The GW community is in the thick of midterm season, which means real estate for on-campus study spots is slim.
Instead of cramming into Gelman Library with the rest of GW’s population, try an off-campus coffee shop to get your caffeine buzz and hunker down to get some studying done. We’ve rounded up five D.C. coffee shops and cafes open late where you can fuel your nighttime study sessions with cozier atmospheres and more coffee options than a Starbucks.
All Day by Kramers – open until 10 p.m.
Located in Dupont Circle, Kramers is about a 15-minute walk from campus or just a block away from the Dupont Circle Metro station. You can sit at the outdoor patio, inside at the bar or in the sun-filled cafe in the back of the shop while enjoying the buzz of the bookstore attached to the cafe. Kramers has a full espresso bar serving all the coffee classics along with drip coffee. The Kramers Goober Pie ($8) with peanut butter, graham cracker and chocolate ganache is an ideal late night study treat when paired with a cup of coffee. For a break from studying, the cafe hosts jazz music Sunday nights from 6 to 8 p.m.
1530 19th St. NW. Open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Tryst – open until 9 p.m.
Stop by Tryst anytime from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. for the open, spacious, lounge-style seating, but stay for the coffee. Located in Adams Morgan, the hipster cafe offers both indoor and outdoor seating. But with occasional live music and huge comfy couches, indoor seating is an optimal place to study if you prefer a little background noise. The ambiance of the cafe is warm and vibey with dim lights, mismatched furniture, walls adorned with paintings and jazz or indie music to set the mood. Tryst’s handcrafted beverage menu features seven homemade flavor syrups. With their list of 13 iced or hot teas, coffees and specialty drinks, there is something for everyone. Fall drinks include brown sugar apple pie latte ($6) and fall spice latte ($5.23). You can look forward to two of Tryst’s signature animal crackers served with each drink.
2459 18th St. NW. Open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Mikko – open until 11 p.m.
Mikko is easily recognizable by its white, blue and red painted exterior and can be found just east of Dupont Circle. Along with Nordic dishes like a herring sandwich ($9.50), the shop also offers drip coffee and espresso drinks. When the weather’s nice, take advantage of the cafe-style tables scattered out front, but if you’re looking to sit inside, you’ll find some counter seating near the kitchen and a handful of two-person tables in the front of the store. Inside, Mikko is decorated with pops of blue and red paint on the walls and has a quiet atmosphere if you need to crank out a paper with no distraction. Mikko’s large selection of Nordic sweets like Finnish chocolates, Norwegian candies and daily fresh baked pastries might be hard to resist. While you are enjoying a pastry or sipping a warm cup of coffee, you might even get a feeling of hygge, a Danish word used to acknowledge a feeling or moment as cozy, charming or special.
1636 R St. NW. Open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to midnight Friday, 9 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
The Royal – open until 10 p.m.
Though The Royal is a trek into Shaw, its eclectic decorations like hanging umbrellas, airy atmosphere filled with green plants and flavorful Latin American menu make this late-night cafe a worthwhile trip off campus. The Royal is easily accessible by taking the G2 bus line to LeDroit Park. You can take a seat at the coffee and drink bar or at one of the handful of metal tables around the space. It’s just quiet enough inside to get some homework done and large windows throughout the space show off the lights of the city at night. You can happily enjoy a coffee drink alone, but the menu items like pork empanadas ($9) are almost too flavorful to pass on. You can stick to a cup of drip coffee or try specialty drinks like a cardamom-lemon iced latte ($5.50) or star anise “espressoda” with orange cream ($5.50).
501 Florida Ave. NW. Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Urban Roast – open until 11 p.m.
For those looking for a comfortable and convenient place to study with friends, Urban Roast provides everything you need – plenty of seating, inviting staff and a buzzing ambiance. At this family-owned coffee shop, located just east of campus in Penn Quarter, you’re welcomed by exposed brick walls and ceiling of warm yellow lights. Open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Urban Roast offers everything from autumnal drink creations or to your simple drip coffee. The fall specials include an apple crisp macchiato ($5.65), pumpkin spice sweet cream cold brew ($5.25) and a peach cobbler cold brew ($5.25). A variety of large tables, the bright lights and buzzing atmosphere make Urban Roast a fun spot for a group study session. You can order appetizers like spicy crab dip ($16) to share as a study snack.
916 G St. NW. Open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
