On paper, a freelancer, remote worker or student in Ljubljana has plenty of options for working with a laptop: cafés, libraries, home and coworking spaces. In practice, each has its pitfalls – from hunting for a power socket to noise and limited hours. We have reviewed the pros and cons of each option to help you choose your own.
Cafés: a pleasant atmosphere, uncertain productivity
- Pros – a relaxed atmosphere, good coffee, a change of scenery, sociability.
- Cons – noise and music, unreliable Wi-Fi, the fight for a table with a socket, the unwritten rule of a new order every hour or two, video calls uncomfortable for you and those around you.
- Cost – two or three coffees and a snack a day quickly add up to €10–15, i.e. €200–300 a month with daily work.
Libraries: quiet with limitations
- Pros – quiet, free access, a study atmosphere (NUK, branches of the Ljubljana City Library).
- Cons – limited opening hours, crowds during exam periods, a ban on phone and video calls, no space for meetings, food and drink usually not allowed.
- For whom – excellent for reading and writing, unsuitable for work that involves communication.
Home: free, but with familiar pitfalls
Working from home is the cheapest option, but it brings isolation, distractions and a blurred line between work and free time. We prepared a detailed comparison in the article What is a coworking space – in short: home is great for part of the week, but rarely the whole week.
Coworking: the professional solution
A coworking space is the only one of these options designed precisely for work: an equipped desk with an external monitor, reliable internet, a call room, a meeting room, printing, coffee – and a community of people who work just like you. The cost is predictable and comparable to a „café membership“, but the result is incomparable.
A quick comparison
| Criterion | Café | Library | Coworking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noise / quiet | Noisy | Quiet | Calm, work-focused |
| Video calls | Awkward | Not allowed | Call room |
| Hours | Until closing | Limited opening hours | 24/7 |
| Monthly cost with daily work | €200–300 (purchases) | €0 | From €135 (all included) |
| Client meetings | Improvised | No | Meeting room |
| Networking | Random | No | Built into the community |
Our suggestion: combine smartly
For a short morning of writing, a café is wonderful; for deep reading, a library; but for everything else – regular work, calls, meetings and growing your network – coworking works best. At makerSP_CE at Pivovarniška 6, right next to Tivoli, you can try a day pass for €20 with no contract – with free parking, coffee and everything you need for a productive day.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Which is the cheapest option for working in Ljubljana?
A library is free, but with limitations (hours, no calls). For daily work, coworking is often cheaper than cafés, since all the costs (coffee, printing, internet) are already included.
Where in Ljubljana can I make video calls?
Most undisturbed in a coworking space with a call room – at makerSP_CE it is available to all members at no extra charge.
Can I try coworking for a single day?
Yes, a day pass at makerSP_CE costs from €20 and requires no contract.
Conclusion
Ljubljana offers plenty of corners for work, but only one is designed for it. Next time you go looking for a table with a socket, book your own instead – at makerSP_CE.
🚀 Ready for the change?
Book your spot at the makerSP_CE coworking space today.
makerspace.si | rezervacije@makerspace.si | +386 30 393 405