As a student, sometimes I find it hard to find time to explore Denver. It’s so easy to stay on campus and do work at coffee shops like Beans, Kaladi, and La Belle Rosette. I’ve found that a great way to explore while still being productive is through coffee shops, so here are some places to check out around Denver.
If you’re looking for options just a short walk or train ride from campus, South Pearl Street is the place to be. With options like Stella’s Coffee Haus and Lavender Coffee Boutique there are many student-friendly options in this widely known area.
Stella’s is a bustling space with many different seating options. They have a front patio with personal heaters and umbrellas for each table, so whether it feels sub 20 degrees or a high of 90 degrees, you’re set for a long study sesh.
If you’re not feeling the sun, Stella’s has an additional silent back room allowing for people to really focus on their work. I usually end up getting their small iced chai with the sweet and spicy combination for $6.35 plus tax.
Just a heads up: you might be getting more ice than the drink itself, a solution could be asking for light ice, you’ll have to let me know if it works.
Lavender Coffee Boutique is an option that hasn’t been widely discussed among the DU student body. The coffee shop sets itself apart from others as they have a local roastery where they roast their own coffee, making it taste even fresher.
When I went, I got a specialty latte called the Fireside. Trust me, this was delicious. The combination of maple syrup and espresso was pristine. Usually, I don’t go with the specialty drinks but I am glad I stepped out of my comfort zone with this one.
With it being a smaller space and having more people socializing than doing work, I did find myself getting distracted at points but if you can pop on some noise-canceling headphones, you will be all set.
Although Nixon’s Coffee Shop is technically on South Washington, it is close enough to add to the reputation of South Pearl.
Nixon’s is a larger space, so there is less eavesdropping and more opportunity to find quiet corners. I love the work environment and friendly baristas but to me they lack in their food options. I do love their cappuccinos starting at $4.65, the small sized drink does feel pretty big so you’re really getting a bang for your buck.
Moving slightly off campus, Corvus Coffee beats Nixon’s in the cappuccino price, offering a small for only $1.10. Depending on what you get, you might end up paying more for a coffee due to their beans being imported from farmers across the world.
They have various seating options from comfortable couches to open tables allowing you to study with multiple people. Additionally, they have a parking lot with many spaces. If you’re anything like me and don’t enjoy parallel parking on South Broadway, this is a bonus.
Flora Cafe and Cocktail Lounge is another beautiful space about twenty minutes off campus. With hours from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday and even later on weekends, it offers varying social and study spaces. During the day, you can get work done in a productive environment. Around 5 p.m. I noticed the energy shift and the party start, as they began serving cocktails and mocktails.
I did love this place, but I don’t know if I would venture this far off campus for a coffee shop often. Plus, there were only 2-hour parking spots, so if you are worried about tickets, consider setting a timer. But, if you are looking for a good pastry, you have my word that this is the place to go. They feel luxurious and are delicious, a little pricey though.
Okay, now we learned that going too far off campus might deter some folks, so here’s another option closer to campus that many DU students might know. Located on South Downing, Lil Coffea Shop is a great place to be.
For some reason, it took me until my third year of college to find this place. If it hadn’t been for a friends recommendation I wouldn’t have been able to find this shop tucked away just off Downing.
The shop is open 24/7, which is something I had never seen before. This is a great choice if you’re wanting to hunker down and study throughout the entire day. There are many food options for customers and it’s a pretty big space so I’ve personally never had any trouble finding a table.
Beware of looking across the street in the spring though as the hustle and bustle of Denver Beer Co. might make you want to shut off the computer and enjoy time in the sun.
All of these shops offer unique spaces to study for those week five midterms coming up. Let us know if you have tried any of these or if there are other spots that I missed and should check out.
