An imperial city on the banks of the Oise, surrounded by its vast state forest and less than an hour from Paris by train, Compiègne is a pleasant place to settle in for a few days or for good. With its university of technology, it also has quite a few students and remote workers looking for a quiet corner to get work done. Let's be honest: the choice isn't huge in the town center, but we've sorted out the good addresses, from specialty coffee shops where you can open your laptop in the morning to working-cafes and coworking spaces nearby that you can use by the day. Whether you're a Compiègne local working from home, a student or just passing through, here is where to set up.
Cafes in the town center
The Small Talk
This is our favorite in Compiègne. On rue Saint-Corneille, The Small Talk combines a specialty coffee shop, a coworking space and a concept store in a bright, well-kept spot. It describes itself as a coffee shop with a coworking space: perfect for a studious morning over a good coffee (check its website for coworking access conditions).
MADAME
Just a few steps away, on a pedestrian street in the center, MADAME (listed as Crêperie Madame on Google) is a cafe-creperie, tea room and cider bar at 2 ter rue Saint-Martin. There are tables where you can settle in outside meal times: a spot as pleasant for catching up on emails as for a treat between two tasks.
Pastel Café
A cozy little artisan cafe right in the center, Pastel Café is open Tuesday to Sunday. Warm atmosphere: the ideal place for a short, quiet session with a coffee in hand. Aim for off-peak hours so you have room to take out your laptop without worrying.
Columbus Café & Co
On rue Jean Legendre, this coffee shop offers long opening hours (open from 7:30 am). It's a chain, so the atmosphere is standardized, but you can sit down for a work session without fuss when the independent places are closed or full.
Working-cafes and coworking spaces nearby
The center of Compiègne is mostly cafes. For a real working day, an important video call or simply more quiet, head to the surrounding area, on the Margny side and to the south, where several spaces welcome nomads by the day.
myWO (Le Bar de l'Atelier)
On the banks of the Oise in Margny-lès-Compiègne, on the train station side, the Best Western working-cafe myWO is open to everyone. The "Le Bar de l'Atelier" space is used with a purchase, by the river (check the conditions on its website). More private spaces can be booked if you need to shut yourself away.
Coworking La Plage
Also in Margny, a few minutes' walk from the station, La Plage is an offbeat coworking space where you can come for the day (rates on its website). Big tables and an outdoor area: a good option for a quiet working day, away from the hubbub of a packed cafe.
Wojo Mercure Sud
In the south of the area, the Wojo (Accor) space inside the Mercure offers half-day or full-day access, bookable online, with the hotel's bar service. Handy if you want a professional setting for a serious day of work.
The right spot for your needs
- For a coffee morning in the center: The Small Talk or MADAME.
- For a short, cozy break: Pastel Café.
- For working early or all day long: Columbus Café, open from 7:30 am.
- For a real, quiet day of work, by the day: myWO or Coworking La Plage in Margny, Wojo in the south.
Our Compiègne selection keeps growing as we scout and as you send us feedback. Know a good spot we missed, a cafe that happily welcomes laptops? Tell us. And if you're traveling around the region, find all our city guides on Deskover.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best spots to work remotely in Compiègne?
In the town center, The Small Talk on rue Saint-Corneille (our favorite, specialty coffee plus coworking), MADAME, the cafe-creperie on rue Saint-Martin, and Pastel Café for a cozy break. For a real working day, head to the Margny side.
How much does a day of coworking cost in Compiègne?
Prices change often: check the rates on the websites of The Small Talk, La Plage or Wojo before you go.
Where can I work early in the morning in Compiègne?
Columbus Café & Co, on rue Jean Legendre, opens at 7:30 am, Monday to Saturday. Handy when the independent cafes are still closed.
Is there a coworking space near Compiègne train station?
Yes, in Margny-lès-Compiègne on the station side: the working-cafe myWO (Le Bar de l'Atelier) with a purchase, and the coworking space La Plage a few minutes' walk away, where you can come by the day with no commitment.
Where can I work quietly for a whole day in Compiègne?
The center is mostly cafes. For a video call or a serious working day, aim for myWO or La Plage in Margny, or Wojo in the south of the area, all available by the day.
