While San Diego may be known for its stunning beaches and scads of fashionable art galleries, the city is also home to a burgeoning freelance scene. While freelancers in all professions are experiencing an uptick in their numbers, engineers are excelling. Freelance engineers out-earned their single-employer counterparts by $20,000, according to last year's Global Flex Report. Over the last four years, the report also demonstrated, the number of companies who hire freelance workers has quadrupled.
As the numbers of freelance workers and start-up entrepreneurs continues to swell, more and more workers are becoming members of flexible coworking spaces that provide everything from spacious desks and complimentary coffee to rooftop wine mixers and paddle boards. Whether you're on the hunt for an office with a view or a place to connect with others in your profession, the city's coworking spaces offer a little something for everyone.
We found you 14 of the best coworking spaces in San Diego:
Built to help small businesses thrive, NEST houses tech start-ups and freelancers who belong to teams made of 1 to 12. The space also provides an ecosystem of the CyberTech Network, so it's the perfect location for techies and those just entering the field who want to build connections. Hot desks (what temporary desk space is called) can be reserved on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis to provide members with maximum flexibility.
Location: 1855 1st Ave #100, San Diego, CA 92101
Price: $140/month monthly membership, $250/month floating desk, $350/month reserved desk, $450/month private office
Perks: Conference room usage, complementary coffee, complimentary beer, concierge, IT support, shower and locker rooms, broadband fiber internet
Hours: 24/7
Founded by a business and real estate attorney, Enrich provides an inviting aesthetic and sense of community for lawyers to help them succeed professionally and personally. Enrich offers also helps members financially by reducing overhead costs associated with launching a new practice. Members also enjoy informal networking opportunities that are typically only experienced while working in large firms.
Location: 3170 Fourth Avenue, San Diego, United States
Price: $299/month part time, $399/month full time
Perks: Mail handling, WiFi, private Facebook group, scanning, coffee and snacks, programming and community events
Hours: 24/7
Downtown Works offers three floors of seating to provide and 24 hour member access. Members get to meet their fellow co-workers at weekly Lunch-N-Learn sessions with industry experts then unwind at weekly happy hours. Aside from the fun, Downtown Works offers and on-site notary to help members take care of business even faster.
Location: 550 West B Street 4th Floor San Diego, CA 92101
Price: $175/month Works Plus, $295/month open desk
Perks: Premium coffee and tea, on-site notary public, soundproof podcast room, ultrafast WiFi, local craft beer on tap
Hours: 24/7
The laid back vibe of a beachside city meets the hustle of an urban location at WeWork B Street—the largest WeWork in Southern California. Private offices can accommodate teams of 1 to 280, and individual freelancers can find coworking space on each of the space's 6 floors. After a hard day's work, members can rock out at a concert at the House of Blues or take a stroll around the lively Gaslamp Quarter.
Location: 600 B Street Suite 300 San Diego CA 92101
Price: $450/month dedicated desk, $350/month hot desk
Perks: Private phone booths, fruit-infused water, conference rooms, printing services, high speed internet, micro-roasted coffee, professional and social events
Hours: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday, closed Saturday-Sunday
Located in San Diego's hottest growing neighborhood, Union Cowork offer beautiful views of the East Village from the space's second story. The retrofitted industrial space offers showers and bike parking for the eco-conscious commuter and lush outdoor working conditions to make every day feel like vacation.
Location: 704 J St, San Diego, CA 92101
Price: $400/month flex desk, $500+/month semi-private office
Perks: outdoor working environments, bike parking, showers, beverage bar, conference rooms, high speed internet, personal lockers, connecting sessions
Hours: 24/7
Novel Coworking: Gaslamp is situated in the illustrious Downtown Financial District, offering easy access to hundreds of restaurants and unparalleled nightlife. This renovated 1913 building offers six floors of trendy coworking setups as well as state-of-the-art private options that accommodate up to 20 people. Members also enjoy access to a rooftop deck, which is the ideal place to kick back and enjoy one of the local beers the space offers everyday on tap.
Location: 1111 Sixth Ave, San Diego, CA
Price: $99/month coworking membership, $199/month dedicated desk, $299/month shared office
Perks: Espresso bar, local beer on tap, direct fiber internet, mail service, conference rooms, event space
Hours: 24/7
While some coworking spaces are geared toward a specific branch of professionals, Co-mmunity Hillcrest takes pride in its diverse array of members. From social media specialists to tech wizards to writers, this space is the place for all. To make the space even sweeter, the office is pet-friendly, so there's no need for members to leave furry family members home while they earn their bacon.
