Hybrid Working? 17 Of London’s Best Co-Working Cafes
Everyone has their favourite cafe to work from, whether it’s a local hideout that nobody knows about or a fast-paced favourite you’ll find all of the freelancers hanging around in. But have you managed to find yours amidst the working-from-home life?
With the world of work becoming increasingly hybrid, now’s the time to find the special working sanctuary that you can hide in when you’re not squeezed back into your office block. From unlimited coffee to endless plug sockets, these are our favourite co-working cafes to work away in.
Origin
If you’re hosting a meeting with your team or are looking to set up a freelancer group and need a big enough table to house the small team, look to Origin. Both their Shoreditch and Southwark coffee shops have big enough tables to gather, brainstorm and recoup after the working from home period. Not to mention their coffee and cake selection is next level.
Both their Shoreditch and Southwark coffee shops have big enough tables to gather, brainstorm and recoup after the working from home period.
For those looking to study or do research at The British Library, Origin is also on hand to fuel you with the good stuff, from coffees to pastries.
Where: Shoreditch, Southwark & The British Library
Website: www.origincoffee.co.uk
Ole & Steen
Home to some of the yummiest baked goods and most loaded open-faced toasts you can find, Ole & Steen is the perfect place to settle down for a remote work day. Pop open your laptop while digging into their delicious, daily prepped Danish baked goodies. These pastries pair perfectly with an espresso made by our skilled baristas, so make sure to snag a drink to keep you caffeinated as well.
With so many great locations throughout London, Ole & Steen is the perfect place to hunker down with your electronics in a comfortable environment. If there is one thing that will keep you motivated during a long, remote work day, it is a cinnamon swirl pastry topped with creamy custard icing. Now get to work!
Where: Various Locations
Website: oleandsteen.co.uk
Hjem Kensington
If you’re local to the Kensington area, you know how popular Hjem is for a morning coffee and treat. For those not too familiar, this is a little secret work spot we are delighted to reveal. Hjem is a Danish-inspired coffee shop and bakery in the heart of Kensington that strives to produce and sell quality products made with only the best organic or locally sourced ingredients available.
This location has great food and beverages, yes, but also one of the most beautiful and cosy work atmospheres to experience. Sit down inside on the beautifully carved wooden chairs or make your day an outdoor one in their sweet outdoor space. Hjem is truly a hidden gem revealed.
Where: 3 Launceston Pl, London W8 5RJ and 157 Gloucester road, london SW7 4th
Grind
It might be buzzy and busy, but Grind seriously impresses on the interiors and coffee front. Founded in Shoreditch in 2011, it’s a coffee shop that’s expanded and expanded, with eight venues spread far and wide across London.
This isn’t the space you’d want to be tapping away on your computer for hours on end, but it’s great for short two-hour stints to be amongst a lively atmosphere and colourful character. It’s also perfect for those wanting to meet up with fellow colleagues or clients to brainstorm, fuelled by good coffee and excellent brunch options.
Great for short two-hour stints to be amongst a lively atmosphere and colourful character.
Where: Various Locations
Website: www.grind.co.uk
Hackney Coffee Company
Home to exposed yellow stock bricks and industrial-inspired interiors, Hackney Coffee Company is the place to go to catch up with friends over coffee, but also somewhere you can burrow yourself away to work. During the warmer months, we’d recommend heading out to their courtyard garden to soak up the sun and top up on that much-needed vitamin D.
During the warmer months, we’d recommend heading out to their courtyard garden to soak up the sun
Come nighttime, the space is filled with soft lighting and candles. They also have event space, perfect for those looking for corporate event areas and wedding venues.
Where: 503 Hackney Rod, E2 9ED
Website: www.hackneycoffee.co
Söderberg
Bringing Londoners a slice of the Swedish cafe experience is Söderberg. These guys have seven branches in Edinburgh – I love the Stockbridge one and regularly frequent it whenever I’m there – but they opened up their first London cafe in January 2019 and continue to create an inspiring space filled with traditional Swedish cuisine.
Expect that classic Scandinavian minimalism inside and mid-century inspired furniture, as well as cosy spaces you can settle in for the day and not be disturbed. Their coffee is roasted in Sweden and the all-day menu features everything from a Swedish style filled omelette with portobello mushrooms in a creamy sauce to Brunchbricka, a Swedish style continental brunch tray that includes a little bit of everything.
Where: berwick street + east dulwich
Website: www.soderberg.uk
Cobalance Cafe
If you’re thinking about getting a coworking membership but want somewhere that doesn’t feel stuffy, claustrophobic and without excellent unlimited coffee and tea, look to Cobalance. You can expect power outlets available at every station, fast wifi, access to monitors, printers, meeting rooms and a library. There’s even a dedicated napping area for days when it gets all a little too much.
Expect power outlets available at every station, fast wifi, access to monitors, printers, meeting rooms and a library.
There’s also the onsite cafe, an intimate space that brings California’s sunshine to London through its healthy menu, smoothies and beach-style interiors.
Where: 130 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JE
Website: www.cobalance.co
Shaman
Designed with creatives in mind, Shaman is a co-working space that’s built differently. You can head down to their location on Leman Street and guarantee that you’ll leave feeling like you’ve spent the day productive.
Their venue is beautifully designed. Expect fresh, modern interiors with each aspect built with a purpose. Their coffee supplier is Origin so you know you’re in good hands, and their on-site restaurant celebrates seasonal small plates sourced with ingredients from the British coastline.
