Cannabis club coworking in Madrid: working from a social club

It’s not the image people have of a cannabis club: someone with a laptop open, headphones on, finishing a report before dinner. But it’s a fairly common sight at IBOGA, and with more people all the time.

What some people search for as a cannabis club coworking space in Madrid doesn’t exist exactly as such, but there are clubs where you can genuinely get work done. Here’s what’s there, what isn’t, and who it makes sense for.

Why a social club works for getting things done

Plenty of people use it as what sociologists call a “third place”: neither home nor office. Somewhere to go when you get distracted at home and feel cramped at the office — if you have one.

A well-run social club has, almost without trying, what anyone who needs to focus is looking for: few people at a time, a calm atmosphere, and nobody rushing you. That’s no accident. It’s a result of the entry filter we cover in the sponsor system: a club where everyone knows each other or has been through an interview is a club where the volume stays low.

The difference from working in a café is that here you’re a member, not a passing customer. Nobody gives you a look for spending the whole afternoon with your laptop.

Wifi and plugs: what there is to work with

No frills, this is what you’ll find:

• Wifi. It’s the first thing people ask, and it’s there.
• Plugs. They’re there, which is what matters when you’re about to spend the afternoon on a laptop.
• Quiet most of the day. There’s no music competing with your concentration.
• Lounge area and tables. You can work on a sofa with the laptop on your knees or at a table, whichever you need.
• Bar. Beers, milkshakes and soft drinks for the mid-afternoon break.

When it’s quietest

On weekdays, especially early in the afternoon, the club is calm. That’s the best time for anything that needs concentration: writing, coding, designing, studying, closing the books.

As the afternoon goes on, more people arrive and the atmosphere gets more social. If you need total silence, come earlier; if background noise doesn’t bother you, any time works.

Differences from a traditional coworking space in Madrid

Worth being clear so we don’t sell what isn’t there. IBOGA is a social club where you can also work, not a workspace with office services.

• There are no rooms or bookings. You sit wherever there’s space, like anywhere else in the club.
• There are no morning hours. We open from 16:15 to 22:00, every day. If you work 9 to 2, this isn’t your place; if your day stretches into the afternoon, it is.
• It’s not somewhere to meet clients. Only members get in, so you can’t invite someone from outside.

Who it makes sense for

It tends to suit people who work for themselves or remotely and want a change of scenery a couple of afternoons a week, people who study and need to get out of the house, or anyone who simply prefers working around people without anyone talking to them.

It suits you less if your job depends on long loud calls, a private room for team meetings, or a professional network. Coworking spaces built for exactly that will serve you better.

An afternoon working at a cannabis club in Ciudad Lineal

You arrive, pick a spot — the lounge area or a table — order something at the bar, and get on with it. Nobody interrupts you unless you feel like talking.

And if you need to switch off for ten minutes mid-afternoon, the pool table and the dartboard are a few steps away. It’s exactly the mix we’re going for: room to focus and, when you feel like it, people to break up the day with, without leaving the club.

Getting the most out of it

A few ideas that tend to work:

• Bring headphones. Even when it’s quiet they help you get into work mode, and they’re a good signal to everyone else that you’re focused.
• Come early. The first part of the afternoon on weekdays is the calmest.
• Save long calls for the quiet hours. If you have a video call, pick a moment when there are few people around, out of respect for everyone else.
• Use the break. A game of pool between two blocks of work does you more good than staring at the screen.

Can anyone come to work? Members only

There’s one important difference from a regular coworking space. A coworking space is an open business: you pay for a desk and walk in. IBOGA is a private association, which means you need to be a member to work here. Showing up and asking for a seat isn’t enough.

It’s the same reason the sponsor system and the prior interview exist: being private is what holds up spaces like this, and opening them up like any other coworking space would put that in question. If you’re interested in working here, the way in is to become a member first.

FAQ about working at a cannabis club

Do I need to book a table?

No. There are no bookings or rooms: you sit wherever there’s space. If you go early in the afternoon on a weekday, you’ll most likely find the spot you prefer.

Can I go to study?

Yes, it works the same as for working: wifi, plugs and a calm atmosphere most of the day. Plenty of members use it that way.

How late can I stay?

The club is open every day from 16:15 to 22:00. Within those hours, you can stay as long as you like.

Can I bring a colleague who isn’t a member?

No. Only members get in, whatever the reason. If that person wants to see the club, the best move is for them to join first; you can be their sponsor yourself.

Do I need to be a cannabis user to work there?

To become a member, yes: the regulations require anyone joining to already be a regular user, because a club can’t encourage someone to start. Once you’re a member, everyone uses the space as they like: to work, to play or to chat.

Summary: cannabis club coworking in Madrid

IBOGA isn’t a coworking space, and doesn’t try to be. But plenty of members use it for exactly that: somewhere calm, with wifi and plugs, people around, and a pool table to break up the day when you feel like it. If you’re already a member, try it one weekday afternoon. If not, you can check the three steps to join or take a look at what the club looks like inside. And if you live nearby, our guide to the Ciudad Lineal area covers how to get here.