The Best Study Spots In Chicago
UPDATE: It’s time to start preparing for back-to-school mode, and unfortunately for some that means jumping back on the study horse. Start testing out these quiet spots now, so you’ll be ready come the first day of class. This story was originally published on April 4.
Chicago’s not shy on students. From undergrads to back-to-school professionals, the city is full of people hitting the books. So, if the walls of your apartment, dorm, or office are driving you bananas, get out and cram alongside your studious comrades. We’re helping you cope with your stack of books and ticking deadlines at some of the best study spots in Chicago.
Sure, we’ve found your classic, student-packed coffee shops, but if that’s not your thing, no sweat. We’ve got options (lots of ‘em!), so that you and your study style can find the right spot to cozy up with a good (okay, maybe not so good) book, and prep for any exam the profs can throw at you. If one of our options doesn’t work out, move on to the next, until you’ve found a place where you can soak up the genius. Live and learn.
Photo: Via The Chicago Public Library, Bourgeois Pig, Explore Chicago
1. The Chicago Public Library
If you’re a Columbia, DePaul, or Roosevelt student and have lived in the University
Center at Congress and State, you’ve probably had a great view of the Harold Washington
Library Center of the Chicago Public Library. It’s hard to believe that many students
have never been inside, but The Chicago Public Library truly is a quiet place to
escape your loud roommates or the everyday hustle and bustle of the South Loop. Go
with a group and reserve a study room to get some work done before you run out
of time and those dreadful final projects are due.
Chicago Public Library, 400 South State Street (at Congress Parkway); 312-747-4300.
2. The Bourgeois Pig
Nicknamed “The Pig”, The Bourgeois Pig Cafe has been a staple for students and North
Side residents alike since the mid ’90s. It’s blocks away from the DePaul and is a
good excuse to leave your cave apartment. Thankfully, The Pig’s interior already
feels like a home away from home and has lots of little nooks and crannies where you
can stow away with a soup or sandwich to clock in some serious study time.
The Bourgeois Pig, 748 West Fullerton (at Halsted Street); 773-883-5282.
3. Grant Park
Most Chicago apartments don’t have front (or back) yards, but luckily all of Chicago shares one
and it’s called Grant Park. Fresh air helps you retain information (or
at least that’s what we like to think) and there’s nothing better than sitting outside while
you mercilessly tear through study guides and final papers. Also, nearly unlimited
grassy open space allows for you to bring a friend or two, a blanket, and a snack to
break up the monotony of studying that is textbooks and highlighters.
Grant Park, 337 East Randolph Street (at Columbus Drive); 312-742-7649.
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The Best Study Spots In Chicago