From Zamalek to New Cairo, here’s where to set up when the home office isn’t working for you

💻 The discussion around the pros and cons of remote work is pretty much a dead horse — one we’ve beaten ourselves — but the fact is this: many of us here in Om El Donia more often than not find ourselves working remotely, and so the practical question becomes: “If I don’t want to work at home, where should I?” Cairo, east or west, has no shortage of spots where you’d find 9-to-5ers cozied up with their laptops — but where do you go when you’re seeking a quiet atmosphere, minimal interruptions, good coffee, and the company of like-minded professionals?

In this week’s edition of The Enterprise Guide, we’re listing our favorite coworking spaces — some you’ll already be familiar with, some you won’t — and quaint spots where you can get your work done and take as many international calls as your heart desires, or your to-do list dictates.

The tried and true

Some spaces have earned their reputation by getting the basics right, consistently. MQR, Consoleya, and Kamelizer Spaces are Cairo’s coworking stalwarts — and if you’ve spent any time working outside the home, odds are you’ve already found yourself in at least one of them. MQR has the widest footprint of the three, with branches in Downtown, New Cairo, Maadi, Sheikh Zayed, and October, which means there’s probably one near wherever you happen to be. Quiet shared spaces, reliable WiFi, a coffee corner, and a culture that keeps the chatter down are what to expect.

Consoleya is a different proposition: an almost-century-old former French Consulate building in Downtown, renovated to the point where answering emails feels dignified. It also runs 24/7, which puts it in a category of its own for anyone working against a deadline or a timezone. Kamelizer, with branches in District 5 and Sheikh Zayed, is the quieter option on either side of the capital and happens to be a short walk from enough lunch spots to make the decision of where to work a little easier.

For the full breakdown on each of these classic go-tos — rates, membership tiers, and how to book — revisit our 2025 coworking guide.

Off the beaten path

#1- Founders Spaces: Similar to Consoleya, Founders Spaces is housed in a century-old villa in the heart of the city. It doesn’t bill itself as just a coworking space, but as a “sanctuary for innovators, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to thrive” — and the setup reflects that. The space is built around uninterrupted work, with a community of professionals who are there for the same reason you are. It’s also a genuinely good place to network, should the mood strike. You’ll get access to meeting rooms, high-speed WiFi, daily cleaning, personal storage, and complimentary beverages.

Rates: A dedicated desk runs approximately EGP 1.9k per week or EGP 7.2k per month. Hot desks for nomads go for EGP 3.6-4k per month, with daily passes available at EGP 400. Book through their website.

WHERE TO FIND IT- 22 El Shaikh Rihan Street, Abdeen, Downtown Cairo.

#2- Soil Spaces and Soil Sips: If you can’t work without a steady stream of caffeine, Soil Sips is worth knowing about. Billed as a coworking space “brewed for the ones who build things,” it’s not your average café — you’ll find dedicated workstations alongside comfortable indoor and outdoor seating for a more casual day, with additional options if you need to lock in. Soil Sips is part of Soil Spaces, a design-led operation that wants you as comfortable as you’d be at home. The wider space offers four distinct environments — Blooms, Roots, Pods, and Clay — each suited to different working styles, as well as dedicated long-term offices for those who need something more permanent.

Rates: A half-day pass starts from EGP 500, with a full day at EGP 800, and longer passes climbing to EGP 32k for 50 days in certain spaces. Head to their website for the full breakdown. Bookings can be made through the app. (App Store | Google Play)

WHERE TO FIND IT- B01, New Business Park, Mivida, New Cairo.

#3- Kroo Creative Collective: Heliopolis residents, this one’s for you. Kroo is a coworking space designed with quiet as its first priority — soundproof pods, hot desks, and private offices make up the setup, and the whole thing is built around the idea that you should be able to actually focus. High-speed internet, lockers, a coffee shop onsite, and housekeeping services for longer-term bookings round out the offering.

Rates: Rates tend to run lower than the other spaces listed here. Fill out this form for personalized pricing details.

WHERE TO FIND IT- 18 Baghdad Street, Heliopolis.

#4- Aura Space: A community space with a coworking element, Aura wants your 9-5 and the 5-9 that follows. Aura boasts meeting rooms, podcast studios, and even event halls — all reservable by the hour, rather than by day. Aside from its private workstations and offices, Aura frequently hosts a slew of community events and workshops, such as game nights, art sessions, movie clubs, and more.

Rates: Outdoor tables seating up to six are available for EGP 200 per hour; meeting rooms fitting 15 come at EGP 300 per hour; and other spaces for larger parties can climb up to EGP 2k per hour. Check the full list of offerings (and how to book) on their website.

WHERE TO FIND IT- 9 Street 251, Degla, Maadi.

Cafés where quiet is king

Sometimes, however, working remotely means you want to get out of the office mindset entirely — that’s where these spots come in. Despite not being coworking spaces per se, these cafés are more often than not frequented by freelancers and professionals looking for a change of scenery to get work done, which means you’ll find plenty of calm (and good coffee).

#1- Limbo: Perched in Zamalek’s Om Kolthoum Hotel & Tower with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Nile, Limbo is the kind of spot that makes a four-hour work session feel less like one. The seating is comfortable, the table layout is designed with enough spacing to give you a sense of privacy, and the staff is friendly without hovering. The coffee holds up too — a flat white that actually tastes like one, and a menu broad enough that you won’t run out of reasons to stay another hour.

WHERE TO FIND IT- Abu El Feda, Zamalek.

#2- The Rue, Drop The Shop: Hailed as one of Egypt’s biggest and newest “third spaces” by its founder Hussein Shahbender, Drop the Shop’s flagship store isn’t just a place to go to shop — but rather a one-stop shop. You’ll find specialty coffee place The Rue, where you can sip and sift through Excel sheets, grab a bite at Pacha Mama, book a yoga class after, and perhaps round out the day with a haircut.

WHERE TO FIND IT- You can find Drop the Shop at LMD’s One-Ninety in New Cairo.

Honorable (tried-and-tested) mentions:

• Beano’s Café — St. 81, Maadi branch;
• Diwan Café — Heliopolis, Maadi, and Zamalek branches;
• Bibliothek — Arkan Plaza branch.

Done with your work but still need to talk business? Check out our guide to Cairo’s best tables for finalizing agreements over a good meal — or, if food’s off the agenda, where to take your business partners after hours.