A clean well lit place... to study

I was wondering if people could suggest a nice cafe to study at. I live on the south side, but have a car so location is not an issue.

I have spent time at the bourgeois pig and savor the flavor in lincoln park, and metropolis in lake view, so more suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

dkimerling wrote:I was wondering if people could suggest a nice cafe to study at. I live on the south side, but have a car so location is not an issue.

I have spent time at the bourgeois pig and savor the flavor in lincoln park, and metropolis in lake view, so more suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I like the room next to Alliance to study- tends to be relatively quiet.

I like Pause cafe in Edgewater. They have excellent homemade caramels. Kopi Cafe is a classic too. I have a mild addiction to their Mexican Latte.

Pause
1107 W Berwyn Ave

Kopi
5317 N Clark St

Not to go all curmudgeonly on your ass, but here I go. I hope that while you're studying, you're consuming. One of my first posts on LTH was to rant about all the young folks taking up space in Borders' cafe, who didn't have so much as a cup of coffee sitting in front of them--while I, who wanted to actually, you know, have the cafe sell me food and drink (go figure), could not do a transaction because the squatters had left no place to sit.

riddlemay wrote:Not to go all curmudgeonly on your ass, but here I go. I hope that while you're studying, you're consuming.

An article posted last week from the Las Vegas Sun: Student Booted from Coffee Shop for Wi-Fi Use Gets Little Sympathy

Someplace a little closer to home is Kristoffer's Cafe. They have great desserts and a decent breakfast (I haven't yet tried the sandwiches, but it's a great little place so I'm sure you can't go too wrong. Carlos and Cristina, the owners, are very welcoming. Plus, they have a book exchange which always reminds me of my boating trips up from Florida (many little "yacht clubs" along the way have book exchanges).

Kristoffer's Cafe
1733 S. Halsted, Chicago, IL
Phone: 312.829.4150
www.kristofferscafe.com

please be a curmudgeon. I hate when people do not buy things at Cafes...

Being a total coffee junkie, I hope to do at least my fair share to ensure that people who provide enjoyable public work spaces can stay in business. In the wi-fi era this is especially important.

When I was last in Lovely there were many people studying (also, they now have sandwiches and soups, but I haven't tried). They have a great many tables of varying sizes. It appered there was a study group going on one of the larger tables. It was very quiet in there I will say.

I went to Star Lounge on Chicago for breakfast 2 weeks ago and there was a group of medical students studying as well as a few solo studying.

Lovely
1130 N Milwaukee Ave
(773) 572-4766
http://www.lovelybakeshop.com/

Star Lounge
2521 W Chicago Ave
(773) 384-7827
www.starloungecoffee.com/

riddlemay wrote:Not to go all curmudgeonly on your ass, but here I go. I hope that while you're studying, you're consuming.

Hahaha. I love it and completely agree (nod to the OP for sharing the sentiment). I can't imagine that owners of coffee houses appreciate selling 1-2 cups of coffee and a single scone to someone that takes up a four top with books / laptop / etc. for 4 hours. I remember people being really disappointed that Bank of America took over Filter in Bucktown and my response was, "are you really surprised? nobody buys anything in there - you can't pay the rent in that neighborhood on $2 cups of coffee."

You should try Blend in Wicker Park before they close. It's well lit, has some coffee and mediocre food and, from what I can tell, people sit there all day not eating. They really can't last long with that business model...

I've only been once but found The Coffee Studio in Andersonville lovely and with a quiet and relaxing vibe to it. They made me a fine latte as well:

Coffee Studio
5628 N. Clark
773.271.7881

You might want to give this place a look. Very casual and low key:

Jupiter Outpost Café
(Brown banner that says “coffee”)
1137 W. Fulton Market
Doorway right beside Mars Gallery
Fulton Market & Racine, 1 block north of Lake
Easy Street parking

Sip Coffeehouse
1223 W. Grand Ave
Chicago IL

Cafe Ballou
939 N. Western Ave.
Chicago

I really enjoy Flourish on Bryn Mawr. They brew Metropolis coffee and have great desserts, as well as a full menu.

Best of all, though, it's generally peaceful and quiet in the afternoons. It's my place of choice to study.

Flourish Bakery Cafe
1138 W Bryn Mawr Ave
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 271-2253
www.flourishbakerycafe.com

I guess I'm just old. What happened to libraries? For studying?

Or kitchen tables?

When you study in the library from 9am-5pm Monday-Friday you want to find a different place to study on the weekends

Why don't you study at home? Or are you in a dorm? Um...non-single room.

I've just never gotten the whole laptop study in a cafe' thing. I enjoy my privacy.

