Fenway Park. Newbury Street. The Charles River Esplanade. These are some key local spots that may come to mind when one thinks of Boston. Despite mainly being known as the nation’s college capital, Boston has much more to offer than just this list of places. Constantly buzzing with students determined to finish their assignments before their next impending deadline, Boston offers a plethora of beautiful study spaces to romanticize being productive, chatting with friends, and enjoying the city. Here is a compiled list of the best study spaces for Northeastern students to make getting work done just a little more interesting.
Boston Public Library – 700 Boylston Street
If you’re tired of the crowds at Snell but still want a free place to study, the Boston Public Library is the perfect upgrade for students wanting to tackle those pesky Canvas notifications. Despite only being a 15-minute walk from campus, the Boston Public Library can feel like an entirely new world. For any Harry Potter nerds upset that they never got their Hogwarts acceptance letter, make sure to visit the library’s most well-known room, Bates Hall. Here you can relish in the ornate, 50-foot-high barrel vault ceiling lined with large Norman windows and English oak bookcases to channel your inner wizard.
Want to take your studying outside? Visit the gorgeous Boston Public Library Courtyard, described as a “palace for the people,” where you can sit surrounded by lush greenery and listen to the serene trickling of the fountain’s water. Running out of battery and craving a more modern space? Try moving indoors to the newly renovated Johnson Building. This sleek, quiet part of the library has floor-to-ceiling windows that provide copious amounts of natural light and a view of Boylston Street. Besides these three spaces mentioned, the library hosts a variety of other rooms (including a café!) that are accessible to the general public. The Boston Public Library is an incredibly diverse space where anyone can find their personal nook.
Farmer Horse Coffee – 374 Massachusetts Avenue
Perhaps you’re longing for more of a homey environment? Farmer’s Horse Coffee might be the ideal place for you. Intricately decorated with mason jar lamps filled with coffee beans, dark red walls with hundreds of handwritten notes, aromatic coffee bags, royally-colored pillows, charmingly mismatched furniture, and quite a delightful amount of horse figurines, this café boasts a lot of history and character. The epitome of a cozy, rainy day, Farmer’s Horse Coffee provides an intimate environment to work individually at a coffee table, or in a group at a farm-style dining table. Students can work alongside the soft whirring of coffee machines and a light chatter. Farmer’s Horse proudly serves strictly Ethiopian coffee roasted daily at a local roaster. Not only are their caffeinated drinks a sure-fire way to stay awake, but they also contribute to a larger cause. For each cup purchased, 10 cents are set aside to aid Ethiopian coffee farmers. Offering free Wi-Fi, a more ethical cup of coffee, and the service of an incredibly friendly staff, Farmer’s Horse Coffee is a must-visit for people who want a secluded and comfortable space to type away.
300 Mass Ave – 300 Massachusetts Avenue
Want to get away from the hustle and bustle of campus without actually leaving campus? Northeastern’s newly acquired building, historically known as Horticultural Hall, is the ideal space to be removed from the high energy and populous crowds of main campus. Located next to the Reflecting Pool at the Christian Science Plaza, 300 Mass Ave grants visitors a calm and removed study space with a tap of their Husky card. The first floor is filled with individual desks and a whiteboard. The second floor is set up in a similar fashion, but includes more couch spaces and outlets. Normally quite empty and not entirely well-known by many Northeastern students, this location is perfect for some peace and quiet. When you need absolutely everyone and everything to shut up before that 11:59 p.m. deadline, 300 Mass Ave gives you that necessary alone time.
Reflecting Pool at the Christian Science Plaza – 93-105 Falmouth Street
On the occasion that a sunny day arises during Boston’s autumn, enjoy the fleeting warmth outdoors by the Reflecting Pool. With a few tables and chairs bordering its perimeter, this space is surprisingly relaxing despite also being a notable tourist attraction. Whether you want to soak in the sun’s rays or work in the shade, the Reflecting Pool offers choices for both. Though there are no outlets outside, the view is indubitably breathtaking and a worthy tradeoff for a couple hours in the open air. While you don’t need to be religious to set up here and crank out that essay, you may find yourself thanking some otherworldly force for granting you the privilege of being able to work amongst the gorgeous modernist architecture of the Christian Science Plaza. If you find yourself finishing your assignment a little early, take a couple of minutes to sit and enjoy the surroundings.
Pavement Coffeehouse – 44 Gainsborough Street
A list of “Best Study Spaces in Boston” for Northeastern students would not be complete without a mention of Pavement Coffeehouse. Offering arguably some of the best authentic homemade bagels and specialty drinks in Boston, Pavement is perfect for any food-driven studiers out there. Comparatively more active than a library, come here for an environment filled with lively chatter and a playlist of music so good you’ll wish you came up with it yourself. Conveniently located, this locally-owned coffeehouse is constantly bustling with enough Northeastern students that you’re bound to say hello to at least one fellow Husky during your study session. Keep in mind that Pavement opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 4 p.m. everyday (and isn’t open on Tuesdays), so this is definitely a spot that you might want to hit up earlier in the day!