Because Edinburgh is the most well-known, touristy, and diverse city in Scotland, its coworking scene is pretty big and busy, with plenty of spaces dotted all over its sprawl.
So in this guide, we’ve brought you the best of them. We’ve covered the 11 best coworking spaces in Edinburgh, with a whole bunch of cool and varied stuff.
Expect office-style spaces, hipster hubs, central spots, unique oddities, and everything in between.
Stick your laptop in your backpack, and come join the productivity party!
1. The Melting Pot
Allegedly “one of the oldest coworking communities in the world,” The Melting Pot is kooky, quirky and creative, and it’s widely considered to be one of the best coworking spaces in Edinburgh.
It’s popular, it’s well-known, and it’s packed with a wide range of different creatives. If you’re looking for an inspiring and friendly space that doesn’t feel too stifling, this is the place for you.
It’s also a good choice for flexibility and freedom, and offers way more options than an average coworking space. Yeah, they have standard hot desks and fixed desks… but they also offer storage spaces, hours-per-month access, and bespoke options depending on how often you’ll be using the place.
And because they also like to throw a focus on community and accessibility, their rates are affordable—the cheapest monthly offer is an invitingly-low £85 per month.
The Melting Pot is right beside Edinburgh Waverley train station, perfect for both commuters and tourists (and anyone looking for a coworking space in a central part of the city). It also has many dog-friendly areas, and it sits very close to view-packed Calton Hill.
All in all, this place is great—if I was staying in Edinburgh for a while, this is one of the places I’d be working.
2. WeWork 80 George Street
Sitting pretty close to The Melting Pot, WeWork 80 George Street is also pretty trendy (with a large friendly crowd and lots of events), but the design is a little more formal and office-like.
It’s a good choice for anyone seeking a space that places a focus on productivity and professionalism, but without being too uptight or quiet.
Beside all the standard coworking stuff (comfy chairs, spacious desks, etc), they offer a wide range of different perks and pluses. Highlights include a mother’s room, a wellness room, outdoor spaces, events spaces (along with lots of regular events), and dog-friendly areas.
It’s sleek and professional, it’s packed with high-grade facilities and equipment, it has an excellent roof terrace (with views of Edinburgh Castle), the communal areas are friendly and busy, and there’s an on-site barista churning out great coffee.
In terms of a central location, this is one of the best coworking spaces in Edinburgh. Plonked right in the new town, it’s close to endless restaurants, stores and cafes, it’s surrounded by lots of great green spaces, and it’s only a ten-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley train station.
This venue is often very busy… so don’t expect to just turn up and work. If you want to set yourself down here, you should contact the venue in advance.
3. Hive Spaces
More like a funky cafe than a boring ol’ office space, Hive Spaces calls itself “the antidote to sterile offices and the perils of home-working.“ It sits in the northern part of the new town, just a 5-minute walk from WeWork 80 George Street.
It offers aesthetic spaces, hip lighting, lounge booths, low-level relaxing music, and a genuinely unique atmosphere. Working here is like working in your friend’s living room (if your friend is really trendy and edgy). They have four multifunctional spaces, all of slightly different sizes.
Because it’s not in the very central sprawl of the city, Hive Spaces is a little quieter than many other places on our list. If you want an informal but productive space where you won’t (or shouldn’t) be too distracted, this is perfect. But you still have many stores and chowdown venues nearby, and you’re only a 20-minute walk from the city’s main train station.
They have an on-site barista, a nice chillout area, and a pretty bohemian crowd. And as is becoming a bit of a theme here, it’s also dog-friendly.
They don’t have much equipment for meetings and presentations and all that stuff—but it’s perfect if you just want to plonk yourself down with a laptop.
When you’re working here, make sure you head to nearby Dean Village. A quaint and cozy part of the city, it’s one of the best day trips from Edinburgh (even though it technically sits inside of Edinburgh).
4. Clockwise
Another relatively edgy option (Edinburgh is a pretty happening place), Clockwise sits in the waterside neighborhood of Leith… which is my favorite part of the city by far.
A dock-packed hipster haven with lots of independent venues, Leith was once the grimiest part of the city—but after some hefty regeneration, it’s now home to lots of cool and quirky stuff.
