Whether you are a remote worker or business traveller, nothing beats soaking up the local atmosphere and what better way to do so than enjoying the atmosphere of a good ‘Kopitiam’ – coffee shop while you work? Not only is it great fun and an important part of Malaysian culture, but it is also perfect for networking too. Asian business travellers travel twice as much as their European counterparts and many regularly visit Malaysia. Knowing how good the kopitiams are, they are always keen to discover the best one near their hotel!
Locals view the Kopitiam as the ideal place for breakfast as well as being a good co-working space and expanding your network. Malaysian coffee has a rich and distinctive nutty flavour because the coffee beans are double-roasted and then mixed with melted butter and sugar to caramelise them before they are ground. Malaysian coffee is the perfect accompaniment to a tasty breakfast which usually includes nasi lemak (a coconut rice dish) and kaya toast – toast spread with a thick layer of butter and topped with coconut jam.
Life as a business traveller can be challenging as feeling motivated in a bland hotel room is difficult. If you are travelling to Malaysia, the great news is that there are some coffee shops that are great places to work remotely or with colleagues. While there is a great selection of both traditional and modern coffee shops to enjoy during your stay, the Malaysians have taken their great ‘coffee culture’ one step further with the creation of a number of co-working spaces. Each has its own distinctive character and style and is ideal for boosting productivity, networking and sharing ideas with like-minded people.
If you are planning a business trip to Malaysia soon, knowing where the best coffee shops to work in will definitely prove valuable information. Here we bring you the low down on the top five where work can be combined with excellent coffee – and all have good Wi-Fi too.
In this article, we'll take a look at:
Common Ground is Malaysia’s biggest co-working community and is ideal for those working remotely or starting a new enterprise. Common Ground was the first co-working space to open and has become so successful that there are now more than 14 branches in Malaysia as well as three branches in the Philippines and two in Bangkok, Thailand.
The décor is light, bright, contemporary in style – and very inspiring. Common Ground has a growing networking community which is ideal for educating and sharing ideas and has good meeting room facilities. There are well-stocked cafés that offer dine-in or takeaway options.
The facilities at Common Ground are comprehensive and ideal for many types of businesses including accounting, legal advice, courier services and graphic design. Common Ground is an ideal choice for hybrid working too. There is high-speed wireless internet and there is a regular programme of workshops and business talks.
Common Ground operates a membership scheme and the prices are currently as follows:-
The Hot Desk tariff means you can use a seat within a hot desk zone in any location, whereas a fixed desk is your own dedicated desk in a shared workspace. The private office is a fully furnished workspace, whilst a virtual office is ideal for those working remotely who need access to full business services. Membership comes with 500+ lifestyle benefits too.
This bright fun Malaysian digital hub is easily reached by public transport and the facilities are definitely comprehensive as several branches have nap rooms and breastfeeding facilities. WORQ is described as much more than a workspace and is viewed as a community where individuals achieve greater productivity because they have the opportunity to share experiences and help each other. The WORQ hubs appeal to a wide range of backgrounds including, MNCs, SMEs, government agencies, NGOs, digital marketers and programmers. There are meeting rooms of various sizes and boardrooms that can be hired. All the rooms are styled for comfort and practicality with splashes of vibrant colour which give them an informal character. All spaces are sustainable and eco-friendly environments. Good coffee and plentiful snacks are available in each location.
The WORQ membership prices are:
There are WORQs at GLO Damansara, Menara 1 Sentrum, KL Gateway and UOA Business Park.
Headspace has a really appealing ambience that is comfy and cosy making it the perfect choice for freelancers, remote workers, students and start-ups. There are good facilities including plenty of comfy seating, work desks and private meeting rooms and the Wi-Fi is very fast. To complement the great working atmosphere, there is a free flow of coffee, but the big incentive to choose this as your workspace is the chance to enjoy unlimited ice cream – you can have a non-stop supply for just SS15!
Headspace SS15 membership price:
* Headspace SS15 is situated at Petaling Jaya, Selangor. It is open Monday – Friday 10.00-19.00 and Saturdays and Sundays, 11.00- 19.00.
Situated in Selangor and easily reached by public transport, LAB is one of the country’s newest co-working spaces. The LAB tagline is “a place you can relax to create & get things done” and it certainly has a relaxing yet energising vibe with its bright light spaces and clever use of pops of vibrant colour. LAB has four different zones – Relax zone, Focus zone, Conference Room and Private Office – and these add to its appeal along with its well-priced membership which is considered the best value. Like A Boss has good amenities including fast internet and an unlimited supply of coffee For relaxing moments there are snacks available, a microwave and a magazine corner.
Like A Boss membership price:
Like a Boss can be found at 1/2, Unit 1-21, Level 1, Ecosky, Batu 6, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Taman Wahyu, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor. LAB is open Monday – Saturday 09.00- 20.00 and Sundays 09.00- 17.00
If you are looking for somewhere smaller and less organised that is perfect for the business traveller where you can spend some time working – check out the Glass House!
This amazing building really does reflect its name as it is a two-storey building with floor-to-ceiling glass. It really is an uplifting place to sit as you can work and enjoy the view of the trees and sunshine. The tables are modern with central pedestal legs and the chairs are simple high-backs in wooden laminate. A real bonus is that there are power points by each table which are ideal for charging your laptop and if you need sustaining, there are salads and poke bowls or an array of cakes and if you love coffee, there is a good selection as well as tea and soft drinks. The coffee shop is relatively small as it has just 12 tables. There is paid to park immediately outside.
* The Glass House is situated at Lot C109, Metropolitan Square, Jalan PJU 8/1, Damansara Perdana, 47820 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
* Opening hours are:11.15 – 19.00 Monday – Friday, 11.30 – 19.00 on Saturdays and is closed on Sundays.
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