It’s 2:00 AM. After ten hours in Butler, you’re starting to fade. You glance to your right and find the guy next to you asleep on his laptop. Meanwhile, one table over, a girl rises to her feet, clutching a toothbrush and toothpaste. As your eyes follow her out of the Ref Room, you reach into your bag for your third Starbucks Refresher, reflecting on just how close for comfort our school’s relationship with the library has become.
If you identify with the above description, then, chances are, you need a break from Butler. For a change of scenery, try studying at one of these spots on and around campus.
Max Caffe
With its cozy couches and dimmed lighting, Max Caffe feels straight out of a scene from Midnight in Paris, but with an onslaught of hipsters and more creative latte art. Bring your laptop and curl up on one of the café’s indoor couches, or power through your reading on the outdoor patio. For a study snack that’s a far cry from M&M’s and Red Bull in Butler Café, pair the Melted Brie Crostini with one of the café’s delectable espresso drinks.
The Steps
Life’s all about multitasking, isn’t it? For the most #basic location option, find a spot on the steps where you can soak up some Vitamin D and work Econ problem sets simultaneously. The graduation bleachers might put a damper on the scenery, but for you seniors relishing in your final days, there’s still nothing quite like the view from Low.
NoCo
With its abundance of natural light, NoCo serves as the perfect alternative to 209’s perpetual dreariness. To minimize distractions, hunt down a cubicle on the top floor. If you’re looking for a more relaxed work environment, enlist a group of friends to claim a booth with you on the first floor. Plus, you could drain your wallet on coffee from Butler Café, or you could drain your wallet on better coffee from Joe. Your call.
SIPA
Okay, so it’s kind of like working in a dungeon, but a really productive dungeon. If you’re desperate to escape the hustle and bustle of stressed undergrads, look no further than Lehman Library, located on the fourth floor of SIPA. Situate yourself at one of the library’s long, elliptical tables and watch as the crippling fear of judgment from grad students keeps you off of BuzzFeed for record amounts of time.
Irving Farm Coffee Company
If you’re willing to venture below 110th Street to study, try holing up at this Upper West Side staple, located at 79th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam. With its abundance of outlets and tables, Irving Farm welcomes lingering customers, resulting in the perfect environment for a marathon study session. Once you’ve found a cozy spot in the back of the shop, beat those finals blues by munching on the Classic Grilled Cheese as you crank out your term papers.