From dedicated coworking spaces with plenty of amenities to laptop-friendly cafes and hotel lobbies, here’s where to get work done in this capital city.
The first coworking space in Paris, La Cantine, opened in 2008 and was focused on welcoming start-ups to the city. More than a decade later, Paris has become a notable European start-up city thanks, in part, to major government backing via grants, loans, and investments.
Coworking in the city has expanded beyond the start-up focus to welcome freelancers, remote workers, and small companies, digital or otherwise, seeking temporary office space. A recent European Coworking Hotspot Index from real estate services company Cushman & Wakefield ranked Paris second across European cities where coworking spaces were expected to continue growing.
While Paris is becoming a popular destination in the fast-paced start-up world, the city’s laid-back lifestyle and café culture haven’t been forgotten, with the French way of life making itself known within many coworking spaces. Many operate during business hours only, meaning no weekend work or late nights, and some even go as far as enforcing long laptop-free lunches.
There are plenty of choices when it comes to coworking in Paris, with spaces spread across all arrondissements for any type of office you need, be it large tables for collaborative colleagues, private nooks for phone calls, or soft sofas and open-air terraces. And memberships are as diverse as the spaces available. Some are free; simply buy a drink as you would in a regular café. Others can be paid for by the hour, by the day, or even by weekly, monthly, and yearly memberships, with many offering private offices for hire or dedicated desks.
So, whether you’re a local business seeking a meeting room, a freelancer looking to get out of the house, or a business traveler in town for a few days, here’s where to go when looking for coworking spaces in Paris.
Coworking in central Paris
Home to big sights like the Louvre, Notre Dame, and the artsy Marais neighborhood, coworking in Paris’ 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th arrondissements means you’re in the center of the action. Take a lunch break to stroll along the Seine or visit a museum for inspiration and impress clients with easily accessible meeting rooms.
Cosy Corner
Cosy Corner has plenty of places to get work done, from desks in the cafe, sofas in the library, or bar stools overlooking the Square de la Tour Saint-Jacques. With fiber-optic Wi-Fi and plug points for every workspace, you can get through your to-do list uninterrupted at this 4th arrondissement. Take advantage of the on-site concierge to help with reservations and enjoy the free buffet selection of fruit, cake, and hot drinks.
The Hoxton Paris
The open-to-all lobby at The Hoxton hotel has been drawing remote workers for years. Take a seat in the glass-ceiling courtyard with plenty of natural light or book a meeting room for full or half days for up to 25 people. Set in the 2nd arrondissement, you’ll be in the center of the city surrounded by museums, restaurants, and theaters for post-work activities.
Le Loft 50 Partners
Doubling as a start-up incubator, Le Loft is also open to anyone wanting a dedicated yet flexible workspace. Inside the 1st arrondissement-based location expect the usual amenities of coffee, snacks, and rentable meeting rooms along with networking events and talks, which are held in the two-story space.
Coworking in north Paris
Paris’ bohemian north, the 9th, 10th, 18th, and 19th arrondissements, have plenty of work-friendly spaces filled with artists, freelancers, and small business owners. Soak in the creative energy of these trendy neighborhoods and make the most of the surrounding parks and canals after office hours. The large nearby stations of Gare du Nord and Gare de L’Est mean these coworking spaces are great for travelers.
Hubsy Café & Coworking
If you plan on spending half days in the office (lucky you) or perhaps only need an office space for the occasional meeting, Hubsy is one of a growing number of coworking spaces in Paris offering a pay-by-the-hour pricing model. For more serious commitments, there are also daily, weekly, and monthly passes available, which give you access to all Hubsy locations. There are three Hubsy spaces across the city at Republique, Arts et Metiers, and St Lazare.
Le Pavillon des Canaux
Found high in the 19th arrondissement on the edge of the Bassin de la Villette canal, Le Pavillon des Canaux is a quirky coworking cafe sure to inspire out-of-the-box thinking. Colorful mismatched décor adorns each room, where guests are encouraged to get comfy at a table, sofa, or on the outside terrace.
Calling itself a “coffice”, the space blends work and play, with strict rules taking the work-life balance seriously. Long lunches and evenings off are enforced, with laptops not allowed between 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. or any time after 7 p.m. Laptops are also banned on weekends, offering the chance to network with other workers in the space, grab dinner, drinks, or attend one of the events housed on-site, such as yoga, cooking lessons, or panel discussions.
Café Lomi
Lomi is a firm favorite among locals for its specialty coffee, which can be found across the city. Out in the 18th arrondissement, the cafe is away from the chaos of more central cafes and offers coworking-friendly amenities like communal tables, strong Wi-Fi, and plenty of plug points.
There’s a shabby-chic warehouse feel, a high-quality supply of caffeine and a selection of quiches, salads, scones, and pastries for lunch. After work, coffee lovers can take roasting and barista lessons or buy a bag of Lomi’s coffee beans to take home. Be aware, the space is shared with people who come to the cafe simply to relax. Don’t get too jealous.
Coworking in south Paris
Paris’ left bank is a historically artistic part of the city with creatives such as Hemingway and Picasso having once worked in these haunts. It’s also famed for the Sorbonne University, attracting top students and academics. Now, the 5th, 6th, 13thand 14th arrondissements are all home to hotel lobbies, cafés, and coworking spaces perfect for keeping that tradition of productivity alive.
