USC has a few beautiful libraries that many of my friends love studying in because it makes them feel like they go to Hogwarts. Although these libraries make the dream of attending Hogwarts feel like it is almost a reality, I realized that if I’m studying in one of those libraries, I spend most of my time dreaming about Hogwarts rather than actually getting work done. After my failed attempts at studying in libraries, I learned that studying at coffee shops is what works best for me.
Freshman and sophomore year, I did most of my studying in my room or a friend’s room. It wasn’t until I studied abroad in London this past summer that I realized how much I liked studying in coffee shops. I never wanted to be doing work in my room while I was abroad because I wanted to explore the city as much as possible. I found that coffee shops presented the perfect balance for me between my ability to focus and a pretty atmosphere. Plus, having coffee in my immediate vicinity is always a plus. My favorite coffee shop in London was called “Look, Mum, No Hands!”
Coming back to school in Los Angeles, I was determined to find a coffee shop to study at that wasn’t Starbucks. Within the first month of school, I found the perfect place – Urth Caffe. Urth Caffe is perfect because it has every kind of coffee and tea you can imagine, amazing food, and a great atmosphere. The inside seating near the fireplace is my favorite place to study because it’s cozy and quiet. There’s also outdoor seating for when it’s nice outside, which in LA it usually is, but I prefer the outdoor seating for when I’m just there to hang out with friends.
Another cool thing about Urth is that it’s the café that is featured in Entourage! I thought that was pretty cool when I went there the first time.
I’m glad that I was able to find a nice coffee shop in LA. In London, there are so many independent, cute coffee shops, and I was definitely worried that I wasn’t going to be able to find one in LA that could compare. Though Urth Caffe is a pretty good replacement for “Look, Mum, No Hands!”, I still miss London and can’t wait for the day when I get to go back!
