Last week we introduced you guys to a great little series we are running on travelettes this month which is all about the new style of business in your city. This comes as part of a campaign currently run by Huawei, one of our favorite providers of electronics (maybe some of you remember we’ve reported on their latest releases here and here in the past). The campaign coincides with the launch of the Huawei Matebook, an amazing 2 in 1 tool, which can turn a tablet into a laptop in the blink of an eye.
In times of 5-hour work days and digital nomadism, evolving electronics are so much more than nice-to-have gadgets; they impact the quality of our work and life greatly, as does the environment we work in. In this new day and age it’s no longer the exception that travelers have to get work done during travel, it simply is a part of life for many of us. This is why we decided to research all the best places to work digitally in Berlin, home of the Travelettes Headquarters and every freelancer’s favorite city. Here are our Top 10…
1. St Oberholz
When it comes to co-working cafes in Berlin, this one is the daddy. Literally. Often described as the “birthplace of start-ups” in the German capital, in its eleven-year history St Oberholz is rumored to have been the cradle of mega-successful projects like Soundcloud and Zalando, amongst others. And it’s not hard to see why; with plenty of tables, power outlets, space, natural light and networking opportunities, St Oberholz provides the ideal working environment for the techies, foreign students, German locals and skinny-jeaned hipsters that flock here each day. The aesthetic is very much what you’d expect – stripped down, bare and elegant, with high ceilings, beautiful wooden floors and chic hanging bulbs, and the opening hours are long. St Oberholz is serious about coffee, considering it to be one of the most important facilitators of productive work, and they source theirs from distinguished local roastery Bonanza coffee. Tasty food is also served – cakes, croissants, sandwiches and bagels, with vegan and veggie-friendly options – and if you get bored of working, the cafe also doubles as a bar which serves up a mean cocktail.
Added to this, St Oberholz offer a range of pay-monthly packages for co-working spaces, team rooms and conference rooms, whole offices for long-term contracts, and even elegant work/play apartments on the top floor of the block designed for those visiting Berlin on business trips.
St Oberholz, Rosenthaler Str 72a, 10119 Berlin, Mitte (with two more locations at Helmholtzplatz and Zehdenicker Str)
Mon – Thu: 08.00 am – 00.00 am, Fri: 08.00 am – 03.00 am, Sat: 09.00 am – 03.00 am, Sun: 09.00 am – 00.00 am
2. Nothaft & Seidel
With a somewhat cosier aesthetic than St Oberholz, Nothaft Seidel isn’t just a great place to work – it’s also a really beautiful place to spend a few hours. The stripped plaster walls bear remnants of gorgeous antique floral fresco motifs, the furniture is a quirky mix of quaint vintage pieces, and as you enter there’s a colorful counter piled high with even more colorful homemade cakes – spinach, beetroot and lemon, amongst other delights – which are often vegan-friendly or gluten-free. Alongside a surfeit of mouthwatering baked goods, delicious savoury meals and snacks are served, along with fresh juices, smoothies, and a range of hot and cold beverages. They serve Bonanza coffee as well, and the skilled baristas will impress even the sniffiest flat white connoisseur. But don’t be fooled by the homely atmosphere – this place is great for getting some serious work done. The WiFi is free and reliable, the vibe is friendly and chilled, there are plenty of tables, some power outlets located at the back of the cafe, and nobody minds if you spend all day on your laptop or tablet. Visit on weekdays for a more peaceful ambience.
Nothaft & Seidel Cafe, Schönhauser Allee 43a 10435 Berlin, Prenzlauer Berg
Mon – Fri: 8.00 am – 8.00 pm, Sat: 9.00 am – 8.00 pm, Sun: 10.00 am – 8.00 pm
3. East & Eden
This hip, modern little joint is run by a Danish couple, and you can feel the Scandinavian influence from the minimalist, rustic interior decor right through to the traditional Danish pastries, salty high-end liquorice and selection of obscure teas. High ceilings, plain walls and achingly cool vintage furniture pieces all cement East & Eden’s status as a comfortable, stylish spot with few distractions, perfect for getting a bit of work done while you enjoy the food and ambience. The menu is solid, with simple but classic brunch and lunch dishes such as pastries, baguettes, sandwiches, salads and quiches done to perfection, and veggie (but not so much vegan) options are available. The coffee is once again provided by Bonanza, and the baristas who serve it are friendly and welcoming. Insider tip: try the cinnamon rolls.
