What is sober coliving?
Sober coliving is a shared living environment where alcohol and recreational drugs aren't part of the equation. People live and work together — usually for one to three months — in a space that's designed around focus, health, and genuine connection.
It's not a new concept, but it's becoming a category because more people are realising the same thing: the default social environment for adults is built around drinking, and that doesn't work for everyone.
Traditional coliving — the kind you find in Lisbon, Bali, Barcelona — is usually fine. Nice apartments, shared kitchens, maybe a coworking space. But the culture is almost always the same: drinks on the rooftop, beers after work, "community events" that are really just excuses to drink. If you don't participate, you're the odd one out.
Sober coliving flips that. The baseline is clarity. The social environment doesn't revolve around substances. People connect through meals, hikes, conversations, skill shares — not happy hours. The result is a house full of people who are actually present. And that changes everything.
Why this matters right now
Something shifted in the last few years. A growing number of high-functioning people — founders, creatives, remote workers — are quietly stepping away from alcohol. Not because they have a "problem." Because they've done the maths on what it costs them in focus, energy, and time.
The burnout loop
Work hard, drink to unwind, wake up foggy, repeat. Most remote workers know this cycle. Sober coliving breaks it by removing the trigger from the environment.
Lonely despite being 'social'
Alcohol creates the illusion of connection. Sober environments force the real thing — which is harder at first, and infinitely better after.
No structure, no progress
Working from home or a café with no routine is a recipe for spinning wheels. An intentional coliving space builds rhythm into your day without forcing it.
The wrong people around you
You're the average of the five people you spend the most time with. In most colivings, those people are transient backpackers. In a sober coliving, they're builders.
What Savi is (and isn't)
Let's be clear upfront, because people get confused:
Savi is NOT:
— A rehab facility
— A wellness retreat
— A therapy programme
— A party house with rules
— A hostel with branding
Savi IS:
+ A private villa for focused people
+ A no-alcohol environment by design
+ A coworking + coliving space
+ A community of 12-14 residents
+ A place to do your best work
Think of it as a high-functioning living environment for people who want to operate at their best. Some residents are years into sobriety. Some are "sober-curious." Some just don't like the version of themselves that shows up after a few drinks. All of them want the same thing: an environment that supports what they're trying to build — not one that undermines it every evening.
What a day actually looks like
Not a brochure version. This is what actually happens.
Morning
7–9am
People wake up when they want. Coffee on the terrace. The dogs — Viki, Lluna, and Jenny — are already doing laps. Some people meditate. Most just sit with their coffee and watch the mountains. No alarms, no pressure.
Deep work
9am–1pm
The coworking space fills up. Dual screens, Starlink WiFi (500Mbps), standing desks. It's quiet. People are actually working — not pretending to work while scrolling Instagram. Skill shares some mornings. Accountability sessions weekly.
Move
Afternoon
Gym, pool, cold plunge, a hike in the Sierra Calderona. Some people drive into Valencia (25 minutes). Others just need space. The afternoons are flexible — work if you want, rest if you need to.
Together
Evening
Someone cooks. Everyone eats on the roof terrace. The sun sets behind the mountains. Conversations go somewhere real — because nobody's three beers deep and performing. Bed by 11. And tomorrow, you wake up clear.
Who comes here
There's no single "type." But if you recognise yourself in any of these, you'll probably fit:
You're building something — a company, a creative project, a new career — and you need an environment that supports that
You've quit drinking, or you're thinking about it, and you don't want to be the 'weird one' in a social house
You're a remote worker who's tired of working alone in apartments and cafés
You want real friendships, not surface-level 'where are you from?' conversations over beer
You want structure without rigidity — mornings that work, evenings that recharge
You've done the digital nomad thing and you're looking for something with more substance
We review every application. Not everyone's the right fit — and that's the point. The community only works because we're intentional about who's in it.
The space
Mountain villa
Private property, Sierra Calderona
Coworking
Dual screens, standing desks
500Mbps WiFi
Starlink — fast and reliable
Gym + pool
On-site, no membership needed
12-14 residents
Small, curated, intentional
Full kitchen
Cook together, eat together
Location
Savi is in the Sierra Calderona mountains, just outside Náquera — a quiet village 25 minutes from Valencia, Spain. It's close enough to access everything the city offers, far enough that you actually focus.
25 minutes to Valencia city centre
15 minutes to the beach at Puçol
35 minutes to Valencia airport
Hiking trails from the front door
Year-round Mediterranean climate
If you're looking for sober coliving in Spain — or anywhere in Europe — this is one of the only purpose-built options that exists. Most "alcohol-free" colivings are just regular colivings with a loose policy. Savi was designed from the ground up as a coliving without alcohol.
Sober coliving — FAQ
Do I have to be sober to live at Savi?
You don't need to identify as 'sober.' You just need to be comfortable in a no-alcohol environment. No drinking on the property, no exceptions. What you do on your own time outside Savi is your business.
Is this a recovery house?
No. Savi is not a treatment facility, rehab, or recovery programme. There are no therapists, no group therapy, no 12 steps. It's a coliving space for people who choose not to drink — for whatever reason.
What if I'm not sure if I want to quit drinking?
That's fine. A lot of people come here 'sober-curious.' They want to try living without alcohol for a month and see how it feels. Most of them extend.
How long can I stay?
Minimum one month. Most people stay 1-3 months. Some stay longer. We're flexible.
How much does it cost?
Rooms from €1,200/month. Everything included — coworking, WiFi, gym, pool, utilities, community. No hidden fees.
Is the community actually good?
We review every application specifically to make sure it is. We turn down people who aren't the right fit. The community works because it's intentional — not because we got lucky.
Further reading
Why Most Colivings Don't Work
The structural problems with traditional coliving — and what sober coliving fixes.
Sober Living for Remote Workers
What happens when you remove alcohol from the digital nomad equation.
Best Sober Coliving Spaces in Europe
The short list of places that actually exist. Spoiler: it's short.
Is Sober Coliving Worth It?
Pros, cons, and who it's actually for.
Coliving vs. Retreat vs. Sober Coliving
Different models, different outcomes. A clear comparison.
What Is Sober Curious?
The movement that's changing how people think about alcohol.
Digital Nomad Coliving in Spain
What actually works for remote workers in Spain.
Alcohol-Free Travel
How to travel sober and enjoy it more.
Living Abroad Without Drinking
The honest guide to expat life without alcohol.
Coliving for Entrepreneurs
Why founders are choosing coliving over apartments.
Finding Community as a Remote Worker
The loneliness problem — and the real solution.
What Is Intentional Living?
Not what Instagram tells you. Here's what it actually means.
Deep Work Environment
How to design a space where focus is the default.
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