Working From Home? - Heck No! Check Out These 3 Coworking Spaces in Laureles, Medellin
By Kaveh Paymayesh
As the paradigm to work changes with an ever-increasing number of people choosing to work remotely, Laureles has stepped up to the plate and made itself a magnet for those escaping the northern (and southern hemisphere). Laureles capitalizes on many of the things that make Medellin so ideal for this lifestyle:
- It is flat (unlike much of the city)
- Affordability
- Extremely lush
- Brimming with activities; restaurants, bars, parks, social clubs, etc.
- Everything being and feeling easily accessible
- Great year-round weather.
Although El Poblado receives the greatest level of foreign travellers, it seems Laureles is more popular among those with a desire for remote work. This, in turn, has created a unique and refined community within the neighbourhood that is not felt elsewhere.
Here are my three favourite coworking space in Laureles (plus 1 honorable mention):
Semilla Cafe Coworking
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Opened: 22/09/2019
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Location: Calle 39, Cra. 73 #7
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Operating hours: 8 AM - 8:30 PM (Sunday shut)
Access Semilla here: Facebook, Instagram, Website
Why I love Semilla Cafe:
- Friendly staff
- Ambience
- Co-working options
- Amazing coco-lemonade
- Location, location, location…
I spent one year living in-front of the Primer Parque de Laureles in 2016 and even back then it was packed with great restaurants and establishments. So, of course, a co-working spot like Semilla was always going to fit right in.
In Semilla you’ll find a 50-50 blend of locals and foreigners making it a great place to network and make friends.
I absolutely love how you can step out of the cafe when the brain needs a break and immediately be in my favourite park which is both safe and atmospheric. If like me, you need regular breaks, Semilla is ideal.
Semilla is a 2-story building. The first floor is a cafe packed with working spaces that anybody is welcome to use (after buying something). The second floor is a dedicated co-working space which requires a payment plan.
Their menu is extensive, offering a variety of coffee, lunch, savouries and fresh juice. An espresso costs COP 4,000 and a latte is COP 6,000.
My biggest gripe with Semilla is that the downstairs area is often very busy. This means that an available space is unlikely unless you arrive early or are willing to wait. The busyness also brings with it a lot of noise which is not ideal for some of those trying to concentrate.
If you’re serious about getting work done, you’re maybe better off going upstairs.
According to their website, Semilla Cafe offers the following:
- Meeting rooms
- Flexible access – pay on arrival and get instant access.
- Open desks
- Dedicated desks (that are semi-permanently yours; you’ll be free to customize with your own tech).
Prices
- Individual desk (33k/day, 155k/week, 500k/month).
- Private offices – starting at 1.8m month
- Conference rooms – 35k+ per hour.
Pergamino Laureles
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Opened: Late 2022
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Location: Cq. 73 #34 - 65, Laureles
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Operating hours: Mon - Fri (8 AM - 8 PM). Sunday (9 AM - 7 AM)
Why I love Pergamino Laureles:
- Beautiful courtyard with outdoor seating (and a fountain )
- Ambience
- Spacious
- Coffee that is both ethically sourced & delicious
- Vegan friendly
Pergamino is an ethical coffee producer & exporter with over 30 years of business. They work with over 600 allied farmers across Colombia and are proud of their relationships with them, purportedly paying reasonable prices for their labour.
They export coffee to over 20 countries around the world and again claim to have meticulously high standards when it comes to quality.
However, unlike most other Colombian producers, they do not ship off their best beans. That’s where their cafes come in to the picture…
Pergamino has three cafes in Medellin with the one in Laureles being their newest. The coffee in Pergamino is delicious and it is because they roast locally in small batches. This means that they serve fresh for each and every day.
Pergamino Laureles holds up to the standards of the brand; the establishment feels well-groomed with lots of staff on deck. It feels very spacious with two-floors and a courtyard.
Pergamino is a great place to get some work done and is less congested/more spacious than Semilla Cafe. You can work on both floors but there are no sockets on the ground floor for security reasons. If you need to plug anything in than you’ll need to go upstairs.
Unfortunately, Pergamino currently lacks a lot of the co-working infrastructure that exists in Semilla. There are no private desks, conference rooms, offices etc.
It can also get busy, especially upstairs. The upstairs area can accommodate for around 20 people so make sure to come early.
Juan Valdez, Laureles
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Opened: Last 2 years (tbc)
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Location: Av. 74B #39-60
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Operating hours: Mon - Sun (8 AM - 9 PM)
Access their socials: Website, Facebook, Instagram.
Why I love Juan Valdez Laureles:
- Upstairs is equipped with desks
- Fans keep the building cool
- Located in a nice area surrounded by upscale restaurants
- Good coffee
- Usually quiet
Juan Valdez is another Colombian coffee franchise, although not as ethical as Pergamino. The quality of coffee in Juan Valdez is standardized and of good quality. It is also affordable. A large iced latte costs around 10k COP or $2 USD.
Once you make a purchase you will be given a receipt which includes the wifi password.
Juan Valdez is a great place to work because it seems to be less recognized as a coworking space than the other places mentioned on this list. Starbucks is located 1-minute away and is usually a lot busier.
The wifi is fast and upstairs you’ll find plenty of sockets to charge your devices. It is also a well-ventilated room with a terrace and lots of overhead fans.
If you’re looking to knuckle down then Juan Valdez is a good bet.
Honorable Mention: Cafe Fundación
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Opened: June 2020
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Location: Tv. 41 #72-24, Laureles
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Operating hours: Mon - Sat (12 AM - 7 PM). Sun (12 AM - 5 Pm)
Do you love animals; cats or dogs? Introducing pets to the work environment can help ameliorate stress and boost productivity. We all know that but here’s a study anyway.
That’s why you should check out Cafe Fundacion, a coworking space that is a win-win for both the animals and the workers. After 12 years fighting for the defence of animals, Linda and her colleagues decided to open Cafe Fundacion. The idea is that clients not only get to work in the presence of cute animals but also potentially adopt them.
If you want to work in this coworking space you will need to make a booking beforehand.
Some cautionary words of advice
No matter how safe and secure a coworking space feels, make sure to never leave your possessions unattended. Theft is common in coffee shops and in each establishment you’ll find a disclaimer stating that it’s YOUR responsibility to look after your belongings.
When I need to use the toilet, I make sure to ask somebody who is also working to keep an eye on my laptop.
According to a Redditor, they saw somebody steal a laptop in Starbucks (Laureles). Search online and you’ll find these incidents are not rare. In the video below, watch the reaction of this foreigner after her laptop was stolen in Pergamino.
Please share this article if you think it could be of help.
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