Kolkata's co-working spaces are the new offices in town

Time of India

20-05-2025

Kolkata's coworking spaces and work-friendly cafes are witnessing a summer surge, driven by the city's shifting work culture, seasonal discomforts, and the growing tribe of freelancers and hybrid workers.
Rising temperatures, frequent power cuts, and a demand for flexible schedules are drawing remote workers into air-conditioned havens that offer more than just coffee.
Dedicated work desks are the most sought-after
From coffee to collaboration
The fusion of café culture and remote work is reshaping how Kolkata works. 'Artsy is designed to be inviting for both solo workers and meeting-goers,' says Arshdeep Singh, partner, Artsy – Cafe | Coffee | Culture. 'We have six high seats built for work, free WiFi, and an all-day dining menu.'
Natasha Suri, co-founder, CoLAB, adds, 'Traditional work boundaries have blurred. People want inspiring spaces with comfort, community, and privacy — freelancers, creators, teams — everyone's working together under one roof.
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Special sip & snack
The new wave of co-working cafes isn't just about plug points and fast WiFi — it's about creating an environment. 'We're introducing happy-hour-style windows with cooling beverages and light bites, especially for our co-working guests,' says Natasha Suri.
'There's high-speed internet, a wireless colour printer, and a conference room with a whiteboard.' At The Red Bari, the experience is equally curated. 'We offer iced coffees, teas, and kombuchas for our co-work users.
The first drink of the day from our core menu is on us,' says Disha Das, adding, 'The co-work floor is tucked away to minimise interruptions.'
Beating the heat with cool indoor work spaces
'We've seen an uptick in usage compared to the same period last year,' says Natasha Suri, co-founder, CoLAB. 'With soaring temperatures and power cuts, people are gravitating toward comfortable, air-conditioned spaces.' Vinay Manglani, Cō co-founder, adds, 'Our café offers not just relief from the heat, but also a sense of community.' These hybrid spaces suit varied work styles, from morning meetings to twilight sessions.
Grant Walsh, founder,
8th Day Café
says that major reasons are humidity & outages are definitely factors. 'Evenings are busy too, thanks to discounted drinks and a vibrant vibe,' says Prateek Kayan, co-founder of Motherland Cafe & Studios.
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