital, Belgrade.

» Best Nomad-Friendly Cafes in Belgrade You Can Work From

Their café mocha is especially good. It has a nice balance of slightly bitter chocolate and espresso, without being too sweet.

In addition to coffee drinks, Coffeedream also offers a wide variety of parfaits, so it is a good place to visit even as a regular cafe.

The cafe has seating on the first floor, second floor, and an outdoor terrace. You can often see people working on laptops, making it a comfortable and nomad-friendly cafe.

② Zenit books

In Serbia, smoking is allowed in many cafes and restaurants, and the smoking rate is high. Because of this, you often notice the smell of cigarettes almost everywhere.

However, Zenit Books was a cafe where I did not notice any cigarette smell at all.

The background music is also quiet, which makes the space very comfortable and relaxing.

It is located just a few minutes on foot from the main square in central Novi Sad, near the Church of the Name of Mary, so it is an easy-to-visit hidden cafe.

By the way, it seems that the basement floor is used as a library.

③ Trčika

This cafe has a cute exterior made from a renovated train and is located in a great spot, just a one-minute walk from the main square in central Novi Sad near the Church of the Name of Mary.

The inside of the cafe is not very large, but many people use the terrace seating, so it is surprisingly workable for digital nomads.

However, smoking is allowed inside, so it may not be suitable for people who are sensitive to cigarette smoke.

Also, please note that a party is held every Saturday night starting at 10:00 PM.

④ Loft Rooftop

This cafe and restaurant is located inside Promenada, the largest shopping mall in Novi Sad.

There is another location from the same chain near the city center, close to the Church of the Name of Mary.

However, the Promenada branch feels more open and spacious, making it a more relaxed place to spend time.

⑤ Kafeterija Novi Sad II

Kafeterija is one of the largest coffee chain cafes in Serbia, with many locations across the country.

This cafe is also very conveniently located, just a 30-second walk from the main square in central Novi Sad near the Church of the Name of Mary, so I ended up visiting it quite often.

When ordering coffee here, you can choose from three different types of coffee beans. However, to be honest, it is hard to tell the difference, and it can feel a bit confusing to choose.

Stay Safe on Café WiFi with a VPN

In many cafes in Serbia, WiFi networks do not require a password.

This means anyone nearby can connect to the same network, which increases the risk when using public WiFi.

If you use café WiFi without protection, the following risks exist:

To stay safe, always use a VPN when working on café WiFi, especially on open networks without password protection.

A VPN encrypts your internet connection and prevents others from seeing or intercepting your data.

VPN apps are easy to install and simple to use. With just one tap, you can protect your connection and work safely in cafes anywhere in the world.

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Taka

Japanese blogger

I've been a nomad abroad for five years, traveling through 10+ cities across Europe. Right now I’m spending time in places like Paris, Venice, and Barcelona. I’ll be sharing simple, useful tips for living abroad.