The first week of November is always a trying time at McGill – libraries are now open 24/7 to accommodate the swarms of students attempting all-nighters, midterms drag on despite the final exam schedule already setting dates for your academic doom, and it’s dishearteningly difficult to bring yourself back to the library after the sun sets at 4:30 in the afternoon. We, the students, are stuck in rut. Can we really expect ourselves to rise and grind, continuing on our quests to get that bread, in such dark, dismal conditions? The short answer is yes, we must keep struggling for these degrees, but the key to surviving and thriving through this season lies in where you study. Breaks between studying and a change in environment have been shown to help with memorization and recall of information – movement between where you study and periodical breaks help to rejuvenate your brain so that you can focus better. Change of outside context forces your brain to unconsciously associate multiple things with the same material, essentially meaning that your brain makes more connections to what you’re working on, therefore strengthening how well you can learn and remember it when need be.
A change of scenery helps to keep your tired mind resilient and refreshed, while also getting you out of the bubble and McLennan’s prison-like walls. Try out one of these cool cafes to take a break from those campus blues and also improve your productivity, recall, and concentration!
- Tommy Cafe is self-described on their website as “a neighborhood coffee shop and bar. Established in Old Montreal’s British Empire Building, Tommy offers a wide selection of coffees, pastries, snacks, and drinks — seven days a week. A balanced blend of modern design, mid-century furniture, and Victorian architecture. Whether you live, work, or visit the area, our space is ideal for your daily caffeine fix or your Happy Hour gatherings #tommymontreal.” The bi-level cafe is an open, bright space filled with natural light, thanks to well-placed windows and mirrors, and decorated with the green tendrils of hanging plant baskets and other flora that fall gracefully against white walls, making for a calm and pleasant space that quells any rising academic stress. Known for being incredibly insta-worthy, what most are unaware of is that Tommy has a banging brunch selection (hello avocado toast!) that will keep you satisfied even while doing long readings. The menu also has Located at 200 Notre-Dame Ouest and open from 8 am to 8 pm all week, Tommy is the perfect place to begin a cafe crawl – just make sure you arrive early because this cafe is popular!
- Santropol, a personal favourite and the unofficial best cafe in Montreal, doesn’t necessarily require you to be there early – its hours are 11 am to 10 pm daily – but you have to arrive on time to nab a spot. Seats for studying are highly coveted at Santropol as there are only around a dozen seats near outlets, and there’s also a sign prohibiting laptops at tables reserved for restaurant patrons only. Despite this difficulty, if you come with readings or a fully charged laptop, the amazing menu and friendly, welcoming atmosphere makes it worth all the trouble. Called “Montreal’s Original Cafe,” Santropol was founded in 1976 holds local prestige as a historic neighbourhood institution. It’s remained famous here for it’s eclectic and colourful decor, year-round terrace with purple paint, a garden, and fairy lights, and for its charming quirkiness. In regards to food, eaters of all dietary needs can come to enjoy monster sandwiches, delicious soups, cheesecakes, milkshakes, and specialty drinks with healthy, vegan, and vegetarian options – all on top of the standard cafe fare like coffee, tea, and baked goods that are served. You can find Santropol in the heart of the Plateau on the corner of St. Urbain and Duluth at 3990 St. Urbain.
- Finally, Cafe OSMO was also founded within a piece of Montreal’s architectural history. According to the OSMO Foundation’s website, “The OSMO Café is a space with unique architecture, located in the heart of a group of buildings with remarkable historical and cultural heritage. Built under the bridge that connects the William Notman House (1845) to the St Margaret Hospice (1894), the café is literally the heart and soul of the Notman House.” As the cafe exists under a bridge, it’s a semi-underground dugout with cool concrete walls that is sleek, well-lit, and inviting, thanks to long windows, skylights, and an adjacent terrace that allows natural light in. There are various seating accommodations, such as solo stools at the barista’s counter and along the window ledges, couches paired with a coffee table, low, comfy chairs that are great for reading, and regular sized tables that are perfect for working with your laptop or piles of notes. Keeping up with the other cafes listed above, OSMO has a delicious menu with healthy, vegan, and veggie options, as well as the coffee, tea, and pastries that a cafe must master before expanding their menu. There are options for breakfast and lunch, including dishes such as granola, grilled cheese, salad, and a veggie burger. What’s more is OSMO also champions local businesses by selling products like kombucha, juice, soda, beer, and wine from Quebec and Montreal companies. Just down the street from campus at 51 Sherbrooke Ouest, escaping to this cafe for the day is easy! The cafe’s hours are from 8 am to 6 pm on weekdays, and from 10 am to 6 pm on weekends.
Images obtained from:
https://tastet.ca/2018/04/23/t…