By Teresa Fang / March 31, 2024
Every season is study season. As such, there must be accommodations for hardworking high school students. Not just any back alley folding table, nor empty classroom or the desk in your dorm will do; a change of scenery will provide a chance to tune into your assignments with no distractions.
With a cozy atmosphere with good vibes, a clean feeling, and the convenience of drinks and snacks just one step away, studying at cafes calms you down while offering a sanctum to lock in at the same time. Here is the Stentorian’s review of the best studying spots around Ninth Street, in our new column Zooming Around Durham (or ZAD for short):
Joe Van Gogh — 6-min walk
Food: Joe’s salted caramel latte has always been my go-to drink, and this Joe Van Gogh upholds that. Their lattes have a rather strong coffee taste but manage to be easy-going at the same time. In my opinion, the Chapel Hill Joe Van Gogh makes more characteristic lattes than anywhere else but maybe it’s because I am biased for my hometown.
Vibes: The design of the store lets in lots of natural light, and has an indie vibe because of the decorations and paintings from local artists on the walls. It has an innovative coffee-shop combo of wood tables and a colorful behind-the-counter. There are a few small outdoor tables to allow for conversation. The lofted study area is especially aesthetic and really makes you feel locked in to your work.
Price: Though the lattes with syrup are a bit pricey at around $6 per 20 oz cup, the milk choices do not cost extra. Joe’s tends to put a lot of ice in lattes, so make sure to drink it all before the ice melts.
Overall: 4.6/5 – NCSSM students are only 6 minutes away from an excellent study place. Though the student discount no longer applies here, if you know how to ask around the barista, you can score a free drink voucher.
Monuts — 6-min walk
Food: I wish I got one of the food items, but I got the normal iced caramel latte and chocolate cookie. The latte is an excellent blend of espresso and milk. There is no sandy aftertaste when you get to the bottom of your drink, as you usually do with these types of drinks. The cookie is reminiscent of home.
Vibes: This cafe and bakery is popular with NCSSM and Duke students, though still has an exquisite, woodland but also industrial vibe that is unique among all stores on Ninth Street. The atmosphere is artsy but also not loud and dim – perfect for calm, after-school studying.
Price: Only one size is offered with lattes, and this one was $5. It is worth it, considering the quality and international reputation of the coffee shop.
Overall: 4.5/5 – The only thing that would make this better is extending the hours; closing at 7 pm makes studying here for long times nearly impossible.
Möge Tee — 13-min walk
Food: This milk tea shop makes it clear from the title that their emphasis is not on the TEA; milk-based drinks take up half the menu, not counting milk teas (since these don’t use real milk). These milky drinks are heavy on the stomach but hit the spot when needed. Sweetness levels are not the same for each drink, making it a gamble to order your favorite item. It does not help that you can’t ask the cashier about the drinks, since customers order from a kiosk.
Vibes: Opening the door to the smells of warm boba makes this place unique on this street of bars and restaurants. However, it is not a prime place to study because of the loud music and empty store. There seem to be only 1-2 people in the store at all times, either the barista behind the counter staring at you or a customer sitting beside the kiosk, staring as you order.
Price: The prices of all the drinks on the menu are not worth the labor behind making them, and this is coming from a former Möge Tee barista. At $6 for a large milk tea with boba, it’s expensive for what it is; there are much better options for the same price here.
Overall: 2.5/5 – The drinks are not as good as they should be, and this is an anxiety-increasing place to stay for a long time.
Panera Bread — 13-min walk
Food: Staying here for dinner, I ordered the French onion soup with a portion of a baguette while my friend ordered a Cinnamon Swirl bagel. We both ordered some drink but forgot what size or type of drink. Luckily, our selections did not matter because we took a large-sized cup and had infinite refills. Though the infinite drinks part was good in helping us stay refreshed and satisfied with our studying, my soup was small, salty, and unfilling. When ordering from Panera, make sure you judge if the price is worth the portion size.
Vibes: Very good. There is indoor and outdoor seating, but in this cold weather, the outdoor seating was not completely set up. The inside is ambient and cozy, with enough space you won’t have to worry about Duke students taking up everything. There are also enough people there to feel comfortable.
Price: The food items are overpriced, but the bagel and drinks seem okay. Being a MyPanera member makes frequenting Panera more worth it.
Overall: 4/5 – Good, comfortable place for long-time studying and getting a little snack. It closes late enough for NCSSM students to catch the loop from Harris Teeter back to school on Wednesdays.
Cloche Coffee — 17-min walk
Food: I got the salted honey iced latte since it was a unique house-made syrup flavor. There is no surprise at how good it is. There is a rather milky flavor that complements the accented honey and salt flavor. If you don’t like coffee but still want to drink it, the lattes here are up your alley.
Vibes: Inside the cafe, good jazz and lofi are playing in the background, making it a cozy place for productivity. Outside, there are picnic tables on a small porch overlooking Duke’s track field. A good place for gossip.
Price: $5 for the 20oz, which is pretty typical. This is on the cheaper side of lattes.
Overall: 3.5/5 – The location and ambiance of this spot make studying here a beautiful experience, only if you beat the Duke students at getting a table first. Otherwise, you can order and pick up your coffee in around 10 minutes and walk back to school/another place to study.
Quickly — 20-min walk
Food: Superb boba. Superb food. My go-to is jasmine milk tea with boba, and it never disappoints. The sweetness levels are adjusted according to what you ask for, and the amount of ice has never been an issue. While the drinks do vary in temperature sometimes, the full drink is fulfilling.
Vibes: If you like K-pop, you would jam it out in here. If you didn’t, you would jam out anyway because of the boba. The tropical-style decorations, entertainment, and variety of seating options make hanging out a very memorable experience, although the music can be a bit loud and people tend to gossip here rather than do work.
Price: With boba, the cheapest large milk tea you can get is less than $4.
Overall: 3/5 – In terms of being a study spot, Quickly is not the ideal place to memorize anatomy and physiology or rack your brains over physics. However, it does have the best boba and popcorn chicken in this part of town, making the 20-minute trek worth it.