Christopher Gordon wrote:Why don't you study at home? Or are you in a dorm? Um...non-single room.

I've just never gotten the whole laptop study in a cafe' thing. I enjoy my privacy.

Even though I'm well past my student years, I can empathize with the desire to study in a coffee house. Home has a hundred thousand other things that need doing or seem like they'd be more fun to do. In a coffee house one might be better able to focus with laserlike precision on a task. As long as a "coffee house student" is also a customer (and pays in proportion to the hours he spends there), I see nothing wrong with it.

I'm encouraged by the OP's recognition that the student's part of the bargain is to be a paying customer. It gives me hope for the future of our country.

To each his own, I suppose.

As for me, I like the comfort & economy of home, in most things.

I suppose the OP should be commended for seeking out a coffehouse rather than a smoke filled nightclub club, which is where I passed a great many evenings during my misspent youth ;>

Ah, come to think of it...those were the good old days.

Where IS my rocking chair???

Liz in Norwood Park wrote:To each his own, I suppose.
As for me, I like the comfort & economy of home, in most things.
I suppose the OP should be commended for seeking out a coffehouse rather than a smoke filled nightclub club, which is where I passed a great many evenings during my misspent youth ;>
Ah, come to think of it...those were the good old days.
Where IS my rocking chair???

There are no more smoke filled nightclubs. Maybe I'll start going out again.

Hellodali wrote:I've only been once but found The Coffee Studio in Andersonville lovely and with a quiet and relaxing vibe to it. They made me a fine latte as well:

Coffee Studio
5628 N. Clark
773.271.7881

Coffee Studio does not offer free unlimited wi-fi. It is free for the first hour and then you have to pay for it. It has a sleek Ikea type vibe. They only offer organic milk, half and half and sugar, kudos.

much like the room next to Alliance Bakery on Division, the Beans & Bagels coffee shop on the corner of Leland and Rockwell also has a room next to the coffee shop that is separate of the coffee shop, where you can sit and drink/eat and is usually pretty empty, so good for reading. It's conveniently located just steps from the Brown Line Rockwell stop.

The Fix is my new favorite place to grade papers. It is a cafe that is decorated by art from local artists. It's very large and modern with basically three rooms to choose from. Great coffee, friendly staff but not a large selection of food; a few desserts, salads, sandwiches.
Parking can be difficult in this area especially during evening rush hour.

Dollop is just down the street if you arrive and can't find parking. Much more grungy and eclectic but large as well with HUGE selection of teas.

The Fix Cafe
736 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago
Tel: (773) 248-1422

Dollop Coffee Co.
4181 N Clarendon Ave
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 755-1955

Swim Cafe at Chicago and Noble (or thereabouts) is always packed with study people. They serve a nice cup of joe (100% fair trade Just Coffee brand) Free wi-fi and the tunes are kept low.

Swim Cafe
1357 W. Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL
312-492-8600

iblock9 wrote:Swim Cafe
1357 W. Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL
312-492-8600

I would also add that they are my neighborhood go-to for a no- fuss, healthy bite on the run. The lox deluxe can't be beat (well, maybe the hothouse tomatoes) for $6.25. I also like the ham and cheese panini with avocado, dijon, and capers. All sandwiches are served with a mesclun mix salad with balsamic vinaigrette and some orange slices, which is a nice touch.

You should try Metropolitan Coffee on Granville just east of Broadway.

A lot of Loyola students hang out there. It closes a little early though, like 8:00pm I think.

I have noticed that there are not that many 24/7 coffee shops in and around Chicago. Of course there is a 24 hr starbucks, but it always amazes me that so few non-bar restaurants are open late.

dkimerling wrote:I have noticed that there are not that many 24/7 coffee shops in and around Chicago. Of course there is a 24 hr starbucks, but it always amazes me that so few non-bar restaurants are open late.

I completely agree. For a city as big as Chicago, you'd think there'd be more.

I'd even settle for a place open until 1 or 2am.

I'm a night owl. I like writing late night. I get going when most places are closing up. I'd go to that Starbucks, but it's always packed and I really hate sharing a table.

The shop that ChgoGrrl is referring to is Metropolis, not Metropolitan. They do close on the early side. As does Pause, mentioned upthread as well.

If completely unlimited free wi-fi isn't necessary, I second Coffee Studio. They keep the music quiet enough that you can still hear yourself think.

I'd also check out Cafe Neo in Lincoln Square; they serve up Illy coffee and I believe they have quiche and panini.

Julius Meinl (Southport and Addison) might also be an option... as long as you're not looking to go at 1pm on a weekend.

I don't know about all libraries, but I am told that the library on some un-named campus smells like feet, is often very hot, and has uncomfortable chairs.