One of the best things about working remotely is the flexibility it can bring to where you decided to work. Of course, some companies may have some restrictions with where you work, so make sure you understand their guidelines.
Generally, you’ll have some freedoms to not always stay stuck at home or in your own office. Sometimes you might feel isolated in your home office or just want to get some inspiration from a different environment.
I totally get that!
So are you wondering where you can work remotely? Not every new spot out there is great, which is why we handpicked some of the best spots to work remotely.
Check out our list below as well as what to consider as you work from various locations.
Best Places To Work Remotely
Beyond your home office or a quiet space where you live, it’s nice to get out and work in other locations. No, I’m not talking about different countries or traveling super far. Instead, I’m sharing places that have WiFi that get you out in new spots.
Remember this list is just some examples of the best spots to work remotely. There are plenty of other places you might be able to telecommute for work at.
1. Coffee shop
Naturally, the most common spot to work remotely is in a coffee shop. You probably have seen people writing or working on their laptops if you frequent coffee shops often. But it can be a good spot to grab a nice cup of joe, a snack, and access the public WiFi.
Not all coffee shops are created equal though. Some might be too loud, not offer WiFi, or have accessible outlets to plug your laptop in. So if you are thinking about the coffee shop route, make sure to scout it out a bit first.
2. Coworking spaces
One popular option for remote workers is to work from a coworking space. This is a simple arrangement in which remote workers of different companies will share an office space. It saves money from a traditional office and provides shared equipment and utilities.
It’s a great way to meet new people, socialize a bit, and get into a new work environment a few days a week. Some people feel they get more work done and feel productive in a coworking space since it doesn’t have home distractions.
However, coworking spaces can add up but might be worth it to you. Certainly, ask if your company is willing to pay or reimburse any coworking space before you jump into that.
3. Desk rentals
Since coworking spaces can get expensive or maybe not something you are interested in, you can also do a desk rental. Maybe every now and then you want to work remotely elsewhere, but not have to pay too much money.
Enter the desk rental, which allows you to reserve a desk.
There are a few websites that let you find offices or spaces where businesses are renting desks out for you to work from. A few include Desks Near Me, Optix, and Peerspace. The other option you have is to ask any local business owners about renting a desk/spot for you to work.
4. Libraries
Looking for a quiet place to get some work done? Then your local library can be a potentially good choice to work remotely. There are very few distractions, typically public WiFi, and you have access to books that could help your work or professional development.
However, if you plan on being on meetings or video calls often, then a library will not be an ideal spot. But if you are diving into deep work, it’s a great way to be productive.
Remember, you will need a library card, but this is also free to get as well.
5. Public Parks
If you are close to some nice public parks and the weather is looking great, a public park can be a great remote work spot. There’s something about the fresh air and park scenery that can improve your mood.
The main challenge is most public parks probably do not have any WiFi. But you have some options: either the time you are working you don’t need the internet, you can buy a WiFi on the go product, or create a mobile hotspot from your phone.
6. Friend or family home
A great way to change up your remote work location and socialize a bit is to work from a friend or family member’s home. As long as they are cool with it, of course!
And it’s even better if your friend or family member is also a remote worker, it feels like your own mini office environment without the cubes.
Vice versa, you could also invite a friend over to your house to work as well. You’ll be in your own home but will avoid household distractions when someone else is there with you.
7. Bookstores
Similar to working remotely in a library, a local bookstore could be a great spot for your productivity. Many of these local book shops will have WiFi, reading areas, and may even have a small cafe with it.
But again, you don’t want to overstay your welcome and never buy anything. Snag some coffee or snacks if they have a cafe, maybe visit the place when you aren’t working too. And again, if you aren’t sure it’s okay to work there for a few hours, you can always ask the employees.
8. Private clubs
While there might be limited (and affordable) options, a private club could also be a solid place to get some remote work done. Since it’s private, you’ll have fewer people around at once and may have some awesome amenities to make it a great escape for you to work.
If you belong to one already, check it out more and explore where you might want to saddle in and work for a bit. Then after, you can relax and enjoy some of the activities a private club offers.
9. Hotels
Looking to change up the scene and get away from home distractions? Well, a hotel could be a good option for you to work from your computer. There are a few ways to work in a hotel:
- You could rent a room for a few days and use their WiFi. Typically for guests, you’ll have a more secure internet connection. I’d still recommend a VPN service, like ExpressVPN.
