Daily life

Don’t Just Work From Home. Check Out These Amazing Coworking Spaces in Laureles, Medellin

Author: Pacho Viloria

Table of Contents

It’s 2024 and the paradigm shift towards remote work has rapidly gained momentum over the last 4 years. In that time, Medellin has emerged as one of the most attractive places in the world for digital nomads. But when you look closer, it’s the Laureles neighborhood that stands out as the city’s top spot for remote workers. Laureles is:

Flat, unlike much of the city.
Affordable (more so than El Poblado).
Extremely lush.
Brimming with activities: restaurants, bars, parks, social clubs, etc.
Easily accessible and convenient.
European in design.

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):

(1). Semilla Cafe Coworking

Opened: 22/09/2019
Location: Calle 39, Cra. 73 #7
Operating hours: 8 AM – 8:30 PM (Sunday shut)

Access Semilla here: Facebook, Instagram, Website

Why I love Semilla Cafe Coworking

Friendly staff
Ambience
Co-working options
Amazing coco-lemonade
Location, location, location…

This part of Laureles, between the Primer & Segundo Parque, is where you’ll find the greatest concentration of sleek, high-end restaurants and establishments. The area is highly attractive to foreign visitors and middle-upper-class Colombians.

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 5,500 and a latte costs COP 7,900. The coffee beans used are domestically sourced and of fantastic quality.

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 (45k/day, 220k/week, 650k/month).
Private offices – starting at 1.8m month
Conference rooms – 46k+ per hour.

(2). Pergamino Laureles

Opened: Late 2022
Location: Cq. 73 #34 – 65, Laureles
Operating hours: Mon – Fri (8 AM – 8 PM). Sunday (9 AM – 7 AM)

Why to love about Pergamino Laureles:

A beautiful courtyard with outdoor seating (and a fountain )
Friendly yet relaxed ambience
It’s spacious and balmy.
Coffee that is both ethically sourced & delicious
Vegan friendly

Pergamino has evolved into a leading Colombian coffee company, renowned for its exceptional quality and commitment to promoting local coffee culture and sustainable production.

With over 30 years of experience, Pergamino is an ethical coffee producer and exporter, collaborating with more than 600 allied farmers across Colombia. They take pride in these relationships, striving to pay fair prices for their partners’ labour.

Exporting coffee to over 20 countries worldwide, Pergamino upholds stringent quality standards. Uniquely, unlike many other Colombian producers, they retain their finest beans for local enjoyment in their own cafes.

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.

It’s worth noting that there is a selection of different high quality merchandise and products available. All of which in some way or another linked to the heritage of Colombia. When visiting from Europe, my friend bought a nice cycling jersey which he now remembers his trip with.

(3). Juan Valdez, Laureles

Opened: Last 2 years (tbc)
Location: Av. 74B #39-60
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 11k COP or $2.73 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

Opened: June 2020
Location: Tv. 41 #72-24, Laureles
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 Fundación, 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

There we have it – my three favorite coworking spaces in Laureles (and Medellin). Between them all, I have spent countless hours and can confidently recommend them. Of course, Laureles is replete with an evergrowing stock of options – and I’m sure you’ll all have your own opinions. What are your favorites? Write in so that we can share them (if you’re happy to reveal them).

As always, if you have any questions or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Pacho Viloria

Pacho is an editor and contributing writer for Medellín Advisors. He had worked on the website remotely since March 2020 and in March 2021 he moved to Medellin from Panamá City.