Urban Blog

Doing your laundry has to be boring, right? Around the world many savvy entrepreneurs decided to look at one of society’s oldest and most boring tasks, doing laundry, with new eyes. The end result is a new take on a very old concept.

If you think that laundry day has to be a boring day, then think again. Each of these laundromats has a lot of character and class. Patrons actually look forward to the day each week when they get to go do their laundry because delicious food, socializing or unique entertainment goes right along with their clean clothing.

Whether you’re looking to grab a bite to eat while doing your laundry or maybe even want to play a little pinball, this eclectic bunch of hip, cool and fun laundromats have something to offer everyone. Let’s jump in and take a look at 5 of the world’s coolest and most interesting laundromats.

Fun Laundromat #1-Brainwash Café & Laundromat

The Brainwash Café & Laundromat hasn’t reinvented either concept of the café or the laundromat, but by combining both together in one fun package Brainwash Café & Laundromat has created a memorable experience.

Located at 1122 Folsom Street in San Francisco, Brainwash features a café that is fully loaded. There is everything from salads and breakfast items to soups, finger foods and burgers. Brainwash certainly lives up to its café title as there are plenty of hot drinks from coffee and expresso and even cold beer and even wine.

Brainwash is not the typical laundromat. Not only does Brainwash provide ample washers and dryers but the facility also has a wash and fold service and professional laundry and dry cleaning. If you are in the San Francisco area or are traveling and need to do a little laundry, you should check out Brainwash.

Fun Laundromat #2-Café Laundromat Oslo

Norway has a great deal to offer and its capital, Oslo is considered one of the world’s leading cities. Café Laundromat has built an impressive global reputation by changing up the laundromat experience in a major way. It is built around three core ideas “Eat. Read. Wash.”

Café Laundromat has a huge and tasty menu, hundreds of books to read and plenty of space for doing your laundry. In short, this destination is a true travelers delight! Breakfast and lunch options are plentiful, there is a kid’s menu and a wide array of burgers and pizzas available well into the night. The book shelves at Café Laundromat are very well stocked and stacked high.

The odds are excellent that you’ll find something that you’ll like at Café Laundromat as book offerings range from comics to encyclopedias. Somewhat surprisingly, Café Laundromat sports one of the largest private libraries in the city with over 4000 books! Comfy chairs abound at this Oslo gem.

Fun Laundromat #3-Laundromat Café, Copenhagen

Another Scandinavian country, Denmark has also reinvented the humble laundromat, and in the process elevated it to something unique, interesting and rather inviting. Copenhagen’s Laundromat Café is quirky, charming, expertly decorated and unforgettable.

The Laundromat Café concept has worked so well that since opening in 2004 that there are now 3 locations in Copenhagen and a location in Reykjavik, Iceland which opened in 2011. The Laundromat Café concept works for a variety of reasons. The décor is excellent, there are plenty of machines and there are many different kind of homemade food options. Drink options include everything from coffee and tea to milkshakes and beer. When in Copenhagen or Reykjavik be sure to vest Laundromat Café.

Fun Laundromat #4-Sunshine Laundromat

When it comes to scoring points for creative, you have to take your hat off to Sunshine Laundromat & Pinball, yes pinball, in Brooklyn, New York. It is one part laundromat, one part arcade and one part art museum, Sunshine Laundromat and Pinball infuses laundry day with some much-needed fun!

The beer flows freely and there are a range of special events including New Year’s Eve and Halloween parties. Sunshine customers have commented that the both the pinball and beer selections at amazing. Night owls will want to take note that Sunshine stays open late, often as late as 4am. So, if you have some laundry that simply can’t wait until the next morning then Sunshine Laundromat & Pinball is the place for you.

Fun Laundromat #5-Wasbar

Located in Gent, Belgium, Wasbar like the other four fun laundromats we’ve featured has much to offer. The décor is very pleasant and there is a variety of food and drink options including delicious bagel sandwiches and a brunch buffet.

Wasbar is one of those places that instantly makes you feel as though you are home, with plenty of homemade foods and soups. There is also plenty of room to work at Wasbar so consider bringing your laptop! Wasbar’s greatest charm is that it just feels right and cultivates a warm and friendly environment.

Fun Laundromat #6-Spin Laundry Lounge

Portland is well-known for its focus on sustainability and its various eco-friendly offerings. The laundromat Spin Laundry Lounge is no exception, calling itself “Portland’s Eco-Focused Laundromat, Bar & Café.” The facility has LED lightbulbs and over 50% of the staff bikes to work. Spin Laundry Lounge also makes its water and energy usage transparent, providing numbers on its website. They also make it a point to donate all the lost laundry that comes through the doors to people in need.

As far as the fun part, this cool place offers coffee, beers and local snacks for people while they wait for their clothes to dry. There are also pinball games and sports showing on projectors so people don’t miss their favorite games.

Changing the Old Laundromat Game and Doing It with Style

While we’ve covered five interesting and fun laundromats around the world, there are many more waiting to be discovered. Cologne, Germany’s Cleanicum, Splash Laundrette and Barcelona, Spain and Wash and Coffee in Amsterdam are just three of many additional fun laundromats that could have easily made our list.

Laundromats are changing and adapting to keep step with busier and more demanding lifestyles. In the past, doing laundry at a laundromat was usually a dull or even depressing experience, but thinks to trailblazers like Wasbar, Sunshine, Café Laundromat, Laundromat Café and Brainwash, laundry time is looking up for the first time in, well, just about forever.