Looking to get out of your dorm rooms and still get some work done? Here are some spots for New York University students to study in (relative) peace.
1. Housing Works Bookstore Café
Where: 126 Crosby St.
When: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Monday to Friday); 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday)
Contact: 212-334-3324
A short walk from the university, this café is a great place to work, with free wireless Internet, an attached bookstore and plenty of room to sit for hours. Eddie Fukui, who has worked there since 2002, cautioned that the café tends to get more crowded as the day wears on. It may be best to secure a seat early, but once there, students can have their fill of sandwiches, veggie lasagna and coffee while they hit the books.
2. Think Coffee
Where: 248 Mercer St.
When: 7 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. (Monday to Friday); 8 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday)
Located conveniently close to the NYU campus, this chain of coffee houses serves up great coffee and offers a quiet spot to work with free wireless Internet. A Think Coffee employee said the café’s clientele is about “90 percent” NYU students when school is in session, which speaks to its popularity.
"It's quiet, and the drinks are good," said Yulin Liu, 25, a film student at NYU.
3.) Bobst Library, New York University
Where: 70 Washington Square South
When: Open 24 Hours for NYU students
Contact: 212.998.2500
Cafés are usually a good place to study, but every now and then, you need to hit the library for some serious cramming. The study areas on the lower levels, with computer access, are open 24 hours to NYU students and from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. for students of Columbia and The New School, who also get free access to the library. If you’re not a student, you can purchase a yearly pass to access the library for $350.
The library features individual study rooms and group study rooms, which can be reserved online for up to two hours at a time for undergrads and three hours at a time for graduate students. A library assistant at Bobst suggested that those interested in securing study space book at least a week in advance.
For those who don’t necessarily need a room to themselves, Bobst also has large, quiet reading rooms located along the north side of the building on even numbered floors.
4.) McNally Jackson Books
Where: 52 Prince St.
When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Monday to Saturday); 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Sunday)
Contact: 212-274-1160
This independent bookstore is the perfect spot to study, read or just relax. With its attached café, quiches, salads and soups will keep your hunger at bay while you work. McNally Jackson doesn’t offer free wireless Internet access in the store, and Landon Mitchell, a bookseller at the shop, said that can encourage people to focus on their work.
“It’s a friendly atmosphere, and there’s plenty of seating, not just in the café but throughout the store,” Mitchell said.
Those looking for a quiet space often flock to the history section downstairs, Mitchell added. For those who prefer a little background noise while they work, the café is a slightly louder option.
5.) French Roast
Where: 78 W. 11th St.
When: Open 24 hours a day
Contact: 212-533-2233
A spacious cafe at the corner of 11th Street and Sixth Avenue, it's a short walk from NYU's campus but well worth it. Open 24 hours, French Roast is a great study spot for NYU students, with beverages and food served all day and all night. The cafe also has free wireless Internet
and plenty of individual tables for working and reading. Be sure to secure a spot in the back room of the cafe if you're looking for some peace and quiet while you study.