Sip, Study, Repeat!
- Katrina Scheuring
- Oct 21, 2024
- 4 min read
Hello Hello!
Welcome to On The Hunt! You found us! As this is our first official blog post we are thrilled to welcome you to our site.
Today's blog post is all about what Kingston locations have the best caffeine AND study vibes, the perfect mix for getting you through midterm and exam season. Below you can find our top 4 recommendations, the tried and true, the consistently tested best places to go when you need to absolutely dial. We have included our favourite menu items and some other helpful tips to make the most of your experience at each, so enjoy!
Crave Coffee House and Bakery is definitely one of the most popular study and caffeine spots in Kingston, but for good reason. The vibes are amazing, staff are friendly, and the food/drinks are so delicious they will keep you going all day long.
PRO TIP: Get there early!! Since Crave is such a popular spot for Queen’s students to visit, the tables fill up quickly. We recommend getting there close to open, and bringing chargers + snacks so that you can keep your table for as long as you are motivated. Definitely avoid getting there between 12-2pm unless you don’t mind waiting in a line!
OUR FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS:
Katrina: Vanilla hot cafe latte with the famous (in my world) cinnamon bun with cream cheese icing!
Kat: Berry black tea lemonade, with a lox bagel with cream cheese, onions, and capers. DELICIOUS!
OUR EXPERIENCE RECOMMENDATIONS:
Katrina: Bring noise canceling headphones (if you have them!). While the vibes in Crave do help to keep you focused, it can also get super loud during rush hour (12-2pm), so I find that having noise canceling headphones with a great cafe study playlist is the perfect way to push through the rush and get stuff done.
Kat: I have a great system where after I finish an assignment I’ll reward myself with a large sugar cookie (on the menu: cream cheese sugar cookie)! Super effective system that helps me be productive and stay focused.
While we may be slightly biased towards loving Co Gro because two of our housemates work there, Co Gro truly is one of the best study spots on campus! We especially love studying there early in the morning because the windows and good vibes music really help to start the day on a high note.
PRO TIP: Sit at a table with an outlet! While the circle tables are super cute, you can really only study there for a couple hours before your laptop, phone, ipad, etc starts to die. Sitting along the windows or at the large rectangle tables will help you stay there for as long as you can, therefore being the most productive!
OUR FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS:
Katrina: Seasonal drink - snickerdoodle latte, with the mac and cheese (available on select days) and a red velvet cake slice as a dessert!
Kat: Matcha chiller, with a cheddar bagel with top secret cream cheese and a double chocolate chunk cookie.
OUR EXPERIENCE RECOMMENDATIONS:
Katrina: Sit facing away from the ordering bar if you REALLY want to dial. I get distracted super easily and will always be looking at the line, what people are ordering, etc. SO if I force myself to face away from the bar, then I have less to get distracted by.
Kat: Secret pro tip – the third floor is a hidden quiet gem to bring your food and laptop and grind work for 4 hours (keep that on the down low).
The Juniper Cafe + Bader Center combo is one that we discovered while we were in first year, and it has never done us wrong!
PRO TIP: Get to Bader EARLY! While it is absolutely gorgeous, that means it fills up quickly. Going with friends makes it super easy to hold a table while some people go to Juniper to get food, that way you never lose your spot.
OUR FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS:
Katrina: Iced chai latte or hot chocolate, with the Warm 'Wilton's' Cheddar & Bacon sandwich.
Kat: Large chai with 2 shots of espresso and oat milk, with a local chicken sandwich and daily soup.
OUR EXPERIENCE RECOMMENDATIONS:
Katrina and Kat: Located all the way at the Isabel Bader centre, this trek will have you contemplating just how much studying you want. However, the cozy ambience and warm studying spot will make you so productive, you’ll forget you spent $30 on food and a drink! Definitely pack your noise-cancelling headphones and a charger cause you can be super productive here! I’d even recommend a walk along the water for a quick study break when you need it. Worth the walk.
Located right downtown on Princess Street, Balzacs is a great combo of study + caffeine options because of its homey feel, lots of seating options, and natural light to keep you awake!
PRO TIP: Look at the menu before you get there! The Balzacs line moves QUICK, and we both have found ourselves rushing to make a decision because we had no idea what we wanted before we got in line.
OUR FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS:
Katrina: Café Frappé with a carrot cake slice or magic bar.
Kat: Iced mocha with oak milk and a ginger cookie.
OUR EXPERIENCE RECOMMENDATIONS:
Katrina: Did you know Balzacs is actually a chain?! That means that once you find your favourite drinks and food, you can get them at other locations in Toronto, Niagara, Guelph, and many more spots! Each of these locations also has great study vibes, so Balzacs truly is a province-loved study spot!
Kat: The tables and island seating make it easy to do individual or group studying. I think their cookie and baked items are one of the best, and they have great options for take-home coffee beans if you really enjoy their flavours!
If you test out any of these recommendations, send us a DM on Insta @onthehunt_blog, we would love to hear from you!
Until next time,
Xoxo, Katrina and Kat
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