Co-working is a trend that’s here to stay. And because there’s such high demand, the number of spots we can call our office for the day (or month or year) keeps multiplying. These eight Bay Area work spaces are so gorgeous that freelancers and employees of small businesses and start-ups willingly hang out after hours instead of rushing home. Here’s our guide to some of the coolest co-working spaces around—pros and cons included.
8 Gorgeous Co-Working Spaces Around SF
Because free coffee and pets make us more productive
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Published Jan 20, 2017
Bespoke
Once you get past the fact that it’s on the top floor of the Westfield mall, you’ll find that it’s one of the best work spaces in the city. A little lunch-break shopping, anyone?
Pros: Free coffee; full kitchen; day passes ($35); dedicated rest area with blankets, pillows and napping nooks.
Cons: Pets are allowed only for those with dedicated desk or private office memberships.
845 Market St., #450; 415-964-4815 or bespokesf.com
COVO/facebook
Covo
The large industrial space is decked out with West Elm furniture, and the front area is a full-service café that is open to the public.
Pros: Skylights let in tons of natural light; cool art adorns the walls; nonmembers can pay by the hour ($3 an hour); a free trial day gets you shared desk space plus a complimentary coffee and a glass of wine or beer.
Cons: The member space is in the basement with no natural light; no free coffee here; it’s very close to Sixth Street seediness.
981 Mission St.; 415-886-6206 or hellocovo.com
Joe Fletcher
Canopy
Renowned industrial designer Yves Béhar is one of the founders, so you know the gorgeous space has serious cool cred. Plus, it’s one of the only co-working spaces that’s not downtown.
Pros: Full kitchen kitted out in Heath Ceramics tiles; complimentary coffee, Juicero juice press and SodaStream for sparkling water; Herman Miller ergonomic furniture; members are given guest passes.
Cons: This beauty doesn’t come cheap. Monthly memberships range from $650 to $5,500 (yikes).
2193 Fillmore St.; 415-604-3330 or canopy.space
SPACES
Spaces
This international co-working venture started in Amsterdam and offers flexible membership contracts that you can tailor to your needs—whether that’s a few desks for your small business or just a shared desk.
Pros: Business club members can work from any Spaces location worldwide; lockers are available to store valuables when you’re away from your desk; you have access to a full calendar of business events, speakers and networking lunches.
Cons: Right now the closest one is in Menlo Park, but San Francisco and San Jose locations will open this spring.
101 Jefferson Drive, Menlo Park; 844-278-9103 or spacesworks.com
Wework
This is the closest you’ll get to a co-working factory, but it’s relaxed hipster vibe is infectious.
Pros: Shared kitchens have coffee, tea and fruit-infused water; beer is on tap for daily happy hours; there are private phone booths and reserved meeting rooms; comfy lounge areas are equipped with Wi-Fi.
Cons: The nine Bay Area locations are geared more toward businesses (rather than freelancers) looking for affordable office space.
Various locations; wework.com
ECO-SYSTM
Eco-systm
This co-working hub caters to creative professionals—from writers to designers to artists—and even has a partnership with Mirus Gallery.
Pros: Bike parking; lots of seating configurations (couches, high-top tables, hanging chairs); weekly in-house massages; day passes available.
Cons: It shares a space with Temple Nightclub.
540 Howard St.; 415-312-3634 or eco-systm.com
Nextspace
Started in Santa Cruz, NextSpace now has two SF locations and one in Berkeley. It’s a fun atmosphere emphasizing networking and collaboration.
Pros: Dogs are allowed; day passes cost only $25.
Cons: Weekly happy hours start at 3:58 p.m., so plan on getting an early start if you want a full day of work.
Various locations; nextspace.us
Workshop CafÉ
Smack in the center of the Financial District, it’s the perfect location for business meetings and post-work shopping around Union Square.
Pros: Great food in the café; you can pay by the hour ($2 an hour); your first ten hours are free if you pay via the app.
Cons: The front is a coffee shop and café that's open to the public, so it can get pretty loud.
180 Montgomery St.; 415-322-1048 or workshopcafe.com