Clockwise sits just back from the docks, in a slightly quieter part of the neighborhood. Inside its walls, you’ll find high ceilings, exposed brick, massive windows, a huge amount of natural light, relaxing pastel colors, and a whole lot of space.
Clockwise is modern in a very functional and inviting way. It doesn’t feel office-like, but it’s still a great place for knuckling down and getting some work done.
They have a nice range of different types of spaces, so you can choose whatever suits the way you like to work. Options include private offices, dedicated desks, and cafe-style tables and chairs.
If you want a venue with an on-site eatery, this is one of the best coworking spaces in Edinburgh. The menu is wide and varied, offering pastries, sandwiches, paninis, jacket potatoes, and plenty more.
Because it’s in Leith, this isn’t the easiest place to access, so it’s better for locals than tourists. That said, the number 16 bus comes by here, so it’s not completely off the radar.
5. Custom Lane
Another Leith option!
Unique and alluring, Custom Lane calls itself “an evolving, collaborative experiment in creating the most engaging, enriching and enjoyable work environment for designers in Scotland.”
I’m not really sure why it’s gone with that confusing tagline instead of just calling itself a “coworking space.” But that’s Leith!
Anyway, as you can tell by that tagline, the place is mainly geared towards artists and designers, with private studios for practical fiddling.
But the large multi-desk coworking space is pretty standard, so you don’t need to be a potter or a painter to work here. If you have any type of creative job (or even just like working around creative people!), you’ll be welcome and happy at Custom Lane.
Workers here include photographers, architects, jewelers, copywriters, and more—so there’s a pretty mixed bunch.
It’s packed with a welcoming bunch of friendly faces, it’s dog friendly, there’s loads of natural light, and it’s perched right over Leith’s waters.
Again, in terms of location, this isn’t the most accessible coworking space in Edinburgh—but it’s surrounded by some of the coolest venues in the city, with many places to eat and drink.
6. Regus Princes Street
You’ve probably already heard of Regus. A well-known chain, they offer reliable but unimaginative coworking spaces in various parts of the planet.
So, yeah, as you would expect, Regus Princes Street isn’t particularly imaginative or inspiring… but it does all the simple stuff well. You get a quiet but bustling office-style environment, with basic but reliable equipment.
For simple but effective, this is one of the best coworking spaces in Edinburgh.
Some of the biggest perks here include showers, air conditioning, accessible rooms, friendly reception staff, and a decent amount of natural light. It’s a little more open-plan than most other corporate-style coworking spaces.
And because it’s so big, there’s plenty of space. You get six floors, over 100 private offices, and almost 40 coworking desks. Thanks to its size, there’s pretty much always a spot available—so even though it’s central, you can usually(!) just turn up unannounced and nab yourself a spot.
Because this Regus sits in Princes Street, it’s in a great location. Nearby, you get many green spaces, many places to eat, and many places for a post-work slurp. And you’re less than a 10-minute wander from Edinburgh Waverley train station.
Oh, and as a nice bonus, some rooms have panoramic views over the city—head to the highest floors.
7. Regus Saint Andrew Square
Another Regus!
Though not much separates this Regus branch from the last one (except a 5-minute walk) this version is the best of the two.
It has a roof garden (with views of the castle), and lots of space. It’s very clean and tidy, and it feels a little more friendly and inviting than the other Regus.
Other features include a well-equipped kitchen (including a great coffee machine), and lots of comfortable breakout rooms and meeting rooms.
Again, it’s not going to absolutely set your world on fire—but it’s well-maintained, and well-organized, and it’s certainly more pleasant than most other standard office spaces.
Like its sister venue, Regus Saint Andrew Square is in a great location. You’re only a 5-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley train station, and the city’s main bus station. You’re surrounded by great places to eat, and you’re only a 1-minute walk from the lovely green space of St. Andrew Square Garden (which is a great spot for a quick outdoor lunch).
8. The Nexus Room
A really comfy and cozy option, this is a little different to most other entries on our list. And it’s totally loveable.
Right beside the Union Canal, it sits west of The Meadows, in a slightly quieter part of the city—so if you want a central but relaxing location with some great outdoor escapes, you’ve found it.
