10 great places to work remotely (that are not coffee shops)
10 Good Alternatives to Coffee Shops for Remote Work
For many remote workers, home isn’t always the best place to work. Sure, we can skip the commute, it’s comfortable and relaxing, but maybe that’s where the problem lies. The fact that the bed and the television are just a few steps away can sometimes prevent you from being productive.
If you’re the type who likes to venture out to do remote work, but are tired of coffee shops, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some new and unconventional locations where you can get some work done while enjoying yourself in a new environment.
- Co-working Spaces
- Airports
- Museums
- Hotel Lounges
- Bars and Pubs
- Malls
- Parks
- Fitness Clubs and Gyms
- Libraries
- College Campuses
1. Co-working Spaces
We’ll lead the list with the most obvious choice. Among all the places included in this list, the co-working space is the one that is primarily built with the remote worker in mind. From coffee bars to printing centers, it has everything that you need to complete your job.
Here are some popular services that have branches scattered around the world:
Coworker
If you’re a digital nomad looking for a temporary workspace during your travels, Coworker might offer a solution. It’s a directory and booking platform covering thousands of coworking spaces worldwide, letting you compare venues by city before you commit. It can set you up with a work desk, conference room, or a shared office on an hourly, daily, or monthly basis, depending on what the specific venue offers.
You only need to search for your ideal space on their website, compare reviews and pricing, and book directly with the venue. It’s easy and convenient, and it will also allow you to explore different places and working environments all over the world.
WeWork
If you prefer working in informal environments that offer networking opportunities, WeWork is the place for you. It’s spaces are custom-made and well-designed to suit the remote worker’s specific needs. Most of these areas offer shared workspaces, so you can also make friends and connections in the remote working community here.
Patrons can choose from a variety of membership options, including day passes and all-access plans if you want to work from a different location as you travel. If you want designer co-working spaces at an affordable price, you ought to give this one a try.
Croissant
Croissant opens you to numerous temporary seats in various cities without registering at any single co-working space. These days it’s positioned more as a workspace-access platform for distributed teams than a casual drop-in app, but individual plans are still available if you just need a place to work for a few hours.
Croissant has partner offices across dozens of cities worldwide. It’s quite dependable if you need a quick place to do a few hours of work.
The work spaces vary in terms of design, ranging from traditional open offices to café-like spaces. If you’re the type of worker who doesn’t want a 9-5 office space and high co-working membership fees, Croissant might be your best bet.
2. Airports
Many people grumble about delayed flights and long waiting periods in an airport. If you think about it though, an airport is a great place to get work done. More often than not, you have access to free Wi-Fi, outlets to charge all of your devices, and restrooms. Many airports also have business centers, restaurants, and perhaps the best of all, massage facilities.
An airport is only accessible though if you’re heading somewhere. So you can’t really visit it every day to work. If you do find yourself in one, however, make the most of it and use the facilities to your telecommuting heart’s content. It has all the resources for you to work comfortably, and finishing your tasks in the airport will allow you to rest and relax at your upcoming destination.
If a call comes in while you’re there, our guide on making better calls in noisy environments covers the microphones, headsets, and free software tricks that actually help over gate announcements.
Pros: Free or Affordable Wi-Fi, numerous electrical plugs, business centers and pleasant restrooms
Cons: You can only access the facilities if you are waiting for a flight
3. Museums
What’s not to like in a museum? You often have access to free Wi-Fi, great artworks, and peaceful surroundings. Museums today offer more than viewing galleries. They provide a lot of facilities that are conducive to research and work. Also, their entrance fees are minimal, or non-existent in some cases.
If you like working in a quiet environment with a little history or art to inspire you, the museum is your best alternative workplace. Of course, not all museums have the facilities to accommodate your laptop and other tools, so do check out the museum that you intend to work in before you actually visit or get a laptop pad.
Lastly, ask around if the museum offer membership discounts and perks. For a small fee, you might be able to gain unlimited access to exclusive features, such as a library or a conference room.
Pros: free or affordable Wi-Fi, quiet and motivating environment, and minimal entrance fees
Cons: Not all museums offer facilities conducive to work and long stays
4. Hotel Lounges
If you’re working remotely, you might as well do it in style in a hotel lobby.
If you love upscale interiors, you should try doing your work in a hotel lounge. These places are often devoid of crowds and offer nearby business centers. Best of all, seating here won’t cost you a cent, save for an occasional stare from the receptionist. If you feel uncomfortable using the hotel lounge for a whole day, however, it would be nice if you have a drink every few hours. You should also check out the Wi-Fi beforehand. While many hotels provide an open internet connection in their public areas, some may actually limit access to only registered guests.
