Nantes in May brings that oceanic mildness that makes mornings pleasant, the terraces of Bouffay cafés filling up gently, and the light bouncing off the cobblestones of pedestrian streets. The city's café-coworking scene has exploded in recent years, and several genuinely good terraces deliver on their promise for working peacefully outside.

We covered the centre, the île de Nantes, the Madeleine district, and the banks of the Erdre to track down the terraces worth visiting. Here are six addresses we're keeping in our Nantes favourites.

Le Café sur Cour

Place Louis Daubenton, Le Café sur Cour is a comfortable spot with soft sofas or terrace tables, free Wi-Fi, and a cosy atmosphere. It's the kind of café you fall for on your first visit and end up going back to regularly.

Wi-Fi available, guaranteed quiet, laptop welcome, large tables. Google rating 4.5 from over 1,000 reviews. The terrace sits on a quiet square, perfect for morning work sessions.

Our favourite for starting the day in a warm setting with a coffee that hits the spot.

L'Artichaut Café

Rue du Marais, L'Artichaut Café is an artistic spot with a lovely team, several tables, a terrace, and a quiet upstairs floor used for exhibitions. Ideal for writing or working, with a warm atmosphere that doesn't intrude on your concentration.

Quiet setting, laptop welcome, good food, polished atmosphere. Google rating 4.8 from over 500 reviews. It's probably one of the best spots in the centre for writing sessions.

The good find for afternoons where you want to mix work and a cultural break.

Work in Excess

Rue Paul Bellamy, Work in Excess is a renovated loft with open space, a call room, meeting rooms, a fully equipped large kitchen, and a covered outdoor terrace. The covered terrace is a rare asset: usable even when the sky turns grey (and it does sometimes in Nantes).

Pro Wi-Fi, power outlets, food, large tables, laptop obviously welcome. Google rating 5 from 25 reviews. It's more suited to freelancers who want a professional setting with a real atmosphere.

The go-to for intense work weeks where you want coworking comfort without giving up the outdoors.

Épicureüs

Avenue Sainte-Anne, Épicureüs is an inclusive coffee shop with a great selection of drinks, vegan and gluten-free treats, a shaded terrace, and affordable prices. It's the archetype of a good neighbourhood spot that gets everything right.

Wi-Fi available, power outlets, quiet setting, food, laptop welcome. Google rating 4.8 from nearly 150 reviews. The shaded terrace makes all the difference in the height of summer.

A great spot for midday sessions when you want quiet, cool shade, and a snack that makes a change.

Régus Euronantes

Mail Pablo Picasso, Régus Euronantes is a traditional coworking space with 72 private offices, six open-space workstations, and private terraces. Classic professional setting, but the equipment is solid and the terrace changes the equation.

Pro Wi-Fi, power outlets, large tables, food, atmosphere. Google rating 4 from 69 reviews. It's more geared towards a traditional professional profile than the other addresses — choose based on your need for structure.

The spot for freelancers who want a clearly professional setting in the business district.

Lecorner Coworking

Rue Columelle, Lecorner Coworking is located in the Madeleine Champs de Mars district with open-space workstations, shared and private offices, fibre connection, a south-facing terrace, and a green patio. The terrace-plus-patio combination is rare and precious.

Pro Wi-Fi, power outlets, quiet, large tables, laptop obviously welcome. Google rating 5 from 28 reviews. The quality-to-equipment ratio is genuinely interesting.

The go-to for freelancers who like to change atmosphere during the day without changing address.

How to make the most of working on a terrace in Nantes

Three useful tips on the Loire:

  • Nantes weather is unpredictable. A May shower can blow in in five minutes. Prioritise covered terraces or spots with easy access back inside.
  • The westerly wind can blow hard. If you're working on the banks of the Loire or the Erdre, bring something to weigh down your papers.
  • Humidity is hard on older keyboards. Avoid five-hour terrace sessions facing the water if your laptop is starting to show its age.

Go further

If you want our full selection of Nantes spots, we also have a guide covering all the good spots in the city (cafés, coworking spaces, community spaces) — not just terraces. For detailed listings of Nantes venues, head to our city page.

Looking for terraces in another city this summer? We also have selections for Rennes, Caen, Orléans.

In summary

Nantes has a café-coworking scene that rivals the biggest metropolises, and several genuinely good terraces that hold up even when the weather turns. Our selection covers the range of uses: cosy café for mornings, fully equipped coworking for long weeks, artistic café for writing sessions.

Looking for other types of spots in Nantes? Find all our Nantes selections and our city guides on Deskover.