Looking for a way to take your productivity to the next level? Coworking spaces provide all the amenities and comforts of a professional office space while also giving you the opportunity to network with other creative professionals.
Simply put – they’re the virtual offices of the future, and Toronto is currently one of the top cities for coworking spaces in the world.
Below, I’ll list some of the best coworking spaces in Toronto and what sets them apart.
Private Offices Vs Coworking Spaces: What’s Better?
If you’re a full-time remote worker or own an online business, you may have considered renting a private office to help separate your work life from your home life.
As a digital nomad, I often feel the same way about the homes and apartments I rent during my travels. To help me focus on work (and enjoy my rental space more), I often try to find coworking spaces and cafes to work in during my travels.
Coworking spaces come in many shapes and sizes.
Some resemble large, open cafes with public desks, while others have a more professional feel and offer glass-walled private offices and private meeting rooms.
Many coworking spaces in Toronto offer both and include a communal seating area along with private offices and project spaces, and they may even have an available event space to rent for larger meetings.
Hot Desks vs Dedicated Desks: What’s The Difference?
The term “hot desk” refers to a coworking space that offers desk space on a first-come, first-serve basis. Your average coworking space should include several hot desks for walk-ins or those who prefer to work in a more communal environment.
However, many also offer private offices or dedicated desks to those who need a little bit more privacy or prefer to work in silence. It’s also common for a coworking space to offer meeting rooms for five to ten people, which may be equipped with a large table and whiteboard so you can host presentations.
Depending on the coworking space and your membership, you’ll typically pay an extra daily fee to use a dedicated desk, which will be available to you regardless of how busy the facility is. Some project spaces may offer separate rental rates for those looking for full-time dedicated desks.
Best Coworking Spaces In Downtown Toronto
Looking for a great coworking space in Toronto? Whether you’re looking for a professional space with private offices or you’re looking for hot desks and a communal work environment in downtown Toronto, these are some of the best coworking office spaces I’ve found in the city.
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1. Workplace One Office Space And Coworking
- Address: 111 Peter St Suite 700, Toronto, ON
- Standout Features: Live plants on the ceiling, walls, and tables, two outdoor patios
Studies show that a little bit of nature in the office can significantly affect workers’ productivity and morale. If you enjoy plants in the office, then you’ll love Workplace One.
In addition to a nice selection of live plants throughout the conference rooms and office spaces, Workplace One features green walls and plants/vines hanging from its vaulted ceilings.
The space itself is very modern, and there’s plenty of space between the chairs and desks, so even the hot desk space offers enough personal space and privacy so that you don’t feel like you’re right on top of other people.
The Peter Street location also features two outdoor patios, which are a great way to get some fresh air and clear your head between jobs and phone calls.
2. EAST ROOM
- Address: 50 Carroll St, Toronto, ON
- Standout Features: Lockable storage, 24/7 access, hosts networking events
Established in 2014, EAST ROOM was conceived with the vision of creating spaces that emphasize design, community, culture, and a supportive environment for both personal and professional growth.
This coworking space offers meeting rooms, project spaces, and virtual offices. It caters to a diverse range of members, from freelancers and solo entrepreneurs to artists looking for a creative project space.
EAST ROOM promotes the connection between work, leisure, and culture through various programs and networking events where members can collaborate and meet like-minded individuals.
Additionally, the space offers 24/7 access, meeting rooms equipped with A/V equipment, lockable storage (a huge plus), and even the luxury of premium coffee tea.
Its interiors blend soft industrial design with high ceilings, wooden floors, and a warm ambience. Interestingly, a lot of the furniture in the coworking space is sourced from antique furniture dealers, and some of the pieces are even available for sale.
3. WeWork Office Space And Coworking
- Address: 1050 King St W 1st Floor, Toronto, ON
- Standout Features: Large communal kitchen, great city/street views and window seats
If you’re looking for a more professional coworking space with a corporate feel, WeWork Office Space and Coworking is worth looking into. WeWork offers shared office spaces as well as private offices, private desks, and communal coworking office spaces with hot desks.
24/7 access is included with a monthly membership, which can be helpful for those with a late-night side hustle or who enjoy the solitude of early-morning work.
WeWork features some great views of the street below, and I personally enjoy working right by the window seats. However, there are also some more secluded, private seats if you want to lock in and focus.
My favourite feature of WeWork is its large communal kitchen area. It’s well-stocked with snacks, coffee, and tea, and also has an oven and microwave if you want to heat up a quick meal.
4. Workhaus Coworking And Office Space
- Address: 350 Bay St., 13th Floor, Toronto, ON
- Standout Features: High-rise views, corporate packages available
If the idea of working on the 13th floor of a high-rise building and basking in natural light seems appealing to you, then you’ll love Workhaus Coworking and Office Space.
Although this coworking space isn’t quite as large as some of the others on the list, it offers a more quaint, private feel reminiscent of working in a university library.
Additionally, the space is located in the heart of Toronto’s financial district and is close to fitness centres, great food, and cafes, which make for a perfect out-of-office meeting space.
Depending on your needs, you can use the open desks or can pay extra to reserve a private workspace with a dedicated desk.