East & Eden, Torstr 141, 10119 Berlin, Mitte
Mon – Fri: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm, Sat: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, Sun: closed
4. Oak&Ice
This artisanal ice cream parlour, created by genial Polish visionaries Kinga and Stanislaw, is the ultimate place to combine work and pleasure. Gorgeous, upcycled decor (including old wooden S-Bahn benches and repurposed window frames) concrete tables and street-inspired stencil art all create an atmosphere of understated yet cosy hipness – and fast Wifi, plentiful space, a relaxed vibe and great coffee (sourced from Kreuzberg roastery Five Elephant) all make this an excellent spot to whip out your laptop and meet some deadlines. For parents, there’s even a kids’ corner at the back equipped with books, toys and games – as if the delicious ice creams, sorbets, cakes, quiches and puddings won’t be enough to occupy them!
The ice cream, of course, is the real star of Oak & Ice. The milk and cream used to make it is sourced from a small grass-grazed Polish farm, and pasteurized at the lowest possible heat; the owners are committed to using only natural ingredients and eschew all chemical additives. Sorbets are made with 60% fruit content making them taste nearly as creamy as dairy varieties, and flavours change seasonally. As well as classics like chocolate and vanilla, more obscure varieties such as carrot, gorgonzola and acerola cherry can be found (depending on the season), and vegan, gluten- and even sugar-free options are all available.
Oak & Ice, Schönhauser Allee 52, 10437 Berlin, Prenzlauerberg
Mon-Fri 9:00-21:00, Sat-Sun 10:30-21:00
5. Agora Collective
Agora Collective, like St Oberholz, is another place that is specifically set up for co-working. An old factory block with a garden, high ceilings, wooden parquet flooring and huge windows that keep it flooded with light, the cafe only makes up the bottom floor of the building – the four floors above are all set up as co-working or conference/event spaces. Fast, reliable WiFi, a seemingly inexhaustible supply of desk space and seating, lots of power outlets and a tranquil, distraction-free atmosphere all make Agora a serious contender for the co-working crown. And all this attention to detail has paid off – Agora was recently described as one of the best co-working spaces in Europe by remote working website the Nomad Capitalist – no mean accolade. Monthly, weekly and daily workspace rental packages are available, and you can also hire a locker or mailbox if necessary.
The cafe itself comes highly recommended – the menu is ever-changing as guest chefs are invited to cook for three-month periods, and dishes are healthy and inventive, often with raw, vegan and vegetarian options. The coffee is decent, and the staff are warm and genuine.
Agora Collective, Mittelweg 50, 12053 Berlin, Neukölln
Cafe: Mon-Fri: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Sat & Sun: Special events
Co-working access: Mon-Fri: 9:00 – 6:00 pm (24/7 access for fixed desk members)
6. Unicorn
Another space designed with co-working in mind, Unicorn combines healthy, mainly plant-based snacks and meals with attractive, minimalist decor to create a space that’s ideal for getting the creative juices flowing. The front half of the establishment is a comfortably furnished cafe with a large wooden table ideal for laptop use, whilst the back area is a dedicated co-working space with 12 tables that are available to rent, plus one private conversation booth. Of course WiFi is free and fast, and they take their coffee seriously – there’s a rotating menu of coffees from highly reputable roasteries, including Five Elephant, and the friendly baristas know what they’re doing. Food is mainly vegan, with gluten-free and raw options available, so you can stock up on brain-friendly superfoods and get down to some serious business. Speaking of business, even the cafe’s moniker is a little nod to Berlin’s burgeoning entrepreneurial culture – in the tech world, a “unicorn” is a start-up company valued at over $1 billion.