Pros: High-end interiors, Relaxing environment, access to business centers
Cons: Wi-Fi may be exclusive to guests only, It takes some confidence to stay here the whole day without buying anything from the hotel lounge or café
5. Bars and Pubs
If you’re just tired of drinking coffee, but thrive in a busy and public setting, a bar or pub just might be for you. You get to swap that cappuccino cup for a glass of beer and still get to talk to some people to break monotonous work.
Before you decide on your favorite watering hole, however, do check first if the place allows you to plug in devices and access Wi-Fi. Even if you’re great at staying focused, bars may also get crowded and too noisy at certain times of the day, so do consider your working hours against their peak hours. At the end of your work period there, you should also assess if you have managed to successfully accomplish your job.
You must have the capacity to balance distraction and productivity if you want to make the pub your regular work place. If you do find yourself finishing more bottles than tasks, however, then perhaps you should consider other workplace options.
Pros: Provides a little white noise, Environment allows you to socialize and relax while working
Cons: Might be too distracting for some people to accomplish their work
6. Malls
The mall was created primarily to serve as a shopping center. Nowadays though, it has become flexible enough to cater to various activities. If you love people-watching while doing remote work, the mall might be your ideal workplace.
You can choose from a variety of places in there do accomplish your tasks. A restaurant or even the food court may allow you to plug in devices and access the Wi-Fi. Do consider, however, that not all places in the mall welcome customers who intend to stay for a while. Be mindful of other patrons and your possessions as this is still a public place.
Pros: Many areas have access to strong Wi-Fi, comfortable seating and good lighting
Cons: Some areas may have too many people and prohibit over-stayers
7. Parks
If you’re the type of person who loves working outdoors, consider doing your tasks at a park. Many of these grounds offer seating areas situated in scenic locations. Power might be an issue, but if you have a strong battery or a strong powerbank this won’t cause any problems. The weather, however, might cause unexpected disruptions. Make sure to listen to the weather report before you head out to work in a park. You wouldn’t want any sudden rain to ruin a day’s worth of work or more.
Escape the big city noise in a park every once in a while.
Pros: Offers peaceful and quiet environments and outdoor seating
Cons: No electrical outlets, weather may cause disruptions
8. Fitness Clubs and Gyms
Before you go skipping this one, hear us out. Exercise is a good break in between stressful work, and where else can you get sufficient exercise than a fitness club? Many of today’s fitness centers offer extra facilities such as a member’s lounge and café. These facilities are the perfect venues for you to be able to finish some work before you hit the weights.
The lockers help keep your tools safe while you go build some muscle. The only downside about this alternative workplace is you will need to enroll in a club membership to gain access to the fitness center. If you manage to work through this, however, not only will you be able to do some work done, but you’ll also keep yourself in tiptop shape.
Pros: Many areas have access to free Wi-Fi, storage facilities and comfortable seating
Cons: You need to maintain membership fees to gain access to the Club
9. Libraries
Once upon a time, libraries were the go-to places for study or work. Nowadays, they have to compete with coffee shops and student lounges. If you don’t mind working without the artisan drinks, however, the library remains a great place to finish tasks. It’s rarely crowded and full of academic resources.
Libraries are great for remote workers.
It’s so quiet that sometimes, you might end up taking a nap instead of completing your work. Nevertheless, it remains an efficient and conducive area for students and remote workers alike. Just bring some headphones if the extreme silence bothers you.
Pros: Quiet surroundings, Access to Wi-Fi and academic resources
Cons: The still atmosphere is also conducive to naps
10. College Campuses
If you’re a student or professor doing remote work on the side, then your college campus just might be the best place for you to do work. More often than not, the entire campus is dedicated to helping you learn. It’s also teeming with people, so if you’re feeling lonely, you can chitchat with a few friends in between tasks.
Many school grounds, however, are exclusive for enrolled students only. So if you already graduated from university or have never studied in your chosen campus of work, it might be a good idea to take a couple of short courses to allow you to use the school’s facilities.
Not only will you be able to finish your responsibilities at work, you’ll also be able to pick-up certifications and new skills in the process.
Pros: Environment is conducive to work and study, provides social interaction
Cons: Facilities are often made exclusive to enrolled students
Staying Safe While You Work From Anywhere
If you’re moving around a lot between these spots, or between cities and countries entirely, it’s worth taking care of boring stuff like insurance too. Have a look at our article on insurance for remote workers for a full comparison; SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance is a solid, easy-to-set-up option for many travelers.
At the end of the day, whether you decide to work in a co-working space or a hotel lobby, remember to be mindful of others and concentrate on your work. Your work space is only half of what you need to get the job done. The other half depends on your skills and focus.
