Free WiFi in Des Peres, MO

There are times when you just need to get out of the house and away from the office to get anything accomplished.

If you live in the St. Louis suburb of Des Peres, or you travel through Des Peres periodically, then this list is for you.

Free WiFi is Just a Start:

I have a list of requirements for my WiFi spots before I’ll grab my laptop and head out for a work session. My favorite places have all 5 of the features below.

Free Wi-Fi (free)
Good coffee with free unlimited refills (coffee)
Good access to outlets (plugs)
Real food…not just muffins & dessert (food)
Easy parking (cars)

To help you decide where you want to take your computer, I am noting these features on my list below for the places that I’ve visited. I haven’t visited all of the locations personally, so they won’t all have the features rated.

If you see any free WiFi spots I’ve missed, or can give us any information about the WiFi experience on any of the places I’ve listed below, leave a comment at the end of the post. And definitely let me know if the information is wrong…a place is closed or doesn’t actually offer free WiFi.

I’ve also put together a map with the locations throughout the entire St. Louis area other than the libraries, Starbucks and the fast food chains. You can even pull up the map on your iPhone or Android phone. Simply add the map to your Google account using the ‘Add to My Maps’ link. Then pull up the map on your phone using the layers option in the Google maps app.

See complete St. Louis region free WiFi list…

Free WiFi Locations in Des Peres, MO:

Barnes & Noble Bookstores
free, food, cars
In 2009, Barnes & Noble dropped the fees for wifi, making the bookstore a great option for laptop users. They offer a limited menu and Starbucks coffee (no free refills). At the Ladue location (Ladue & 170 in the Schnucks center), I only saw a couple of outlets. I’m guessing that it might be hard to get an outlet and a table during busy times, but there are also a few chairs scattered throughout the store.

Daily Bread
free, food, cars
Another spot that offers free WiFi but you rarely see anyone inside with a computer. Local residents flock here for lunch, so grab a table quickly before they fill up.

First Watch
free, coffee, plugs, food, cars
I’ve never taken my laptop into a First Watch, and I’m not sure that they would appreciate someone camping out for a few hours. First Watch is more of a diner style breakfast and lunch spot, with staff buzzing around turning over the tables as fast as they can during the busy times of day. Please note that though First Watch has unlimited free refills on coffee, I think they have some of the worst coffee in town. I think that First Watch could work if you wanted to check your email or conduct a business meeting using your Powerpoint presentation over lunch, but if you are looking for a 2nd office, I would pick another spot on the list. UPDATE: After I wrote the review above, a VP contacted me and actually looked into the coffee situation. He got back to me and said that they fixed a problem and the coffee should be better, and he send me a free coupon for 2 to try it out again. (BTW, perfect response for a company that gets a bad review!) I finally got around to it and agree the coffee IS better than it was, though I still think it is pretty boring if you are used to coffee shop java. This time I did take my computer. I met someone for a weekend business breakfast, and after we ate I set up the computer. My companion left and I stuck around for a little while to work. Though the waitress never made me feel uncomfortable, I definitely felt that it was time to pack up when the lunch rush started and people were waiting for tables. Keep in mind that the break between the breakfast and lunch rush is very short. If you are going to camp out, I suggest going for lunch or in the afternoon.

McAlister’s Deli
free, food, cars
I’ve only taken my laptop into the Creve Coeur location, but I’m guessing that the experience would be pretty similar across their locations. I didn’t see many outlets, but easily grabbed a table where I could plug in. In comparison to First Watch where I felt I was taking up a table while people waited to be seated and my camping out at a table would have meant fewer tips for my waitress, the abundant seating and self-service ordering style made me feel quite comfortable at McAlister’s. The waitress assigned to keep my drink filled was friendly and let me know that she would leave me alone and I should just catch her attention if I needed anything. I would definitely feel comfortable spending an afternoon with my computer here.

St. Louis Bread Company (aka Panera Bread)
free, coffee, plugs, food, cars
With multiple locations all over town, Bread Co is the easiest choice for free WiFi. Every cafe has quite a few outlets plus enough seating that you can usually get a table near them. The only drawback – there is a 30 minute time limit on free WiFi from 11:30-2:00 pm. Given how busy they get at lunchtime, I can understand why they made this choice. Still, it has encouraged me to branch out and discover options where I can work for as long as I want. My favorite locations are UCity Loop, Creve Coeur and Brentwood.

More About Des Peres, MO:

If you live in Des Peres and want to keep track of the Des Peres housing market, or you are thinking about moving to Des Peres, then visit our Des Peres Community page.

The page includes: