Best Places to do Schoolwork

The Champaign-Urbana area is rich with locations to do your homework. Being a campus town, CU is decorated with several perfect spots. I understand that simply doing work at home is difficult for a lot of people, myself included. From cozy local cafes to places to go if you don’t have that kind of budget, this article will explore my favorite study areas in CU.

Cafes are some of my favorite places to do my homework. Something about the aroma of espresso and the romantic lighting romanticizes the idea of doing schoolwork, making me productive.

Cafe Kopi, (109 N Walnut St., Champaign, IL) is one of my personal favorite cafes. It is a brisk 10-minute walk from Central, located in the heart of downtown Champaign. Their drink menu is very affordable and they are also filled with delicious treats. The aroma is ideal for working and they have an array of seating options, my favorite being in the second room right by the window overlooking Walnut Street. There are lamps on all of the wall tables, making the lighting perfect for homework. The noise level is usually minimal but if you prefer to work in silence, this place may not be for you.

Caffe Paradiso, (801 S Lincoln Ave., Urbana, IL) is my favorite cafe in the CU area. The atmosphere is exquisite and their whole menu provides variety and excellence. The decor is beautiful and Pinterest-like and the whole place makes me feel like I’m in a movie. This is a popular spot among U of I students so seating is sometimes hard to find, but I find it worth it. Like Cafe Kopi, there is a decent amount of noise at this place but for someone like me, I prefer a bit of noise. While Caffe Paradiso is not super close to Central, I find it worth the trip if you can drive, or if you want to do some weekend studying.

Local cafe chain, Espresso Royale (1117 W Oregon St., Urbana, IL), is also a great place to study. There are 3 locations of the coffee house, making it accessible for all to enjoy their business. I personally think that the Oregon street location (across the street from Krannert Center of Performing Arts) is the best for studying. While the other locations are perfectly fine, the atmosphere is just overall better at the Oregon street location. There are fewer people there, making the noise level lower. It is right on campus, making it very easy to reach by bus. If you can’t make it to the Oregon street location, the others are also decent and provide the same great menu.

The final cafe I would like to highlight is Hopscotch (802 W John St., Champaign, IL). They offer delicious drinks and famous pastries/treats. The atmosphere is ideal for schoolwork. It is beautifully decorated and is the perfect place to go with a friend. It is only open from 8-2, making it unavailable for Central students on school days. But, if you want to do some weekend studying, this local gem is sure to be the perfect place.

I understand that Cafes are not the most accessible for students, so I wanted to include some of my favorite places that still save your wallet.

The Illini Union, (1401 W Green St., Urbana, IL), is the perfect place to go for students. It offers a variety of study locations, with plenty of space for people. There are rooms that are silent and some that allow talking which is perfect for people of all preferences. There is a variety of restaurants and cafes throughout but it offers space for people who do not want to spend money.

The Champaign Public Library, (200 W Green St., Champaign, IL), is also a great place for working. It offers plenty of space for studying and a quiet atmosphere. It is completely free and open to the public, being accessible to all.

The Urbana Public Library, (210 W Green St., Urbana, IL), is my favorite out of the CU libraries. The vibes just make the space perfect for studying. While there is not as much seating as the Champaign library, there are still places to do your work.

It is valuable to get multiple opinions on this topic. So, I asked Central students to give me theirs. Freshman Amala Willenbrock voiced agreement on Cafe Kopi being a great spot, “Cafe Kopi is one of my favorite places because it is very quiet and has good wifi. They offer lots of delicious snacks and drinks, which I like to have while studying to keep me energized.” I asked Sophmore Nevaeh Bickerstaff about their opinions and they backed me up saying, “The Champaign Public Library has a really nice quiet space and you can even book study rooms with friends if you need to study together.”

All in all, it is apparent that there are many great places to study in the

Chambana area. Hopefully, all of the readers out there found a new place to try.