This post originally appeared in She Said, a blog about beautiful South African things.
Whether you’re a freelancer, in need of a change of scenery for a team brainstorm or you’re just sick and tired of the person in the cubical next to you warming up their fish AND boiled egg in the office microwave and eating it while peering over your shoulder, Joburg has a great selection of shared or co-working spaces and the list is growing.
If you’re anything like me, chances are your January has been pretty productive, and spending a day or even buying a membership at one of the offices could definitely help you get all of your ducks in a row. Over the past few weeks I visited four of what I think are Joburg’s best shared work spaces. If you know of any more let me know I’d love to check them out.
Nomads & Co.
Nomads & Co. is just a short walk from my apartment and its beautiful decor and all-round awesome vibe means it’s one of my favourite shared working spaces in town. Nomads & Co. offer all sorts of work related facilities that you probably can’t even get at home, including: fast internet, printing, scanning and meeting rooms. If you’re feeling adventurous you may even find a few nooks here and there, perfect for a tea break or even a midday snooze, for those who take the concept of ‘laptops’ seriously there is ample couch space to work from your lap.
Best Part: The Decor and reference library.
Address: 8 7th Ave, Johannesburg
Contact: 071 090 6244
Travail
In terms of ease of access and location Travail comes out leagues ahead of its counterparts. Based smack bang in the middle of Melrose Arch and within walking distance of Roast Cafe (Yummy!), Travail is a luxury coworking space that has fast earned a special place in the heart of Joburg’s business men and women. While Travail looks like it would be the perfect place for a board meeting their coffee bar is lined with beautifully crafted games like dominoes and noughts and crosses which give it a playful edge.
Best Part: The full time amazing Barista and location.
Address: Ground Floor, 34 Melrose Boulevard, Melrose Arch, Birdhaven, Johannesburg, 2194
Contact: 010 020 3595
SLOW In The City
Just across from the Sandton Gautrain Station, SLOW In The City is the fancier sister of the SLOW lounges you’ve probably found yourself hiding out in at one of our airports. SLOW aims to take all the best parts of your office and home and smash it together to make one pretty awesome working and meeting space. My favourite part of SLOW is the separate rooms averrable to guests and members which allow you to sit in complete solitude… but with a waiter on call. One of the space’s most endearing rooms is the meeting room surrounded by huge living walls, I could definitely spend a few hours in it every day.
Best Part: The living wall and huge menu
Address: Corner of West and Rivonia road, Sandton
Contact: 084 7777569
Open
OPEN, Maboneng’s awesome shared space takes its name seriously and is the biggest and well the most open of all of the spaces I visited. OPEN has a huge communal space with a library/lounge space at the one end separated by a putt putt course… yes you read right there’s a huge flipping putt putt course in the space. Aside from the beautiful art that is changed up often and for sale to visitors the city views will have given you a run for your money and make it pretty darn hard to concentrate.
Best Part: The huge open spaces, putt putt course and city views.
Address: OPEN 4th Floor, The Main Change 20 Kruger Street, Maboneng, Johannesburg
Contact: +27109002000
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