As a college student wrapping up my third year at the University of Texas at Austin, I’ve been reflecting on the critical role that coffee shops have played in my academic success thus far. I’ve scoured the city in search of just the right cafes that can inspire me through even my most daunting to-do lists. 

While I enjoy studying on campus and being surrounded by students on the same academic mission as myself, I have found that I am not always my most productive on campus. It’s as though every time I finally tune out the many distractions inherent on a college campus and get into the groove of my work, I can hear either my nearby apartment or an old acquaintance calling my name. I once sat down in the student activity center determined to bust out an assignment in an hour and left having reminisced about freshman year with three different friends…. And having completed nothing.

Sometimes these experiences are welcomed interruptions. But many times I need to tune out the rest of the world so it’s just me, a cup of jo, and my assignment list. Cue my coveted cafe list.

Along my coffee-drenched study spot treasure hunt, I have discovered those cafes whose combination of ambiance, amenities, food, and coffee allow me to fall effortlessly into my study zone every time I walk through their doors. I’ve grown to think of these cafes like age-old, understanding friends who hug you silently when you’re overwhelmed until you’ve fully collected yourself. 

And just as one often goes to different friends for different types of advice, so too each of these cafes are best suited for different types of assignments. It has taken me much trial and error- and enough coffee to replace the Nile-  to realize the intricacies of each of these spaces and the role they play in either encouraging or inhibiting certain homework tasks. The assignment types associated with each of the cafes below  include creative, quantitative, time intensive, all-nighter, and those that require maximum focus. 

My hope in sharing this is that you will never again have to find yourself blasting classical music through your earphones or burying yourself in your hood to dodge distracting conversation just to finish an assignment. Even more so, I hope these cafe suggestions become environments where you feel inspired and comfortable enough not just to complete tasks, but to excel in doing them. 

All of these locations are accessible via Capital Metro routes. Bonus points for pumping yourself up with a pep-talk or motivational music on your ride there.

Sa-Ten

Address: 4917 Airport Blvd

Assignment Type: Extreme Focus (i.e. Essays, Exam Prep)

The first time I ever visited this unassuming Japanese coffee and tea house, I knew it would be my favorite spot to study in all of Austin. If you are looking to immerse yourself in your work in a soothing, distraction-free environment, then you need to check out Sa-Ten.

Sa-Ten’s modern, minimalist interior is ideal for those assignments where you really need to focus, like for writing that ten-page essay due tomorrow that you’ve been putting off. This is also my go-to study spot for the days leading up to an exam. The soft, instrumental music played at the cafe and the usually quiet crowd that fills its seats also helps strip this environment of distraction. There are also plenty of outlets so you can guarantee you’ll have enough power to complete your work and leave feeling accomplished.

It would be dishonorable to write about Sa-Ten and not mention their unbelievable menu. Although the study-conducive environment is reason alone to come here, the Japanese-inspired food and drink take things up a notch. If you’re into reward systems like I am, be sure to motivate yourself with the prize of one of their matcha lattes and teriyaki rice bowls.

Thunderbird Coffee

Address: 2200 Manor Road

Assignment Type: Creative

As an original Austinite, Thunderbird Coffee holds a special place in my heart. The eclectic, hip vibe of this locally owned cafe screams “Austin” and is such a fun spot to get your grind on. The shop’s fair-trade coffee is bound to keep you energized through your assignments until you’re ready to kick back and relax with one of their beer options.

From my experience studying at Thunderbird Coffee, it seems to be a hotspot for Austin’s creatives to mingle and brainstorm, and for good reason. The unique,edgy interior design and music options are opportune for working on creative projects for your classes or organizations. I’ve found that Thunderbird Coffee’s homey feel puts me in just the right headspace to be inspired with out-of-the-box thinking.

The Fareground

Address: 111 Congress Avenue

Assignment Type: Quantitative

This sneaky study spot is definitely the wild card of them all. I discovered this seemingly hidden gem while walking aimlessly around Austin and it has been one of my favorite unique places to study ever since.

The Fareground is a beautiful modern food hall on the corner of Congress and Cesar Chavez. Surrounding the hall is an outside seating area with fountains, twinkle lights, and artificial grass with ample seating. Step into the food hall and you are met with the bustling scene of working professionals settling in for meetings or grabbing a quick lunch on their break, as this spot is at the center of many of Austin’s largest companies.

I’ve found that this exciting environment- in combination with the delicious, sophisticated dining options- is the perfect study spot for when I’m in need of a dose of inspiration. The floor-to-ceiling windows allow light to flood into the hall and keep the space lively enough for you to push through that tedious assignment.

While the nature of the Fareground being the food hall mecca for Austin’s professionals makes it buzz with noise and conversation, I have found that the noise isn’t a problem when working on quantitative assignments like statistics homework. In fact, I find the white noise can be soothing and help me focus.

The final incentive that keeps me coming back to the Fairground to study is its prime location right on the end cap of Congress. When I have been burying my head in books all day and need to wind down, I will leave the Fareground and take a leisure walk either down Congress or at the nearby Lake Austin trail entrance before heading home.

Whole Foods Mezzanine

Address: 525 N Lamar Blvd

Assignment Type: Time Intensive (i.e. Projects)

This specific study spot may come as a surprise for those who know Whole Foods Market as nothing but a fancy grocery store. However, as someone who has spent a collective 95+ hours studying here one semester, I can assure you it’s the real deal for getting things done.

This small mezzanine has multiple wooden benches with access to outlets where you can set up camp and spread out for those marathon assignments and to-do lists. If you know you will have to spend the entire day studying, studying at Whole Foods gives you access to bathrooms, endless snack and meal options, and coffee. People-watching from the Mezzanine or striking up conversation with strangers sharing your bench make for excellent study breaks. And if you are in need of a longer moment to clear your mind, you can pop up one story to the beautiful roof seating for some fresh air before getting back to the grind.

Bennu Coffee

Address: 2001 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd

Assignment Type: All Nighters

I present to you…*drumroll please*… the saving grace for all nighters!!! Bennu Coffee is one of the few coffee shops in Austin that is open 24 hours and therefore I am convinced it was created with college students specifically in mind. For when there isn’t enough accountability at your dorm/apartment to keep you awake long enough to finish that assignment due tomorrow, fall into the understanding arms of Bennu Coffee.

Bennu Coffee is the perfect balance of being cozy enough to spend all night at and energizing and eclectic enough to keep you chugging along. The tables are fairly isolated, there are quite a few outlets, and the noise level isn’t too outrageous, so it’s safe to say you can decidedly get in the zone here. Easy access to quality coffee, midnight snacks, and bathrooms will be the key to keeping you on your “I-have-got-to-stop-procrastinating” A game all night long.

Happy Studying!

Love Always,