Every few months, you’ll see an article titled something along the lines of “The Best Study Spots in Austin” circulating on social media, and we’re guilty of this at Spoon, too. Often, these places are ones you already know about. There is one spot that hasn’t yet surfaced on these lists, however, and it’s the best study spot I’ve found so far in Austin — one with amazing snacks, clean bathrooms, and plenty of outlets: Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches.
The Food
Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches has exactly what its name says: craft beer, kolaches and coffee for those who are not yet 21 or need that extra burst of energy. The beer on tap is rotating, but you can always find some local ones, while the gigantic refrigerators house beers from all over the country. They also offer cans of Yerba, lemonade, and more.
The kolaches are some of the best I’ve ever had — maybe not as good as Czech Stop, but close. You can also get sweet or savory to suit whatever mood you’re in. I would recommend the Chocolate Pecan Caramel as a dessert kolache because it has the perfect amount of sweetness, with a nice balance from the kolache dough. If you are a meat-eater, opt for one of the Micklethwait kolaches. My favorite is the Brisket, Pickle, and Swiss because it has the best quality meat and cheese. Vegetarian? Get the Just Cheese because you cannot go wrong with kolache dough and a variety of cheeses.
The Atmosphere
While lots of young parents have discovered Batch, it remains relatively quiet during weekdays. You’ll hardly ever see another UT student sitting at the tables, and you should be undisturbed on the weekends if you stay inside. If you do decided to venture outside, you’ll be greeted by dogs and toddlers hanging out around the picnic tables. I don’t think I can stress enough how many seating options there are.
Prefer the air conditioning? Go inside and you’ll find high tops, wooden chairs, comfy booths, and seats that invite you to sink right in. They have a large selection of seating options, their playlists will get you in the studying mood, and if you’re there on a weeknight, you might even be able to participate in a fun game of trivia.
The Outlets
THERE ARE SO MANY OUTLETS. This is not a coffee shop where your laptop dies, you go back to your apartment, plug in your laptop, and fall asleep while watching Netflix. If there isn’t an outlet by your seat, you can get up, try a new spot and easily find an outlet to plug in.
The WiFi
The WiFi at Batch is something I think most college students dream about. UT’s campus WiFi would shed a tear at how fast Batch WiFi runs. Want to upload a 15 minute video to YouTube? Done in three minutes. Want to upload a heavy project onto Canvas? Go for it! Researching for your thesis? They’ve got you. Seriously, this WiFi is glorious — and you need to experience it.
So what have we concluded? After assessing Batch’s food, atmosphere, outlets, and WiFi, your immediate next steps are to pack up your backpack (don’t forget your charger), get in your car (or call a Lyft) and head to Batch to knock out a few hours of studying. You won’t regret it, your grades won’t regret it, and your parents will probably support your kolache addiction if you’re doing great in your classes.