BOB Hotel
Short for Business on Board, BOB Hotel features several workspaces for guests and visitors alike, from traditional seating in the lobby to sofas in the lounge and armchairs on the patio. There is also a 10-person meeting room you can reserve. Decorated by interior designers Desjeux Delaye, each room has a different feel; some rooms have natural light, other rooms offer darker places to settle into work, but all come with pops of color, plants, and standout furniture. The hotel only serves breakfast but it’s based in the Montparnasse neighborhood, which means you’re surrounded by shops, cafes, and restaurants where you can refuel.
Anticafé
One of the first to pioneer the pay-by-the-hour model of coworking in the city, Anticafé has five locations across the capital, from outposts in the 1st, 3rd, and 10th and two spaces in the 13th arrondissement.
Pay by the houror purchase a day or month pass and enjoy unlimited drinks and snacks while you’re there. There’s a creative and collaborative atmosphere to the spaces with plenty of bright décors, plants, events, a terrace, and even games for when you need a break. Keep in mind if you’re working in one of the two 13th spaces, you need to keep things strictly business hours only as the venues close at 6 p.m. and don’t open on weekends.
Le Gymnase
Le Gymnase’s desks are what you’d expect from a traditional office, ideal for getting work done without the gimmicks. But, when you’re ready to leave your desk, there are professional-looking meeting rooms, laid-back collaborative spaces, and a leafy rooftop terrace to explore. As the name suggests, there’s also an on-site gym with table football and a punching bag should you need to blow off steam. There are two locations to choose from, one on the 5th and one on the 11th.
Coworking in east Paris
The 11th, 12th, and 20th arrondissements of Paris have plenty to offer from their east-side location. There’s the 995-hectare Bois de Vincennes for a pre-work run, chic and shabby bars in the Republique and Oberkampf areas for post-work drinks, and Operá Bastille, for entertaining clients.
Station W
Station W is one of the most flexible coworking spaces in Paris, with a range of memberships including day passes, two or six-day-a-month packs, and monthly and annual memberships.
You can work from any of the eight locations across the city, which is ideal for those who are frequently across town for meetings or who simply enjoy switching things up. On and off zones across the coworking spaces mean you can choose between peace and quiet in an almost silent workspace or work from an area where you can talk with your desk neighbors and enjoy the energy of creative chatter. Although Station W is only open during traditional business hours, there are frequent happy hours and events after 6 p.m. Memberships include access to NEONESS gyms.
La Cordée
Night owls rejoice: La Cordée is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You access the coworking space via a badge and get charged for the number of hours you spend on-site. There’s a spacious coworking area, kitchen, laid-back meeting rooms, and even a nap room should you need it. Currently, there’s no option to rent a dedicated desk or private office, so it’s best suited for those who are happy hot-desking and mingling with others. Found in the 12th, you’ll be close to Place de la Bastille and Gare du Lyon.
Wojo
Workspiality is a brand-new concept introduced by Wojo’s collaboration with Accor Hotels that unites the work world with welcoming atmospheres and values. Rather than a place to work, Wojo is a place where people connect, collaborate, and grow. It has a unique model with three types of office spaces available for members: Wojo Spots, Wojo Corners, and Wojo Sites.
Wojo Spots are chosen Accor lobbies and other partner cafes that offer a place to set up office wherever you find yourself in the city. Wojo Corners are designated enclosed spaces offering more privacy than an open lobby or cafe with a quiet environment to get things done. These can be found in dedicated rooms in Accor Hotels but will soon be expanded into rooms off of train stations and shopping centers across the capital. Wojo Sites are stand-alone coworking spaces which have everything you’d expect from an office: collaborative spaces, private desks, and meeting rooms.
Coworking in west Paris
Paris’ western neighborhoods start with the tourist-heavy 7th and 8th, home to the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, and stretch out into the more residential 15th, 16th, and 17th. World-class museums, glitzy designer boutiques, and convenient transport links make the west a great place to set up office.
La Galerie Café
If you need peace and quiet to get work done, Galerie Café in the 17th arrondissement is a music-free workspace which encourages quiet coworking. Along with the usual hot desks and meeting rooms, you can also book larger rooms for talks or events. Free coffee and snacks are available, and the space has floor-to-ceiling windows for plenty of natural light. Opt for hourly or day passes if you just need an occasional drop-in or weekly or monthly memberships if it’s your new go-to office. Weekend workers should take note, however, that the space is closed on Sundays and operates shorter hours on Saturdays.
L’Archipel Café
One of the more unique coworking cafés in Paris, L’Archipel is a 19th-century convent chapel which has been converted into a spacious workspace complete with vaulted ceilings, archways, and alcoves. There’s an on-site cafe, with visiting food trucks at lunchtime. There are even hammocks available should you need a power nap to recharge. Found in the 8th arrondissement, working here means there are plenty of options for post-work drinks, shopping, or sampling the Parisian food scene.
WeWork
WeWork is a coworking giant with locations across the world. Paris is no exception, with 15 outposts spread across the capital. Expect bright and airy interiors, chic and modern decor, and options for hot-desking, a permanent desk, or a private office for teams. Take advantage of the flexible membership and set down your laptop in whichever WeWork you find yourself closest to each day.
Though Paris is large, you can book a reliable Blacklane car service to conveniently get between meetings, coworking spaces, and after-work activities.
