Localeur’s Guide to Working Remotely
At Localeur, we’ve been working from home since long before “WFH” was an acronym; we’ve been perfecting our Zoom faces since before Zoom existed. This is the case for virtually every Localeur around the globe, who all work diligently – and nimbly – to share their expertise and creativity without ever so much as setting foot in an office park. Why does this matter? When we say we know good spots to work remotely, we mean it. If you’re similarly unencumbered by a cubicle but perpetually on the hunt for places to work at home and abroad, let us show you the way.
Working remotely is often a necessary component of your travels, but it’s certainly not the only component. We’ve also got tips on where to eat, drink, see art, shop, work out, meet locals, and more – and we’re in over 200 cities around the world. If you want our local expertise in your back pocket wherever your explorations take you, subscribe to Localeur and get custom itineraries, exclusive travel inspiration, and a regular dose of wanderlust.
Apocapoc
Barcelona, Spain
Situated just off the charming Plaça de Sant Pere, Apocapoc has an idyllic location at the intersection of “quiet” and “central”. The building it occupies was formerly a grain factory, which affords it luxuriously high ceilings and furniture made from reclaimed wood. Our advice: Think of the excellent rooftop terrace as the carrot to motivate your productivity, and book it up there 10 minutes before 5 to snag a seat while the getting’s good.
Spokesman
Austin, Texas
There’s a whole creative movement happening on St. Elmo: There are new breweries, music studios, budding businesses, and, of course, coffee shops. This outpost of Spokesman cleverly binds coffee, beer and, at times, live music in a massive space where seating is never an issue and the WiFi is always strong. If you find yourself working from day to night, make the transition seamless with a full food menu and an assortment of freshly brewed beer. Our advice? Get familiar with this area now. It’s about to explode.
Northerly Coffee
Brooklyn, New York
While cafes like Devoción pride themselves on a certain “stay all day” mentality, Northerly is another breed, ideal for anyone in Williamsburg who needs to crank out a few emails or find a spot to edit some images on a deadline. Small and no-frills, it’s the friendly staff and excellent coffee that draw patrons in; baristas are even known to share free samples of rare coffees they find. With no bathrooms and a tendency to get crowded fast, this is not the place for doing hours of work – but if you need to complete a quick task with a coffee or pastry, it’s tough to beat Northerly.
Dosis Cafe
Mexico City, Mexico
Located on the always bustling Alvaro Obregon Avenue, in Roma Norte, Dosis is the kind of place that gives absolute priority to the product, offering top-notch coffee from various parts of Mexico. With large windows and lots of light inside all day long, Dosis is the perfect place to while away the hours in its light, airy, and welcoming ambience. Seating arrangements offer individual and communal tables alike, and despite its location, Dosis is never so crowded that you’ll blanch at the thought of bellying up to a shared table. As for sustenance: The cold brew and affogato are excellent afternoon pick-me-ups, and the bagels and pastries on offer are great fuel.
MADE at The Citadel
Miami, Florida
Not all cowering spaces are created equal. Some cater to coders and engineers; others champion #startuplife above all else. MADE at the Citadel is a revelation for creative minds, with its open floor plan that’s perfect for networking and fostering a feeling of collaboration. It’s plain to see why Miami has embraced this place, and MADE at The Citadel is pretty and knows it – that’s why its purveyors encourage creatives to use the space itself as the backdrop for their next photo shoot or IG story. Even better, MADE is open 24/7 because, as they put it, “deadlines and inspiration require it.”
Department of Coffee & Social Affairs
London, England
Because coffee and productivity go hand-in-hand. The “Social Affairs” part of this local chain’s name not only refers to the experience of drinking coffee, but also to their social impact both in the UK and abroad. If you’re looking for an ethical place to get your work done, you’ve found it. Just keep in mind that there are several locations, some which are just for coffee on the go – so if you’re looking to work, check out the Soho outpost on Carnaby Street.
The Library Cafe
Brisbane, Australia
A hop, skip, and jump from the Cultural Centre Busway and South Brisbane Station, The Library Cafe is ideal for freelancers, students, travelers, and anyone who generally needs to get stuff done from behind a laptop (the State Library is located right above, in case you prefer a low-tech approach to your list of tasks). We love this place for the fact that it’s a spot where you won’t feel bad sitting at for hours on end, but what we really love is its proximity to the Gallery of Modern Art, an excellent place to take a brain break and come back to your work inspired.
Frothy Monkey
Nashville, Tennessee
With four locations in Nashville (and another two in Franklin and Chattanooga), this is a perfect spot for grabbing a pick-me-up any time of day no matter where you’re staying. That said, the original 12 South location – one of the oldest coffee joints in town – is the MVP, a popular meeting place for music industry insiders and a great way to start your day in this quaint neighborhood. Offering breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner food options, Frothy Monkey gives patrons virtually zero room to protest staying all day and getting things done.
Acid
Zurich, Switzerland
Whether you’re on the hunt for late-night drinks or need to do some heavy-duty inbox cleanup, Acid is a small, laidback cafe-bar hybrid that has an uncanny ability to make guests feel 20 percent cooler, merely by virtue of walking in. At the tip of Langstrasse, it’s a gateway to guaranteed mayhem and hidden gems – so proceed with caution once you’re ready for post-work happy hour.
La Casa Encendida
Madrid, Spain
The question is not what this place is, but rather what it isn’t. A social and cultural center with art exhibitions, concerts, performances, screenings, a terrace, an eco-friendly gift shop, and more, it’s got something for just about everyone. You have two options here: Hang out in the café and enjoy some organic, Fair Trade cuisine, or hole up in the library for more peace and quiet (if you miss your college campus library, you’ll love it in here). Surround yourself with like-minded people doing cool things and watch your productivity skyrocket.
Buzzbrews Deep Ellum
Dallas, Texas
Oh no, what have you done? This is not how you planned the night to go. It’s midnight and you have about 20 interns' worth of work to do. Zoom back down to Deep Ellum and crash through the doors at Buzzbrews, which mercifully close at 3 a.m. You’ll no doubt need a jolt of caffeine, so get serious and order the Deep Southern Pecan blend. Should you also require a spot of brain food, try the quick nutrition on offer in the Cruiser Smoothie (pro tip: add fresh spinach). If your career – or perhaps merely your sanity – hinge on a deadline that’s fast approaching, head to Buzzbrews for an epic all-nighter.
Baked & Wired
Washington, D.C.
As tourists line up outside Georgetown Cupcake, locals happily sit peacefully just down the street at Baked and Wired. This small, artsy bakery just off of M Street is known for serving up better (and cheaper) cupcakes than its more famous counterpart – and it’s got free WiFi, prompting the WFH crowd to descend upon it daily. Baked and Wired is typically best reserved when working solo, as the limited space makes seating a group comfortably a challenge.
More of Our WFH Favorites
Green Spaces
Denver, Colorado
Freeside
Atlanta, Georgia
Young Hickory
San Diego, California
Solar de Cahuenga
Los Angeles, California
CNTRL
Portland, Oregon
Labour Cafe
Warsaw, Poland
Lux Central
Phoenix, Arizona
Vif wine|coffee
Seattle, Washington
A subscription to Localeur is about more than just travel. It’s also the key to exploring the city where you live (or even for planning the perfect staycation). Whatever your travel sights are set on, we can help get you experience local.