Where: 15 Leman st, e1 8en london
Website: www.shaman-coffee.com
Notes Coffee
Looking for a little more variety than your plain and simple coffee and pastry while you work the day away? Notes, a collection of coffee shops and bars, is the solution. Try their speciality coffee, craft beers, or well-chosen wines and classic cocktails. Each will be sure to get your mind off of those documents you had to file and that report you had to write for a few minutes, at least.
Try their speciality coffee, craft beers, or well-chosen wines and classic cocktails.
With a signature ‘Notes twist’ in everything offered, as well as seasonally inspired food and dishes, Notes truly has all you need for an inspiring remote work day. Might I add that their seating selection in stores is divine? Pop on over to one of their many locations today to see what the fuss is all about.
Where: Various Locations
Website: notescoffee.com
Eve Café
Okay, so Kensington may be the winner for sourcing out beautiful work from home cafés. Serving a menu of pastries, cakes, juices, hot and cold speciality beverages and a daily selection of freshly prepared sandwiches, Eve is the ultimate space to get some work done. The convivial and relaxed space is perfect for co-working for everyone.
Personally, there is nowhere else I would rather be than eating cardamom pancakes while on a Zoom call while also in the aesthetic room of all time. Being fully remote doesn’t sound too bad when your window view is of Ember Locke’s walled garden, right?
Where: 202-220, Cromwell Rd, London SW5 0SW
Website: evekensington.com
Pophams
Set up by founder Ollie Gold, Pophams Bakery has become a bit of an institution for lovers of flakey pastries and excellent coffee. It’s the perfect meeting ground for colleagues, freelancers and business meetings, with space to chat, connect and brainstorm. You can’t leave here without trying one of their fig leaf custard, roasted rig and candied walnut pastries either – it’s legendary.
Pophams Bakery has become a bit of an institution for lovers of flakey pastries and excellent coffee.
Where: ISLINGTON i London fields i victoria park Website: www.pophamsbakery.com
Ozone
Ozone delivers on the interiors, plug sockets and importantly coffee to help you power through your deadlines. Head down to their London Fields site with your friend, colleague or co-working partner and snatch one of their booth tables with a plug socket and feel yourself become part of the furniture as you soak up the buzzy atmosphere and brainstorm over brunch.
For the early risers, both their London Fields and Shoreditch venues are open from 7:30am so you can power through your emails from the get go before the space gets busy. On the breakfast front, expect Turkish eggs; braised Yorkshire mince on house brioche; and sourdough crumpets with smoked chocolate, fruit and ricotta.
For the early risers, both their London Fields and Shoreditch venues are open from 7:30am.
Where: multiple locations
Website: www.ozonecoffee.co.uk
Guilliam Coffee House
Guilliam Coffee house was established to create a welcoming and comforting environment for customers to enjoy some of the finest coffees available. What’s a better way to turn in reports and research than while sipping on a diverse range of single-origin coffees?
Allow yourself to indulge on one of their many great pastries – from plain, buttery croissants to rich and creamy chocolate brownies. Guilliam Coffee House provides a calming space where you are welcomed by staff and surrounded by creative minds alike. Sip on your specialty coffee and let those creative juices flow!
Where: South Kensington, Bayswater, Notting Hill, and Mayfair
Website: gilliam.co.uk
Spiritland
Designed with the music enthusiast in mind, Spiritland is the go-to place for all things music and recording. Look at their King’s Cross venue, it’s a cafe, bar and radio studio all rolled into one. You can book out the full radio production suite or host talks or an album launch thanks to their Living Voice sound system.
Not forgetting it’s a great place to grab a coffee or lunch for a work meeting or just sit at one of the tables all day and work away on your laptop.
Where: 9-10 Stable Street, N1C 4AB
Website: www.spiritland.com
The Wren Coffee
There’s not a day you won’t find someone working away on their laptop, jotting down ideas in their journal or having a meeting with clients at The Wren Coffee. The coffee house is set in the majestic St Nicholas Cole Abbey, a church that holds a service every week.
The coffee is great – roasted by Caravan Coffee Roasters – and there’s always something hearty on their menu, from buttery croissants to tuna mayo baguettes.
The coffee is great – roasted by Caravan Coffee Roasters – and there’s always something hearty on their menu.
Where: St Nicholas Cole Abbey, 114 Queen Victoria Street, Ec4V 4BJ
Website: www.thewrencoffee.com
Claridge’s ArtSpace Café
Designed by renowned British architectural designer John Pawson, Claridge’s ArtSpace Café has a beautiful, sleek interior and the tables with plug points, perfect to grab breakfast or lunch during the workday.
The menu includes their signature crêpes, seasonal salads, croque monsieurs, and madames — and everything is designed for takeaway for those on the move or you can opt to sit and enjoy in-house.
Claridge’s ArtSpace Café has a beautiful, sleek interior and the tables with plug points, perfect to grab breakfast or lunch during the workday.
Where: Brook street, mayfair W1K 4HR
website: www.claridges.co.uk
WatchHouse
Originating from Bermondsey Street in a former 19th-century watch house, WatchHouse now has eighteen different locations. Each London location is uniquely designed to contribute a modern presence while preserving the history of the community it’s housed in.
These distinctive and charming interiors will allow you to sink into your work and enjoy some breakfast, brunch, or pastries alongside a coffee pick-me-up.
Each London location is uniquely designed to contribute a modern presence while preserving the history of the community it’s housed in.
Where: Various Locations
website: www.watchhouse.com
