If you’re sick of the library but not quite ready to give up on your work just yet, pay a visit to one of these five coffee shops to get off campus, get caffeinated, and experience St. Louis while stayin’ productive. A change of scenery could inspire you to study longer and more efficiently, and maybe even boost your grades. You’re happy. I’m happy. The shop owner is happy. Your mom is happy. Everyone wins.
1. Rise Coffee House
Photo by Brooke Nostratian
This eclectic coffee shop in the Grove offers free Wifi, plenty of seating, and sustainably crafted, local coffees conducive to tending to your work for as many hours as it takes. Their menu focuses on espressos, coffees, and teas, but also consists of a host of pastries and a few small meal items such as quiches or macaroni and cheese (with which you can never go wrong). Rise’s creative, unique decorations and generally indie-alternative playlists give it a bohemian-hipster vibe and a very comfortable and homey atmosphere.
2. Kaldi’s Coffee
Photo by Corey Adams
Kaldi’s is only a pleasant walk through the local neighborhood away from campus and is the perfect place to study with a well-crafted cup of coffee. You can also choose an item from their lunch and dinner menu featuring eggs, salads, sandwiches, wraps, and more. Sit on their relaxing patio overlooking Concordia Seminary, or grab a table in the more chicly decorated back room. Also take note of the long hours – I recommend you bring everything you need and set up camp for the day.
3. The Mud House Coffee & Kitchen
Photo by Brooke Nostratian
This charming Cherokee Street cafe offers a full menu of breakfast, lunch, and pastry items, as well as a coffee and tea bar. This place is great for those looking both for a big-city restaurant and for those looking for a friendly, neighborhood coffee shop. But be warned, if you are going to get things done, try to go at an odd time of day, and don’t go on weekend mornings in order to avoid getting stuck in a long line.
4. 2Schae Café
Photo by Laura Mathews
The Central West End’s 2Schae Café provides a relaxed atmosphere with many breakfast and lunch options, including such delicious options as The Tuscan (scrambled eggs, sun dried tomato, goat cheese, and pesto drizzle on a toasted bagel) and the Parthenon flatbread pizza (mushrooms, zucchini, tomato, red onion, Kalamata olives, spinach, feta cheese, and garlic hummus). 2Schae is more quaint, casual and laid back, than some of the busier local cafes. Still, there is a very friendly staff who welcome students and professionals coming in to work while brunching.
5. Meshuggah Café
Photo by Faith Hiles
This local-independent café on the Loop will motivate you to work, because so many others there are doing it. Meshuggah has a full breakfast menu, homemade lunch fare, tasty baked goods, and freshly made coffee, tea, and espresso. Check out the upstairs area for a more quiet, less crowded atmosphere with minimal distractions.
…and also Kayak’s. If you haven’t studied at Kayak’s, do you even go to WashU?