Forbes’ best place to launch a startup and one of the ten happiest cities for young professionals, San Diego is booming with opportunities for freelancers, entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses. With the city hosting events like Startup Week, where the startup community comes together to exchange ideas and learn from each other, and Venture Summit, the largest venture capital networking event outside Silicon Valley, it’s no wonder that the city attracts a large variety of high-tech companies, including telecommunications, bio-tech, electronics, software and media. Whether you are interested in growing your own business here or you are just looking for a quiet, professional place to work, keep reading to discover 15+ of the hottest coworking hubs in America’s Finest City.
Downtown Works
Image courtesy of Downtown Works
Built by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, Downtown Works is a pet-friendly collaborative workspace that offers open desks, exclusive desks, and private offices. Day passes can be bought for $40, while memberships begin at $150/month for 10 days of the month. Also, virtual office services with mail handling and business addresses are available for a monthly rate of $95. Located at 550 West B. Street, this San Diego office space welcomes its members to free coffee, tea and craft beer, oxygenated flavored water, Peach daily lunch delivery and catering services, on-site mini market with snacks and drinks, Bird electric scooter sharing services, and much more.
Co-mmunity
A hub for small businesses and entrepreneurs of all kinds, this workspace has two locations in San Diego—one in Hillcrest, at 1228 University Ave., and one in La Jolla, at 5780 Fay Ave. Co-mmunity offers its members social, educational and mentoring events, as well as monthly networking gatherings at the La Jolla location, called The Rooftop Wine Mixers. Memberships start at $350 a month, students with a valid ID being able to enjoy a 10% discount on shared and dedicated desks. Perks include fresh beer on tap, cold brew coffee, free snacks, access to phone booths and conference rooms, and plenty of discounts. Moreover, the Hillcrest location features a podcast room fully equipped with film lighting, a green screen, sound dampening technologies, and more. Get your free coworking day by applying online.
Ansir Innovation Center
Located at 5795 Kearny Villa Road, in the ScaleMatrix Life Science and Technology Launch Center, Ansir Innovation Center is a coworking place designed to help early stage businesses develop, grow and reach their goals. The Launch Center features flex desks, flex spaces, shared and dedicated offices, and a CILA-certified genomic science laboratory. Prices start at $350 a month and include 24/7 access to the building. Members benefit from free on-site parking, secure storage drawers, gourmet tea and coffee, and a community app through which they can access services, pay bills and request support. Flexible monthly options, as well as free day passes, are available on demand.
NEST CoWork
NEST CoWork is a program of the CyberTech network, a global cybersecurity and Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. Home to tech startups, entrepreneurs and non-profit organizations, this workplace offers 20+ reserved and non-reserved desks accessible on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Memberships start at $140 a month, and include unlimited conference room usage, free coffee and beer, and access to four kitchens, two shower rooms and the shared working space in CyberHive. You can also download a free seven-day pass online or volunteer at NEST in exchange for free access.
Ootbox
A creative-oriented workspace, Ootbox offers its members the opportunity to use 3D printing, die cutting, studio lighting, box lighting and sewing machines to make their art projects come to life. Located at 6640 Lusk Blvd., it features flexible work space, dedicated desks, and semi-private and private office space, with plans starting at $300 a month. Courses in graphic design, website design, marketing, SEO, SEM, PR and more are available for groups of up to 25 people. If a professional meeting space is what you are looking for, you can book one here for $75 a day. It seats four to six people, and is fully equipped with Apple TV, Chromecast and a large TV for presentations. Clients who book a meeting room get free access to the Ootbox workspace before and after the meeting.
Moniker Commons
Moniker Commons is a collaborative workplace located at 2869 Historic Decatur Road, perfect for anyone from startups and entrepreneurs to global companies. It features common desks, private desks, and private offices for teams of 2 to 13 people. Plans start at $300 a month, amenities including concierge services, private conference rooms, table games, showers and lockers, paddle boards, complimentary beverages, and free parking. This coworking space has been created to cultivate a community that makes people excited to get to work.
Enrich Coworking for Lawyers
Located at 3170 Fourth Ave., Enrich is a coworking hub specifically tailored to lawyers who are in need of professionalism and confidentiality. With programs on business development, practice management, health and wellness, and leadership, it aims to give lawyers professional, personal and financial advantages, and empower them to practice law while living a good life. Part-time memberships start at $299 a month, while full-time plans go for $399 a month. Private offices and mail services are also available. Members can enjoy free snacks, coffee and tea, standing desks, secure file storage and assigned parking.
Collective Impact Center
An incubator and coworking center located at 3295 Meade Ave., CIC caters to all social entrepreneurs. It offers shared desks, for those enjoying the coffee place vibe, and private offices or studio space, for those who value privacy. Shared desks start at $111 a month, perks including 24/7 access, free coffee and tea, parking, and monthly event space according to your tier. You can choose between three tiers of membership, Advocate, Champion and Ambassador, depending on how much you want to get involved in the community. Ambassadors receive free access to the shared space and 20% off private offices. Moreover, every Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, non-members can check out the place, receiving a complimentary day pass for the shared desks.
