Coworking at The Hive Sheung Wan: What I Liked, Loved, & Didn’t Care For

As emphasized in my guide to laptop-friendly cafes in Hong Kong, I truly believe anyone who wants to buckle down with work and do so in the most economical way (in Hong Kong) should explore a coworking space. There are more coworking spaces in Hong Kong than you can shake a stick at, they are reasonably priced, great ways to meet others working non-traditionally in a finance-driven city, and (most) offer flexible contracts and working arrangements (ex. Hot desks, dedicated desks, offices, and more). 

After returning to Hong Kong, I initially resisted. It seemed too permanent, something that has always given me a strange amount of stress over the years. I was used to flying by the seat of my pants. But I thought back to my incredible experiences working out of Code Hub Mostar in Bosnia and Cocoquadrat in Vienna (RIP), and how much more productive I was with a dedicated workspace and made the leap. 

I’m glad I did. Working out of The Hive Sheung Wan for over one year was hands down one of the best professional decisions I’ve made. 

Below, I’m going to walk through a bit about my time working from The Hive Sheung Wan on Hillier Street, what I liked, loved, and didn’t care for, and what you can expect when getting down to biznass (apologies, I have been listening to Ludacris on repeat lately) here. 

Pricing, Admin, & All That Jazz 

The Hive Sheung Wan is a three-floor open-plan workspace (with a ground lobby and entrance) that is home to hot desks, dedicated desks, private offices, a cafe (with a ghost kitchen), phone booths for private calls, an assortment of different-sized conference rooms, and an outdoor terrace. Depending on your work needs, they’ve got you covered. 

Just for clarification, hot desks are located on the first floor and are typically a laptop-only type of deal where you work from one of the communal tables or third-floor cafe and/or terrace (with varying usage rights based on full-time vs. part-time membership), while dedicated desks are a carved out space at a “quad table” that is yours (where people typically use a monitor).

Every type of membership has both cafe and terrace access, which is perfect when you want to soak in the rays on a sunny day or change up your routine a bit. 

All memberships come with an access card, events access (great for meeting people), speedy WiFi, private call booth access (essential for private calls), and free coffee. All snacks stocked in the pantry and refrigerator come at a price (and are billed to your account at the end of the month) – something I found out after drinking roughly 9,000 liters of sparkling water and not reading the fine print (but that was on me).

What’s the Financial Damage Per Month?

As mentioned in my article tackling laptop-friendly cafes in Hong Kong, there is also a ‘cafe membership’ option, where you are able to access the third-floor cafe and terrace for 2 hours per day maximum (HKD 500). 

As of the date of publication, The Hive Sheung Wan’s website has part-time hot desks (9 AM to 6 PM access for 10 days per month) starting at HKD 3,000 (USD 385), full-time hot desks (24/7 access for 30 days per month) available for HKD 4,800 (USD 617), and dedicated desks priced at HKD 5,500 (USD 707) per month for 24/7 access to a seat at a quad table that is unequivocally yours (this also includes up to HKD 200 per month in printing credits).  

HOWEVER!!! Do not take these numbers as doctrine (except for the cafe membership, which seems to be a non-negotiable). There are always seasonal or occupancy deals available here. For example, the holiday (and 10-year anniversary) deal I am currently looking at on their website provides 50% off for the first 3 months, and 30% off thereafter, for those who commit to a 6 to 12-month membership. 

Keep in mind that while reading this, the aforementioned deal may not be applicable – but I assure you there are plenty of others. Always ask!!! A line I like to hit people with, much to their chagrin (I also pronounce this ‘CHAAAAAW-Grin’ just to further irritate people), is “Surely there is something we can do that works for us both.”

Also, a trick of the trade, for those looking to secure a workspace for at least one year, is to pay the entire amount all upfront for an additional discount (I recommend asking about this). Businesses like cash, and they like it upfront, so they are often willing to work with you and provide a discount for helping with their cash flow (or lack thereof). 

Between a seasonal/occupancy discount and “paying the yearly membership all at once discount,” I was able to significantly reduce the monthly costs of my membership type by roughly 40%. 

What I Liked & Loved About The Hive Sheung Wan 

Sure, I could talk about how I was some of the most productive I’ve ever been in my professional life there (note: that does not exactly mean successful), or the high-speed WiFi (with different networks per floor), or even the quality of the table I worked on and chair I sat in, but that doesn’t truly capture the soul of this place.

While there are countless things, people, and moments I liked (and loved) associated with The Hive Sheung Wan, I’ve selected a few that sum up my experience the best. 

Located at the Intersection of the New & Old of Hong Kong

“I’m easy. Put me in an interesting location with good people and I’m there.”

Jane Curtain (actress and SNL cast member who starred in the Oscar-worthy ‘Coneheads’)

• Address: 33, 35 Hillier St, Sheung Wan

Located right below the steps on the bustling Hillier Street, The Hive is conveniently situated between the East meets West district of Sheung Wan. If the district of Sheung Wan were a person, it would contain multitudes. It is someone who works extremely hard, enjoys the “in your face” flavor of a big city, and would probably guzzle down a New England-style IPA before heading to the Cooked Food Centre to eat homestyle noodles and siu mai. 

Sheung Wan is a clash of the old and new of Hong Kong, the cheongsam vs. the Lululemons, the milk tea vs. the Aperol spritz, the cha chaan teng vs. the taqueria. And, each distinct clash ultimately comes together to form one amazing technicolor dreamcoat of pizzaz, tradition, and rectitude. 

