Typical study locations like your room or libraries may not suffice when it comes to studying and completing assignments. As the second quarter begins and students once again start focusing on academics and schoolwork after a much needed four-day weekend, the need to find a worthy environment to get things done is vital to students wishing to succeed. Thankfully, there are local cafes that offer students the perfect places to study.
Bethesda Chocolates
When you walk into Bethesda Chocolates, located in the heart of North Bethesda on Woodmont Avenue, the rich smell of chocolates and hot cocoa, alongside the faint hum of coffee machines and on-repeat R&B playlist, add to the comfy and inviting atmosphere of this cafe. Behind a group of cushy armchairs that first greet customers are rows of artisan chocolates of all flavors and varieties.
Although these confections are both distracting and enticing, Bethesda Chocolates offers the perfect quiet place to study and work on assignments. Chances are if you walk in, salesperson and self-proclaimed chocolatier Vince Cinquemani will be dishing out truffles and bonbons to customers before warmly greeting you and offering a personal tour of the treats Bethesda Chocolates has to offer. “The folks that I work for are wonderful people, and all of us just stress quality. So as people walk in and they ask for a coffee, we don’t just look up at the sign and say ‘OK, this is the way it’s supposed to be,’ we say how do you want it this way, do you want it that way. So it’s all about service and quality, and that’s really what sums this place up.” Cinquemani said.
Sunday Morning Bakehouse
Although this cafe is lively and bustling in the morning and afternoon, it lives up to its name, especially on weekends. As early as 10 in the morning, customers line up to purchase seasonal croissants, lattes and more. Good luck trying to snag a seat before the afternoon; this cafe is a popular breakfast and brunch hotspot among Pike and Rose residents.
Located on the main street of Pike and Rose, Sunday Morning is a perfect place for group study sessions, depending on how early you can get there in order to get a big enough table. Sandwiched in-between Sweetgreens and Drybar, Sunday Morning’s hipster style and relaxed, warm environment is the place to go for students looking for a cafe that has a little buzz. Although the crowd usually thins out as the day gets later, mornings are filled with a diverse assortment of different customers all enjoying the same thing; their most popular pastry, the twice baked pumpkin croissant.
Junior Liana Usman goes to Sunday Morning when she can to grab a bite while getting some work done. “I love their matcha croissants. I always get it when I study there,” Usman said.
For students wishing to do some undistracted independent studying, Sunday Morning offers customers three different seating areas; marble dining tables, bar-style high tables, and couches in the back. As soon as I walked in I noticed a free seat at the bar table, which I quickly claimed. Their choice of Frank Ocean playing in the cafe added to the experience and their playlist is top tier, but it can get pretty noisy. I recommend bringing earbuds or headphones in order to get the most out of your study time. If a little background noise is too distracting, late afternoons and evenings at Sunday Morning are just as fun, and the perfect place to be productive.
Starbucks
It’s almost natural to think of Starbucks when thinking of the best study location. Although it’s a chain coffeehouse, Starbucks is a hotspot for students when it comes to finding an inviting and homey environment. Starbucks is the perfect example for the ideal studying location; a soothing and warm atmosphere, friendly staff, comfy seating, free WiFi and good coffee. Their availability also makes for a convenient place to study; there are Starbucks’ almost everywhere and the closest one to school is only a six-minute drive away. “When I don’t have work, Starbucks is one of the first places I think of going to in order to study for tests and finish up assignments if I still have somethings to do,” junior Elani Leizerov said. “I can drive there from school or my house in basically minutes, because they’re everywhere, and I feel like studying in a cafe just makes me really productive. I also love their creme brulee latte that just came out.”
Coffee Republic
If I wanted to go to Sunday Morning, but without the bakery feel and bustle of their daily morning rushes, the next place to go would be Coffee Republic. Something unique and inviting about this cafe is the fact that it doesn’t actually feel like a cafe. It has a homey and comfy atmosphere, with couches, coffee tables and little bookshelves that are obviously carefully picked with taste. Their specialty lattes are also amazing; they come in different flavors and each latte has a corresponding name; I tried and finally settled on the Salty Dog. This drink is caramel and sea-salt flavor, and mine was made so well, it could almost rival Starbucks. Another favorite item from this cafe is their ham and egg quiche, which is the perfect savory pastry to put to the side and eat while studying. The seating is comfortable and I saw other people with papers and computers similarly working, while other customers came in to pick up drinks or take a seat.
