The Happy Medium Between Restaurant Meetups And Coworking Spaces

Restaurants have been used as casual, work-related meeting spots for decades. Now, some restaurants are taking it to the next level by including coworking spaces within their locations.

Restaurant workspaces are outfitted with everything workers-on-the-go need: power outlets, Wi-Fi, and bottomless tea and coffee.

For example, the ground floor of Mamounia Lounge in London’s Mayfair is transformed into a coworking space from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, and members get a 40% discount on food and drinks.

“Coworking has been occurring in the F&B sector for a long time on an informal basis,” said Adam Griffin, Director, Foodservice Consulting at JLL. “With the popularity of coworking continuing to rise, many restaurants are now looking at it as a new opportunity to activate space during morning and afternoon periods that would otherwise be sitting empty.”

Restaurant-coworking hybrids are typically cheaper than traditional coworking spaces, but have more restricted hours and fewer facilities, such as printers and large meeting spaces. They also offer a quick, yet more professional meetup spot for out-of-towners and professionals who do not require a central desk space.

While some restaurants are marketing their own workspace amenities, others are partnering with already established networking services such as KettleSpace and Spacious that are designed specifically for restaurants that offer daytime coworking.