Try breweries. I spend a lot of time hanging out at breweries with great beer, great food trucks, plenty of outdoor space, and either no music or relatively quiet music. People often have dogs, which are a pretty great conversation starter, too.
You live so close to a brewery that a trip to it doesn't count as a long commute?
Edit: I just checked the three breweries closest to me on Google maps... They just look like restaurant dining rooms? I don't know if people are comfortable with someone at another table talking to them in a restaurant.
Most breweries tend to be a little bit different than restaurants, particularly if we’re talking about the outdoor area. You’re much more likely to see kids running around, dogs, etc. More of a “backyard bbq” atmosphere than a restaurant. And in many parts of the country, especially places with high numbers of tech jobs, you can’t swing a cat without hitting at least one brewery.
Yep, it's actually a criteria I look at when I choose a house/apartment. It's a nice "third space" where community events often happen, where you can meet new people (easier before COVID), and where it's easy to spend an afternoon working or reading. Kind of like a park but with dedicated food, drink, and bathrooms.
