Senior Perspective: Favorite study spots off campus

If you’re someone like me, who can’t stand studying in one place for too long, I highly recommend exploring Philadelphia whenever you can – and I don’t just mean University City or Center City!

My favorite coffee shops have always been, Cafe Walnut (try their misugaru lattes with a shot of espresso), Caphe Roasters (love their Vietnamese lattes and egg coffee), and Drip (right in Chinatown, I adore their interior and asian-style drip coffee). If it matters to you as much as it does to me, you probably won’t run into many Penn students in these areas since they are a little more lowkey than the usual study spots. Whenever I’m here, I just pop in my airpods and grind away until mid day when the cafes close. Their food options are also very filling, so it’s a great bang for your buck!

If you’re not in the mood to spend money on coffee, which is totally understandable, there are plenty of free study spaces I love too. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is a beautiful space for you to just lock-in, enjoy the surrounding bookcases, and be in your element. I also love Washington Square Park during the fall, when the weather is beautiful I do a lot of my readings on the benches here, and they also offer free piano performances too! The Free Library of Philadelphia is great as well. These places are nice breaks to go to when you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of University city, which are dominated mostly by Penn students.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list at all but I don’t believe in gatekeeping small businesses that deserve to be thriving! Go out into the city and find your own signature study spots, I’m rooting for you!

-Seyoon C.