Eric Maki

While I love to work remotely, I don’t like working from my apartment. For me, it’s essential to have some separation between work and home, and also to get out and see the world each day. But where to go?

I decided to give coworking a try, and have been a WeWork member for almost a year on their “All Access” plan, which allows you to use the common spaces of any of their locations locally or worldwide. At $299 a month (or less, if you join during one of their frequent promotions), it’s a good option for those who are hybrid or fully-remote workers needing access to a network of clean, well-equipped workspaces.

WeWork locations are secure office spaces, with member services folk on hand to greet visitors and handle questions and office logistics. Every WeWork features unlimited beverages (hot coffee, nitro cold brew, espresso, kombucha, seltzer, tea and filtered water), easy access to printers, clean bathrooms, and large phone booths (with desks) for private calls. The company also tries to foster a sense of community in each location by hosting the occasional social event, so several times a month you might score a free breakfast, cupcake, or beer. Many locations are accessible 24/7 via keycard, if you’re an early bird or night owl. 

There are some downsides worth noting. As an All Access member, you’re limited to the common spaces of WeWork locations, most of which resemble coffee shops, with cafe-style seating and a communal kitchen area. Some of the seating is not quite at an ergonomic height, especially for a shorter person, and not meant for all-day comfort. And most locations play a contemporary music soundtrack at a moderate (or higher) volume, which, combined with the sounds of neighboring zoom calls, can be distracting even with headphones on. 

Despite these issues, the benefits tend to outweigh the annoyances, and good seating and quiet spaces are available, if you know where to look. Here’s what I’ve found so far in my WeWork travels:

One Beacon Street

One Beacon is one of my favorite WeWorks, for the view and the laid-back atmosphere. This is a two-floor location (14 and 15). The 15th floor contains the member services desk and a complete beverage selection, and is usually busy yet not overly noisy. The 14th floor is the hidden gem here–unlike most WeWork common areas, there is no soundtrack playing over the speakers, making this a good place to think and write. The view of the Common, Back Bay, and Charles River is spectacular.
The vibe: Quiet yet not sleepy. A good mix of downtown tech/finance/services folk. 

501 Boylston Street

501 Boylston is another two-floor location, on the 9th and 10th floors. The member services desk is on 10, and is the center of a very friendly and welcoming community. This is a busy and very loud location, which can be energizing or enervating, depending on your mood and temperament. The 9th floor is quieter, but trades desk seating for a larger cafe area, with less work-friendly seating. The best seats in the house here are on the 9th floor–walk down the hallway adjacent to the kitchen and you’ll find a quiet area with two booths and some comfy sofa seating overlooking a large patio with a panoramic view of the Back Bay. The lobby is worth a look for its murals and dioramas depicting great moments in Boston history.
The vibe: Chatty marketing people all around. You couldn’t throw a rock in here without hitting a social media strategist.

One Seaport Square

This location is across the street from the Federal Courthouse on Fan Pier, on one floor. It is lively and often crowded–you’ll need to get here early to get a good space. Most WeWorks have a few scattered monitors available on a first-come, first-serve basis, but this location features more than most, set up on tall work tables with comfy adjustable seats–it’s a good spot for a day of spreadsheet or design work. There are no city views to be had here, but this location is just steps away from the harbor.
The vibe: A lively place for techies and biotechies who don’t mind the odd new-neighborhood feel of the Seaport.

625 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge

Located in the heart of Central Square, this is one of the smaller WeWork locations overall, but contains two common spaces with ample seating. In the main space, most of the seating here is at long tables with chairs on both sides, forcing you into somewhat closer proximity to your neighbors than you might be comfortable with. The second common space, which is a designated quiet room, is one of the best spots in any Boston WeWork--it really is quiet and comfortable, with actual work desks and adjustable chairs. There is decent natural light in both common spaces, but there are no city views to be had. 
The vibe: A bit nerdier than the downtown Boston locations, and a good place for hardworking developers and biotech folk.

One Lincoln Street 

This is a multi-floor location on the edge of downtown in a newer office building occupied by several financial firms. The member desk and main common area are on the 24th floor, where there is ample and noise levels are moderate. Perhaps in keeping with its location, it has something of a finance-bro vibe to it. This space is notable for its beautiful view of parts of the Harbor, the South Shore, and off in the distance, the Blue Hills. 
The vibe: Sleek and modern, with finance bros aplenty. Good place to assemble a golf foursome.

33 Arch Street 

Another multi-floor location in the heart of Downtown Crossing. A moderately-sized common area on the main floor, with smaller common spaces around the kitchens on the other floors. An interesting view of the Old South Church.
The vibe: Oddly quiet, like the rest of Downtown Crossing in the post-COVID era.

200 Portland Street

Just around the corner from North Station and Garden, this location is crowded and loud. The main open space on the 5th floor contains long communal tables that fill up quickly. There are smaller common spaces near the lower floor kitchens, but they see heavy use at mealtimes, as a lot of the office space here seems to be leased up.
The vibe: Feels a bit like trying to get work done at a Bruins game.

200 Berkeley St.

A five-floor location, with the main open space (and member desk) on the 19th floor. Despite the large size, not many small desks in the common area–common tables and soft seating predominate here. Amazing views on several sides, from Copley Square and the Back Bay to the Harbor Islands.
The vibe: Busy and businesslike, yet friendly.

711 Atlantic Ave 

This is a two-floor location directly across from South Station, where a 678-foot skyscraper is currently under construction, so there was a bit of construction noise when I visited. The common work area is fairly small here..
The vibe: Friendly but cramped.