Edom Co-Living Review: A Stylish, Suburban Base for Digital Nomads
A detailed, honest review of Edom’s stunning space, co-working setup, community dynamics, and what to expect as a digital nomad in La Canyada, Valencia, Spain.
Initial Impressions
Spring 2025, I arrived a little earlier to Edom Co-Living than I had informed the host, but the check-in process was seamless thanks to a long-term guest who opened the door for me, a little wine-drunk but sweet. She gave me the initial tour with warmth and humor, which I appreciated.
The actual host, Philip, appeared exactly on time for the formal check-in. The house was every bit as beautiful as the photos: spacious, clean, and aesthetically sharp. This was Philip’s first operational year for this co-living and I was totally ready to dive in.
The Living Space
Edom is undeniably photogenic. The space was once Philip’s family home, now reimagined into a co-living with a plot size of 1050m² and a built area of 398m² (or 4,280ft² for North Americans).
The sprawling estate is tucked into an upscale private neighborhood of La Canyada, Valencia, Spain. It comes complete with the bragging rights of being a total suburban haven with its own security while being located only a 30-minute drive to reach the city center.
Two refrigerators, a well-stocked kitchen, garden fresh vegetables, separate pantry space for shared dry goods, professional cleaning services once a week, a spacious living / dining room with a projection screen setup, a personal desk space in every room, and an in-progress process for consistency as a co-living are the primary indoor offered amenities.
A laundry area with a washer and line-drying setup is also available on-site, which is typical for European homes. With only one of each machine, rotation and coordination is helpful in this communal space. It’s reliable and easy to use, just be sure to plan around sunny days if you want things to dry quickly.
And just outside the front door? Two bikes are available for free use, perfect for riding into the nearby town or just feeling the breeze as you coast through the neighborhood. It’s a small gesture, but one that really adds to Edom’s charm for slow travelers and spontaneous adventurers alike.
With ample lounging areas and sunlight in the big well-kept back yard, Edom’s outdoor area feels just as magnificent as the clean and spacious bedrooms within. The pool is well maintained, and there is even a hidden backyard storage alcove I discovered only on my last days of my stay. Finding this little fun surprise in a space I had already spent a month in was interesting, and left me wondering what other surprises might reveal themselves next time.
On the 2nd floor is a basic but slowly building gym area that leads to the rooftop views of the neighborhood. Although this area was a bit scarce in seating and decor, the potential for it to become the best spot to hang out in Edom was clear from the spectacular views to the cool breezes.
Co-working Conditions
Let’s be honest: the co-working setup inside the space is unfortunately a bit weak. Outside work spaces were also provided which was an awesome bonus and highly appreciated.
Two long dining tables sit in different rooms, but they were barely used during my stay. One was used as a communal meal table and was located in the large living room/dining room area of the home but could be used as a co-working space as well.
The other long table was in an office-type room off the dining room and kitchen. It also featured an electric height adjusting desk but Nana lived and slept beneath it. Moving or disrupting Nana’s peace would rightfully be a federal crime, thus that desk was non-operational in our collective opinions.
The overall layout seemed to discourage a communal rhythm though, and nearly everyone worked from their rooms due, in part, to frequent Zoom calls. I sometimes worked in my room too, but the space didn’t have the best lighting and it became isolating over time.
The main co-working area would have been unusable for me due to pet dander build-up with my dust/pet dandruff allergies, but I kept a consistent wave of medicine flowing. This allowed me to make the space function for certain periods where I was joined by a fellow co-liver for the duration of my stay.
The giant sliding window doors along the wall that separated the house from the backyard was a serious help in air circulation. Cleaners came weekly, which made a HUGE difference in the cat/dog fur around the spaces in general.
Outside spaces were plentiful with a couch, small round table, long dining/working wooden table, and a 4-person card table that could be easily moved were all helpful additions for work places. A few chairs surrounded the pool for working with a view. Netted hanging loungers that one could, in theory, curl into with a laptop are also available, albeit I think this would be a bit uncomfortable for work.
Overall, outside was great but the inside workspace options felt somewhat lacking in what makes a designated area truly functional for remote workers. There is much more to a suitable co-working space than merely placing outlet extenders, chairs, and a table in a room.There’s definitely room for improvement here: individual tables in the office space and designated separated areas for co-working and eating could go a long way.
NOTE: Philip, the host, was open to all feedback and appreciated all opinions. He let me know that he was working on a co-working solution that I’ll mention later in this article! Stay tuned because it was really exciting to hear!
The Community Chaos
This is a representation of only my experience during the month of April in 2025.
The house was often very much occupied during our stay, but it rarely felt alive. Our moments as a group were unfortunately few and far between, a quiet procession of polite strangers cohabitating.
