Coffee and chill: Campus edition

During those moody days when the sunlight almost can't be reached and our uni work gets more intense with all the upcoming deadlines, it is a great feeling just to drop by one of the nice cafés around campus when you have a break between lectures. Now, if you feel like there is a couple of those places but you are not quite sure where to start or if it's worthy, let me help you and give you a brief overview of the best places around to explore during the cold afternoons.

1. Let's start with the place which grabs my attention (and my heart) the most. THE GRAND happenes to be nicely located at the corner as you approach the main 'court' in front of the arches. Its space is not big but what an atmosphere! Coffee there costs you roughly between £2 - £4, the range of pastry contains savory and sweet (secret tip: grab one of those muffins - makes your day sweeter!) Besides that, you can plug your computers or phones to the nearby charger that each table has and enjoy the surrounding decorations and festive music - which just started there, and it gets to your mind too!

2. CLAREMONT HOUSE seems to be a place out of the student-friendly environment, but you couldn't be more wrong. This lovely and cozy tea house drags you by its wooden furniture, colorful mugs and of course - coffee and tea, which they offer A LOT! It's like a jackpot for anyone who is craving tea more than caffeine-based beverages and simply want to try some loose-leaf options. Plus, pastries there is a must-have thing, especially if you have some free time. Use the place for a bit of relaxation, talk with friends, or do some work and it will surely be worth it.

3. NORTHERN STAGE could look like just a theatre from the outside but if you've never been there and tried the coffee or lunch menu, it's as if you've never lived. Personally, I like the open-air space, the hall between the café and theatre space that advertises some of their plays. And again, the food (sandwiches, sweet pastries or lunch menus) tastes so good that I would exchange one of my meals every day for whatever they offer there. I find the place useful for some study time before lectures but don't hesitate to bring your friends there as well and just enjoy the atmosphere of an artsy 'court room'.

4. ANYONE is just a few steps from Blackwells street which means no more than 3 minutes from the campus area. Now, this place may not be as decorated or big as the previous ones but the coffee, the pastries, the soups with toasted sandwiches make you want to stay a little bit longer. Plus, the service there is one of the friendliest you ever experience, so pop in there and try it yourself.

HONORABLE MENTIONS belong to those places which I would consider visiting; the time to get there is less than 10 minutes. One of those is LES PETIT CHOUX with its lovely French name and even lovelier French desserts, it's a place for anyone with a sweet tooth and hunger for some 'café Paris' atmosphere to experience. On the other hand, MARK TONEY AND CO LTD can sound like a factory but this retro-looking ice cream shop offers almost everything that your foodie mind desires. A tip for you: grab one of their milkshakes and enjoy this self-care moment in the cozy atmosphere of the vintage booths.