A new generation of creative workers expects more than bland ‘business centers’ and sterile ‘serviced office space’ setups. They’d much rather park their laptops at a growing range of shared spaces designed to boost productivity and a sense of community. Powered by new models that integrate the perks of private clubs and services usually reserved for large corporations, New York coworking spaces are flourishing – offering options for every industry, taste, and budget. Here’s our essential guide to where to pull up a chair.

A/D/O, Greenpoint

Fresh from its three-day ‘Utopia vs. Dystopia’ festival (speakers included David Byrne and Yves Behar), this new creative hub founded by MINI combines a slate of ‘Design Academy’ programming with a workspace, design store, and restaurant. Brooklyn-based nARCHITECTS preserved elements of the original warehouse while carving out unique new features such as the mirrored ‘periscope’ skylight. ‘Meaningful design requires exchange and stimulation and we’ve built a place entirely for that purpose,’ says managing director Nathan Pinsley.
Best for: Designers of all kinds seeking stimulation – and access to a tricked-out fabrication lab.
How to get a desk: Apply
29 Norman Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Camp David, Industry City

The most buzzed-about arrival on the Brooklyn coworking scene, this Sunset Park megaspace welcomed its first members in November with a 40,000 sq ft ‘phase one’. Founders Mazdack Rassi and Erez Shternlicht (Milk Studios) infused their chunk of the restored industrial complex with amenities aplenty and the clean-lined zing of midcentury modern design: think Jean Prouvé chairs, Greta Grossman desk lamps, and Heath Ceramics tableware at the on-site café and coffee bar.
Best for: Eames lovers seeking a workspace they’ll never want – or need – to leave.
How to get a desk: Choose among monthly and daily plans (private office, assigned desk, or floating desk?) and apply.
237 36th Street #112, Brooklyn, NY 11232

The Wing, Flatiron

Born out of ‘the belief that women need and deserve a multi-purpose space designed to make their lives easier, and that magic is created when women gather together,’ this Tumblr pink, members-only ‘clubhouse in the sky’ was founded by native New Yorkers Audrey Gelman and Lauren Kassan. CdR & Co’s Chiara De Rege and Hilary Koyfman designed the highly Instagrammable work and social space, which includes a library curated by writer RH Lossin (no male authors allowed) as well as on-demand makeup and blowouts.
Best for: Lenny Letter subscribers seeking ‘convenience and connection’ in a home away from home
How to get a desk: Apply for membership
Penthouse, 45 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003

The Farm SoHo

Bright and bustling, this three-year-old co-working space owes part of its charm to a Missouri barn that was dismantled and rebuilt in the heart of SoHo. ‘Despite the rustic feel, we have a lot of cool technology and great partners – including Amazon Web Services, Citibike, Digital Ocean, and General Assembly – to offer our members unique benefits and discounts,’ says co-founder and CEO Lucas Seyhun. Home to the Blueprint Health accelerator, the Farm is making the most of its healthcare niche with new networking initiatives and programming.
Best for: Developers and entrepreneurs, especially those in the healthcare tech space.
How to get a desk: Pick your plan and sign up
447 Broadway, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10013

NeueHouse, Madison Square

A plush and sprawling ‘home for the ambitious and curious’, NeueHouse is sited in a former industrial building and sets the (high) bar for coworking spaces in New York. Five floors of Rockwell Group-designed shared workspaces offer open, flexible layouts and plenty of room for collaboration. What partner Tracey Ryans describes as an ‘ecosystem’ is also fuelled by year-round cultural programming, live music, and intimate dinners.
Best for: Culture vultures in film, design, fashion, branding, architecture, and the arts ready to foster ‘new ideas and important associations’.
How to get a desk: Apply for membership
110 E 25th St, New York, NY 10010, USA

Electropositive, Crown Heights

Since opening its converted warehouse doors last fall, this ‘social innovation platform’ has been building a community of socially minded entrepreneurs. The 11,000 sq ft New York coworking space was designed to foster ‘directed serendipity,’ according to co-founder Todd Triplett, and includes a content studio, a social innovation agency, and a non-profit organisation. Coming soon: overhauled outdoor space and a rooftop farm.
Best for: Social innovators, makers and doers out to change the world.
How to get a desk: Get referred or recommended by a member of the E+ member community or apply.
639 Classon Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Primary, Financial District

With a studio offering 35 yoga, meditation, and boot camp classes per week, this greenery-filled coworking space in the Standard Oil Building brings health and a bit of Zen to the workplace. ‘The most distinctive aspects of Primary are the abundant wellness amenities, our thriving community of incredible entrepreneurs, and the energy of our space which creates a notably tranquil and productive environment,’ says ‘Lead Luminary’ Emma Grunebaum. A second Manhattan location is slated to open later this year.
Best for: Creative types who know that true productivity is fueled by mindfulness (and cold-pressed juice).
How to get a desk: Start by scheduling a tour
26 Broadway, New York, NY 10004