Need a place to work in Manila? Try out these coworking spaces:
There is no shortage of co-working spaces in the Philippines, mostly condensed in its capital. With the growing startup community, as well as the increasing popularity of entrepreneurship and freelancing, more and more spaces are popping up to cater to its co-working needs.
If you’re an entrepreneur looking for a workspace, or a startup needing a conference room, or even a freelancer who found yourself in Manila, here are a few you may want to check out:
1. A Clean and Well-Lighted Place for Work
Found at the heart of the Ortigas business center, A Clean and Well-Lighted Place for Work (we just call it A Clean Place) offers exactly that; a space for you to get your work done. They welcome not only startups and entrepreneurs, but anyone who need to buckle down and get productive. They also hold events and workshops and offers discounts to .PH domain names and other services.
While fans of Ernest Hemingway may wonder why it’s named after a short story about the need for a space to escape the emptiness of life, let’s just focus on the “need for space to escape” part because that is what you will get once you enter a Clean Space – after a welcoming “I hope you get things done today” from the front desk, you get to enjoy the quiet common area, fast internet, good coffee, and a conference room fitted with all the bells and whistles needed to be able to connect with anyone, anywhere.
A Clean and Well-Lighted Place for Work is at 27/F Jollibee Plaza, F. Ortigas Jr.road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City
2. ASPACE
ASPACE is a co-working space found right in the middle of the Makati Business District. Spread over three floors, ASPACE offers private workspaces, meeting rooms, event venues, and a large co-working area. They also have an art gallery that can be rented out for events and other activities, as well as a commercial kitchen that be rented for private dining, cooking workshops, and other creative activities that require the use of a kitchen.
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They’re found just across the street from a major mall with open green spaces so you could easily step out to clear your head whenever you need to. Plus, said mall offers a wide range of cafes and restaurants so you won’t go hungry or caffeine-free.
ASPACE is at 110 Legazpi street, Makati City.
3. Bullish
Tall glass windows and wooden furniture give Bullish a cafe feel. Tucked in a quiet street in Quezon City, Bullish is a small coworking space that welcomes startups and freelancers. But what it may lack in size, it makes up for in form and function. Their conference room is equipped with tools – both electronic and not – that can be utilised for onsite and online meetings, and they offer concierge service such as safekeeping, printing, and even secretarial duties.
Bullish does not limit itself to startups and freelancers; their community also includes traditional SMEs with lean organisations, as well as the occasional tech professional needing a quiet space.
Bullish is at 2/F F’7 Rallos, 49 Scout Rallos St. Tomas Morato, Quezon City.
4. PenBrothers
Penbrothers started the “more than a coworking space” concept of providing solutions for startups in the country. They are open to both local startups in various stages, as well as international startups and companies looking to grow their team or expand into the Philippines.
With their main goal of helping startups, Penbrothers have focussed on 4 core services: outsourcing talent solutions, human resources management, office space, and event spaces.
PenBrothers is at 6/F OPL Building, 100 C. Palanca street, Legazpi Village, Makati City, Philippines
5. QBO Innovation Hub
QBO Innovation Hub is the result of a collaboration between the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), J.P. Morgan, and Ideaspace. Pronounced as ku-bo (Filipino term for hut), the space is the first private-public partnership developed to support startups in the country. Situated at the Makati business district, QBO offers everything an entrepreneur and growing startup needs – ample space and access to the support of two government agencies.
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QBO holds regular events and workshops, including startup basics, networking events, and mentorship. They also offer regular legal and regulatory compliance consultations, and gives the startups the opportunity to join the J.P. Morgan Incubation Program.
QBO Innovation Hub is at DTI International Building, 375 Senator Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City
6. Stkd Zeppelin
It may seem bizarre for a retail brand catering to a sporty lifestyle to build a co-working space but STKD Zeppelin makes it work. An offshoot of local clothing and lifestyle brand Stoked Inc., Zeppelin is an eclectically-designed co-working space tucked in a quiet street just outside of Ortigas Center.
Even with surfboards lining a wall, various steam-punk sculptures standing (or hanging) around, and a Parisian Patisserie-themed pantry, Zeppelin is open and spacious. Designed for startups, entrepreneurs, and freelancers to productively work, Zeppelin offers fast-internet, unlimited coffee, and conference rooms when you need them.
STKD Zeppelin is at the second floor of 11 Brixton Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig City.
7. The Office Project
Found in a quiet street in the more residential area of the Makati business district, The Office Project is a beautifully designed co-working space that caters to very early stage startups, design companies, and freelancers. And with the steady caffeine supply from Narrative Coffee Company, working at The Office Project has quiet neighbourhood cafe vibes.
But don’t let the laid back vibe fool you. Startups working at The Office Project can also enjoy services like business permit registrations and renewals – important but tedious tasks – so that they can focus on growing their business. And while the space allows them to accommodate only a few companies, they see this as an advantage as it allows them to be hands on in attending to the needs of their community.
The Office Project is at Unit 1C Alpha Salcedo Condominium, Bautista street, Makati City
8. Work in Progress PH
Its proximity to universities mean that Work In Progress PH (WIP PH) caters to more than just startups and entrepreneurs. They offer meeting rooms for students to hold discussions, and hot desks for both work and study. WIP also offers their whole space as an event place, ranging from workshops to weekend flea markets.
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They also regularly hold workshops like goal setting for startups, personal make-up, and upcycling. WIP is particularly supportive of freelancers, offering packages that include a virtual office and hot desks, as well as workshops like basic tax and accounting for freelancers.
WIP PH is at 91 Maginhawa St., Teacher’s Village, Quezon City
9. WorkWith
If you’re looking for a space ideal for freelancers, head on to WorkWith. The space is reminiscent of your neighborhood cafe – if your neighborhood cafe is on the penthouse level of a high-rise building. Its industrial minimalist design, large conference room and meeting rooms fitted with communication devices, and full staff services make it an ideal workspace for freelancers and entrepreneurs.
WorkWith offers everything you may need for a productive workday – it even has its own coffee shop – minus the noise and with fast internet connection.
WorkWith is at the Penthouse Cocolight Building, 39th street corner 11th avenue, Bonifacio Global CIty, Taguig City
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