Work from Anywhere: Bangalore Edition

The pandemic fueled lockdown meant a big change for office goers as work from home became the mandate. Two years into the changed world we live in, the meaning of office in terms of location has also changed. Starting with work from home, the concept today is work from anywhere. Bindu Gopal Rao explores some newer spaces that are becoming popular in Bangalore and be rest assured all of them have COVID-19 safety protocols in place. Do keep your vaccination certificate handy.

Work from a Museum

At the Indian Music Experience Museum by Brigade, there is a new concept called ‘Work From Museum.’  Manasi Prasad, Museum Director, Indian Music Experience Museum by Brigade, says, “We believe the space is ideally suited for an inspiring and creative work environment, because it is part of a beautiful and aesthetically designed museum, with greenery and calmness all around. The spaces where people can work from are the open-air cafe (it has a roof but is open on the sides) and cubicles in the Learning Centre if people need an indoor space. People can take a break to walk around the sound garden or wander through the exhibit galleries, listen to music, view the artworks and musical instruments on display, and recharge their batteries for more productive work. It is ideal for creative people like graphic designers, artists, writers, bloggers, techies and other professionals.” A day pass costs Rs. 250 for 10 am – 6 pm and includes a working space, a table (this may be shared as cafe tables are big), charging point, access to Wifi internet, museum ticket, and free parking. Food and beverage, printer, and stationery are extra.

Work from a Club

BLVD Club, India’s first private luxury club, makes for a perfect workstation space where one can host meetings, send emails, or make calls. The club has powerful WiFi, seating, and well-equipped conference rooms. A leisurely 20-minute drive from the Bangalore International Airport Road, the club is located inside the sprawling Embassy Boulevard campus, combining exclusivity and sophisticated luxury. Kamakhya Singh, General Manager, BLVD Club says, “BLVD Club has two meeting rooms/Boardrooms (with 8 pax each) equipped with super-fast WiFi and full time IT support. The boardroom opens to a beautiful Koi pond. At Level 1, members can also use the Spirit lounge area along with the boardroom on a chargeable basis. The cost for a boardroom (with 8 pax) is Rs. 4000 for half-day and Rs. 7000 including refreshments. Similarly, for the Boardroom (with 16 pax), the fee is Rs. 8000 for half-day and Rs. 14000 including refreshments wherein taxes will be additional to the overall cost.” BLVD Club brings together the world on your plate with its in-house restaurant ‘Core’ that serves an all-day dining menu with international cuisine.

Work from Restaurant

SOCIAL Works is the pan-India iconic all-day cafe and bar chain SOCIAL’s collaborative shared co-working space, designed to take the creative community offline. SOCIAL Works is an ideal place to connect and collaborate with like-minded creators and professionals across fields and is also the most chilled-out workspace where a member can choose between a cup of coffee or a pint of beer. In Bangalore, SOCIAL Works is present at 4 SOCIAL outposts – Church Street SOCIAL, Indiranagar SOCIAL, Koramangala SOCIAL and Sarjapur SOCIAL. Ranveer Sabhani, Business Head – South, Impresario Handmade Restaurants says, “SOCIAL Works offers full cover membership which means the member gets free food and drinks worth the membership package and effectively making it a zero-rental workspace. It is the most affordable workspace with a day’s pass starting at only Rs 300 (inclusive of taxes). A week’s pass costs Rs. 1200 and a month’s pass will cost Rs 4500 (inclusive of taxes). Members get access to high-speed unlimited free WiFi and free SOCIAL food and drinks worth the package price. The member also gets access to 24 SOCIAL Works across Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, Chandigarh, Chennai and Indore. SOCIAL Works is operational every weekday {Monday – Friday}, between 11.00 am and 6.00 pm.”

Work from a ResortOlde Bangalore Resort has a workcation package of three days, a week, and five days for a couple and single occupancy. It is inclusive of breakfast (Indian and Continental) and unlimited free Wi-Fi. Shravan Nayar, Director, Olde Bangalore Resort says, “You will be in the heart of nature, waking up to the sounds of birds and fresh coffee. The food is homely and satisfying. With plenty of greenery all around, the space lets you unwind amidst the serenity of nature while letting you stay updated with your work and other commitments.” The resort is located 15 minutes before the airport, behind the ITC factory and has luxe tent-style cottages for your stay along with top-notch facilities, including high-speed Wi-Fi to enable seamless working. The workcation package costs Rs. 4500 for single occupancy and Rs. 5250 for double occupancy per night, if you book for three nights. Rates per day can reduce based on the duration and there is unlimited free Wi-Fi included in the package. A special menu will be offered with the food package or you could get a 25% discount on all a-la-carte food orders and a 30% discount on all beverage orders including alcohol. To rejuvenate, you can also check out treatments from Itoozhi, their Ayurvedic partner, at subsidised prices.