Top 10 Innovative Coworking Spaces in the World

If you are reading this you may have read dozens of articles about innovative coworking spaces before or the typical post about the best coworking spaces on _____ (complete with your favourite city). As a coworking space manager, I imagine that you have been both outraged and surprised to read these lists because, on many occasions, the list is questionable and you know it because when you appear on it you are aware that the person who has written it has not even set foot in your coworking space.

This list includes some of the more than 175 spaces that I have visited, and maybe some that I have not, and that at the time caught my attention for one reason or another.

Wayco Ruzafa, Valencia (Spain) 

In one of the favourite cities of digital nomads and expats in Spain: Valencia, you can find in the neighborhood of Ruzafa the second space opened by the local operator Wayco.

Having started my journey in coworking in CREC Poble-Sec, a space with similar characteristics, in Barcelona (closed in November 2023), you will understand that visiting Wayco Ruzafa was like seeing materialised what could be achieved with a space when you make an expansion (in fact Ruzafa has been incorporating surface at different times) you take the opportunity to renovate the entire space getting a uniform result that takes the space to another level. It requires investment, but for a space not to be left behind in time, it is necessary to renovate it. To undertake these improvements it is important to have the contractual conditions to do so.

Another factor that, not at that time but now, stands out in Wayco Ruzafa is the amount of open space (dedicated desk + hotdesk in not lounge areas) available in the space, something that over the years is increasingly rare given that coworking spaces tend to have more private office space.

A very famous market in Valencia

Talent Garden Calabiana, Milano (Italy)

In 2015, a few weeks after its opening, I visited Talent Garden Calabiana in the city of Milan. I was impressed by the 5000m2, combined with the impressive height, of the industrial building in which it is located. I remember that many managers were critical when they saw the space and doubted the model because of the low occupancy. My response was to ask them how their space was doing in terms of occupancy three weeks after opening: they responded with silence. It was the first time I saw a space of those dimensions and I understood that coworking on a different scale would be the future, with a space segmented into different offices of companies that at that time you did not see in coworking spaces, a huge space for events and a programming academy in the basement.

 The cathedral church of Milan

Casa les Punxes, Barcelona (Spain) 

One of the most emblematic buildings in Barcelona is undoubtedly Casa Terradas, popularly known as Casa de les Punxes. What you may not know is that in this icon located in the central Diagonal Avenue, you can find a coworking space. Casa les Punxes x Cloudworks is a spectacular space, to say the least. Obviously creating a coworking space in such a building poses an additional challenge for the operators given that not only can the structure not be altered but even the choice of colour of the interiors is supervised by the authorities.

These difficulties, however, have several trade-offs. On the one hand, since it is a single building, the price of memberships in these spaces is higher and, depending on the character of the building, it can attract a differentiated public while positioning the brand on another level.

An aerial shot of Barcelona

the Terminal HUB, Valencia (Spain) 

In this line of spaces in unique buildings, the recently inaugurated the Terminal HUB in Valencia is worth mentioning. Located in the old ferry terminal, a spectacular brutalist building that combined with a carefully designed interior and furnishings offers a unique value proposition in the city of Túria. Another of the building's key factors is also a high percentage of dedicated desk positions.

A beach near the Terminal HUB

CRU Cowork, Oporto (Portugal) 

Creative hubs tend to be vibrant spaces, but CRU never disappoints. It originally offered coworking space for creatives, training and a store at its entrance that never disappoints. On my last visit, I left with a few more clothes than I should have, sampled a coffee that had been roasted on the spot and visited their new podcast room. Can you ask for more?

A tram used to get around in Oporto

The Bond Collective Wall Street, NYC (EEUU) 

The perception of the quality of finish of a market leader such as WeWork varies depending on the market. In some cases it is top of mind, in others, there are players who have the financial muscle to surpass it. At the end of 2017, I visited The Bond Collective and spoke briefly with CEO Shlomo Silber. To my question, how do you compete with WeWork in the city where it was born and where it has its highest concentration of spaces? His answer was somewhat surprising to me at the time: "They are Starbucks, we are a boutique café". In many markets, the search for office space in Class A buildings is steadily growing below supply: a commitment to creating better spaces with better finishes, in better buildings and locations, while requiring more investment, or partners with access to these assets, can offer a competitive advantage and in times of crisis, greater resilience.

