The 5 Best Laureles Coworking Spaces

TLDR? The best coworking spot in Laureles is the Factory Lofts coworking space.

My Airbnb in Medellín severely misled me. Apparently “dedicated workspace” means a bar not even two feet long with a stool to sit on.

I had to find a place to work.

Lucky for me, there’s a vibrant Medellín coworking culture with a number of establishments in Laureles catering to ex-pats and the wave of digital nomads that’s descended upon the city.

So, if you’re looking for a coworking space in Laureles, this is your guide. Keep reading for the five best coworking spots in the neighborhood.

What I Look for in a Coworking Spot

Before we start talking about the best coworking spots, let’s start by talking about what I look for. I usually have a few key things on my radar in terms of what makes up a good coworking spot.

Internet

Fast and reliable internet is a must-have for a coworking. Otherwise, why would you pay for it when you can just stay home or go to the cafe down the street? 

Even as a writer who mostly just uses WordPress and email, a bad internet connection or a low wifi signal prevents me from getting into a rhythm and decreases my productivity.

If you’re using more intensive applications, it’s made or break situation.

Atmosphere and Surroundings

The coworking’s surroundings are one of the biggest factors that determine whether I enjoy my time there or not.

This is partly the atmosphere inside, things like a comfortable lounge and eating area, and a non-disruptive work environment, but it’s also the coworking’s location.

I like working close to other amenities like cafes and restaurants so that I can slip out for coffee or lunch if I want. Being near nightlife and transportation is helpful as well.

Choices

Versatility is very important to me in a coworking. This means the ability to reserve different lengths of time (day, week, month) and different types of spaces (single desk, full office, conference room).

Equipment

I also like coworking spaces that have a wide availability of equipment, whether that comes at an extra cost or not. Important equipment includes:

• Extra monitors or screens
• Peripherals like mice and keyboards
• Printers, scanners, and fax machines
• Cables (HDMI, VGA, Ethernet, etc.)
• Sound-proof call rooms
• Dry-erase boards and markers
• Dishes and silverware in the kitchen

Free Stuff

Who doesn’t like free stuff? Almost all coworking spaces offer free coffee, but some also have snacks, energy drinks, etc. It’s not the most important thing on my list, but it is a nice perk.

The Best Coworking Places in Medellin

I want to quickly mention an important aspect of coworking in Medellín. There seems to be a divide between coworking spaces frequented by ex-pats and those used primarily by natives. These two groups have different needs, so the coworking places cater to each. 

For example, ex-pats are usually digital nomads who only need a few weeks or months in the coworking space and primarily want a single desk and an environment where they can socialize with other ex-pats and access cafes and restaurants.

Meanwhile, natives are more often small startups that need professional office space free from interruption.  

The following are my favorite coworking spaces in Laureles. Since I’m an ex-pat myself, these mostly fall into that camp.

Factory Lofts Coworking

My favorite thing about Factory Lofts Coworking space is its location right at the end of La 70 in the Factory Lofts building.

You can go to the Smash Cafe for lunch and up to the rooftop terrace if you need to clear your head, not to mention hit the strip after a hard day’s work. It’s extra convenient if you’re actually staying in the Lofts.

The Factory Lofts Coworking space is new, so they’re still building it up, increasing features, and hopefully getting more desks.

For now, though, you get fast internet and an environment where you can meet a lot of other ex-pats all for one of the best prices in Medellín.

Address: Cra 69#circular 1 -14, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

Contact: Click here for more info or to book your spot.

Website: https://factorymedellin.com/coworking/

Semilla Cafe Coworking

Located right next to Primer Parque de Laureles and a lot of bars and restaurants popular with ex-pats, Semilla Coworking sits in the perfect location for digital nomads.

It’s smaller than some other coworking places, but not crowded at all.

Besides the friendly staff and social mood, my favorite feature is the easy access to the Semilla Cafe downstairs. In fact, if you order something, they’ll bring it up to you to your desk.

Address: Cl. 39c ##73-7, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

Kamado Coworking

Besides being located across the street from Cafe Zeppelin, one of my favorites in Laureles, what I love about Kamado Coworking is the homey atmosphere. In fact, I’m pretty sure it used to be a house. As a result, it has a full kitchen, so feel free to bring your lunch.

The staff is also flexible and accommodating, and you have a lot of options for seating from open desks to more enclosed offices. There’s a balcony as well. When I went, the internet was good, but the upload speed specifically was strangely low at just 8.45 Mbps.

Address: Tv. 39 ##76 35, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

IVY Coworking 24/7 and Wellness

What do you want to do after a long day of work? Get a drink at a popular cocktail bar? IVY is in central Laureles near Primer Parque, so that’s no problem.

Or would you prefer to get a massage? Well, IVY is first and foremost a wellness center offering chiropractic treatments, physical therapy, and massages.

I shut my laptop and had one of my best massages in Medellín waiting for me just one room over.

Address: Cq. 4 #73-64, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

Circular Coworking Laureles

Of all the coworking spaces on my list, Circular, formerly La Casa Redonda, is the one that caters most to native clientele.

It’s several floors up in an office building in south Laureles and bustling with individual coworkers and startup teams networking and making connections. It’s a great place if you want to get plugged into Medellín.

Circular is big, too, with two floors, balconies with beautiful views of the city and a lot of different office choices. There’s also a full kitchen with a lounge area where you can hang out with the new connections you make.

Address: Circular 72#39a-22, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
Website: CircularCoworking.com

Get Some Work Done in Laureles

If you’re looking for a good place to work in Laureles, you’ve got some great options. However, nothing really beats setting up shop in Factory Lofts!

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