I like a place that's airy, plenty o' reference materials, and some music that I don't mind listening to but don't actively like. I find that I listen to music I like. It's also nice, I think, to be able to "think out loud" to another coder (even if they're not familiar with your favorite language, they can usually act as a kind of focus-enhancing reflecting mirror).

Philosophy can be made out of anything. Or less -- Jerry A. Fodor