The majority of our co-habitants shared that they weren’t nomads or travelers at all… just people looking for cheap housing close to the city of Valencia for short term stays. Some had signed longer contracts for up to 6 months. This length of stay was an unusual arrangement within co-livings and I think overall it contributed to the friction felt over the course of the month.
The dynamic grew more and more difficult over time. It seemed like some guests were not accustomed to the subtleties of co-living culture, because it’s definitely not hostel culture.
I think the presence of the house cleaner once a week provided some guests with a false sense of ‘lack of responsibility’. This weirdly childish thinking had guests simply leaving their dishes lying around on a Wednesday for a housekeeper to retrieve and clean on a Friday.
Philip genuinely made every attempt humanly imaginable to foster peace and consistency within the space. He created then posted a clear and concise cleaning/recycling schedule in the kitchen area, as well as a WhatsApp group chat that served as a reference for everything from invitations to specific events in the nearby city of Valencia to quelling outright rebellion by the consistently chaotic Argentinian posing as an Italian.
Long leasing co-livers somehow used this WhatsApp group to create tension, arguments, and disputes that spilled into real life showdowns in the kitchen with a sheepish and tactful Philip attempting to broker a new peace treaty.
Although he was always successful, it was clear these long term leasing guests had started to see the home as their own, possibly due to the extended stay, and territorial disputes mixed with personality clashes were common.
One long term hot headed renter finally decided to leave early which brought some much needed relief upon of the rest of us. Yet, the other long term renter made it clear he “didn’t like people.” I couldn’t help but laugh sheepishly and respond with the fact that I chose co-living stays particularly because of the people and community. He was quick to let me know he chose Edom “despite the people”.
People weren’t unfriendly outright, just tuned out socially and checked out of shared responsibilities, often unwilling to do communal chores as simple as taking out recycling. It broke my heart a bit to see Philip picking up the slack as well as juggling his many side projects without complaint.
We did manage a few group collective community events! Watching football and eating pizza in the living room, a delicious group paella lunch that felt like a rare, meaningful moment of community. I know a few of the single guys put together a few outings for coffee or a night out dancing which seemed to be thoroughly enjoyed by those who attended.
Philip even took the group out on a new phenomenon called a “disco hike” that was just as cool as it sounds. I’ll explain later in the article! Stay tuned!
If you’re someone who thrives on spontaneous connection, planned group outings, or consistent shared meals, Edom in the Spring might make you feel a bit like you’re haunting the halls of something that could be community, but doesn’t quite become it.
DISCLAIMER: It could be the season. It could be the gamble of people staying at this time. It could be just first year growing pains of a new co-living. It could be all of it combined. This was merely my personal experience. Every adventure into any co-living is a total gamble when it comes to your shared space roommates. It’s not necessarily a reflection of the co-living itself.
The Host
Philip is as magnetic on paper as he is in person. A strikingly handsome tall British-Spanish entrepreneur who grew up in London and now runs a jazz bar in Valencia, a hiking startup aptly named Discohike, and Valencia Profunda, a language immersion group.
Edom is sprinkled with his childhood experiences. The bedrooms are named after family experiences and locations. The childhood pet previously mentioned, Nana, becoming the house mascot/overlord/queen. Even some of the books on the shelves in the living room were Philip’s from university days. The house whispers of home when you enter and it brings a delicate and personal charm that is unique despite the sleek clean look and feel of the modern suburban estate.
Philip has great energy wrapped in an overall a calm demeanor, but he was definitely BOOKED and BUSY during our stay. I have a feeling he ALWAYS is. The man was juggling multiple businesses and was up at the crack of dawn daily to make the most of every hour. You could find him on the terrace reading before 7:30am or freshly returning from a morning run. Otherwise he was a bit elusive, likely busy with a handful of projects he was starting.
I wish I could have had more time to spend with him, learning about his goals and missions for the co-living because his silly humor, quirky observations, and innovative ideas were really quite wonderful. Seeing him in his element working the door at the local bar he owned in Valencia, while a live jazz singer performed, with his cheeks flushed, looking proudly over the crowd… felt intimately human to witness, especially knowing how much these businesses meant to him.
As a host, I think he did the best he could given the long-term renter drama and his multiple projects. I would not call him an absent host though. Philip was always asking for feedback, creating a new system for house management, taking out the recycling a housemate neglected, or cooking up a new adventure for anyone willing to partake.
Overall, I think a community manager would go a long way in this particular co-living to help focus in on co-liver needs and creating events and fluidity within the space. If you’re running a house this size, either you need to be more present or designate someone else to be.
The Pets
Let’s break this down clearly.
