A Guide to the Best Study Spots In and Around ODU

Updated Published

Lindsey Newman Student Contributor, Old Dominion University

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at ODU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Where you study can have a huge impact on how effective your study sesh is. Some people enjoy studying in loud, busy environments, while others can only be productive in silence. No matter which one sounds most like you, there are plenty of options in and around Old Dominion’s campus to choose from. If you’re not sure what type of environment is most efficient for you, go ahead and test out a few different settings until you find where you work best. In this article, I will list off multiple places and explain what type of environment they are in hopes of helping you find a place where you can produce your best work and study most effectively.

Borjo coffeehouse

Borjo is a coffee shop on Monarch Way that is very popular with college students. They offer a large variety of drinks and cafe-style foods. They have seating along the windows, a large table, a few comfy chairs, and outside seating. This study spot would be good for someone who likes working in a louder environment, as people are always coming in and out and chatting. The coffee here is one of my favorites and the outside patio seating is perfect for good weather. They also have free Wi-Fi and water cups.

FR8 House Coffee

FR8 House is a new coffee shop in the Railyard District near campus, just a 3 minute drive. They have a wide variety of seating, from couches and chairs to bar seats, and even a big table on their outside patio with swinging chairs. They have a lot of good syrup options for their drinks and a few food options. From my experience here, it is more of a quiet coffee house compared to Borjo; I always see a lot of people doing computer work here. This is a great option for someone who wants the coffee shop vibe, but prefers it to be a little more quiet.

The top few floors of the Darden Education building

This is a spot that not a lot of people would think about. I discovered it when I had a class up on the fourth floor. They have a few tables and chairs near the big windows. I like this spot when I want somewhere pretty quiet with a nice view; It’s peaceful to be able to see all the commotion of Hampton Boulevard while being in a quiet, calm space.

Webb Center

The Webb is a very common spot on campus that a good amount of people are usually in. There’s a few different spots within the Webb Center: You could sit in the chairs by Starbucks, the large open space with lots of different chairs near the entrance of Webb closest to 49th Street, or a few different study spots found throughout the hallways of Webb. This is a building where it’s usually loud and chaotic, so if that’s the type of environment you like, this is a great option for you. One of the more peaceful areas of Webb is the outdoor garden in the middle of the building that features a little pond and a good amount of chairs and tables.

Outside of the new chemistry building

The area in front of the new chemistry building sports a good patio with some chairs and tables. If the weather is nice, this is a perfect spot to sit! This spot is good if you don’t need complete quiet, but want somewhere chill to sit and study. Between study breaks, you can people-watch and enjoy the outdoors.

Cafe Stella

Cafe Stella is located on Colonial Avenue off of 21st Street. It’s such a cute spot and has many different types of seating. They have plenty of outside patio seating, couches, comfy chairs, and barstools. It has a very homey vibe inside and feels like you’re in a big house because of its comfort. They have many different drinks and food items to choose from. This spot is usually pretty busy and loud, but the outdoor area would work well for someone wanting a space that’s a little quieter but still has cars and people going by.

After reading this article, hopefully you’ll have some new ideas about where to study next. There are so many great spots around ODU, but these are just a few that stood out to me. It’s important to study and do homework in an environment that benefits you, since it can make all the difference on how productive you are. I hope you enjoy these spots just as much as I do, and good luck with your studies!