Starbucks Offers Free Unlimited Wi-Fi

As of today, all company-owned Starbucks Coffee stores will offer free Wi-Fi to anyone with a laptop, tablet, mobile phone or other device capable of accessing the Internet.

Starbucks has offered Wi-Fi in the past but access was limited to two hours a day per customer and only available to customers who were members of the My Starbucks Reward program, according to the Starbucks newsroom.

The new Wi-Fi system offers free Wi-Fi to anyone, no Starbucks card required. Customers can also access the Wi-Fi with one click of the mouse as no username or password is needed.

This new system is part of the store’s way of increasing their ongoing commitment to enhancing customer experience, according to the Starbucks newsroom.

Many Georgetown residents were unaware of the free Starbucks Wi-Fi.

Barnes & Noble customer Claudia Ceja said she uses the free Wi-Fi at the bookstore about once a month. A journalist from Mexico, Ceja has lived in Georgetown about 10 months and uses the Wi-Fi to keep up with events back home.

“Sometimes I review the news from my country or from here, but the most important is work. I need to have access,” Ceja said.

Ceja sometimes goes to Whole Foods for the Wi-Fi as well, but she likes Barnes & Noble because of the environment, she said.

“When you need to stop for a moment, you can relax,” she said.

Nick Orozco, another Barnes & Nobles customer, said he has previously gone to George Washington University for free Wi-Fi since he is able to log-in there from his iPod Touch.

“As there are so many Starbucks in D.C., I will definitely be using it,” Orozco said.

For those who do not prefer Starbucks, there are other options in Georgetown for free Wi-Fi as well.
Lindsey Grumeach, a Puro Café employee, said many of her customers have said they don’t like Starbucks coffee. Other customers are Georgetown students that come to study. Some spend “three, four or five hours, just working,” she said.

Baked & Wired also offers free Wi-Fi to its customers.

“People come in and use it all the time,” Barrett, a Baked & Wired employee, said. “A lot of people do research for work or homework. A lot of people stay awhile. As long it’s not busy we don’t mind if people stay.”

Garrett’s Restaurant and Railroad Tavern offers free Wi-Fi. Tracy, a Garrett’s employee, said having it is an advantage for the restaurant.

“We have a bunch of people who do work and play around on it. It’s good for business,” she said.

Besides Starbucks several establishments in the Georgetown area offer free Wi-Fi to customers. Here are a few places that were given good reviews on Urban Spoon.

Baked & Wired (1052 Thomas Jefferson St., 202-333-2500) – Offers fresh baked goods such as biscotti, cake, muffins, quiche and scones as well as handcrafted drinks such as espresso. Store hours: Mon.-Thurs. 6:59 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fri. 6:59 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sun. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Barnes & Noble (3040 M St., 202-965-9880) – Offers an array of books, music, movies and magazines. Has an in-house Starbucks store. Store hours: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Crepe Amour (3291 M St., 202-625-6625) – The store serves made-to-order crepes, which are handcrafted right in front of you. The creperie and espresso bar uses organic flour and natural ingredients and offers both sweet and savory crepes. Store hours: Sun.-Thurs. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Fri. and Sat. 9 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Farmers & Fishers (3000 K St., 202-298-0003) – The restaurant by the Georgetown Waterfront serves high-quality products from sustainable agriculture from family farmers and farmers of the sea. Store hours: Mon.-Thurs. 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sun. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Garrett’s Restaurant and Railroad Tavern (3003 M St., 202-333-1033) – The restaurant is celebrating over 30 years of business with serving good food and drinks at an affordable price. Store hours: Mon.-Thurs. 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., Fri. 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m., Sat. noon to 2:30 a.m. and Sun. 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Puro Café (1529 Wisconsin Ave., 202-787-1937) – The establishment has great service and simple, modern furnishings. It offers paninis and flatbreads as well as other favorites. Store hours: Open daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saxby’s Coffee (3500 O St., 202-338-3777) – The coffee shop has offered free Wi-Fi to customers for three and a half years. Store hours: Mon.-Thurs. 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri. 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat. 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sun. 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Starbucks (Locations: 3122 M St., 202-625-6706; 3050 K St., 202-298-6180; 1810 Wisconsin Ave., 202-337-5604) – Now offering free Wi-Fi to all customers. Store hours: Varies between locations.

Also visit our Google map to see the locations of these hotspots and more.