Workhaus also offers corporate packages for mid to large-sized businesses that need to reserve a larger dedicated office space or rent dedicated desks for key employees.
5. District 28 WorkSpaces
- Address: 28 Logan Ave, Toronto, ON
- Standout Features: Screening room, catering available, creative event spaces
Unlike some of the other more professional collaborative spaces on this list, District 28 is more geared towards creative professionals, such as content creators, video editors, film directors, and other remote workers looking for an environment that fosters creativity.
District 28 features editing suites and a full-sized screening room where you can showcase your latest creations to your team. This coworking space has a very friendly, supportive community, and it’s just as good of a place to network and socialize as it is a place to focus on work.
In addition to its coworking spaces and private offices, District 28 also offers event spaces for weddings, meeting spaces for large teams, and conference rooms for corporate get-togethers.
District 28 even offers a fully-operational catering service that serves top-notch food and drinks if you’re looking to entertain.
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6. Verkspace
- Address: 32 Britain St #100, Toronto, ON
- Standout Features: Central location, four floors with different ambiences
Located in the historic part of old town Toronto, Verkspace is a warm and inviting coworking hub designed for professionals seeking a comfortable and efficient workspace. Its central location makes it perfect for students and remote workers living downtown, and it’s situated just a five-minute walk from the Yonge line.
The space itself features industrial brick-and-beam architecture, giving it a homey feel that also feels modern. Bright, south-facing windows stretch from the floor to the ceiling, so you’ll get plenty of natural lighting throughout the day.
Each of Verkspace’s four floors features a unique ambiance, catering to different moods and environmental work preferences. Verkspace is also located right near the St Lawrence Market, which is a great spot to grab lunch or dinner on your break.
7. StartWell
- Address: 786 King St W, Toronto, ON
- Standout Features: Coffee catering for large groups, easy-to-use online reservation app
Located at the heart of downtown Toronto on King Street West, StartWell is as much a coworking space as a meeting destination.
Whether you’re catching up with clients, hosting a meeting, or booking offsite coworking days, StartWell makes it easy to stay organized and productive.
It offers a web portal and mobile apps for iOS and Android, which make it easy for members to book private meeting rooms or conference rooms, as well as dedicated desks ahead of time, so there aren’t any issues with last-minute reservations.
StartWell features fully equipped meeting spaces complete with stationery, whiteboards, printing, and videoconferencing for team members who are unable to meet in person. My favourite feature is its on-site espresso bar, which is a step above the basic coffee pots you’ll find at other coworking spaces in Toronto.
If you’re looking for a more private space, there’s an 18-desk office suite available, complete with its own washroom and meeting alcove.
The venue is also equipped for larger corporate gatherings and events and features high-quality AV equipment in each room. Large meetings may also request personal coffee catering from StartWell’s cafe staff.
8. Staples Studio Space Toronto
- Address: 375 University Ave #102, Toronto, ON
- Standout Features: Package and mail service, affordable daily rates
You’ve probably shopped at Staples in the past for office or school supplies. However, the company recently started offering collaborative spaces for coworking, remote meetings, and corporate events.
Staples Studio Space in Toronto is a spacious modern coworking space that caters to independent freelancers and small businesses that need virtual offices.
One of the best features of Staples Studio Space is that it offers package and mail service, which could be great for e-commerce businesses or professionals who need a reliable way to send and receive packages throughout the day.
Benefits Of A Coworking Space
Now that you’re better acquainted with some of Toronto’s best coworking and creative spaces, your next question may be, “are they worth it, though?“
With monthly passes starting at $200 – $300, signing up for a coworking space isn’t exactly cheap. Although some coworking spaces offer inexpensive day passes, the price of these can quickly add up, especially if you’re visiting the coworking space several times per week.
To help you decide whether or not a coworking space is the right investment, here are a few of the key benefits that made me decide to make the investment.
- Separate Your Home And Office Space: Working in a virtual office allows you to separate your home life from your work life, which can help you stay focused during work hours.
- Remote Work Feels Less “Remote”: Remote work can sometimes feel isolated and lonely. Working in a coworking space gives you the opportunity to socialize and work alongside others, which leads to a more communal feel.
- Meet New People: If you’re a freelancer, creative, or small business owner, coworking spaces are great for meeting other like-minded individuals, future team members, or even investors for your idea.
- Incubate Your Business: If you’re just starting a business, renting a dedicated office can be costly. I’d argue that it’s a better idea to rent a coworking office for you and your core members before one day upgrading to your own personal office.
- Free Snacks And Coffee: Almost all good coworking spaces in Toronto offer free (or low-cost) coffee and snacks to members. This allows you to work in the space around the clock without having to take lengthy lunch or coffee breaks.
Are Coworking Spaces Worth It?
If you’re unsure about purchasing a monthly subscription to one of these coworking spaces in Toronto, I’d recommend purchasing a day pass to several of them to see how you like the environment.
This will allow you to compare and contrast coworking spaces to find one that best fits the work environment and community that you’re looking for.
To learn more about making extra money in the city, be sure to check out my guide to side hustles in Toronto next!
