11 companies with insanely good workplace cafeterias
For the working foodie everywhere
When it comes to the perks of a job, what are you looking for? A games room, maybe a gym, or even free coffee? If those don't quite cut it and high-quality food is what you're looking for, you've come to the right place. From secret kitchens to three free meals a day, check out what some company cafeterias have to offer.
DropBox, San Francisco
The Dropbox eatery is affectionately named the Dropbox Tuck Shop and when staffers include head chef Brian Mattingly, formerly of legendary London restaurant Le Gavroche, you can only dream of the mouth-watering meals up for grabs.
Lamb kofta Instagram/swapnilz
DropBox, San Francisco
From international dishes like lamb koftas (pictured) and sashimi salad to tantalising vegan and vegetarian offerings, there’s something for everyone at DropBox.
Google, New York
Working for the Google brand alone is a pretty big perk, but an even better perk has got to be the free food staff get from their cafeterias. The New York office houses Hemispheres, a café that serves up three meals a day – and snacks – for free! And with a view of Manhattan like this, can you say no?
Google, New York
You could choose from three entrée stations, salad bar, desserts, FroYo machine and a burger station and enjoy the likes of this Wagyu beef burger with gruyere, caramelized mushrooms and onions with sweet potato fries.
Apple, California
It looks like working in California is where it’s at when it comes to fabulous workplace cafeterias. The on-campus cafeterias at Apple are charmingly named Caffé Macs, where employees can chow down on anything from Korean-style tacos, ramen burgers, Pad Thai-seared sea bass with green harissa sauce, curry and even oysters. Apples, of course, are often free.
Apple, California
And those are just the lunch specialities. For breakfast you could have some French toast with strawberries, chocolate chip pancakes and eggs, as well as desserts! According to Huffington Post, software engineers are allotted up to $12 (£9.60) for dinner, which usually covers the meals – so lunch and dinner are pretty much free! This grass-fed burger looks mighty fine, doesn’t it?
Designers Guild, London
Don’t you hate it when you end up eating lunch at your desk? So does Tricia Guild, the founder of Designers Guild – one of Britain’s most successful fabric and wallpaper companies – who hates the “bad, messy habit”.
Designers Guild, London
To make sure this doesn’t happen, she opened a café in the courtyard and hired a top chef to provide nutritious, healthier, extremely subsidiszd staff meals for $3.76 (£3) a meal (and soup is only £1.25/£1). Some delicious dishes that have been served up include sea bass with salsa verde and zucchini and Malay prawn curry with coconut rice and mango salsa.
Facebook, Menlo Park, Silicon Valley
With 11 food eateries to choose from including Asian cuisine, BBQ and more, Facebook staff can have their pick of dishes every day. And the food is either free or heavily discounted for employees and guests. The biggest eatery is Epic Café and the selection of food is unbelievable!
Facebook, Menlo Park, Silicon Valley
Menus change daily, and some are themed – there was once a Willy Wonka lunch menu! From duck confit and peach jam to stir fry chili tempeh with red snapper curry and a smoked salmon bar to a Flinstonian turkey leg (pictured), the Epic Café lives up to its name.
Morgan Stanley, New York
The executive kitchen at the financial services company’s New York office was once run by acclaimed chef JJ Johnson, and that’s something to shout about. He said it’s worked by a team of 15 cooks and kitchen hands, which is more than most restaurants, so you know the quality will be top notch.
Morgan Stanley, New York
The menu changes every day, almost like a secret kitchen would. But what could you expect on the menu? Every day, 30-50 people could choose from a secret menu of foie gras, ‘whole animals’ (cooking every part), truffles and Iberico pork.
Instagram/ animationfascination
Pixar, California
The main dining spot at Pixar is Café Luxo which includes a wood-fired pizza oven, a burrito bar, cereal bar, daily specials and free fountain drinks.
Pixar, California
Employees can expect to eat things like toasted ravioli (pictured), tofu ramen, smoked maple salmon and steak. Apparently Steve Jobs wanted the space to feel like the Musée D’Orsay in Paris, according to Senior Design Project Manager Craig Payne.
LinkedIn, Mountview, California
There are perks and benefits all over the place at LinkedIn, including the food.
Instagram/ abobaadaykeepssleepaway
LinkedIn, Mountview, California
There seems to be unlimited food available with a magic whiteboard – write what you fancy eating and it magically appears. One of the top choices has got to be the Taco Salad bar where offerings include delicacies like Chipotle-style seasoned chicken. Or divine desserts like these Chai pots de crèmes (pictured) with diced dragon fruit, bubble tapioca pearls and pomegranate sauce.
Facebook/ Dreamworks Animation
DreamWorks Animation, California
Every day at DreamWorks Animation staff can pick up free breakfast and lunch, which is focused around healthy and varied options.
DreamWorks Animation, California
All the food is cooked from scratch, and focuses on locally-purchased sustainable seafood and humanely-raised meat and eggs. A dish that particularly caught our eye is the sweet salmon poke bowl (pictured). It’s healthy and tasty.
Microsoft, Redmond, Washington
What to eat for lunch at Microsoft is never be an easy decision to make. With nearly two dozen dining venues on campus in Redmond, Washington your boring paper bag lunches will remain where they belong, in the refrigerator at home.
Instagram/ seaurchinqueen
Microsoft, Redmond, Washington
Fancy a ramen bowl? You got it! Or a steaming bowl of Pho? No problem. Or something even more indulgent like a burger covered in Guajillo cream cheese and bacon – definitely decadent, but deliciously worth it. Some of the favorite eateries in the Commons Mall complex include Cafe Redwest, Cafe 83 and Cafe 121 – where you could get a three-course lunch at the Urban Kitchen (pictured) for just $12 (£9.60).
Yahoo, Sunnyvale, California
When breakfast, lunch and dinner comes free for employees, we’re surprised the Yahoos (the affectionate employee nickname) can ever leave the cafeteria. The campus has one big cafeteria called URL’s (said Earl’s) and you’ll find any type of food you could possibly want.
Yahoo, Sunnyvale, California
But not only that, there are satellite cafeterias and a juice bar which serves drinks designed by staff. And where would a star cafeteria be without a sushi and ramen bar? Just check out that stunning plate of all your favorite sushi! And don't forget it's totally free!