Just outside the coworking space The Bond Collective Wall Street

IOS Offices Paseo de la Reforma, CDMX (México)

Another player that bet on premium in the Mexican market is IOS Offices. The brand's coworking spaces are of the highest level, always in premium locations, Herman Miller furniture, or a barista who serves cocktails free of charge (Mexican legislation does not allow the sale of alcohol). IOS Offices' commitment to quality has led it to lead the Mexican market.

A Mexican flag

B Amsterdam, Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

B. Amsterdam claims to be Europe's largest startup hub with 40.000m2 spread over three locations and hosted the Coworking Europe Conference in 2018. Offices, startups, coworking, events, coffee, restaurants, studios, gyms, physiotherapy, and even padel courts. Such an ecosystem is simply a dream.

The famous canal in Amsterdam

Creative Works, London (UK)

An affordable coworking space in London in a location not too far from central London? It sounds like a miracle but it's not. From the hand of Alexis Michaelides, Creative Works, this project related to a training project offers a well-kept and well-maintained space in the capital of the United Kingdom. A coworking space with approximately 275 members of which only 13% of them are in private offices. A coworking space that according to industry canons should not exist.

An amazing view from the Shard, London's tallest building, of the skyline 

Livit Hub Bali, Sanur (Indonesia) 

In early 2020 I paid a brief visit to Livit Hub Bali. Although it was only two days, I was made to feel at home at a time that was rare, to say the least. Unlike other spaces in a touristy location like Bali, at Livit, the local ecosystem is mixed with people who are just passing through. Some of the things that surprised me during my visit were that they had a laundry service and they prepared a fantastic bento box that you can take with you for dinner. However, I think it's important to note that they have other services such as human resources services, including recruitment, which allows companies to get local talent while helping them build a structure to establish themselves legally in the country.

Unwind at Sanur's beach after a long day of work

Santander Work Café (Argentina, Brasil, Chile, España, United States, México, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom) 

You will tell me that it is not a "real coworking" and you are probably right but, although perhaps it was not the first to transform some of its conventional offices into spaces that offer coworking services free of charge, the truth is that it does so on a scale, with 229 locations in nine countries, that is remarkable, to say the least. Although most of the locations are in Chile, where the project was born in 2016, and Spain, they have also taken this concept to the United States, Brazil, Argentina Mexico, Poland, Portugal and the United Kingdom. What is innovative about this type of project is that they use coworking as a marketing tool, attracting potential clients in central locations and university campuses. Using coworking as a tool to attract customers, stakeholders like these put in check those spaces that get their income at the bottom of the market.

One of Santander's Café

Open Power Space (Spain)

I worked for Endesa in the team building and implementation of their coworking space in their HQ in Madrid. The space was barely 400m2 and had a very corporate approach but in early 2016 it was my first contact with how the corporate world saw coworking and how they adapt it to their needs and philosophy.

I was surprised: that the space was only open to certain departments and certain external collaborators, the level of security the building had and the look and feel. The space had a mini-agora with hot desk positions, an open area, and a series of concentration work areas, informal meeting spaces, different meeting rooms…

What was also interesting to me was that at that early stage, 2016, a huge company like Endesa was interested in the value that a variant of coworking can add to their employees.

I hope this tour of my top 12 innovative coworking spaces has inspired you to explore new places to work or even just to inject some innovation into your everyday routine. As the landscape of work continues to evolve, I am sure the innovation in coworking spaces themselves will also evolve. Here's to finding the perfect space that not only meets your professional needs but also enriches your work life with creativity and connections. Happy coworking!

Near the HQ in Madrid