Coworking space vs coffee shops in West Bangalore, what to choose?

I am the kind of person who likes to work as a digital nomad. The work from home culture is evident in all parts of the globe. As a resident of Bangalore, there is no lack of coworking spaces or coffee shops in the city.

However, as a person who has worked in both these environments, I would like to share my thoughts on these topics to help you decide which is a better workspace: a coffee shop or a coworking space in Bangalore?

Coffee shops are used by people with all moods and wants. Some may be catching up with their friends or family. Couples may have their meetups as well. Freelancers may host their clients there. Digital nomads may just work from different coffee shops on a daily basis. Now, when it comes to hosting your business clients well, a coffee shop may not fit the pack due to one important reason. Coffee shops tend to be way too casual. The client may not take you seriously or even think you don’t have a good office. A coworking space can come in to save the day as it is designed as a business center that ensures functionality and professionalism.

While some coffee shops have a mild non-intrusive tune in the background stereo, others tend to play famous songs that you can’t stop but hum. Although some coworkers may prefer to use their headphones, it is distracting nevertheless. What can add to the list of distractions include a stand off between some other guests who are in their own moods or even something as simple as new guests trying to find their seats without being considerate of their surroundings. Finally, we can talk of security. As a public space where anyone can walk in, coffee shops or cafes tend to be less secure although they may have CCTV recording.

Coffee shops such as Starbucks and third wave are available in plenty throughout except the Western portion. As a hub for startups and entrepreneurship, Bangalore is under-represented especially in the Western portion of the city. There are only a handful of coworking spaces or cafes in that part.

My favorite coworking space in Bangalore West is Work Theater located on Nagarbhavi Outer Ring Road. It is a flexible coworking space with pleasant interiors and a lot of natural light. It is better than a coffee shop in a variety of ways. As compared to a coffee shop, it is more affordable, more professional, has best in class office amenities, library space, access control, parking space and even a private theater in house. Overall, I work regularly from there and have faced no issues. The people are warm and friendly and cater to your requirements with a smile!

I'm a techie turned freelancer who likes to travel, work out of different coworking spaces instead of a fixed office.