Sycamore Brewing

Description: Bustling taproom & beer garden offering in-house sandwiches & international food-truck fare.

Comments: Gigantic space. I don’t think there’s any other place listed on this website that’s bigger than this one. Two floors. The ground level has a ton of seating, plus even more if you count the connected building’s lobby area, which also has places to sit. There’s an outdoor patio downstairs with plenty of seating, and upstairs there’s another patio that wraps around the building and is just as big. There’s room for you, your whole family, and probably your extended family too.

Access to outlets is marvelous. Splendid. 10/10. If you’re coming to work remotely, you’ll be fine staying charged up. This is one of my favorite places to work from in South End on a weekday morning because it’s so big that you can find a quiet corner and practically have it to yourself until the afternoon crowd starts to roll in. Oh, and if you’re into people watching, this is also a great place for it. There are plenty of seats alongside the Rail Trail where you can sit, sip, and be nosy.

Now, they have all that seating for a reason. Once the South End crowd gets off work, this place fills up fast. It can be overwhelming. The first time I came was a Wednesday evening, which was a mistake for me since I prefer a more laid-back vibe and don’t love crowds or the energy that comes with them. But really, it just depends on when you visit. If you’re feeling social and want that outgoing, energetic atmosphere, come in the evening. If you want something quieter to read, study, work remotely, have a meeting, or catch up with a friend, come on a weekday morning and you’ll get exactly that.

I’m typing this on a Thursday morning here at Sycamore, and it’s me and maybe ten other people in a space that easily fits over a hundred. They’ve got “Yellow” by Coldplay playing in the background, which perfectly fits the calm morning vibe. There’s a coffee bar downstairs with tea and specialty drinks like matcha and chai, and you can order food throughout the day using the QR codes placed around the space.

Most importantly, what impressed me the most is that there are outlets all around the outdoor seating on the upstairs patio. If it’s warm out and you want to sit outside with your laptop and stay charged up, this is a top-tier spot.

The biggest challenge here is parking. The lots right next to the building are paid, but there’s a workaround. If you’re willing to walk a bit, you can park for free at Atherton Mill, which has both outdoor spots and a free garage. It’s less than a five-minute walk. There’s also a lot near Elon University down the street, but that one’s a bit riskier since it’s meant for specific businesses, so there’s a small chance of getting towed. Still, Atherton Mill is so big and has so many businesses that I doubt anyone would care if the place you’re visiting happens to be right around the corner instead of inside the Mill itself.