In the Before times, one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon was to write in a café. I could write in a classic Parisian café or modern coffee house, during breakfast or during lunch (or in some cases, with one particular friend, through dinner and into the wee hours). It didn’t matter to me what time of day it was or what bustle was happening around me: I loved marinating in it and reaping the small pleasures of having coffee at hand whenever I ordered it, of hearing a playlist piped through the speakers so different from what I would have chosen at home (which, let’s be fair, is usually nothing).
Of course, the pandemic changed all of that, and while I’ve firmly returned to other habits maligned during the myriad lockdowns – walking in parks, eating out with friends, visiting expos – working in cafés was one that I had, for some reason, abandoned. Maybe it’s because I now live in the neighborhood where I most often work, so I can easily go home between tours or appointments rather than stake my claim on a nearby table to avoid the 45-minute metro ride back to the southern part of the city. Or maybe it’s simpler than that: I’d fallen out of the habit. Regardless, when a friend and I opted to meet up at the Hood recently to “catch up and co-work,” it was like that last piece of my Before life puzzle was slipping back into place.
And friends, I loved it.
The Hood is truly an ideal spot for working, with excellent coffee, a slew of lunch options, a truly eclectic playlist (I heard Christmas music on October 7, KPop, and 90s slo jams all in the same afternoon), friendly staff, and great food. While I swapped this chai out for a coffee (it’s made with syrup and is thus too sweet for me, unfortunately), everything else on the menu was sheer perfection.
My friend comes for the chicken-rice, which she says is the comfort food she could eat every day of her life and never tire of it.
I, meanwhile, couldn’t resist this ultra-flavorful nasi lemak, with coconut rice, peanuts, tiny fried anchovies, and sambal. Pickled cabbage, scallions, and a few cucumber slices finished things off nicely.
And get a look at that tea- and soy-marinated egg. Simple perfection.
For something sweet (but not too sweet!) I highly recommend the kaya riz au lait, with a sticky rice base topped with a thick layer of kaya pastry cream. It’s vegetal and earthy and totally delightful.
As a work spot, the only downside of the Hood is that it shutters between four and six to prepare for the dinner rush. But for a morning workspace or a lunch spot that allows you to write for a few hours as you digest, I can’t think of a better spot. (And if you’re on a roll… Martin opens at 4. [Ugh why did I tell you that??])
The Hood – 80, rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 75011