A Place to Study and Sip Coffee

[Elyssa]

Hi All,

I have a couple of days off this week and next week and while I would love to be able to use this time to get some spa treatments and go to movies in the middle of the day, I will likely be stuck studying now that I have started grad school.

I was wondering if anyone has any good ideas of a place I can study that also might have good coffee and treats (either sandwiches, baked goods etc). Ideally I would like some place not super loud and maybe with couches/cozy chairs (it's no fun to sit in an uncomfortable chair for a long period of time).

My go to place use to be Tryst but I'm looking for other options as well.

Any ideas?

[KevinS]

How about Bourbon Coffee, 20th & L. Great, fresh coffee from Rwanda, quiet, and couches. And a short walk.

[Elyssa]

I ended up at Tryst on Wednesday. Still a cozy, comfy place to study. But they keep the lighting at that place so darn low. I was lucky to be able to find a comfy chair near the lamp. But still....would it kill them to turn the lights on? Would that shatter their hipster chic coffeehouse atmosphere?

I'm going to try some of these other suggestions next week. Does anyone know if they play music at Busboys and Poets on U Street. That's the other thing I noticed---ideally I would love a place with low music (or no music at all---but I realize that is asking a lot).

[J_DC]

I don't recall if Busboys plays music, but it is certainly not quiet there. You have to be okay with some background noise.

One other place I'd recommend is Cafe Collage. It is next to Saint-Ex on S st. in a rowhouse. It is very quiet and comfortable, and also has a solid Ethiopian platter.

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Cafe Collage
1346 T St NW, Washington, DC 20009

[Elyssa]

Ooooo thanks for the info on Cafe Collage. That sounds particularly promising. And I've never even noticed it all the times going to St. Ex.

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Cafe Collage
1346 T St NW, Washington, DC 20009

[Lifefeast]

I had two places where I studied for the bar: Politics and Prose off Nebraska and Conn (closest metro is Van Ness I think) , and Love Cafe on U st.

[Garlic Guy]

A lot of people really like Chinatown Coffee, on H Street about two blocks east of the Chinatown Arch. I like their coffee but haven't spent much time in the place myself.

[Jeserf]

Also - Yola. Every time I've been there, it's been calm and quiet. They supposedly have excellent coffee, too....and buzz bakery items!

[hamster]

Yes, Yola is a good call. Love Cafe is a great place to study, I have spent much time there. Filter is very small so you can't always find a table. I happen to find the Caribou near Vapiano very comfortable for studying as well.

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Vapiano
1800 M St NW, Washington, DC

[woodleyparkhound]

I thought Love Cafe was closed. It looked closed the last time I drove past it, but their website is up and running. Have you been there recently, Hamster?

[Jeserf]

Love Cafe is open - I pass by there all the time. they had a "we've moved" sign up, stupidly, to let people know that the silver spring cake love closed.

I forgot about Caribou - I like their items, and the one on Rhode Island Ave has great space, including outside should the weather stay nice - I used to go there all the time when I lived closer.

[Jeserf]

What about Bread and Brew? Or Filter? Both are near you.

Also, what about upstairs at Teaism?

Le Pan Quotidien? The wait staff leaves you alone on a good day when you aren't studying!

Having gone to grad school in Western Mass, I'm spoiled because the independent coffee shops there are amazing...I still miss them 6 years later!

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Teaism
2009 R St NW, Washington, DC 20009

[Elyssa]

I go to Bread and Brew almost every weekend for brunch with friends. I like it a lot there but it's not necessarily the most comfortable place for long periods of time. I'm hoping for a place with maybe lounge chairs or couches.

[Jeserf]

What about Tryst? I used to go there when I was finishing school. I don't know if Yola does, but worth a check because it's a cute place.

[Elyssa]

Tryst is on my list. Sometimes it gets really overrun and loud though.

[Jeserf]

yeah, and I haven't been back since I left my computer power cord there, noticed when I was a couple of blocks away, and when I went back, it "wasn't there". Still bothers me given how expensive power cords are!

Good sandwiches, though - and nutella with strawberries? yum!

[ktmoomau]

Sidamo is a great place for that, but not a short walk from the metro, but not terribly long either?

Too bad Arlington is so far away, Northside Social is great for that.

[Elyssa]

Where is Sidamo? Haven't even heard of it.

[ktmoomau]

H ST NE near Toyland and Ethiopic. Very very good coffee and tea, they roast their own beans. It is where two of my friends studied for the bar on a frequent basis and my favorite coffee and tea in the DC area.

[woodleyparkhound]

I really like Mid-City. I think it fits the bill in every respect. It can get crowded though, especially on the weekends. I've never been there during the work week, but it would be worth checking out.

http://midcitycaffe.com/

[Jeserf]

Mid-City on 14th St? If so, they closed...

[woodleyparkhound]

Oh no! i didn't know that...very sorry to hear it -- great place. Always busy too when I was there. I wonder what happened?

[Jeserf]

No idea - I just saw it posted on Prince of Petworth one day. I had never been there - too far for me for coffee and, frankly, at this stage of my life, I like to run in and run out more than anything (which is sad, because I enjoy being social over coffee)

[Elyssa]

Oh too bad. I actually heard good things about Mid City and totally forgot about them until Woodkleyparkhound mentioned them. Guess I'll have to look elsewhere.

[Elyssa]

Oh also....needs to be metro accessible or walking distance from Dupont Circle.