Perched on an island in the Saint Lawrence River in Central Canada, Montréal has a notable giveaway in the spelling of its name – the accent over the ‘e’ that reveals the city’s French heritage that endures to this day, most notably in its commonly-spoken language, architecture and cuisine.
A view of the Montreal cityscape (Photo: nnis Sylvester Hurd via Flickr / CC0 1.0)
Today Montreal is a busy metropolis with a thriving commercial and cultural scene. Much like so many cities around the world, in recent years it has also seen a proliferation of co-working spaces offering communal and private desk spaces that are popular with freelancers and small start-ups keen to work among like-minded folk. Here are 12 of the best.
2727 Coworking
Perched on the banks of the Lachine Canal, in the heart of the historic Montreal neighbourhood of Griffintown, 2727 Coworking is a modern, collaborative workspace tailored for small groups and individuals keen to share in innovation, synergy and technology. Open 24/7, the space is home to a range of versatile, cutting-edge workspace options that are available on a monthly rental or membership basis, depending on your needs. As part of your monthly rent you can enjoy a number of amenities and technology services. Prices start at $399 per month for a shared office space for 1-5 people, including ultra-fast WiFi and access to a lounge area, communication bar and dining room. Other on-site facilities include a conference room and printer/photocopying equipment.
109-2727 Saint-Patrick Street www.2727coworking.com
(Photo: 2727 Coworking)
VIVIC
Home to a community of entrepreneurs, free-lancers and professionals, VIVIC coworking is a modern office with rustic bones. Located in a historic industrial building across from the Lachine Canal and a stone’s throw away from Atwater Market, the space features towering ceilings, exposed brick walls and large windows. Month-to-month memberships start at $375 per month for a dedicated desk and private offices at $750 per month. Hot desks are also available at $25 per day, $100 per week and conference room rentals at $50 per hour. The venue is accessible 24/7 for flexible working hours. Members enjoy the finest complimentary coffee and tea, beer, filtered water, sparkling water maker, hot water dispenser, a fully equipped kitchen, two lounge areas, electric scooters, furnished outdoor patio, BBQ, onsite restaurant/cafe, monthly member events, wine tastings and 5a7s.
3700 Saint-Patrick Street. Suite #216 www.govivic.com
(Photo: VIVIC)
Coworking Alphard
Spread across a large open space of 4,000 square metres in the heart of the Mile End district, Coworking Alphard is a coworking venue for freelancers, entrepreneurs start-ups and small companies. Able to accommodate up to 30 people, the space offers turn-key solutions, with rates starting at $299 per month for a fixed office in the open air, including 24/7 access, a secure cabinet and use of conference/meeting rooms. There’s also high-speed internet, printing facilities, a coffee machine and a water fountain for members.
5570 Casgrain Ave #201 www.coworkingalphard.com
(Photo: Alphard)
Nuage B
Located in a trendy Montreal neighborhood, Nuage B is comprised of fragmented units and offices scattered throughout a trendy complex. Unbranded and anonymous, their offices and conference rooms allow you to project a professional image while enjoying the benefits and services of large business center. The space offers entrepreneurs, professionals, and SMBs affordable solutions such as conference room and fully equipped office rentals that provide a comfortable work environment, as well as business domiciliation, administrative assistance, and receptionist services to help your business project a coherent and professional image while promoting its growth. There are Gold, Platinum and Silver memberships, with rates starting at $195 per month for the Silver package, which includes full time access to a small dedicated work desk in a fully furnished open office space.
4020 St-Ambroise Suite 495 www.nuage-b.com
(Photo: Nuage B)
Main House
Main House is a coworking and private office space in Plateau Mont-Royal gathering small businesses, startups and professionals with an innovative mindset. It is their stated mission to create a fertile environment so that creativity can flourish, connections can rise, and minds can expand. Located on Saint-Laurent Boulevard between Prince-Arthur and Sherbrooke on the Plateau Mont-Royal, their stylish coworking office space is accessible 24/7 and features a selection of private offices, floating desks, a conference room, private phone booths and much more. Monthly membership for ‘floaters’ is priced at $175 per month and private offices vary between $1,700 to $3,800 per month depending on the size. They can also create personal packages for anyone who wants mid- to long-term leases.
