Coffee Shops & Coursework: The Heavenly Duo
There’s nothing worse than the dread that sneaks up on you a few days before the beginning of a new semester. That dread does a great job at reminding you just how close you are to being tossed back into the chaos that is the life of a university student. As much as we would like to get our hands on the remote from Click to pause our lives and indefinitely stay in the winter break, we must inevitably get back to classes, studying, midterms, and everything in between. It can be tough to convince our party-hungry minds to focus on schoolwork, but there is no way around it. It is particularly tough when you find yourself studying in the library or in your dorm room every night, bored of the familiar surroundings that leave you feeling unproductive and discouraged. Yet, by changing our environment and choosing to study in a visually stimulating atmosphere, we should be able to kick-start our brains.
What can be more inspirational and heartening than a good coffee shop with the glorious smell of coffee, lively chatter, calming music, and a stress-free nook at which you can work on your 8-paged term paper?
Here is a list of 10 coffee shops in Halifax that are perfect for studying when you need some time away from campus.
Cabin Coffee
Location: 1554 Hollis St, Halifax
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
This café is as cosy as it sounds! With its chalet-themed décor and architecture, you’ll feel like you’re in a warm lodge in the countryside. It has comfy leather sofas, spacious tabletops, a rustic cabin atmosphere, and a wide variety of drinks and snacks, from cappuccinos to teas and sandwiches to soups, all of which are perfect for an afternoon of coffee and studying.
Uncommon Grounds
Location: 1030 South Park St, Halifax
This coffee shop is the perfect walking distance from the SMU campus and an excellent spot to lay out your textbooks. Keeping with its name, it is an underground shop with a nonchalant atmosphere with a coffee and house-baked goods menu. You can choose between patio seating (if the weather allows it) and indoor seating, or even their seasonal location in the Halifax Public Gardens.
The Nook Espresso Bar and Lounge
Location: 2118 Gottingen St, Halifax
Yet another tranquil place for studying, The Nook offers coffee, cocktails, snacks and more. It’s a small café that never gets too busy or loud, excellent for when you need to focus your full attention on your coursework without worrying that it might drift away from distractions. A fun fact about them is that they source their coffee beans from North Mountain Coffee in Berwick, roasted right here in Nova Scotia.
Wired Monk
Location: 5147 Morris St, Halifax
The Wired Monk café is located in downtown Halifax, close to the waterfront. It has enormous windows, a warm fireplace, and multiple seating areas. Their menu includes a variety of drinks, sweets, and even fresh salads. Its décor has a hint of European flair, which makes this a great spot to be when you are looking for a fun change of scenery yet still want a decent place to study.
Trident Booksellers and Café
Location: 1256 Hollis St, Halifax
This is the perfect place for book lovers! It is a locally owned bookstore and café that offers coffee, teas, pastries, and comfortable seating to work on your course readings and assignments. I must warn the bookworms to be cautious when inside; don’t get distracted by the books if you’re there to study!
Glitter Bean Café
Location: 5896 Spring Garden Rd, Halifax
According to their website, the Glitter Bean Café is a queer-centric, unionised, worker-owned co-op. This café is known for offering a queer-friendly and safe community space. With large tables and seating areas, Glitter Bean Café is an excellent spot to work on papers and complete coursework. They offer coffee, tea, and baked goods. They even have unique and delicious drinks, such as the rainbow glitter latte!
Dilly Dally Café
Location: 6100 Quinpool Rd, Halifax
This coffee shop is as cute as the name suggests. The bright blue walls are exciting yet comforting. At the same time, the café itself has a calming atmosphere and plenty of space for studying and reading. Their delectable coffee drinks will jump-start your brain in no time and get you ready to focus. The menu includes a range of house-made pastries, breakfast, soups, bowls and sandwiches. They also have several vegan and gluten-free food options!
The Coburg Social
Location: 6085 Coburg Rd, Halifax
The Coburg Social is both a café and a bar located in downtown Halifax that has an enchanting atmosphere and many seats for studying. It is yet another spot to be when you need to refresh your surroundings and fight your procrastination. The Coburg Social offers a great variety of breakfast foods, lunches, coffees, baked goods, and desserts, with vegan and gluten-free options. This café truly has it all!
Tim Hortons
Locations:
Photo by Sean Benesh on Unsplash
5980 University Avenue, Halifax
1047 Barrington St, Halifax
5511 Spring Garden Rd, Halifax
1718 Upper Water St, Halifax
6455 Quinpool Rd, Halifax
Tim’s needs no introduction. It’s affordable, has fantastic seating areas, and has a wide range of drinks, snacks, sandwiches, and more. If you need an instant change of space but don’t have time to pick a new coffee shop, find the nearest location to you, plop your textbooks down in a booth for a couple of hours, and you’ll be good to go.
Starbucks
Locations:
5640 Spring Garden Rd, Halifax
923 Robie St, Halifax (SMU Campus)
Last but not least, you can never go wrong with deciding to spend an afternoon working on course content at a Starbucks. When you’re stuck on an assignment or tired of reading a chapter in your textbook, just hop down to the nearest Starbucks for some time in a relaxed, lively atmosphere and the sweet smell of caffeine.
Ultimately, choosing a coffee shop comes down to finding the perfect and most comfortable study spot for you. Whether that may be at Uncommon Grounds, Tim Hortons, or any one of the other coffee shops listed here, you’ll undeniably get the change of scenery you desire and restart your exhausted mind. Every café has its unique characteristic and atmosphere. Regardless of where you choose to get your coffee, you will surely find that every sip will inspire and motivate you to get back to business!