Good coffeeshop for weekend night studying?

[sarah-raz.livejournal.com]

I'm a grad student who finds herself looking down a barrel of a long weekend of reading, reading, reading. When I find myself having to work on a weekend night, I like to go to a coffeshop so that I can feel like at least I'm out in the world and so I'm not tempted to get in my PJs and start watching DVDs of Veronica Mars and Arrested Development.

Any suggestions for good studying coffeeshops? Diesel is always full on weekends and Starbucks is...Starbucks. I actually live near Harvard Sq, so anywhere in Cambridge, Somerville, or even Back Bay/Fenway (short busride away) is good. Someplace lively but not rowdy, well-lit, and, if possible, open late.

Thnaks!

Comments

[ron_newman]

1369 in Inman Square
1369 in Central Square
The Other Side, on Newbury Street just west of Mass. Ave. in Boston, overlooking the Mass. Pike on-ramp

[sarah-raz.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'd heard the Other Side closed...glad to know it hasn't. Used to always go there when I was a disaffected suburban teenager. ;)

Also, I forgot about 1369 in Inman, which is a nice place...thanks.

[ron_newman]

I hope it didn't close! I was there just three weeks ago.

The Inman Square 1369 was the original one, replacing a jazz club by the same name. It's name for its address, 1369 Cambridge Street. The Central Square one opened a year or two later.

[sarah-raz.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'd actually heard they closed about a year ago...I just moved back to Mass last year after being gone for a decade, so trying to figure out which of my old places are still around...

[ron_newman]

There's also Sherman's coffee house, in Union Square. But I don't know their hours.

[thoroughbass.livejournal.com]

I second (technically third: see below) the Sherman as a lovely, lovely place to hang out. However, it closes early — some nights as early as six.

[sarah-raz.livejournal.com]

coffee shops that close early are my pet peeve!

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

Sherman's closes at 5pm every night now. Wah.

[ron_newman]

Also, I often see people studying in Grand Prix Café, on Mass. Ave. just outside Davis Square. Great food, too. However, it closes at 10 pm.

[sarah-raz.livejournal.com]

ooh, that place looks good. will have to check it out.

[dawneliz.livejournal.com]

I totally second votes on both 1369s. I'm quite fond of Tealuxe (and yes, they have coffee as well). There is also Dado (primarily tea, but they have coffee) in 2 locations (Church St, Harvard Sq and 955 Mass Ave b/w Central and Harvard). And Burdick's. And Darwin's (but seating can be tough in Mt Auburn locale, I've had an easier time at their Cambridge St store...and I don't know their hours). If you want to pay an arm and a leg, you can also check out Algiers (the mint coffee is surprisingly good).

[inkscarred.livejournal.com]

beware: Tealuxe has no public restroom which means you have to go hunting for one if you're going to stay there a while.

[laynamarya.livejournal.com]

If you go to the Tealuxe in Harvard Square, you can always borrow the restroom at the Coop. But if you're like me you will probably also spend $50 on books while you're there.

[sarah-raz.livejournal.com]

lol...

I <3 the Coop.

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

Darwin's on Mt. Auburn is pretty empty if you can get there right after work on a Friday night, i.e. when most people are eating dinner. They are open until 9.

[sarah-raz.livejournal.com]

You know, I've never been to Algiers...It always looks so inviting though...

[sarah-raz.livejournal.com]

I had a bad first (and, as it turned out, last) date at Teaism last spring. Hence, I have avoided it since! ;)

[watercolorblue.livejournal.com]

Sherman Cafe in Union is a cool coffeeshop and not too loud. Darwin's Ltd on Cambridge Street is great, and they have free wireless. In Somerville near Ball Square is True Grounds, which is also mellow and has free wireless.

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

True Grounds closes at 7pm, sad to say.

[sarah-raz.livejournal.com]

It is a good place, though. Just discovered it last year...

[inkscarred.livejournal.com]

As someone who is often in your situation: while you're right that Diesel is crowded on weekend afternoons, it does clear out at night (apparently some people have social lives that don't center around textbooks :). I haven't found many other nice cafes in the area that are open late. As others have said, True Grounds is nearby but it closes on the early side and I've found their coffee to be not so great.

[sarah-raz.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I guess I've never been in there past 8:00 on a weekend (I used to have a life!).

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

Diesel is the absolute pits. True Grounds is way overpriced but a better environment. Rossini is deserted...

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

Is Rossini open at night?

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

Not THAT late, but I think 9ish or 10ish.

[sarah-raz.livejournal.com]

I used to live near Rossini's. It's nice (and they have good pizza) but a little far to go for me now.

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

Here's what I've found:
- if you get to Diesel around dinner hour you can usually find a place to sit
- same for Darwin's on Mt. Auburn (open until 9) and the 1369 in Central (open until 11 I think)
- people are often willing to share a booth at Diesel, don't be afraid to ask
- Starbucks picks up Diesel's internet, if that is important to you - you don't have to give in entirely to The Man!
- Cafe Zing in Porter Square Books is open until 9pm
- Grand Prix cafe near Day Street and Mass Ave is open until 10
- True Grounds, Sherman Cafe and Soleil Cafe are all wonderful but better for morning shifts as they close late afternoon.

Hope this helps. I am often in your predicament.

[sarah-raz.livejournal.com]

This is enormously helpful - thanks!

[ron_newman]

Starbucks closes quite a bit earlier than Diesel.
O'Naturals unfortunatly now closes at 4:30 pm (!)
Does Caffe Rossini have wi-fi?

(I hadn't heard of Darwin's until this set of replies.)

[sarah-raz.livejournal.com]

Oh, Darwin's is the best! It's actually my favorite coffeeshop (or pair of coffeeshops) in the Boston area!

[beezy515.livejournal.com]

I heard from another restaurant owner that O'Natural's is going to be closing soon. Maybe that explains their limited hours.

[ron_newman]

Would it go back to being Carberry's then?

[beezy515.livejournal.com]

I don't know. I really liked it when it was Carberry's, though!

Actually,

[aethucyn.livejournal.com]

what I love about Diesel is that no matter when I've gone in, I've always found a place to sit. And particularly on weekend nights, it looks busy, but it's also incredibly fluid. Only a small number of people will sit for very long.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Tufts has Brown & Brew, which is pretty much all people studying, but I think has live music at times when I was never there when I was a grad student ;). Pretty good food and drink selection, too. I'm pretty sure it's on the 96 route (Boston & College Ave iirc).

Harvard Square seems to be this bizarre vacuum of coffee. I mean, it's got multiple Starbuxen and the Peet's, but I'd expect a lot more student-oriented indie places, and I can't find them. So weird.

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

High rents in Harvard Square, I suppose.