5 Best Coworking Spaces in Madeira: Top Spots to Focus in Funchal, Ponta do Sol and Machico
It can be hard to focus in Madeira, with chiselled mountains, beaches and a thriving digital nomad community at your fingertips. However, that’s where the best coworking spaces in Madeira can help.
Madeira’s shared coworking spaces don’t just provide a quiet place to focus. They’re also fantastic for meeting and networking with other remote workers and digital nomads.
As I explain in my guide to being a digital nomad in Madeira, there are a handful of coworking spaces scattered across the island, from Funchal to the remote east coast. Some are paid, some are free, and not all will be suited to everybody.
That’s why I’m here to share the best coworking spaces in Madeira, including their disadvantages and advantages. I’ve been to two of them myself and spoke to friends who regularly use the others to help me share an honest breakdown.
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Why I Love Coworking in Madeira
If you can’t tell already, I really love visiting Madeira as a digital nomad (I’ve tallied up 3 trips and 5+ months on the ground so far).
However, if there’s one thing I don’t like about the accommodation in Madeira, it’s that it’s not very work-friendly.
My work set-up at home may look good, but it’s not very effective!
Unless you book one of the best coliving spaces in Madeira with a workspace built-in, you’ll most likely find yourself working from a wooden chair and table.
Not great for the back, and not great for productivity either.
The ergonomic workspace at A Ver O Mar, my go-to coliving space in Funchal!
Getting a membership at a coworking space is an easy way to guarantee yourself an ergonomic work setup. (Although, do take note that not all of these picks – especially the free ones – have ergonomic chairs).
You’re also more likely to meet other remote workers and digital nomads at coworking spaces. So, it’s great for networking or finding a friend to join your weekend trips up the local pico (mountain).
Overview of the Best Coworking Spaces in Madeira
Sangha Cowork is the largest and most sophisticated coworking space in Madeira. It’s also the most expensive. If you like comfort and convenience, it’s a good pick.
Cowork Funchal is a smaller coworking space in Funchal. It’s limited on space but friendly and centrally located.
Madeira Friends Hub is run by a non-profit organisation that organises community events connecting digital nomads, expats and locals. It’s only €10 per month (in donations to the non-profit), but you must commit to donating a minimum of €120 per year.
Ponta do Sol Coworking Space is free to use but it doesn’t have ergonomic desk chairs. It’s convenient for those living in Ponta do Sol, ‘the digital nomad village’, but not for nomads in Funchal or the east coast.
The Workspace by Amparo is a free coworking space near Machico. However, it doesn’t have ergonomic desk chairs, and it’s located underneath the airport, which is hard to get to on foot.
| Coworking Space | Location | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Sangha Cowork | Lido, Funchal | €150 |
| Cowork Funchal | Central Funchal | €100 |
| Madeira Friends Hub | Central Funchal | €10 (must donate at least €120 per year) |
| Ponta do Sol Coworking Space | Ponta do Sol | Free |
| The Workspace by Amparo | Machico (under the airport) | Free |
1. Sangha Cowork
Location: Lido, Funchal
Day pass: €15
Monthly pass: €150 (hot desk); €200 (dedicated desk)
Opening hours: 9am to 6pm (weekdays only)
There’s no doubt that Sangha Cowork is one of the best coworking spaces in Madeira. However, it’s also one of the most expensive at €150 per month for a hot desk and €200 for a dedicated desk.
I really love how spacious and modern it is, something that other spaces in Madeira lack. The office is located at the bottom of the Dorisol Buganvilia Studio Hotel in Lido, with views over the ocean.
If you’re based in central Funchal, it’s a bit of a pain to get to, to be honest. You’re better off taking the bus there than walking, as it’s uphill. The walk home is very pleasant, though, as it’s mostly downhill.
Lido-based nomads will find it much easier to reach, as it’s in a central location in Lido.
Another thing I really like about Sangha is that they’re really involved with the Madeira Friends community.
I visited for the community lunch (which usually takes place every other week at Sangha), which granted me free entry to the coworking space for the same day. This made it super easy to meet other digital nomads in Madeira.