Unicorn.Berlin, Brunnenstr. 173, 10115 Berlin, Mitte
Mon – Fri: 8:30 am – 7:00 pm, Sat & Sun: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
7. Michelberger Hotel
This ultra-hip boutique hotel is located on Friedrichshain’s trendy Warschauer Str, close to famous landmark the East Side Gallery, and the cafe/lobby/bar area is a great spot to while away a few hours eating, drinking and working. Great coffee, mood lighting, loads of comfortable sofa-style seating, shelves stacked with books, free WiFi and a chilled-out ambience all make this a perfect place to plug in your laptop. The cafe has recently been overhauled to emphasise a healthy menu full of nutritious food, and if you feel you’ve earned it, decent cocktails are available in the buzzing bar area.
Michelberger Hotel, Warschauer Str. 39-40, 10243 Berlin, Friedrichshain
8. Betahaus
Another perfectly formed co-working space, betahaus has become well-established in Berlin since its 2009 launch, and has even branched out into new locations in Hamburg, Barcelona and Sofia. As well as co-working tables, there are various meeting and conference rooms, workshops, events and even woodworking and hardware labs for hire. The downstairs area is a cafe – a light, bright, airy affair with lots of tables, quirky wooden and vintage decor and a mezzanine floor for extra space. There are lots of networking opportunities in a place like this, as visitors are encouraged to get involved with events, and there’s even a weekly “betabreakfast”, which for 7€ is open to anyone who wants to learn about a certain topic or business and connect with other like-minded people whilst they eat the most important meal of the day. Food and coffee is decent and reasonably priced, but get there early to get a good table near to an outlet, as it tends to get crowded in the afternoons and evenings.
betahaus, Prinzessinnenstraße 19-20, 10969 Berlin, Kreuzberg
Mon – Fri : 8:00 am – 10:00 pm, Sat: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm, Sun: closed
9. Westberlin
Located not far from iconic Berlin landmark Checkpoint Charlie, this is a great little place for getting a spot of work done or checking your emails in between visiting the city’s main tourist traps. Elegant, modern Scandinavian decor, lots of natural light and a fresh, cosmopolitan vibe make this modern little joint a reliable choice for a productive coffee break. Boasting both coffee beans and the famous cheesecake supplied by Kreuzberg cafe/roastery Five Elephant, westberlin also serves cold-brew coffee and has plenty of delicious cakes, pastries, sandwiches and healthy lunches to choose from, with vegan options available. The only downside is a shortage of power outlets, so if you plan to work for a long time, make sure your laptop is fully charged before you arrive!
westberlin, Friedrichstraße 215, 10969 Berlin, Mitte
Mon – Fri: 8:30 am – 7:00 pm, Sat & Sun: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
10. EasyBusy
As a parent, this one got me particularly excited. EasyBusy is a new concept that incorporates childcare into co-working, to great effect. Whilst most co-working spaces tend to be fairly anonymous spaces aimed at younger, generally unattached start-up co-workers, EasyBusy is a cosy and welcoming space that aims not only to provide reliable childcare for working parents but also to foster a sense of community amongst its clients. Equipped with a soundproofed, toy-filled children’s room and a competent babysitter, EasyBusy also has the usual essentials for a great coworking space – lots of natural light, fast WiFi, plenty of seating and deskspace, lockers, printing facilities, power outlets, a communal area for meetings and a small kitchen. And if you aren’t a parent but like the idea of a cosy, friendly space to work in, don’t worry – the working area is of course kept child-free, and EasyBusy is by no means exclusively meant for parents.
EasyBusy, Bernauer Straße 49, 13355 Berlin, Mitte
Mon-Fri: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm, Sat & Sun: Closed
What about YOUR city? Let us know in the comments where in your town we can take our Huawei Matebook on future outings for a better work/coffee balance.
*This post was brought to you by Huawei
