Unmotivated. If this is how you’re feeling when it comes to online classes and meetings, it may be time to get out of your home or lab for a change of scenery.
“It all depends on the type of work I’m doing,” said Will Sealy, a fourth-year Robotics Ph.D. student. “There are times when it’s easiest to just stay in my lab or at home. But, if I’m doing something that might be a bit boring or requires creative thinking or brainstorming, it often helps to move somewhere like a coffee shop to motivate me.”
Fortunately, you have several spots near campus that offer socially distant options. Read on to learn about six coffee shops in the Midtown and Buckhead area that have kept their doors open during the pandemic.
Chattahoochee Coffee Company Westside
Located in West Midtown, Chattahoochee Coffee Company Westside offers a cozy spot to study during the colder months. With its rustic aesthetic and variety of beverage options that include espresso, French press, and chai, the shop provides a welcoming experience complemented by free parking and plenty of power outlets. And limited indoor seating and plenty of outdoor seating allow for social distancing.
Dancing Goats Coffee Bar Midtown
The Dancing Goats Coffee Bar in Midtown (across the street from the Midtown MARTA Station) serves a variety of single-origin manual brews and blends, including its signature Dancing Goats blend. While the location is currently closed for indoor seating, it features a spacious covered outdoor patio that is open. (FYI, Dancing Goats also has a location in Ponce City Market with access to indoor seating.)
Urban Grind
This West Midtown spot keeps customers safe by only allowing 10 people in the shop at any given time. In addition to the standard coffees and teas, the shop sells specialty drinks that include a Turtle Mocha and a Caramel Macchiato, as well as a variety of pastries, smoothies, and paninis. Urban Grind also hosts Open Mic Nights that have transitioned to Instagram Live during the pandemic.
Cafe Lucia Midtown
A mere mile away from Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Cafe Lucia Midtown is centrally located among some of the city’s scenic outdoor spots. Nearby parking and limited indoor seating make it a comfortable choice to get work done and grab a bite to eat. In addition to its menu of specialty coffees, teas, smoothies, chillers, and wines, Cafe Lucia also serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Momo Cafe
This Midtown cafe offers customers a menu of Japanese beverages (including signature drinks like the Black Sesame Latte and matcha), doughnuts, croissants, and madeleines. Plus, the cafe’s offerings are made in-house with Japanese ingredients and techniques. Momo Cafe currently only offers seating on its outdoor patio, but you can also order Japanese comfort food from the attached restaurant, Momonoki.
BRASH Coffee Roasters at the Atlanta History Center
If you don’t mind leaving Midtown, this Buckhead spot is a quick drive away. Located inside the Atlanta History Center, BRASH has plenty of space for socially distanced seating, as well as easy access to Souper Jenny, which is next door. All of the coffees the shop sells are sourced from single farms that BRASH builds individual relationships with. And BTW, BRASH also has a location in Midtown that will be reopening for dine-in soon.