Incubate Ventures
Image courtesy of Incubate Ventures
Incubate is a coworking space and incubator located at 2251 Las Palmas Drive. It promotes culture, collaboration and creativity, housing a community where entrepreneurs get access to resources, capital and mentoring, and have the chance to work together with some of the most successful startups in San Diego. Dedicated memberships start at $495 a month and include graphic design, legal and accounting services, and help with accessing funding like private equity and venture capital. Moreover, each member will be able to enjoy free coffee, kombucha and beer, parking, access to showers and a large event space for up to 150 people.
Mesa Rim CoWorking Center
A collaborative workspace that promotes a healthy work-life balance, the Mesa Rim Coworking Center is located at 10070 Mesa Rim Road, right next to the Mesa Rim Climbing and Fitness Center. Every coworking membership includes a basic gym membership, with activities like yoga, climbing or fitness available to help you clear your mind in between meetings or after a long day of work. This coworking hub offers open space, exclusive cubicles and private offices, with prices starting at $225 a month. Showers, storage lockers, bike racks, access to meeting rooms, monthly social events and quarterly workshops are just a few of the perks members can enjoy here. Moreover, certified service dogs are allowed on the premises.
The Vine
Created through the supportive partnership of Irvine Co. and EvoNexus, The Vine is an entrepreneurial community rich in resources and opportunity. It offers dedicated desks starting at $350 a month, and flexible desks starting at $200 a month. Located at 4250 Executive Square in La Jolla, this coworking place welcomes its members with complimentary coffee and beer on tap, Irvine Co. discounts for games, festivals and events, access to the KINETIC fitness center, mail and package delivery and storage options, unlimited use of conference rooms and phone rooms, and more. You can get a quick energy boost from the Eddy M’s Café and Deli shop on site, or improve your knowledge through the exclusive workshops and educational opportunities available.
Bench Space Coworks
Image courtesy of Bench Space Coworks
Designed to be a modern, convenient workspace for all types of businesses, Bench Space is a locally owned coworking office located at 3962 Sorrento Valley Blvd. It offers a light industrial workspace, storage, and crafting benches, as well as shared space, dedicated desks and private offices. Their kitchen café features local craft beers and small batch coffee from around the globe. Memberships start at $300 a month and include free parking, two complimentary hours of conference room usage, a physical address, and mail and phone services. Moreover, Bench Space hosts monthly mixers, during which teams can have brainstorming sessions and celebrate success together.
Ninthlink Co-Working Space
Ninthlink Co-Working is a community where regular educational and networking events give you the opportunity to develop your business alongside talented people possessing a vast array of skills. This workplace offers two types of plans—dedicated desks, for $350 a month, and dedicated offices, for $1,250 a month. Members benefit from 24/7 access, mail delivery and storage services, conference room usage, access to a shared backyard space that is perfect for social gatherings, complimentary coffee and beer, and more. Located at 3861 Front St., Ninthlink Co-Working is within walking distance from the Mission Hills, Hillcrest and Downtown San Diego restaurants and nightlife.
SMARTSPACE
Located at 4455 Murphy Canyon Road, SMARTSPACE is a coworking hub that offers full-time and part-time office space, as well as virtual office services, depending on your needs and with no long-term commitment necessary. Memberships start at $300 a month, amenities including free phone and voicemail services, free on-site parking, access to an equipped kitchen, showers, multiple conference rooms and a Zen garden where you can unwind. If you need a San Diego business address and mailbox, you can get it here for $55 a month. As SMARTSPACE promotes local artists, the offices are set in an inspiring art gallery. Moreover, this workplace is dog-friendly, so you can even bring your furry friend with you.
VentureBeach Cowork
VentureBeach is an affordable collaborative workspace, perfect for remote workers, entrepreneurs and small businesses looking for a professional community where they can meet prospective investors, new employees, clients or partners. Located at 1001 Garnet Ave., just a few blocks away from the beach, this coworking place offers virtual office services, shared space, dedicated desks and private offices, with plans starting at $250 a month. Secure lockers are available for a monthly rate of $25, and access to a YouTube/podcast studio is included in some membership plans. With plenty of free parking spaces in the surrounding area and restaurants, sushi bars, and banks within walking distance, VentureBeach is the go-to coworking space in Pacific Beach.
Union Cowork
A California-centric collaborative workspace provider, Union Cowork offers flex desks, semi-private and private offices in three San Diego locations—3060 University Ave., 3919 30th St. and 704 J St. Memberships start at $300 a month, perks including outdoor working environments, personal lockers, 24/7 secure access, use of conference rooms, unlimited coffee, tea, local craft beer and kombucha, access to networking events, and discounts at businesses in the neighborhood. Moreover, Union Cowork supports members who walk or bike to work, that is why bicycle parking and on-site showers are available at all of their locations. As this workplace is dog-friendly, you also have the option of bringing your furry life companion with you.
Level Office
With 22 locations across the U.S., Level Office offers a modern and professional coworking space in San Diego as well, at 1111 Sixth Ave. Dedicated desks are available for $199 a month, while basic coworking memberships start at $99 a month. You can also choose virtual office packs, private offices or office suites. Amenities include a fully-stocked kitchen, with free espresso and beer on tap, showers, indoor bike racks, 24/7 secure access, and more. Members can have their company signage displayed in the lobby or on their office door. They also enjoy the possibility of working from any of the other Level Office locations. Fostering a community that collaborates across industries, this coworking hub hosts regular networking events, happy hours and Lunch & Learns.
