I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love working in busy spaces (a.k.a cafés). The ambient sound of the coffee machines whirring, indicating that the barista is foaming her nth cappuccino of the day. The woman in her gym clothes, coming from a run with her dog, ordering a mango and banana smoothie to refresh. Those in suits, who don’t have time to sit down and always order their coffee to go, unless you catch them in the morning reading a book before the start of their busy day. And those who just sit with their earphones on, slowly sipping their large vanilla latte while observing the world around them. I often wonder what they’re listening to.

Everything about the bustling environment of cafés makes me feel like the world is moving, and pushes me to follow the movement. My fingers clap fast against the keypad of my laptop, as I work on my third essay of the week, following the rhythm of the sounds around me, my focus sometimes interrupted by a new customer coming in. Here is the second part of my list of favorite cafes to work in Abu Dhabi, a specially curated Downtown edition. If you are more of a quiet space worker, I’ve included a little place for you at the end.

(L’ETO)[https://www.thegalleria.ae/en/eat/leto/] Located in Galleria Mall on Al Maryah Island, L’ETO is my favorite place to work in. With comfortable sofas all around, very cozy decoration in neutral tones and an open coffee and dessert bar stand, it feels like working at home but around strangers. The staff is absolutely wonderful. I often find myself chatting with the baristas and waiters about how their week is going when the place is not too busy and asking for new recommendations of desserts to cross off my “to try” list. L’ETO falls on the pricier side of cafes, but you can save up by taking the NYUAD shuttle to Galleria back and forth and you can stay there for long hours.

Art House café Some of you may already know Art House café, located in a villa in Al Bateen and posted on every Instagram story. Art House café is known for hosting the Etihad Modern Art gallery, which occasionally curates contemporary art exhibitions that you can visit for free. Perhaps most uniquely, the cafe provides the option to decorate white plates with paint for only an extra 25 AED. With both indoor and outdoor seating, the villa is big enough to accommodate many customers, and you can choose to sit in the more bustling areas or the quieter spaces. It has a very vintage look with its upcycled furniture and dim lights. And because it is a creative space, I find it to be one of the best places to get inspiration going for that Colloquium essay you’re working on. The food is excellent, there’s a classic range of hot and cold beverages, and the prices won’t make you go broke. Because it’s a bit far from Saadiyat, I recommend taking a cab with friends to go on a day when you do not have classes. That way you can optimize your time studying and chill with friends when you’re all done or take a break to paint your plates.

If you can only work in quiet spaces you will love Wild & the Moon’s ambiance. Right inside Qasr Al Hosn, Wild and the Moon feels like a garden patio, with plants everywhere and a large wooden table in the middle. In terms of taste, it is a place for the adventurous. Wild and the Moon only serves gluten-free and vegan options and daring combinations of hot milk with spices. Don’t be fooled like I was: at Wild and the Moon just because it says “latte” on the menu does not mean it contains coffee! Because it is empty most of the time, you get to enjoy a great focused environment, but if you are like me and don’t enjoy the sound of the silence, it can feel intimidating. When you’re done studying or want to take a break, taking a walk around Qasr Al Hosn, its multiple food trucks, and seeing the families with their kids playing around is very refreshing.