3485 St Laurent Boulevard #300www.mainhousecowork.com
(Photo: Main House)
Centrale Culinaire
The first co-working kitchen in Montreal, Centrale Culinaire is designed for small scale self-employed chefs and catering companies needing the use of a professional-standard food production facility to help kick off their business. Located in an industrial building in the restaurant-filled Mile End district, the space is also used by artists and other entrepreneurs. Production hours are reserved for the daytime and there are workshops in the evenings, plus and pop ups and private parties on weekends. Pricing starts at $120 per day for use of the production kitchen and rises depending on how many hours you need in the kitchen and whether or not you want to be tied into a contract.
311-5333 Casgrain Avenue www.centraleculinaire.ca
(Photo: Centrale Culinaire)
Montréal CoWork
Catering to start-ups, established and budding entrepreneurs, and self-employed professionals, Montréal CoWork pride themselves on allowing members to focus on their priority: work. Located in the heart of the vibrant Plateau-Mont-Royal neighbourhood, the space offers a range of membership packages, starting at $265 per month for unlimited access to the open work areas. There are also day passes for $45 per day, with access between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. The venue hosts regular networking events and conferences, and provides a dedicated support service, including helping overseas members find their feet by sourcing accommodation and other requirements. On-site amenities include a meeting room, lockers, parking lot, showers, bike storage, kitchen, indoor relaxation area, and rooftop terrace.
4388 R. Saint-Denis #200 www.montrealcowork.com
(Photo: Montréal CoWork)
ECTO
Home to more than 2000 entrepreneurs and self-employed workers spanning a wide number of professions and disciplines, ECTO is designed to be a more collaborative and professional space than a café, but just as friendly. The venue offers a variety of flexible packages in the heart of the Plateau-Mont-Royal district, with hot desking starting at $330 per month. There are also ‘à la carte’ options that allow members and non-members to access the space with whatever frequency they wish, starting at $5 per hour. Notable on-site facilities include a conference room, creative space with armchairs and sofas, printing equipment and a kitchen.
936 Mont-Royal Avenue East www.ecto.coop/
(Photo: ECTO)
IDEAL
Spread across two separate working spaces in a renovated industrial loft-style building, IDEAL was set up to facilitate collaboration, creativity, meetings with clients and the development of new projects. There are both hot desking options (starting at $195 per month) and closed private offices for 1-2 people , along with high-speed internet, a conference room, common areas, two telephone kiosks, printer/scanner, bathroom, full kitchen, lockers, shower, and a terrace. The venue also has the facilities for business meetings and events as well as offering training and promotional activities.
4035 Ambroise Street #216 www.idealcoworking.com
(Photo: IDEAL Coworking)
Anomaly
Anomaly is a collection of cozy, stylish office spaces in Montreal’s hip, laid back Mile-End district, giving members access to trendy restaurants and indie shops on their doorstep. A collaborative space for those working at the intersection of data and design, the venue provides members with 24/7 access to meeting rooms, private offices, and conference rooms. There are three dedicated office options available, with the smallest accommodating up to 4 people. As well as practical amenities including super-fast WiFi, members can avail themselves of perks such as a beverage bar. The venue also stages frequent events focused on subjects such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, data science, and data visualisation.
5555 de, Gaspe Avenue Suite 304 www.anomaly-mtl.com
(Photo: Anomaly)
Halte 24-7
With two co-working spaces in the city, Halte 24-7 have been serving Montreal’s entrepreneurs and business professionals for nearly 5 years. Hot-desking rates start at $199 per month, with the option to sit in dedicated work spaces, as well as common areas such as the lounge or rooftop. Members can also participate in a range of events focussed on improving specific professional skills or learning more on subjects relating to your business. Other member services are amenities include high-speed internet, showers, a kitchen, and coffee machines. But perhaps the venue’s most enticing feature is the on-site café which offers an extensive menu of food and drinks from morning till late afternoon each day.
Plateau Mont-Royal & South Shore www.halte24-7.com
(Photo: Halte 24-7)
Crew Collective & Café
The collective is a private, secure members-only workspace that offers flexible-term membership packages. Members enjoy access to a private WiFi network, café discounts, a common area, a zen room, a kitchen space, printing, concierge services, meeting rooms, partnership perks, and more. Pricing for ‘Air Desk’ hot desking starts at $250 per month for a nocommitment 24/7 hour package, or $175 per month for a 1-year contract. Day passes are available for $5 per hour or $20 per day. An on-site café is open 7 days a week and has open WiFi, plugs under all tables, fresh baked goods, a full lunch menu, and great coffee.
360 Rue Saint-Jacques www.crewcollectivecafe.com
(Photo: Crew Collective & Café)