Location: 1228 University Avenue #200 San Diego, CA
Price: $325/month shared desk, $425/month dedicated desk, $500/month semi-private office
Perks: Podcast room, pet-friendly, meeting rooms, snacks, local craft beer, micro-roasted + cold-brew coffee, mail service, bike storage, high speed internet
Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday- Friday, Members only Saturday-Sunday
If you're searching for a strong sense of fellowship where you cowork, look no further than Ninthlink. This space fosters camaraderie between members by providing frequent educational and networking events that encourage teams to flourish alongside one another. Members are also encouraged to celebrate their own special occasions in Ninthlink's backyard event space.
Location: 6585 Osler St, San Diego, CA 92111
Price: $350/month basic membership, $1,250/month executive membership
Perks: Shared whiteboards, WiFi, conference space, backyard event space, monthly networking events, client free parking, coffee, beer, shared kitchen space
Hours: 24/7
Located in smart seaside community La Jolla, this coworking space surpasses office expectations by bringing members both micro-roasted and cold brew coffee and rooftop wine mixers. An assortment of upscale boutiques and restaurants line the streets in the surrounding the space, so there's always an opportunity for after work excursions. In the mood to get in touch with nature after a day of facing laptop glare? The beautiful La Jolla Cove is a short walk away.
Location:7580 Fay Ave Suite 204, San Diego, CA 92037
Price: $350/month shared desk, $425/month dedicated desk, $550/month semi-private office
Perks: Podcast room, pet-friendly, meeting rooms, snacks, local craft beer, micro-roasted + cold brew coffee, mail service, bike storage, high speed internet
Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday- Friday, Members only Saturday-Sunday
Designed by renowned architect Michael Graves, the enchanting site of WeWork Aventine provides an office with a view. Situated on an elevated bluff, wall to ceiling windows provide members with an enchanting view of La Jolla's vibrant city and rustic beach setting. Swimming pools and tennis courts give members the opportunity to get their blood pumping after work in this unique La Jolla office space.
Location: 8910 University Center Lane Suite 400 San Diego CA 92122
Price: $360/month hot desk, $500/month dedicated desk
Perks: Private phone booths, fruit-infused water, conference rooms, printing services, high speed internet, micro-roasted coffee, professional and social events
Hours: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday, closed Saturday-Sunday
Network in the heart of San Diego's most prestigious district in a dynamic, exclusive environment. This professional center of the city is conveniently located near I-5 and I-805. Outdoor lounge areas give members the perfect environment to kick back after a hard day's work.
Location: 4660 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 100 & Suite 200 San Diego, California 92122
Price: $112/month membership, $462/month dedicated desk
Perks: High-speed WiFi, community events, outdoor terrace, ping pong table, standing desks, kitchen, onsite cafe
Hours: 24/7
Located in the high tech hub of the city, OOTBOX caters to everyone from startup newbies to established business owners. The space delivers beyond the average coworking experience, offering 3D printing, die cutting, and studio lighting. Located just east of the 5 and 805 connector, OOTBOX is a short drive away from a wide array of local breweries and restaurants.
Location: 6640 Lusk Blvd., Suite A200 San Diego, CA 92121
Price: $300+/month hot seats, $400+/month dedicated desk, $425+/month semi-private space
Perks: Business address, 3D printing, die cutting, wireless internet, community events and workshops, kitchen beverages, print and copy services, personal locker space
Hours: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday-Friday, Limited access Saturday - Sunday
This locally owned coworking space presents members with a meeting hub for professionals of all walks of life. Open to community members 24/7, Bench Space is the ideal spot for hardworking night owls. Whether you're a remote professional, start-up entrepreneur, or freelancer, this flexible coworking space provides professional and modern environment in which to excel.
Location: 3962 Sorrento Valley Blvd, Suite 100. San Diego CA 92121
Price: $300/month shared space, $480/month dedicated desk
Perks: conference rooms, workshops, WiFi, kitchen, personal lockers, small batch coffee, local craft beer
Hours: 24/7
Moniker Commons strives to create an interconnected, productive community. Whether members opt to hop onto the hot seat plan or settle into a furnished private office, the space's design fosters an inclusive atmosphere by providing common areas that foster networking and socialization. Members can reward themselves for meeting deadlines by taking advantage of community paddleboards and bikes.
Location: 2869 Historic Decatur Rd, San Diego Ca 92106
Price: $300/month common desk, $500/month private desk
Perks: Concierge services, monthly community events, fiber optic internet, table games, community bikes, showers, complimentary beverages
Hours: 24/7
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Kayla Heisler is an essayist and Pushcart Prize-nominated poet. She is a contributing writer for Color My Bubble. Her work appears in New York's Best Emerging Poets anthology.