It’s that time of year again! Although it doesn’t seem like that long ago that we had an entire month ahead of us full of holidays and relaxation, the spring semester has managed, yet again, to creep up on us. That means jumping back into your own (somewhat) perfectly curated school routine.
For me, as much as I’d love to get stuff done in the comfort of my own home, my distracted brain just doesn’t work like that. My routine looks more like spending way too much money on a matcha latte and sitting down at a cute Chico cafe with my AirPods in, locked in on whatever it is I have to get done that day. As a connoisseur of all the cafes Chico has to offer, I have come up with a couple of favorites I recommend you try as you get back into your smarty student mindset!
Stoble
Starting off with a bit of a classic, Stoble absolutely lives up to all the hype you’ve heard about. Three stories of amazing ambiance combined with the perfect walking location from campus makes it one of my favorite and most accessible coffee shops in Chico. Once we’re out of this gloomy weather, my favorite thing to do is go to the rooftop level of Stoble with my matcha and my ricotta toast with honey and soak up the sun while grinding out my schoolwork.
Daycamp Coffee
Daycamp is another really cute and iconic Chico cafe that I love going to! Natural lighting is ideal for me when getting work done, and with Daycamp’s open-concept seating and big windows, it feels like the perfect atmosphere on both rainy and sunny days. One downside is that it is a bit farther from campus, but if you have the means to get there, I definitely recommend trying it out!
Coffee Ranch
You can’t ask for much more out of a cafe when there’s a drive-thru, nice outdoor seating, and bomb breakfast burritos! Coffee Ranch is the perfect option for a warm, sunny day because of the great outside area in the front of the cafe with tables and chairs of all different sizes for hanging out, doing homework, and anything in between. They have super unique drinks you may not find anywhere else such as the Cinnabon Latte, so next time you want to try something new and fun, try out Coffee Ranch!
Bidwell Perk
Bidwell Perk is a bit of a hidden gem when it comes to the usual popular Chico coffee shops. The calming ambiance, amazing ceiling paintings, and overall elegant vibe to the place makes it one of my personal favorites. If it’s a nice day, I recommend sitting outside so you can hear the fountain going while getting your work done. Give me a nice chai latte and one of their yummy croissants and I’m set to stay there all day!
Upper Crust
Bringing it back to the options closer to campus, Upper Crust is a great spot when you’re in between classes or wanting a coffee or treat just a walking distance away. Upper Crust was actually featured on Chico’s episode of Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive In’s and Dives, and for good reason! If you’re craving a sweet treat, they have tons of pastry options along with the usual breakfast and lunch items, and there is no going wrong! If you’re in the mood to people-watch, get a spot at the high tops outside facing the street and I’m sure you’ll leave with a story or two!
Bellachinos
You truly have not lived until you have tried a bagel from Bellachinos! It’s another option that is a bit of a trek to get to (when it comes to living in Chico, at least), but it’s completely worth it no matter what it is on the menu that you decide on. It’ i’s a bit of a busier atmosphere inside the cafe, so I recommend either bringing some headphones with you or opting for their adorable outside patio in the back. By far, Bellachinos has the best food options of all of the cafes which is what keeps me coming back for more!
Honorable Mention: Cafe CoDa
Although Cafe Coda is a bit more of a sit-down-and-eat kind of vibe, with the delicious food, awesome workers, and amazing ambiance of the place, I just had to include it on my list of recs. Looking at the menu and seeing the food come out of the kitchen and onto the customer’s tables, it was so hard to make a decision- everything looked so appetizing. The back patio is unexpectedly huge, as there is a whole section of it dedicated to restaurant seating and another section with a mini bar, cornhole, and fun seating arrangements. Next time you decide to do a fun brunch with the girlies, I couldn’t recommend choosing Cafe Coda enough!