The 10 Best Co-Working and Study Spaces in Penang

Nap rooms, phone booths and designated work desks – the best of Penang’s co-working spaces often boast all three, usually with a café to boot.
Thanks to Penang’s growing community of entrepreneurs and digital nomads, new spaces have sprouted up all around the state to offer non-office workers a new working home. In the vein of co-working trends set by Kuala Lumpur and other cities, these hotspots are typically supported by a robust creative community and lots of caffeine.

Destinations Unlocked:
Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture tripCentralAmerica
1. Guatemala
An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.CentralAmerica
2. Belize
A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.CentralAmerica
3. Mexico
An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.SouthAmerica
1. Ecuador
A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.SouthAmerica
2. Peru
An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.Europe
1. Italy
The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.Europe
2. Scotland
Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.Europe
3. Portugal
A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.Asia
1. South Korea
Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.Asia
2. Thailand
From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.Asia
3. Sri Lanka
A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great priceAfrica
1. Morocco
An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!Africa
2. Egypt
From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.@CAT
Building

Supported by the Penang State Government, @CAT has a well-established presence in the local startup and freelance community. The space is enormous, with open working desks and lockers, as well as event rooms and a help-yourself kitchen. @CAT also hosts workshops and seminars geared towards startup businesses and tech education (Ruby and Python, anyone?).
Common Ground
Building

Don’t underestimate this newcomer to Penang. Common Ground has a uniquely international reach, with branches in the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia (up to 11 branches in Kuala Lumpur). The decor is homely yet contemporary, and the work desks are ‘individual,’ which means there are no excessively long desks where your working neighbours can peek at every website you’re looking up on the world wide web.
Scoopoint
Building

If you like nap time, table tennis and a panoramic view of Weld Quay, this is the place for you. This creative, laid-back space is a popular hub for young creatives and students who like their work and leisure in equal measures – and thanks to a nap room, comfy lounge and table tennis area, they can do that without anyone batting an eye. Students and social enterprises enjoy special rates.
MSOGO
Building

This vibrant, contemporary space could be your new working home. The space is generous and comfortable, offers ‘fat-pipe Wi-Fi,’ and lets you unwind in a game room (yes, you read that right). It is also located inside Prangin Mall, which means that putera and puteri lilins (people wary of sunlight) won’t need to sweat it out under the Malaysian sun if they need to pop out for a bit of local kuih (cake). We like.
Settlements
Building

If you prefer foosball to table tennis, and you like beanbags as much as standing desks, Settlements is the space to hit. The open-plan layout tends to be particularly conducive to group work and professional collaboration, and you can easily slip between work and leisure. The latter involves a ‘green’ chill-out area with rattan chairs, a hammock, and multiple pots of lush vegetation.
CoHere
Building

Are you a startup business looking for a new home? This sleek, minimalist space champions all that is modern and mainland, thanks to its strategic location in Icon City, Bukit Mertajam. Private office rooms offer individual tables and ergonomic armchairs for up to six people per room.
Bersama-sama Coworking Community
Building

If you have to be self-employed, why not do it with other people? ‘Bersama-sama’ means ‘together,’ and together is how they do it here. Located across the Sunway Carnival Mall, Bersama-sama offers a comfortable work space, community events like ‘nasi lemak networking’ and a prayer room. Free day passes are available by signing up on their website.
Habitat Coworking Café
Building

With a full-menu on-site café, this space successfully blends the casual coziness of a café with the bustle of digital nomads. Personal lockers, high-speed Wi-Fi and free drinking water are par for the course, but it’s the easy spaciousness that wins many Penangites over. Day passes start from RM 25 (USD $6).
Regus Penang
Building

Looking for a sleek, elegant office space? Regus is a heavy-hitter in the flexible workspace industry, with over 3,000 locations in more than 100 countries. Its branch in Penang doesn’t disappoint – it is modern, comfortable, with lots of natural light, and available at different price points for a range of SMEs and enterprises.
FlexiSpace
Building

The first co-working space in Butterworth, this simple, wallet-friendly space is big on events, including tequila tasting get-togethers and workshops for venture capitalists. Looking to network with professionals, freelancers and in-betweens? The one-day pass starts at RM 25 (USD $6).
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!


Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.


KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.