Annecy, the turquoise lake, mountains as a backdrop, and an old town with canals that earn it the nickname "Venice of the Alps". It's also a city where more and more remote workers are putting down roots, drawn in by an exceptional quality of life. The market, the quays, the rue Sainte-Claire with its arcades, the Pâquier facing the lake, Annecy has that rare ability to make you feel like you're on holiday when you're actually working. Freelancers, remote employees, entrepreneurs who've left Lyon or Paris for the mountains: the community of remote workers in Annecy is alive and growing.

The flip side is that the cost of living is high, property in particular. But on the work spots side, Annecy is well equipped. Coworking spaces have multiplied, a few cafés welcome laptops, and the natural setting offers outdoor options few French cities can match. Here are our 5 favourite spots: 2 coworking spaces you can use by the day, and 3 cafés for a few hours of work.

The 7th Element

Rue de Narvik, centrally located. The 7th Element is a colourful and cosy working café that offers a simple and attractive deal: unlimited hot and cold drinks, included in the price. You pay for your workstation, then help yourself as much as you want, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, flavoured water. The space is well thought out with four meeting rooms for calls and video meetings, solid Wi-Fi, power outlets everywhere, and large work tables.

24/7 access in the week for members, a real plus for off-peak hours. Closed weekends. Recommended by Passion Télétravail. The atmosphere is warm and the energy is good, the kind of place where you feel productive as soon as you sit down, carried by the activity of the other coworkers around you.

The working café with unlimited drinks and meeting rooms, for those who want everything in one place.

Drip Social Coffee Club

Chemin des Fins Sud. Drip is a specialty coffee shop with a dedicated coworking corner, bookable by the hour with no commitment, and a barista training room.

Open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6pm, and Saturday 9am to 6pm. Closed on Sunday.

A good middle ground between specialty coffee and a proper workstation, with no membership.

Slake Annecy

Rue Sommeiller, in the city centre. Slake is an authentic coffee shop with specialty coffee and creative home-made food. The atmosphere is relaxed, the setting is carefully curated, and the Wi-Fi works. If you're the type who chooses a work spot based on the quality of the coffee they serve, Slake is probably your best option in Annecy. The beans are roasted with care, the baristas know what they're doing, and the home-made snack menu is a treat.

Open every day from 8:30am to 6pm (6:30pm on Saturdays). Being open seven days a week is a real plus in a city where coworking spaces close at weekends. It's a busy place, so come early if you want quiet; the setting is pleasant without being stuffy.

The specialty coffee shop open seven days a week, for coffee lovers who also want to work on the weekend.

Mariette

Quai des Cordeliers, on the banks of the Thiou. Mariette is a neighbourhood café serving specialty coffee roasted by Moklair and homemade food.

Open Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 6pm, and Tuesday 8am to 3pm. Closed Wednesday and Thursday.

The old-town café for a morning of work by the water.

La Jardinerie Coworking

Rue de l'Industrie, in the city centre. La Jardinerie offers a flexible concept: nomad zones for day visitors, private cabins for those who need isolation, and meeting rooms for video calls and appointments. The fibre is "turbocharged" (their word) which promises serious bandwidth. Wi-Fi, power outlets, quiet, large tables, the essentials are there.

Open Monday to Friday, 8:30am–6:30pm. Standard office hours, and a flexible, well-thought-out workspace. The private cabins are a nice concept for days when you need to completely shut yourself off.

The flexible coworking space with private cabins and ultra-fast fibre, for productive weekdays.

The right spot for your needs

  • For unlimited drinks and meeting rooms, The 7th Element (24/7 weekday access)
  • For a coworking corner in a coffee shop, Drip Social Coffee Club (by the hour, no commitment)
  • For working on the weekend, Slake Annecy (specialty coffee, open 7 days a week)
  • For working by the water, Mariette (quai des Cordeliers, on the Thiou)

Annecy combines an exceptional quality of life with a coworking offer that's taking shape. The 7th Element and La Jardinerie Coworking hold the city centre, Mariette offers a break on the banks of the Thiou, and Slake lets you work on the weekend over a great coffee. The city is attracting more and more remote workers, and the offer is following, even if prices remain higher than in other cities of this size. The lake, the mountains and the air quality more than compensate.

We update this selection regularly as we explore and hear from you. If you try one of these spots, or know one we've missed, we want to hear about it. And if you want to explore other cities or find a spot near you, find all our guides on Deskover.

Whatever spot you pick, a reliable connection makes or breaks the day, keep our pick of the best cafés with WiFi to work from handy.

Keep exploring: browse the best places to work remotely, city by city, or, if you're revising, our pick of quiet cafés and libraries to study in.