Publik Coffee: One of My Fave Places in Salt Lake City

April 13, 2018

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When you’re a self-employed baddie, you work in a lot of coffee shops. There’s a whole set of 21st century etiquette on working from a coffee shop (buying something every 3 hours, being sure to tip, etc), if you frequent them. It’s funny, because I fight the tyranny of the desk, but I spend almost every morning at a coffee shop.

Working at Salt Lake City coffee shop - Publik Coffee

I first found Publik Coffee when my friend and favorite tastemaker, Elisabeth Dee , invited me to meet her for coffee. (Backstory: We collaborated on my first luxury design AND reinstated our BFF-ship, all in one coffee date).

Photographer: Carey Phelps

I used the space at Publik Coffee for a recent blog photoshoot with photographer McKay Findlay, and I realized, “This is the PERFECT time to share how much I love this place with my readers!”

There are 3 locations around Salt Lake City, but my favorite is definitely the West Temple location. I think it’s a refurbished warehouse, and the big windows, high ceilings and LOTS of seating make it the best place in Salt Lake City to bang out a bunch of work.

Best Salt Lake City coffee shop for meetings

C/o Stephen M on Yelp!

1. SLC Coffee Shop – The Staff

Publik Coffee has a rocking staff, made of people who could (and should) be style bloggers. I first started going to coffee shops when I lived in Utah County (a Mormon stronghold), and I needed to be in a space, any space, with other queer people.

Unlike corporate chains, the Publik staff have really (imo) authentic interactions with customers. Some are loud and yell “Hey!” when they see a regular, and others smile and take your order quickly and efficiently.

It takes all kinds.

C/o Publik Instagram

2. SLC Coffee Shop – The Aesthetic

Y’all, when I’m inside a Publik building, I feel like I’m in Brooklyn. For the aesthetic snobs among us, Publik has some A+ light and fabulous design choices.

Coffee shop in salt lake city publik coffee

3. Best SLC Coffee Shop – Space Options

The Publik on West Temple has meeting room space that can be rented (conference rooms that fit ~10 people), as well as a venue space great for weddings, gallery showings, or professional photoshoots.

4. Best SLC Coffee Shop – The MF Coffee

Y’all, I didn’t think I was such a coffee snob until I started traveling for work.

Now, I know and embrace my coffee snobbery. Publik has its own Roastery (with rad eco friendly practices), with names inspired by Utah’s history.

Where to get good coffee in salt lake city

5. Best SLC Coffee Shop – That Toast Tho

While all of these aspects made the list, the one thing that I’m really, well, delighted by is Publik’s toast offerings. It’s yummy, and also a hit on Snapchat as fodder for “Millennials buy avocado toast and not houses.”

Finally.

Coffee shops are just, special to me. I get that they’re pretty utilitarian for some folks – but for me, they’re more than that. When I was at Stanford, I’d set up shop with my coffee, books and laptop. Folks knew where to find me. We’d have a little “Queer Camp” set up, with everyone working on different homework.

I check out new coffee places to visit when I travel (for both fun and for work). Coffee shops are the community centers of the 21st century.

Are you a business owner who wants bloggers to come check out your digs? I travel just about everywhere (LA and NYC all in the next month). Drop me a line!

Best Salt Lake city coffee shop