Coffee Shop Office – Duchess Bake Shop

The Details:

Where: Duchess Bakery

Address: 10718-124 Street, Edmonton

Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 9am – 8pm | Sat: 10am – 6pm | Sun: 10am – 5pm |Mondays: Closed

Web: http://duchessbakeshop.com/

Facebook: Duchess Bake Shop

Twitter: Duchess Bake Shop

WiFi: Free

Our forth article in our  series:“Coffee Shop Office”

The “Office”

Many times working moms take to the coffee shop to get some work done. There are a few requirements for these entrepreneurs; Coffee, and WiFi. Food is also a bonus.

If you’re looking for somewhere a little more “chic” to inspire your masterpiece or for writing your masterplan… this is the place!

Decorated with France in mind, white walls, chandeliers, gilded corners, chaises,  it’s a refreshing pace to the usual Starbucks (forgive me Starbucks).  You may get so excited to go there that you might throw some makeup on before you go.

On my first visit to Duchess I wasn’t sure what it was I’d be walking into. The term bake shop evokes, bakery. I recently had the privilege to go to Paris last spring, so I was thought Duchess would be like a boulangerie, bread and well, more bread. I was wrong. There were cakes and macarons, croissants and cookies, and yes, some bread.  I had a lovely soup (not just baked goods) and my kids inhaled more gingerbread than was probably wise. I’d like to say they were good, but they ate them too fast for me to try.  My first visit was with a friend and we brought along our kids  kids (whom I probably said “sit down” too many times to be relaxing). This isn’t the place to bring kids so you can sit down and have a chat. Don’t try and work here with your kids in tow. It’s really not worth the stress.

My second visit I snook off to see what it was Duchess was really like, sans kids. I must admit it does get busy over lunch, so again, if you’re the type of worker that needs a nice quiet work space, don’t go at lunch. Other than that, there are plenty of tables and the wifi is free.

Parking is metered and can be a little trick., but, no one seems to be parked outside Duchess for long. Many people pop in for sandwiches and cakes and then leave.

Which brings us to the food, like I said previously, it’s not all bread! Don’t get me wrong, I love bread! But if you’re going there to get some work done, you need something a little more substantial. How about a quiche, French themed sandwiches (croque monsieur) or a creamy tomato soup!  Follow that with a latte or tea and you’re not just finishing your manifesto of world domination, you’re well fed and happy!

Duchess is a great place to shake up your coffee shop office blues and  adding a little Parisian inspiration into your workday.