It’s almost finals season; that hallowed time of year when every student becomes a professional coffee drinker and frenzied seeker of free Wi-Fi.
Yep. If you’re going to have a good study sesh, you’ve got to find a good study spot!
We asked around and got the lowdown from Green Bay area residents on the best places to hunker down with your laptop and flashcards. Here are some of the best places to go, according to locals.
Libraries
Okay, we’ll get this one out of the way first because we know it’s obvious, but many, many of the locals we asked cited the area’s amazing libraries and it’s not hard to see why. With tons of study spaces and convenient locations (and did we mention therapy dogs?), libraries have a lot to offer.
Brown County Libraries: With eight locations throughout the county, there is likely a public library near you, and each one has its own vibe. Most of the Brown County Library locations have dedicated study rooms available to reserve for up to four hours a day, as well as plenty of comfy nooks and crannies throughout to set up shop. Check out the study spaces or reserve one by clicking here.
UW-Green Bay’s Cofrin Library: The Cofrin Library has four dedicated study rooms that can be reserved for up to three hours at a time. General study areas are also available. One UWGB student told us they love the variety of seating, mentioning the Green Bay Packer recliners are a fave. If you want to go the extra mile, you can even rent a private study room for $20 per semester. Oh, and we would be remiss if we didn’t mention that each semester, around finals time, the library welcomes some local therapy dogs to help students take a break and de-stress with some belly rubs!
St. Norbert’s Mulva Library: St. Norbert’s Mulva Library is another great campus library with flexible seating, lobby study areas, and study spaces that include whiteboards and wall monitors. Plus, like UW-Green Bay’s Cofrin Library, the Mulva is open to the public and often keeps their doors open late for those night owl studiers.
Cafes
Cafes have long been a traditional place of study for students who are looking for a bit of background noise and endless coffee refills. Here are some of the top picks for Green Bay area students.
Kavarna: It’s no surprise that community staple Kavarna came in as the number one most mentioned cafe for studying. Reddit user SportyLoveMiss summed it up perfectly: “It's a cozy spot with lots of seating and a quiet atmosphere, perfect for studying. The coffee is also amazing, and they have a good variety of snacks to keep you fueled.”
The Attic: Another beloved Green Bay cafe, The Attic was also mentioned several times as a comfy and inviting space to get some work done with an excellent menu of coffee and espresso options. Plus, they were voted a “Top 10 Best Cafe in Green Bay” last year by Restaurant Guru!
Luna: If you’re looking for a place close to St. Norbert’s campus, look no further than Luna’s De Pere location. Reddit user Calm-Resource3878 says of Luna, “Amazing location, cheap food and coffee (discount if you bring own travel mug), and a great place to work for a few hours.”
The Daily Buzz: For students looking for a cafe with evening hours, locals recommended The Daily Buzz, open Monday-Friday until 7pm and Saturday & Sunday until 6pm. With a great menu of coffee, yummy specialty drinks, and cozy and quiet seating areas for studying, this cafe is a great location for buckling down and getting in those study sessions.
Restaurants & Bars
Who among us couldn’t use a cold beer while memorizing the equation for relativistic momentum? This is Wisconsin, after all. 😉
For St. Norbert’s students, The Abbey Bar is the place to be. ”Big booth tables with beers and food and then we get our books out.” (from Reddit user vikingcrafte). The Brick House in De Pere was also mentioned. ”They were never that busy during the weekdays, had good cheap, burgers and the staff would pretty much let you sit there as long as you wanted.” (from Reddit user Thin-Assistance–971)
If you’re looking for something in Green Bay, try Bambu, a cute little boba shop offering authentic Vietnamese Dessert Drinks, coffees, bubble teas, smoothies, and other unique beverages. Reddit user lanilovespickles says, “I have gone there with my friends to study and the owner was more than pleased to have us there! Would definitely go back again to do the same exact thing!”
University Spots Outside of the Library
If you’re not feeling the library but don’t want to leave campus, there are tons of good options for students at UWGB and St. Norbert’s College.
The most highly recommended St. Norbert’s space was the 3rd floor of the campus center. “There's a quiet study lounge with a good view of the river,” says Reddit user gopackgo1921. At UW-Green Bay, check out the lounge and cafe at the University Union, the atrium in the Studio Arts building, or, as one student recommended, the hallway in Theater Hall near the Lawton Gallery.
Wild Card Study Spots
Maybe you are looking for something a little (or a lot) different when it comes time to study. Well luckily, several locals had recommendations for wild card spots, too!
If outdoor studying is your thing (and the weather is cooperating), set up your study station at a pavilion at one of Green Bay’s beautiful parks. Some top park picks included Astor, Danz, Colburn, and St. James in Green Bay, and Legion, Optimist, and VFW in De Pere.
And lastly, our most unique recommended spot—Hyvee! Reddit user Namelock says, “I've got an EV so [my] first pick would be Hyvee because of their free L2 chargers, and then go get a snack and sit in their food court.”
Good luck, students!
No matter where you’re studying this finals season, we’re wishing all Green Bay area students good luck. May your Wi-Fi signal stay strong!
