We all feel it. Spring break is long gone, but beach week feels like forever away. After sitting on the same floor of either Perkins, Bostock or Lilly – all of us are going a little stir crazy. Fortunately, we live in Durham, a city surrounded with quaint and whimsical coffee shops, where the ambience is comforting and the food is terrific. Here are some of the best places to study off-campus, and a way to explore the larger Durham community.
1. Blue Corn Café (716 9th St, Durham)
Located right on 9th street, Blue Corn Café has a heavenly atmosphere, perfectly serene and harmonious. The Latin American food – especially the dipping sauces and plantains are a great snack to accompany any type of studying, and all dishes are made with fresh organic ingredients. This café, however, can get crowded at night, so your best bet is to go during the day.
2. Mad Hatters (1802 W Main St, Durham)
All right, so we all know about Mad Hatters. That being said, it is still an amazing place to study. The atmosphere is calming, the volume is perfect: never silent, but never too loud, and there is always a small table open. Moreover, who can complain about the various coffee and juice options and the scrumptious cookies? You are, however, always guaranteed to run into someone you know, which may or may not provide a huge distraction.
3. Dulce Café (5826 Fayetteville St #106)
Although, I have never been to Dulce Café, my friends rave about it. Open bright an early, this café can be frequented at all times of day. The menu offers unique sandwiches, described as delightful and astounding, and employees offer free samples to help new customer decide on what they want. Additionally, the café has tons of gelato flavors – an added plus for someone with a sweet tooth.
4. Cocoa Cinnamon (420 W Geer Street)
Cocoa Cinnamon is by far my favorite place to study off-campus. Tucked away on Geer Street, from the outside you would never expect this “study paradise.” The iced coffee is amazing, the spacious environment is inviting, and there are colorful couches to relax on. The service is Cocoa Cinnamon is incredible, employees are welcoming, and the ambiance is for lack of a better word – marvelous. However, the coffee shop can get quite crowded, and the perfect table is often hard to find.