Perched on the Pacific coast of California, San Diego is best known for its beaches, parks and warm climate. The city also has a large number of coworking spaces for its growing community of freelancers and start-ups seeking a communal working environment. Here are 10 of the best.
(Photo: Ugather Cowork.)
Ugather
Located in the heart of San Diego’s famous Hillcrest neighbourhood, just a block away from great shopping and restaurants, and offering easy freeway access, Ugather is one of the city’s most renowned coworking spaces. The venue hosts a vibrant community of young, fun-loving professionals with diverse backgrounds, including entrepreneurs, attorneys, accountants, and engineers. They have a range a membership options, starting at $199 per month for part-time hotdesking access (limited to 10 days per month) Day passes are also available, along with amenities such as meeting rooms. Members can also enjoy complimentary refreshments and exclusive events.
1223 Cleveland Avenue www.ugathercowork.com
Moniker Commons
Moniker Commons has blended community and commerce to create a gathering place for productivity. Their workspace in Liberty Station is a place designed to foster collaboration, inspire creativity and help you thrive. The inclusive space welcomes anyone needing a place to set up their laptops, meet their deadlines, or small businesses wanting to cultivate a culture of engagement and efficiency. They offer a variety of membership types: Common Desks ($315/month), Private Desks ($525/month), and Private Offices (starting at $1,500/month). There’s also a specially curated amenity package that allows family and friends to take advantage of your membership. What’s more, since they’re located in Liberty Station, they include ways to get outside by way of their LINUS community bikes and TOWER paddle boards .
2869 Historic Decatur Road www.monikercommons.com
(Photo: Moniker Commons)
Novel
Benefiting from a prominent location in San Diego’s Downtown Financial District and adjacent to the city’s historic Gaslamp Quarter, this coworking space is housed in a building dating back to the early 20th-century. Today it has been renovated to offer the latest cutting edge amenities to optimise coworking, including a rooftop deck and direct fibre internet. Here you will find six floors of open work spaces, along with state-of-the-art private offices, office suites that can accommodate teams of up to 50 people, bike storage, and plenty more. Membership prices start at $219 per month for hot-desking.
1111 Sixth Avenue www.novelcoworking.com
(Photo: Novel Coworking)
Maketory
Maketory is a mixed use facility, home to a brand new coworking space as well as a micro-manufacturing and fabrication facility. The venue is popular with small businesses and startups because of its unique combination of coworking office space and industrial machinery. Maketory pairs traditional coworking with prototyping and shipping and receiving capabilities, allowing small businesses to bring their entire operation under one roof at an affordable rate. The coworking area features a mix of shared and dedicated desks, private offices and conference rooms, with flexible options available. Hot-desking rates start at $199 per month on a short-term contract, allowing you to choose any seat in the common area, as well as gaining access to bookable conference rooms and free parking.
9431 Dowdy Dr. Ste. 2 San Diego www.maketory.com
(Photo: Maketory)
Hera Hub
A female-focused co-working space founded in 2011, Hera Hub is a unique concept centered around a sense of community. With three locations across San Diego and several more beyond, they bill themselves as more than simply a co-working space – they are also a business accelerator, giving entrepreneurs and remote workers the chance to engage and collaborate with like-minded folk. Memberships are month-to-month so you’re never locked down, and range from $89 per month to $389 per month for unlimited access – with several levels in between. Super-fast internet, printing/scanning, video conferencing, coffee/tea and snacks are all included and the space also puts on regular events for members such as Writers’ Lounges, Business Book Clubs and educational workshops. Opening hours are Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm.
Three venues in San Diego www.herahub.com
(Photo: Hera Hub)
Union
Founded in San Diego in 2013, Union now has two coworking spaces in the city as well as four others elsewhere in California. Their two San Diego venues have been designed to encourage productive working and foster interaction between private businesses, start-ups, entrepreneurs, students, and non-profits. The spaces are accessible 24/7 and there are three levels of membership based on privacy needs and size, starting at $400 per month for flexi-desk access, which includes use of all amenities as well as 4 free hours of conference room time a month. All Members receive plug and play space, secure high-speed internet access, storage space, access to social and business gatherings, kitchen use, and complimentary beverages.
Two venues in San Diego www.unioncowork.com
(Photo: Union Cowork)
Ivy Street
Situated in the city’s charming South Park district, Ivy Street offers a range of month-to-month membership packages that mean you don’t need to get tied into a lengthy contract. Part-time membership rates start at $350 per month for limited access and full-time at $550 per month for unlimited 24/7 use of the space. All members can also make use of the on-site conference room and there are several other amenities including super-fast Wi-Fi, phone booths, secure lockers, a well-equipped kitchen, a Nespresso machine, and a delightful outdoor patio with worktables and comfy chairs. The space also hosts regular meet-ups, seminar and other community-focused events.
2986 Ivy Street www.ivystreet.co
(Photo: Ivy Street)
NEST
Offering more than 20 reserved and non-reserved hot-desks accessible on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, NEST is home to tech start-ups, entrepreneurs, and non-profits seeking a supportive yet independent workspace. Membership plans are flexible and pricing is all inclusive, ensuring no surprises at the end of the month. Rates start at $140 for 10 days’ access to a floating desk per month, with unlimited 24/7 access costing $250 per month. All members gain access to amenities including a phone booth (in the quirky style of a traditional British red booth), printer and 3D printer equipment, a conference room, courtyard area, showers and locker rooms. There’s also a dedicated on-site coffee shop and frequent events.
1855 1st Avenue www.nestcowork.io
(Photo: NEST)
Downtown Works
With one venue in the heart of San Diego’s downtown district and another a short drive up the coast in Carlsbad, Downtown Works was created to bring people together to foster growth and ideas while increasing the work/life balance. As well providing spacious and modern indoor and rooftop work areas, their flagship San Diego space also offers expert-led workshops, diverse networking events, a fully-stocked kitchen, and productivity-boosting perks including coffee and afternoon craft beer. Flexible memberships work around you and your budget, ranging from a basic one day a month packages for just $55 per month, through to unlimited open desk use for $295 per month. Day passes are also available for $40 per day..
550 West B Street 4th Floor www.downtownworks.com
(Photo: Downtown Works)
VentureBeach
An entrepreneurial coworking beach community, VentureBeach is home to a diverse mix of start-ups, freelancers, remote workers and small business owners. There are shared coworking worktables, use of meeting rooms, wireless internet access and discounted tickets to events/workshops. Pricing starts at $250 per month for open workspace access, with no requirement to tie yourself in for more than a month at a time. There are also pre-paid day passes for $20 per day. The space is open from 9am-6.30pm every day of the week, with special office hours available for an additional fee. Facilities include a printer/scanner, lockers, a kitchenette, meeting and phone rooms, and a kitchenette with a fridge freezer and microwave. Free parking is available nearby.
1001 Garnet Avenue www.venturebeachcowork.com
(Photo: VentureBeach)