Also, I may be partial to the location since I live(d) on Robinson Road, so getting down to The Hive Sheung Wan was a 10-minute walk at most. So, maybe my overall laziness contributed to this venerable ode you are now reading (or singing?).

Like clockwork, I started every single day by stopping at the cafe next door – Meanwhile Coffee. Ricky, the owner, is a dedicated coffee enthusiast who is like a mad scientist (in the best way possible) when it comes to cooking up cold brew concoctions and flavors. Every day (nearly), I found myself tasting some Frankenstein-esque cold brew experiment – one of my favorites being a Sichuan peppercorn amalgamation. 

I would highly recommend that you stop by this cafe and give it a try if you are in the neighborhood and want strong, creative, and flavorful cold brews, or are in the mood for a hearty helping of black truffle eggs on sourdough or an assortment of sandwiches (their croque monsieur is a personal favorite).

You are also a stone’s throw away from the Sheung Wan MTR, so commutes across the Island or over to Kowloon and/or New Territories are a little more bearable. 

You Get Coworkers, Without the Drama of Being Coworkers

For me, The Hive Sheung Wan was a refreshing spot to be around other professionals who weren’t working in one of the typical expat industries (banking, law, etc…). It provided an already established common ground with other members, since we all had at least one shared experience – taking a slightly less traditional path than most who come to and/or live in Hong Kong. 

The Hive is filled with professionals of all types, backgrounds, and ages. From Instagram influences and YouTubers to architects and telehealth professionals, and everyone in between. For professionals of all backgrounds, languages, and ages, there was this ‘collective effervescence’ of sorts while working, and I would sometimes find myself experiencing that same feeling I had back in high school concert band where we would just enter into this cohesive ball of positive energy working towards the same goal.

Having worked at one company for just under a year (many moons ago in Taiwan), it felt mentally and emotionally taxing to have both your professional and personal interactions dominated by the same people. Tensions just always seemed to escalate that much easier. However, The Hive felt like the perfect balance between the two. While you get to see everyone here in a professional capacity, you do not encounter the same issues, stresses, or emotions that you normally would with traditional coworkers. 

In most encounters with others on my floor, we never even discussed what we did. We got to experience the best parts of being coworkers: the camaraderie, regularity, and developing personal relationships – all without the professional turmoil. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: If you are just coming into the city (or have been living here) and looking to meet new people, I definitely recommend checking out one of The Hive’s semi-regular events. This is one thing I did not take enough advantage of while here. The most up-to-date information about events can be found over at The Hive Hong Kong’s Instagram.

An Outdoor Terrace to Soak in That Vitamin D

Look at that picture right there. I took it (I will rarely ever pat myself on the back for a picture I snapped). It is one of the few pictures I’ve taken for this blog. Granted, it isn’t the best picture ever and takes up half of this blog post but you “get the picture” of what you can expect from this magnificent, illuminated terrace. 

The Hive’s third-floor outdoor terrace is the perfect spot and much-needed refuge to buckle down on a cooler (less humid) fall day, slug a beer (or six) with some coworkers or friends after a long day working, or just take a break from the daily grind downstairs.

For me, this terrace was one of the selling points when I first signed up. I spent many a Thursday and Friday night here recapping the day and winding down with other Hive members and was also able to spend some social time here during the height of the pandemic when Hong Kong forbade us from having normal social gatherings and interactions with one another. 

What I Didn’t Care For

Honestly, there wasn’t much that I didn’t love. 

The only thing I would touch on that wasn’t entirely a 10 out of 10 was occasional maintenance issues with the bathroom, third-floor terrace, and elevators. And, for those who need absolute silence, this was not always the case. 

Having transitioned primarily from cafes to a more dedicated workspace, the noise was not an issue for me but I do know that others have voiced annoyance with it. However, anytime other offices or desks would get too rowdy, they were always respectful and abided once someone asked them to tone it down.

Several things think that are worth raising and were surprisingly prevalent comments from friends and past members of The Hive Sheung Wan, who migrated to one of the many other coworking spaces across the city, is that it might not be the best spot to scale a company experiencing rapid growth (due to finite spaces) or maintain strict professional interactions and/or traditional corporate structures with employees (environment can feel overly casual for some).

Final Thoughts on The Hive Sheung Wan: I’ll Be Back

I’m taking several months out of Hong Kong just to reset mentally, financially, and spiritually (well…not the last one), so I will not be continuing my membership at The Hive Sheung Wan in early 2023. However, I’ll be back. 

The funny thing too is that there is a high probability that I do take up a short-term membership at one of The Hive’s locations in Saigon (my old stomping ground). If you have any insights on the difference between the District 1 and District 2 locations (in Ho Chi Minh City), please let me know in the comments or by email! I would love to hear from you. 

My 2023 is a year of untethering, one where I’m aiming to strike a better balance between permanency and a stringent geographical constitution to keep myself grounded, and one where I’m not feeling suffocated and tied (both financially and emotionally) so rigidly to a single location, group, or idea.

Once I return to Hong Kong in mid-2023 (or earlier), you will definitely find me working out of The Hive Sheung Wan again. The people (and community), the location, and the productivity channeled here, will keep me coming back.

If you have any questions about coworking spaces in Hong Kong or about The Hive Sheung Wan, feel free to reach out and I’m more than happy to answer them!

Be grand everyone,

Big Body