innovation

Lunch under a tree is a good argument for going into the office. PAU occupies a renovated school on the edge of Sant Antoni, with a courtyard that makes the midday break part of the appeal. Founder Alejandro Papadopoulos runs it as a coworking space and creative hub, bringing together people working in visual arts, design, fashion and architecture alongside freelancers and small businesses.

Inside, long shared tables and plants fill the white-painted rooms, with sofas for a change of scene. An old chalkboard survives above the desks, a reminder of the building’s earlier working life. The courtyard has a tree at its center and ivy along the wall, with tables for eating together. Upstairs, the rooftop terrace offers loungers and a picnic table. There’s room here to step away from the screen without heading home.

The workspaces accommodate different ways of earning a living. Flexible and fixed desks suit people working on their own; team desks and private offices give colleagues a base together. Ateliers and studios give artists and designers a place to make things by hand, alongside the people working at laptops. Meeting rooms and phone booths take care of conversations that need privacy, while a shared kitchen and cafeteria cover the breaks. There’s bike parking too, and dogs are welcome.

PAU belongs to the European Creative Hubs Network, and its spaces also host exhibitions and cultural events. Community lunches give members a chance to get acquainted, while free yoga and ping-pong championships offer other reasons to put the work aside for a while. A day pass lets you try the place before choosing a longer-term arrangement – useful when the people matter as much as the desk. Stay for lunch.