Partnering with Local Cafés and Restaurants to Add Value

Coworking is built on community, and successful coworking spaces don’t operate in isolation. In the words of one industry pioneer, Jenny Poon, founder of CO+HOOTS, a coworking space shouldn’t be “like a spaceship that lands in a neighborhood, isolated from its neighbors” – truly great spaces are deeply connected to their communities.

One powerful way to foster these connections and enrich your members’ experience is by partnering with local cafés and restaurants. Such partnerships can engage your community, encourage members to explore the neighborhood, and keep the collaborative spirit of coworking alive.

In this article, we’ll explore how teaming up with nearby eateries can add value for everyone involved – from members and space operators to the local businesses themselves – and share best practices for making these partnerships a win-win for all.

Contents

• What Do Café and Restaurant Partnerships Actually Look Like?
• How Do These Partnerships Strengthen Community and Neighborhood Engagement?
• What Member Perks Can You Offer Through Local Partnerships?
• How Do Local Partnerships Benefit Both Coworking Spaces and Restaurants?
• How Can Coworking Operators Set Up Effective Local Partnerships?
• Conclusion

What Do Café and Restaurant Partnerships Actually Look Like?

A partnership between your coworking space and a local café or restaurant is a collaboration where both sides benefit from increased visibility and member value. These often revolve around:

• Member discounts or special pricing
• Bundled offers (e.g., coffee included with membership)
• Cross-promotions or shared events
• Referral or revenue-sharing deals

How Do These Partnerships Strengthen Community and Neighborhood Engagement?

Partnering with local businesses doesn’t just add perks, it actively embeds your coworking space into the life of the neighborhood.

When members regularly step out for coffee or lunch at partner cafés and restaurants, they connect with local people, explore nearby spots, and create visibility and movement around your space. This repeated interaction turns your space into a neighborhood anchor, not just a standalone office.

A great example of this comes from the London Coworking Assembly, which highlights how coworking contributes to vibrant “15-minute city” neighborhoods – places where people can access work, food, culture, and social life all within walking distance. Their Coworking Values Blog explains how this proximity fuels both connection and sustainability.

And the benefit flows both ways. A café that used to be quiet during weekday lunch hours might suddenly see a steady stream of new customers – coworkers who wouldn't have found them otherwise.

That kind of local integration strengthens not just your coworking community, but the entire small business ecosystem around you.

What Member Perks Can You Offer Through Local Partnerships?

Member perks are one of the fastest ways to increase satisfaction. Common offers include:

• Discounted coffee or tea
• Daily lunch specials
• “Happy hour” pricing after work
• Occasional free treats

Real-world examples reinforce how effective these perks can be. Think Big Coworking in Kansas City provides members with a discount card that includes complimentary drinks at a local Italian restaurant and special prices at a nearby pub, among other offers.

In spaces using Cobot, similar partnerships can be shared through built-in discount codes. This lets operators manage local perks in one place and gives members a clear, consistent way to access partner offers without relying on printed cards or manual updates.

These small choices make members feel appreciated and add daily value to their workday. As a coworking operator, these details often help you retain members and create a memorable experience.

If you’re looking for more ideas to keep your members happy and engaged, check out our guide to member perks that support retention.

How Do Local Partnerships Benefit Both Coworking Spaces and Restaurants?

A strong café or restaurant partnership delivers a “win-win-win”: benefits for members, your space, and the local business.

For Your Members

• Access to real savings
• More options for breaks, meals, and social time
• A stronger sense of belonging beyond the workspace

For Your Space

• A differentiator in a competitive market
• Increased member satisfaction and retention
• Less friction in onboarding (members see instant perks)

For Local Businesses

• Steady customers during slower hours
• Repeat traffic from coworking regulars
• Word-of-mouth buzz through your community channels

Even simple revenue-sharing models (e.g., a small commission on referred dinners) can work if both parties agree on value.

How Can Coworking Operators Set Up Effective Local Partnerships?

1. Identify the Right Partners

Start with places where your members already go. Look for:

• Cafés with strong breakfast or lunch crowds
• Restaurants near your space with room for mid-day visitors
• Venues open to community events

Talk to members first: what local spots do they love? Their answers are your best leads.

2. Create Clear, Mutual Value

When you reach out, make it easy for the partner to say yes. A good proposal includes:

• What you’re offering (discounts, exposure, events)
• What you expect (clear perk terms, signage, social tags)
• Why it benefits them (new customers, daytime traffic)

Keep it simple at first: start with a 2- or 3-month trial.

3. Formalize the Agreement

A short written agreement helps avoid confusion later. Include:

• The perks offered
• How members redeem them
• When they apply (days, hours)
• How you’ll track uptake
• A trial timeline and review point

This makes it easier to test, adjust, or expand the partnership later.

4. Promote Your Perks Everywhere

A partnership only works if members know about it. Promote it through:

• Member onboarding emails
• Community dashboards
• Slack/Discord/WhatsApp
• Bulletin boards or signage
• Staff reminders during tours

Make perks part of the culture, not just a footnote.

5. Co-Create Events to Deepen Engagement

Take it a step further by co-hosting moments like:

• Coffee tastings in your space with the partner
• Monthly lunch meetups
• Happy hour takeovers or themed socials
• Cross-promoted holiday specials

Shared events amplify both brands and reinforce that this partnership is about community, not just discounts.

Conclusion

Ultimately, partnering with local cafés and restaurants is about keeping the spirit of coworking – community, collaboration, and mutual support – alive and well.

It extends the community beyond your space’s walls and into the streets and establishments of your neighborhood. Your members get to enjoy and feel connected to the local culture (instead of being stuck at a desk with instant coffee), and local businesses get a boost from the presence of your dynamic workforce. For coworking operators, these partnerships can differentiate your space with authentic local flavor and foster an environment where members feel more at home.

In short, a coffee or lunch might seem like a small thing, but it can catalyze connections and goodwill that enrich your coworking space immeasurably. As you nurture these local partnerships, you’re not only offering a convenient perk – you’re weaving a tighter community fabric and demonstrating what coworking is all about.