Choose the office where you have the strongest credible fit, not simply the office where you collected the most contacts. Networking can support an application, but it should not override a materially better long-term fit.

Think about location commitment, language, industry exposure, staffing model, and personal reasons for being there. Those factors will matter after recruiting as well, while a network can still be built before and during the process.

Your existing contacts are useful because they can help you understand the firm, but they do not guarantee an offer. A clear reason for the other office may actually make your application story more coherent.

If the preferred office is genuinely better, start building relationships there now rather than choosing a weaker fit by default. The consulting networking guide can help structure that outreach.

I would not pick an office mainly because I already know two people there. You can build that network.