The best cafes, libraries and coworking spots for freelancers in Oslo this autumn

The cold, rainy days are here, and working from home – without ending up in pyjamas whilst binge-watching last night’s TV show and eating cereal on the sofa – might be tempting for remote workers in their first autumn in Oslo.

If you want to avoid the experience described above (which was quite close to my own) then here’s a list of great places in Norway’s capital to bring your computer, let a new atmosphere inspire you, and get some work done.

Cafés

Let’s start with cafes in a central location with WiFi. If you don’t want to buy much more than a coffee and an sandwich, you can try these:

Pust is an ultimate favourite in Majorstuen (Slemdalsveien 1, 0369 Oslo) for freelancers, students, and parents with babies.

It is extremely welcoming, spacious (for prams and last-minute meetings), with good WiFi, energy sockets everywhere, and good coffee and pastries (take a long look at the raspberry muffin with rhubarb).

There is a nice neighbourhood atmosphere and they recently started a Frokost Klubben (breakfast club) every Tuesday from 7:30–8:30am with a buffet (250 kroner per person) if you sign up through their Instagram account.

Opening hours: Monday–Friday 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-5pm.

Mocca is a small, cozy coffee shop in Briskeby (Niels Juels gate 70, 0259 Oslo) and the sister of the famous Java in St. Hanshaugen (Ullevålsveien 47, 0171 Oslo). They have in-house roasted coffee beans, pastries, and WiFi for customers.

“I’ve always been able to write there,” says writer Victoria Bencsik, 33 years old, author of the digital hit So much Luv in dis Club, which turned into a book this year.

“I think it’s a mix of the interior design, the good coffee, and the size of the place. The colours are subtle and there’s a variety of people coming and going. It has a great mood,” she says.

Opening hours: Monday–Friday 7:30am-5pm and weekends 10am-5pm.

Advertisement

Fuglen is a coffee paradise in the heart of Oslo city centre (Universitetsgata 2, 0164 Oslo). You immediately feel cool sitting on one of their vintage pieces of furniture, ordering an in-house roasted coffee, and working on your computer—or even staying late when the place turns into a cocktail bar. 

“It has the best coffee in Oslo, with maximum hygge vibes all year round,” says Björn Lapakko, a 41-year-old consultant. “It’s located conveniently in central Oslo and near great restaurants, with comfortable seating and solid beers and cocktails after work. If I can get a seat in one of my two favourite corners at Fuglen, I’d rather be there than anywhere else during a 6-hour working stretch.”

They also have a location at Gamlebyen (St. Halvards gate 33, 0192 Oslo). Opening hours: Monday–Tuesday 7:30am-8pm, Wednesday–Thursday 7:30am-midnight, Friday 7:30am-1am, Saturday 9am-1am, and Sunday 9am-8pm.

Advertisement

Libraries

If you would prefer a quiet location for deep focus and bringing your own snacks for the day, public libraries work perfectly. Here are three to choose from according to your style:

Deichman Bjørvika is a 10/10 library. Opened in 2020 after 10 years of planning, it is located in Bjørvika (Anne-Cath. Vestlys plass 1, 0150 Oslo) near the city’s iconic Opera House.

It is a tourist attraction in itself, and you can find many corners and types of seating (from chaise lounges to high desks and sofas). It is easy to get there by public transport or bike, and a no-brainer if you are looking for a place to concentrate and work as a freelancer, digital nomad, or during a work trip. It’s a library, so it’s quiet, with good WiFi and plenty of bathroom options. Plus, you feel inspired by the great view of Oslo Fjord. Opening hours: Mondays-Fridays 8am-10pm and weekends 10am-6pm.

Advertisement

The National Museum Library is a hidden corner in the city centre, perfect for writing or finishing that report. Not many people know, but there is a comfortable and quiet ‘multidisciplinary meeting point’ at the National Museum that is open to everyone, whether you’d like to study a topic in depth or just drop by to explore the space and read.

The library has its own entrance from Dronning Mauds gate 2, 0250 Oslo. Opening hours: Monday–Tuesday 10am-6pm, Wednesday 10am-8pm, Thursday–Friday 10am-6pm. Closed on weekends.

University of Oslo Library at Blindern (Georg Sverdrups hus, Moltke Moes vei 39, 0851 Oslo) is a classic for a reason: you have the quiet space and you can easily bring your matpakke with no judgment (although be mindful to respect the areas where you can eat). There’s also a grocery store and a warm lunch buffet close by on campus. This is a good choice if you want to work on the weekends and don’t want to feel alone. Although, try to avoid the end-of-semester exam period because it’s hard to find a spot.

Opening hours: Monday–Friday 8am–10pm and weekends 10am-6pm.

Co-working spaces

If you are looking for a place to build community and join events as well as small talks by the coffee machine, it might be a good idea to join a coworking space in Oslo.

One of the first to pop up was Mesh, closely connected to the Norwegian startup ecosystem, now with two addresses: one at Nationaltheatret (Tordenskiolds gate 2, 0160 Oslo) and one at Youngstorget (Møllergata 6, 8, 0179 Oslo). If you want to try before committing to a membership, you can bring your computer to the coffee lounge at both and check if the atmosphere works for you. They also host monthly afterwork events and breakfasts with talks, which are both great opportunities to meet new people.

This week, we also visited two new names on Oslo’s coworking space map.

Advertisement

The first one is Crucible, in the same location where 657 Oslo used to be (Fredensborgveien 22G, 0177 Oslo), and close to picture-perfect Damstredet. It opened its doors in October 2024 with new owners but kept the format of the former coworking space: attracting startups, tech, and innovation with different membership packages (individual or team), including events, expos, and social gatherings. You can also check out the place first and work at the coffee shop, with WiFi and delicious Brazilian food.

The newest one is MAGIC, which launched in September 2025 on the ground floor of a stunning building located between Vika and Solli (Hansteens gate 12, Oslo). The space includes 17 desks (permanent, flex, and drop-in), meeting rooms, and a lounge. The place has a special twist: it’s reserved for women entrepreneurs, while events and meeting rooms are also open to women and allies.

“Every woman deserves a place to be seen, supported, and celebrated. At the end of the day, it’s simple: when women support women, magic happens,” says Canadian founder Pippa Boothman, who has been living in Oslo since 2018.

Do you have an alternative favourite spot in Oslo to work as a freelancer? Tell other readers about it in the comments section below.