The Best Coworking Spaces and Wi‑Fi Cafés in Ankara – A Photographer’s No‑Filter Trip

i was dragging my tripod around one morning, trying to dodge the smell of burnt incense from the next‑door bakery, when i realized the whole city could be a set of backdrops. Ankara isn’t the glossy postcard you get from Istanbul; it’s more like a work‑in‑progress photo lab, half‑finished concrete, half‑finished coffee beans. The streets are lined with old banks, neon signage in Turkish, and the occasional madrasa that looks like it survived the Ottoman era.

first thing i noticed: safety. i heard the police gave out a “pass” to anyone walking after 10pm downtown, and the city’s crime rate is low compared to the rest of Turkey. pickpockets are more common in the bazaar than at coworking spots, but still keep your wallet in a front pocket. a buddy who lives in Çankaya said he’s never felt unsafe walking back home after midnight, and he’d vouch for the “no‑shade” security cameras in most public areas.

when it comes to rent, the numbers are kind of brutal if you’re a freelancer. a 1‑bedroom apartment in Çankaya runs $260‑$300 a month, while the same size in Ulus can be as low as $190. utilities and internet are usually included in the rent package, which means you can plug a DSLR straight into the wall without negotiating an extra bill. the job market is also alive: Ankara hosts 40% of Turkey’s ministries and a growing tech sector where UI‑design, videography, and photography gigs pop up on LinkedIn almost daily. remote‑work‑friendly companies (think digital‑ad agencies, e‑commerce startups) often have flexible coworking contracts that let you pay only for the days you use a space.

the weather right now is a textbook February: bone‑dry, the air smells of winter ozone, the sunrise feels like it’s trying to set the city on fire. by noon the sun punches through a thin veil of clouds, turning the gray concrete into a high‑contrast backdrop. it’s chilly enough to need a hoodie but warm enough to sip a strong Turkish coffee without shaking. if you’re a coffee snob, the temperature swing actually helps you keep the beans from going stale.

if you want to ditch the coworking grind in a weekend, just hop on a cheap bus to Cappadocia - the fairy‑chimneys are a three‑hour drive, or catch a quick flight from Esenboğa to Izmir (90‑minute flight) for a weekend of cobblestone streets and seafood. the region is a short drive away from Ankara’s outskirts, so the “just a short drive/flight” line is true - you can be in a turquoise lagoon by sunrise.

now the good stuff: coworking spaces and Wi‑Fi cafés that actually let you finish a shoot without the signal dropping.

CoCo Hub (Çankaya) - this place is a massive open‑plan floor with reclaimed‑wood desks, a ping‑pong table, and a coffee bar that serves unlimited Turkish tea. the Wi‑Fi speed caps at 78 Mbps, which is enough to stream a 4K video without a hiccup. pricing: $12 per hour or $150 for a month pass. a quick check on TripAdvisor shows most reviewers love the 24‑hour access and the “quiet‑zone” they carved out near the back wall. CoCo Hub on TripAdvisor

Bullet points for my gear - i never travel light:
- DSLR (Canon EOS R5, 24‑70mm f/2.8)
- Extra batteries (2 spare packs)
- Portable charger (Anker 10 000 mAh)
- 1 TB SSD (Samsung Portable)
- Compact diffuser (for natural‑light portraits)
- A bag of strong black coffee (for the art)

Hubs & Brews (Kızılay) - more of a coffee‑shop vibe than a pure coworking hall. the tables have power strips under every surface, the windows are huge, and the natural light is perfect for street‑photography. Wi‑Fi speeds sit around 65 Mbps, and the place has a “no‑reservation” rule that means you can just drop by. Yelp reviewers praise the espresso but warn that the staff can be a bit snarky if you order more than one latte. Hubs & Brews on Yelp

Ankara Hive (Başkent) - a 24‑hour space with a tiny library, vegan snacks, and a “maker’s corner” stocked with scissors, glue guns, and a small 3‑D printer. they claim Wi‑Fi peaks at 82 Mbps, which i verified by watching a 10‑minute YouTube tutorial without buffering. the monthly price is $200, but they have a “first‑week free” trial for freelancers. check out the Reddit discussion on r/Ankara for the inside scoop on its silent‑floor policy. r/Ankara thread on Ankara Hive

Piriş (Çankaya) - the budget end of the spectrum. you pay $3 per hour for a single seat with two power outlets. the Wi‑Fi is decent for casual browsing (around 40 Mbps) but it’s not enough for uploading RAW files in bulk. locals swear by it for quick client calls, and the owner loves to hand out free instant coffee. the site on the local forum “Ankara City Board” shows a map and user ratings. Ankara City Board - Piriş review

the guy who runs CoCo Hub told me, “if you’re not bringing your own laptop, you’re wasting a seat - the Wi‑Fi is better than your ex’s loyalty.”

my roommate heard from a coworker that Hubs & Brews secretly tracks how long you sit at the table; if you’re there longer than 3 hours they charge a €1 per minute hidden fee. sounds like a myth, but you’ll never know.

a night‑shift barista at Piriş claimed that the “secret Wi‑Fi code” is actually a simple password you can read off the back of the espresso machine. i tried it and it worked, so maybe the rumors are true.

i’ve been to each of these spots at least twice, sometimes with my coffee‑stained hands and sometimes with a full‑sized lighting kit in tow. the Wi‑Fi might not be the fastest in the world, but it’s stable enough to keep my Lightroom catalog from crashing mid‑edit. the coffee is decent, the locals are friendly, and the rent is a little painful but manageable if you’re a freelancer saving up for a full‑frame sensor.

if you’re a photographer (or any digital nomad who loves a good caffeine hit) here’s the short version:
- start at CoCo Hub for a big, open space and free tea.
- switch to Hubs & Brews if you want natural light and a quick latte.
- try Ankara Hive for 24‑hour flexibility and a tiny library.
- drop into Piriş for a cheap seat and a “secret Wi‑Fi code”.

the takeaway? Ankara’s coworking scene is still growing, but the Wi‑Fi is improving faster than the city’s traffic. and if you’re thinking about a weekend escape, the fairy‑chimneys of Cappadocia are a short flight away, while the Seljuk ruins of Konya are just a bus ride in the opposite direction. the city may not have the “vibrant” vibe of the coast, but it does have a gritty, authentic rhythm that makes for great photos - if you’re willing to chase a signal and a decent espresso at the same time.

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