Dog: Nana is a senior sweetheart. She’s 87 in dog years and the cutest breathing 4 legged creature on earth. Has a distinct strong old lady … odor.
Cat(s): Freely roams indoors and outdoors, including pantry and linen areas.
Disclosure: Technically listed, but only at the very bottom of the “About” page. Most guests will not see it.
If you have (severe) allergies, as I do, you’re going to need daily meds and extra cleaning. It’s not just a cute dog curled on a bed. It’s fur in the co-working room, in shared spaces, and definitely on your clothes.
A price worthy of the queen Nana. All Hail. Breathing is overrated.
Suggestions for the Host
Add clear pet presence disclosure on every booking platform.
Label the all cabinets in kitchen for easier use.
Add a welcome email/text with tips and tricks for the first night and beyond: location of linen closet, front door trick to open, expect pet hair reminder, fridge delegation notes, reminder to check the cleaning board, wifi information. Although Philip gave us a thorough in-person tour on our 2nd day, there’s so much information shared at once that it helps to have written references.
Redesign co-working space: add individual desks or nooks to foster shared use.
Consider more community rituals, even the addition of a set day for house meetings, to spark connection and foster more communication among the guests.
Some of these ideas were already being looked into and created as I was readying to leave the space. Philip had introduced a laminated 1 pager into each room with helpful house information the week before left.
The Juicy Tidbits
Proximity
The close proximity of the city serves as a huge advantage for this co-living. The most reasonably priced, secretly sinful, and delectably delicious taco place, TKO TACO, and access to all the amenities a city offers are within a reasonable distance from Edom. Public transportation will take about an hour total.
Beginning with an approximately 15-20 minute walk to a 14 stop (m2) metro train from Torrent Avinguda to Àngel Guimerà, an additional 15 minute walk will put you in the heart of Valencia.
La Vitti
This local dive bar is literally a GEM within the city of Valencia. From the cool-toned, soul-quaking high notes several rotating talented singers and performers create almost nightly to move you into dancing to the deviously delicious local cheese offered, La Vitti holds pure magic. The thoughtful thrift store chic and unique decor, the sensually low lighting, and the collection of skillful bartenders all create a whisper of warm, welcoming, wonderful, and rare.
The acoustics alone bring body hairs standing at attention. Everything from the crisp and reasonably priced wine to the packed room of equally unique people creates moving moments of pure and purposeful energy mingling. The sheer amount of talent on this stage is overwhelming and you can feel it in the sincere praise poured back from the audience.
Philip has crafted spell work within those walls and I HIGHLY recommend booking a ticket in advance to enjoy if you’re at the co-living or simply in Valencia for a visit.
Disco Hike
Although I wasn’t able to attend the Disco Hike due to attending a wedding, the experience genuinely sounds like a ridiculous amount of fun. Philip described the experience as a hike to varying natural wonders around Valencia with a local musician joining for maximum peak party vibes when you get to your destination. It’s absolutely on my list of things to experience next year, as it combined two of my most favorite things: hiking and dance.
Whispers of a New Co-Working Space in Valencia?
Philip hinted that he was possibly maybe *wink wink*… working on a project that would make Edom Co-Living a trifold powerhouse: a unique co-working space in the city of Valencia that would be included or discounted to visitors of the co-living. This concept is still (allegedly) in very early production phases but between Edom, La Vitti, and now this possible new space… Edom is setting itself up to become a campus community collective of creativity, work, and play. Keep your eyes on the EDOM INSTAGRAM for any updates when/if the project takes off! Talk about a secret juicy formula: CO-LIVING+CO-WORKING+DIVEBAR= TRIPLE PLAY
The New Summer Events
Recently Edom has been bursting with life! Summer has brought what seems to be the first of many upcoming nomad parties on the property. Edom’s social media through Instagram Reels has me glued to my phone coveting the vibrant, diverse, and playful parties taking place including outdoor silly games, epic pool parties, yummy treats, and even live musical talent performing right on the terrace in the sprawling backyard. All this included in a low priced ticket for entry and food. It’s this kind of innovative thinking that I believe will keep Edom on the map for digital nomads. The space is more than a safe haven for travelers, more than a short term rental home, more than a party or a bar or a ‘Discohike’… Edom is an overall elevating and evolving experience.
Would I Return?
Definitely! I saw the co-living in its infancy, year one, with a magnetic host who had brilliant ideas for the future. I would pivot the timing of a return to a Summer month to better enjoy the stunning outdoor areas and fabulous parties now taking place. This spring brought cooler weather and a high mosquito season. I would imagine each season in the space is different. I can’t wait to see what Philip cooks up next because we all know that man is always hard at work.