- Most hotels will have a lounge or business center you can pop in that will have WiFi. It might be public, but it might be a private network where you need the password to get in. But generally there will probably be public WiFi for conferences and such.
- Pending the hotel, it might have a cafe or small restaurant within that you can pop over to grab a drink or food while working.
10. Restaurants
Like some of the other options on this list, you want to ensure you don’t overstep your welcome at restaurants. Typically if you want to work remotely from a local eatery, ensure it’s not during their busy houses like lunch or dinner.
Additionally, you probably should not try to stay there for more than 2-3 hours max. You don’t want to feel rushed during your work nor do you want to annoy the workers at the restaurant.
Definitely plan on getting a bite to eat or at least ask the staff if it’s okay for you to work there for a little if you aren’t hungry.
11. Breweries
Breweries can be a good place to get your remote work done or to help get you out of the house for a bit. This doesn’t mean you should drink too much, but maybe one-afternoon beer can help you relax, but still maintain focus.
And many local breweries also have food or food trucks, so if you are looking to refuel and energize yourself for your work.
This can be a great change of scenery for a few hours during the workday. Just make sure they have open WiFi, otherwise, you’ll need to create a mobile hotspot for yourself.
12. Universities or Colleges
This one is a bit of a stretch because you’ll most likely need to be a current student or alumni to access areas of the campus. As you will probably need an ID card to access the library, tech rooms, or anywhere else. Otherwise, you might raise some red flags as you roam the campus.
But if you are taking classes or alumni with access, the university or college might be a good place to get some work done. Something to keep in mind if you are looking for a change of scenery or the other options on this list aren’t working out for you.
13. Museums or Art Galleries
The good thing about museums or art galleries: it’s quiet, it can be inspirational, and generally you’ll have access to decent internet.
However, these may be a challenging place for you to work remotely if you are not a member. Additionally, you can’t just set up your workspace in the middle of an exhibit and there may be strict rules pending the type of museum or gallery you attempt to work out.
I wouldn’t consider this a first choice, but it could be a potential option. Do your research first and scout out the place before bringing your laptop.
14. Airbnb
While you might think of Airbnb for vacations, it could be a cool option to get away from your normal work spots and rent a place for a few days.
While your company probably won’t cover this or reimburse you, it can be fun to do if you have the money to do so. Maybe you want to go work in a new city, by the beach, or somewhere you want to explore. You could mix work and vacation together.
Most Airbnbs will have private WiFi and it’s a whole different vibe from your home. Again, not as simple or affordable for everyone to do, but another option if you are working remotely.
15. Build Your Own WorkSpace
What do I mean by this? Well, you can build your own remote workspace that’s separate from your home. Maybe you have a shed you can turn into a mini-office. Or you can purchase one of these bad boys from Amazon or StudioShed.
The other option is turning a vehicle into a traveling remote workspace. People have been converting vans and old school buses into tiny homes. But if you have the money and interest, it could be a cool way to travel and work remotely from anywhere you want.
What to Consider When Choosing Where to Work Remotely
Most will have WiFi that you can freely tap into. But remember, many are open public networks, which leaves you open to hackers.
If you have sensitive information or a work laptop, make sure you get a VPN to help protect your work and data. Two great platforms are NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
If the WiFi is not free, you can also create a mobile hotspot for yourself from your phone that will connect you to your internet. Here’s how you can do that again if you are unfamiliar.
The other thing to keep in mind is knowing how you like to get your remote work done.
- Do you prefer complete silence?
- Do you need some background noise or to be surrounded by other people? Or do you need a more creative environment?
- Will you be on video meetings that day often?
Knowing the answers to those questions can help you decide how to mix up your remote work routine and what places you may want to avoid.
But as you can see above, there are plenty of places you can work remotely besides your home.
Happy Remote Working!
About Todd Kunsman
Todd is the founder of Remote Work Junkie and has been featured in numerous publications like Business Insider, HuffPost, CNBC, and more. He’s been a remote work advocate for close to a decade and has been working remotely full-time for 5+ years. He’s also a marketing, personal finance, and music nerd 🤓
