NEW YORK CITY — Sometimes you just need to get out of the library.
With school right around the corner, we’ve chosen a handful of spots throughout the city where you can get in some quiet, quality study time — without all the dusty, musty textbooks.
Queens
► Cypress Inn Cafe, 1702 Stanhope St., Ridgewood
Nestled between the Bushwick and Ridgewood border is Cypress Inn Cafe, a cozy, family-run establishment where the music is not too loud and the coffee is served just right.
Nosh on quiche or breakfast empanadas while taking advantage of the cafe’s free Wi-Fi and ample seating. If you’re studying on a Sunday, reward yourself for your dedication with a complimentary mimosa.
► Gantry Plaza State Park, 4-09 47th Rd., Long Island City
If outdoor reading — and minimal Internet-induced distractions — is your thing, Gantry Plaza State Park is your new favorite study spot. Sprawling approximately 12 acres, the park sits right in front of the East River, affording studiers open spaces, picturesque sights of the city and, most importantly, minimal crowds.
Bring some caffeine from nearby Coffeed — or simply stop at the park’s food stand for small eats and drinks — and get your reading done with a view.
Brooklyn
► Milk and Roses, 1110 Manhattan Ave., Greenpoint
Open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., Milk and Roses offers visitors a versatile space where early morning study time can easily transition to afternoon drinks and grub. The European-style decor — featuring floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a piano, wine racks and marble features — lends itself to leisurely study.
Start your reading off early with some espresso, and if your work carries on into the afternoon, take your pick from the cafe bar’s ample lunch and dinner selections, such as an artichoke and fava bean salad ($12) or if you're feeling daring, pan-roasted pigeon.
► Odradeks Coffee, 1519 Avenue J, Midwood
Less than a mile away from Brooklyn College, this Midwood cafe offers all the conveniences of a Starbucks without actually being Starbucks.
Guests at the newly opened kosher spot can hunker down in one of the cafe's armchairs for some reading, or take advantage of the Wi-Fi, ample seating and outlets if your studies require you to spread out. Order a cheddar scallion biscuit when hunger calls — you won’t regret it.
Manhattan
► Jefferson Market Garden, 70 A Greenwich Ave., West Village
New School and NYU students who want the greenery of Washington Square Park but not all of the crowds can take refuge in Jefferson Market Garden. Tucked away in Greenwich Village, this pocket of outdoor loveliness features benches, fountains, stunning flora and most important of all: silence.
Be sure to eat before you head over, though. While garden volunteers welcome visitors of all stripes, they do not welcome food.
► Bank of America Tower Atrium, 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue, Midtown
If you’re someone who likes the idea of nature more than the reality of it, study time at the Bank of America Tower Atrium is just for you. The atrium’s soaring, open windows offer visitors sunny views of Bryant Park, and the space’s interior “urban garden” is almost like studying outside.
Get your reading done at one of the atrium’s several tables, and then take a study break at Bryant Park, which has free Wi-Fi.
► SoHo Grand Hotel Salon, 310 West Broadway, SoHo
Yes, a cup of coffee here means parting ways with $5, but if you want your study time to seem less like a chore and more like a treat, there’s no better destination.
Vaulted ceilings and swanky, oversized armchairs make studying stylish, and if you work best in the mornings, you’re in luck: the salon opens at 7 a.m.
Bronx
► La Casa del Caffe, 1036 Morris Park Ave., Morris Park
Forget trendy Brooklyn coffee shops — the best cup of coffee can be found in the Bronx. Start your studies right by sipping the cafe’s famous espresso, which according to The New York Times is “worshipped” by coffee aficionados.
The cafe is just a quick walk away from Yeshiva University and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, which makes Casa del Caffe’s high-quality liquid energy all the more appealing for students.
Staten Island
► Beans and Leaves Cafe, 422 Forest Ave., West Brighton
Early morning and late evening students can head to this local haunt for some specialized coffee and macarons and generous seating in spite of the cafe's small size.
With extended hours — Beans and Leaves is open from 6:15 a.m. through 9:30 p.m. on most weekdays— free WiFi and a friendly staff, studying or working there is all the more enjoyable.
