Why I Needed to Get Out of the House

Some days, your house just isn’t it. I had reached that point where home felt less like a place of peace and more like a productivity trap. The lines between bed and office blurred so much, I started taking meetings from under my duvet. Not ideal.

As someone who works for herself, I know firsthand how easy it is to spiral when your environment stays the same day in, day out. I wanted movement. I wanted other humans. I wanted to feel like the main character again. So I packed my laptop, notebook, and stubborn ambition, and headed to Lomo Cafe, one of my favourite lowkey gems in Abuja, to reset.

And since I’m all about romanticizing the freelancer lifestyle (and documenting it), I decided to share my experience for both the blog and my ongoing freelancer living series on TikTok.

2. First Impressions of Lomo Cafe

Lomo Cafe is located in Jabi, Abuja, and I must say, getting there is a breeze. No traffic (which in this economy is basically a love letter), and the cafe is tucked inside a gated space with its own parking. Shout out to the security team that always helps me navigate like I’m a VIP, big main character energy.

You get immediate exclusive vibes walking into the cafe, giving secret book club mixed with upscale coworking space. There are warm wooden tones, a cozy bookshelf that gives off “library meets coffee shop” energy, and overall it just feels like a place where your to-do list might actually get scared and complete itself.

3. The Workability Factor for Freelancers

Let’s talk logistics, the stuff freelancers really care about.

Power Access

Okay, so here’s the plot twist: the only power outlet in the whole place (as far as I know) is at the exact table I always use. The table is at the extreme right of the cafe. It’s a long wooden table that could fit a mini family reunion, and I’ve made it my productivity throne. I bring my laptop, iPad, pens, notebooks, chargers, and even my extension cord. Yes. I’m that extra. No regrets.

Unfortunately, on this particular visit, I found out a book club meets at my table at 2pm. The audacity. So I had to wrap up early, but it’s good to know for future planning.

WiFi Situation

I can’t say much about their WiFi because I always hotspot from my phone. This country has taught me not to trust public WiFi, especially in places with people uploading reels and Pinterest quotes. If they do have WiFi, I assume it’s mid at best.

Toilet Check

You know how toilet conditions can quietly make or break your working experience? Lomo Cafe passes the vibe check, easily. The bathrooms are clean, well lit, and thoughtfully stocked. We’re talking tissue, hand soap, hand towels, dry floors, and absolutely no questionable smells. It might sound like a small thing, but when you’re spending hours in a space, knowing the bathroom won’t ruin your mood is a major plus.

Noise & Distraction Level

There’s low background music (very chill) and a quiet crowd. Honestly, this is ideal for people like me who get bored of silence but overwhelmed by full on noise. It feels social, but not disruptive.

What I Got Done

Everything. I planned an entire week of content, did strategy work for freelance clients, finished a branding project, and even handled some admin tasks. Scheduled emails for Monday. It was Saturday, but it felt like Monday energy (without the trauma).

This cafe really is one of the best cafes in Abuja for freelancers.

4. Food, Drinks & Price Point

Let’s talk food because this ginger tea? It nearly brought me back to life. Spicy, rich, served in a whole teapot. They add honey on the side like they know you’re about to gossip with your body system.

Other things I’ve tried over time:

Item	Rating/10	Notes
Noodle stir-fry	7	Rich, but a little dry
Spaghetti Bolognese	7	Good sauce and meat portions
Chicken sandwich + fries	8	Delicious and filling
Mocha	9	Rich, chocolaty, comforting
Caramel latte	9	Chef’s kiss
Dumplings (steamed)	6	Used to be better
Lasagna	8	Meaty and generous
Sizzling hot plate beef	5	Smoky AF. We all smelled like campfire

Price Point

Expect to spend between ₦20,000 – ₦35,000 depending on your order. It’s not fast food cheap, but for the ambience and portion sizes, it’s fair.

And no, you’re not pressured to keep ordering. That said, they did recently put up a sign saying you should order within 10 minutes of arrival. So don’t go there just to soak up vibes and use their chairs like it’s NYSC camp.

5. Atmosphere, Ambience & the Small Details That Matter

• Ambience: Cozy. Calm. Inspiring. Like a library with caffeine.
• Crowd: Mixed bag of creatives, remote workers, readers, and cool aunties catching up.
• Cleanliness: Always on point.
• Staff: Professional and friendly. Never intrusive.
• The Corner Table: My safe space. My productivity temple. Respect it.

Also, every time I work from there, I end up talking to someone interesting. Freelancers, designers, planners, dreamers. We bond. It’s giving wholesome networking.

Before we get into what I actually got done, quick side note, if you’ve ever wondered how to confidently price your services without just picking a random number and praying, please read the How to Price Your Freelance Services and also get a rate calculator template. It walks you through figuring out your value, setting rates in Naira or USD, and not undercharging because ‘imposter syndrome said so.’ I’ve used it to recalibrate my own pricing structure and it’s one of the best tools I’ve created.

6. What I Actually Got Done

This wasn’t just a cute cafe run. I got work done. Real, actual results:

• Planned a week of content
• Strategized freelance client work
• Completed a branding project (refining my workflow using the Project Brief Template)
• Sent out client emails and scheduled admin tasks (I used my Client Offboarding Checklist to wrap things up smoothly). You can get the client onboarding system for free.

The Project Brief Template is perfect for breaking down your creative direction, strategy, and deliverables in a clean, and professional way. It’s the kind of thing you send to clients when you want them to know you actually have a plan, and that you’re not just winging it. It helps you present your ideas clearly, align expectations, and seal the deal with confidence. You can get yours here.

And yes, that ginger tea definitely helped.

7. My Honest Thoughts: Would I Go Again?

Yes. A million times, yes.

Lomo Cafe is not just beautiful, it’s functional. It gives you cozy without being sleepy. You can work, host casual meetings, even journal and sip on your overpriced (but worth it) caramel latte.

If I had to build my ideal remote workspace in Abuja, it would look suspiciously like this spot.

8. Lomo Cafe Freelancer Ratings: WiFi, Comfort & More

Category	Rating (out of 5)
WiFi Speed	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Power Availability	⭐⭐
Noise Level	⭐⭐
Food & Drinks	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Seating Comfort	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall Workability	⭐⭐⭐⭐

9. Final Thoughts + More Cafes in Abuja for Freelancers Coming Soon

This is the first in my Work Outside review series, where I document what it’s like working from cafes in Abuja as a freelancer.

If you’re tired of your house, your bed, your fan making that clicking noise, this series is for you. And if you want to follow the journey in real time, you can catch behind the scenes videos on TikTok @beinghauwa.

As I followed up on a few client projects, I also opened up my client onboarding portal to set it up from Day One of client onboarding, I need to make sure everything was clean, organized, and not giving chaos. Smooth handoffs are part of my brand now, and this portal has a lot to do with it. From starting to finish it keeps everything streamlined for my client and I.

And when it was time to officially close out some work, I reached for the Client Offboarding Checklist because ending projects professionally is just as important as how you start them.

You’re allowed to leave your house. You’re allowed to feel good while working. And maybe, just maybe, all you need is the right table and a ginger tea hot enough to kickstart your nervous system. You’re allowed to feel good while working. And maybe, just maybe, all you need is the right table and a ginger tea hot enough to kickstart your nervous system.

You’re allowed to leave your house. You’re allowed to feel good while working. And maybe, just maybe, all you need is the right table and a ginger tea hot enough to kickstart your nervous system.