As Trojans prepare to take their final exams for the Fall ‘24 Semester beginning Wednesday, study spots across campus are as busy as ever. For students who find on-campus spots to be too busy or are seeking a change in scenery, Annenberg Media has curated a list of some popular off-campus alternatives.
About Time Cafe in Koreatown offers guests a modernistic vibe, reaching social media popularity due to its cozy yet trendy ambiance. The cafe allows for late-night and early-morning studying with hours from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Seating is abundant as the cafe has an upper and lower floor as well as an outdoor area. Drinks and food range from $4 to $13, and the signature item on the menu is the corn latte for $8. Located at 3287 Wilshire Blvd, Ste B, Los Angeles, CA 90010, About Time is only a 15-minute drive or 25-minute bus ride from campus.
With free wifi access and hours extending from noon to 2 a.m., Spot Coffee & More is another Koreatown cafe ideal for late-night studying. Customers can order from a lengthy list of Instagram-worthy drinks, pastries and cakes ranging from $6 to $13. Walking distance away from the Spot are popular food and drink options such as Oakobing and Sunright Tea Studio. The Spot is a 15-minute drive or a 25-minute bus ride away, at 3324 W 6th St Los Angeles, CA 90020.
Meiyi Song, a senior double majoring in communications and business administration, listed Spot as one of her favorite study cafes. “I really like their couches and it’s a good vibe for late night studying,” Meiyi said.
California Market’s 3rd floor is a rooftop and food court area with expansive outdoor and indoor studying spaces. The walkable space is designed to feel like a miniature mall where customers can purchase Korean food, drinks, and even beauty products from the various shops and restaurants scattered around. California Market is a 16-minute drive or a 33-minute bus ride located at 450 S Western Ave Los Angeles, CA 90020.
Awesome Coffee is another cafe that offers a variety of treats from coffee to ice cream to waffles, perfect for early morning studying. This cafe is open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. the next day with prices ranging from $3 to $13 on all food items. While a good place to study, patrons recommend putting on headphones and having a hotspot ready as this cafe fills up quickly. Located at 3959 Wilshire Blvd Ste A21 Los Angeles, CA 90010, Awesome Coffee is a 15-minute drive or a 35-minute bus ride.
Closer to campus, Fear Not Coffee offers a variety of places to study with an upstairs, downstairs, and outdoor seating area creating a minimalist and chill aesthetic. Open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fear Not Coffee offers a variety of food and drinks ranging from $3 to $6 making it a perfect place for food and drinks on the cheaper side. From campus, Fear Not is a 7-minute drive or an 18-minute bus ride located at 1611 S Hope St Los Angeles, CA 90015.
Right off Hoover Street, Nature’s Brew offers fresh food and coffee. Nature’s Brew is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and offers free Wifi. While seating is limited, Nature’s Brew is a cozy, homey cafe that is a perfect place to study by yourself or with a couple of friends. With breakfast served all day, food and drink range from $3 to $15. Visit Nature’s Brew on 2316 S Union Ave Los Angeles, CA 90007 which is a 5-minute drive, a 7-minute bus, or a 17-minute walk.
Located Across the village and right next to the USC Caruso Catholic Center, Ministry of Coffee is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and offers tons of food and drink options ranging from $4 to $19. With large tables both indoors and outdoors, Ministry of Coffee is a great spot for studying.
Open from 7 a.m. to 3 pm, Ideology Coffee is specifically designed for solo or duo studying. With only indoor seating, all tables and chairs are designed for one or two people, perfect for papers or books needed for studying. Not far from campus, Ideology Coffee is located at 1115 S Hope St Los Angeles, CA 90015 is a 9-minute drive or a 22-minute bus ride.
Tiffany Lo, a senior majoring in communications, says her favorite off-campus study site is Highly Likely, a scenic spot in West Adams that serves a variety of breakfast and lunch options as well as drinks.
“I really like going to Highly Likely because it’s close to school and I honestly think the food is pretty good, coffee and the desserts,” Lo said. “They don’t have chargers but I think the environment is worth it to people-watch and eat while you’re studying at the same time.”
For those willing to travel a bit of a further distance, Sightglass Coffee is a popular coffee shop in Hollywood with a vintage aesthetic. Belinda Lee, a senior majoring in data science and cognitive science with a PDP in integrated design, business and technology, says Sightglass is one of her favorite off-campus study locations.
“It has very good drinks and food and a very good environment, which helps me lock in. And they have really good fries,” Lee said.
Lee says she spends the whole day at Sightglass because the ample food options make it easy to have whole meals.
As final exams draw closer, students looking for spaces beyond Leavey and Doheny can spend their days studying and fueling-up at any of these locations.