It’s also very small, and feels more like a pokey cafe than a sprawling coworking space. Owned by a film production company, the place has only six spaces. So if you want to be anonymous, this place isn’t for you— but if you want to be sociable and make some connections, it absolutely is. It feels much more personal and wholesome than most of the world’s other coworking spaces.
There are some great perks crammed inside its tiny confines—including a relaxation area, a small kitchen, some showers, and lots of natural light.
Even though it’s in a quieter part of the town, The Nexus Room is very easy to access. Haymarket train station is only a ten-minute walk away, and there’s a bus stop right outside the space.
This is pretty obvious, but don’t just turn up here unannounced. They probably won’t have space, so make sure you book or enquire in advance.
9. Spaces
A lesser-known chain name in the coworking game, Spaces serves up imaginative and inspirational workspaces, with a big focus on collaboration and community. If you’re looking for a coworking space with lots of events and opportunities for post-work fun, you’ll think this is one of the best coworking spaces in Edinburgh.
The spaces in Spaces (nice pun Paul) are open-plan, with a mixture of booth-style spots and communal tables. You get three floors of airy, well-lit space, with sleek furniture and a modern aesthetic.
For some, this place might be a bit too busy. There’s a focus on socializing, and the music is pretty loud. I personally love coworking spaces like this… but if you’re the type of person who doesn’t like distractions, you might want to avoid it.
Pretty close to the Nexus Room, Spaces sits right on a stretch of the Union Canal, which is a great place for a lunchtime wander.
Again, it’s only a 10-minute walk from Haymarket train station, and it’s close to lots of bus stops (and lots of places to munch on morsels).
10. Regus South Gyle
The most boring entry on our list, the South Gyle branch of Regus sits far west of the city center, close to the Pentland Hills and the airport.
So if you live in this part of Edinburgh, or if you’re hanging around close to the airport, this is the place for you. If neither of those things apply, I wouldn’t bother. As you’d expect from an out-of-town Regus, it’s a little minimalistic and uninventive, and it’s not the most engaging place to work.
That said, it still offers some perks and pluses: a modern building, a friendly team, plenty of space (this place, of course, isn’t as popular as the other coworking spaces we’ve covered).
And as a nice bonus, the large Gyle Shopping Center is only a quick walk away—it offers a food court, and some small supermarkets. Regus South Gyle is also close to a gym, a petrol station, and lots of grocery stores. So although it’s not an exciting base, it can be a useful one.
All in all, this can be an effective functional spot for a certain type of person who’s rushing in or out of the city—or a local who’s looking for a coworking space surrounded by quick conveniences.
11. TechCube
Another of those places that doesn’t seem satisfied with referring to itself as a coworking space, TechCube (or ‘techcu.be,’ depending on which spelling you want to go with) calls itself a “business hub for entrepreneurs, techies, and creatives.”
As you can tell from that description, the venue is mainly geared towards tech-minded entrepreneurs and small businesses. Stretched over five floors of fun, you get lots of long-term and short-term residents, including artists, writers, and technical startups.
But you also get some standard coworking hot desks, for anyone who wants to pop along and use the space short-term. You don’t need to be working in tech to use this space. It’s a fairly quiet venue, perfect for concentration. But you’ll also meet some interesting creative minds in the breakout spaces.
Because it’s next to both The Meadows and Arthur’s Seat, TechCube is well-located for exploring some of the best hikes in Edinburgh. There are also lots of supermarkets nearby for cheap eats (including a Lidl, a small Tesco, and a Chinese supermarket), and many cafes for something a bit more interesting.
The venus is also easy to access—it’s a 15-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley train station, down a long straight road.
Tips on Coworking and Coworking Spaces in Edinburgh
Before You Go
It’s the end of the work day, and we’ve typed and coworked our way to the final part of this guide!
For more Edinburgh inspiration, here’s our ultimate itinerary for two days in Edinburgh, and our guide to the 11 best free museums in Edinburgh.
And for more coworking fun (is working fun?), check out our guides to the coolest coworking spaces in Glasgow, and the coolest coworking spaces in Newcastle.
Thanks for reading, thanks for checking out Travelness, and we’ll see you next time!