If you’re not there for the community lunch, you can make use of the kitchen area, where there’s a coffee machine.
2. Cowork Funchal
Location: Central Funchal
Day pass: €12
Monthly pass: €100 (cold desk); €130 (dedicated desk)
Opening times: 9 am – 1pm and 2 pm – 6pm (24/7 access for members)
Cowork Funchal is a small coworking space with 53 desks in central Funchal.
It’s one of the best places to work from in central Funchal, and better yet, it only costs €100 per month for a cold desk or €130 for a dedicated desk.
I haven’t been to Cowork Funchal myself, but I have several friends who have used it. They liked how friendly and sociable the space was, but they did all mention that it’s a smaller space than Sangha.
Members get 24/7 access to the building, which is a great perk if you’re working on a different timezone.
There’s also a kitchen with a microwave, fridge, kettle, toaster and coffee machine. Not that you always have to eat in, as there are plenty of coffee shops and restaurants within a short walk of the building.
My favourite coffee shop in Funchal, Maia Coffee, is a five-minute walk from Cowork Funchal.
If you need a private office space, there are 11 offices available, starting at €242 (+VAT) each month. Meeting rooms are also available where you can take calls from €6 per hour.
3. Madeira Friends Hub
Location: Central Funchal
Monthly pass: €10 per month in donations (minimum commitment: €120 per year)
Opening times: 8am – 7pm (weekdays only)
If you’re looking for community, the Madeira Friends Hub is one of the best picks. It’s run by Madeira Friends, a non-profit community that organises a host of daily events designed to connect locals, expats and digital nomads.
The likelihood is, if you stay in Funchal, you’ll join their dedicated WhatsApp group. Check my guide to being a digital nomad in Madeira for the details.
To use the coworking space, you must commit to donating at least €120 per year (whether at once or via a monthly €10 subscription).
Considering that the other two best coworking spaces in Funchal cost €100 – €150 per month, it’s very reasonable.
Plus, your money goes towards a great cause and a backbone of the digital nomad community in Madeira.
The Madeira Friends Hub is in central Funchal, near the cable car station for Monte and Art Food Corner.
Like Cowork Funchal, it’s in a traditional Madeiran building. It may be small, but it has proper ergonomic chairs and an outdoor terrace. Private offices are also available.
The hub also hosts regular workshops aimed at digital nomads and remote workers, which are good for networking and learning new skills.
4. Ponta do Sol Coworking Space
Location: Ponta do Sol
Cost: Free
Opening times: 9am – 6pm (weekdays only)
The Ponta do Sol Coworking Space is the main coworking space in Ponta do Sol. It’s completely free to use, but it doesn’t have ergonomic desk chairs just yet (I checked for myself).
What I do love about the space, though, is that it has large glass windows, so there’s plenty of natural light.
It also has a spacious outdoor terrace with seating and a kitchen with an espresso machine. It’s within walking distance of the beach, restaurants and coffee shops.
Ponta do Sol is a 30-minute drive from Funchal, so the coworking space best suits digital nomads who are already staying in the so-called ‘digital nomad village’.
5. The Workspace by Amparo
Location: Machico (underneath the airport)
Cost: Free
Opening times: 9am – 5pm (weekdays only)
The Workspace by Amparo is a free coworking space in Machico. It’s really beautiful, with glass windows overlooking the ocean.
However, despite having stayed in Machico for 4+ months in total, I still haven’t visited. I was always put off by the 20-minute uphill walk along the main road from Machico.
The space is also underneath the airport, so I was concerned about aeroplane noise.
Ideally, you need a car or scooter to reach this location. You can also message in the Remote East Coasters chat and ask if anyone’s available to pick you up on their way to the cowork.
The coworking space is mainly used by members of the Remote East Coasters community, and it’s open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays.
It doesn’t have ergonomic chairs, just plastic chairs.
I hope you found this guide to the best coworking spaces in Madeira helpful! Leave a comment below to let me know your thoughts and favourite things about each space – let’s continue the conversation.
