With finals approaching and workload increasing before winter break, many Villanova students face the common struggle of regaining motivation and a desire to be productive. An effective solution for such a slump is to get off campus and surround oneself with a fresh, dynamic environment. Luckily, there are numerous coffee shops along the Main Line where students can combine socializing with productivity.
La Colombe
Located just a four-minute drive from campus, La Colombe is the closest coffee shop to Villanova. Perks of La Colombe include its extended hours, staying open until 6 p.m. and its unique drink offerings, including seasonal lattes on draft. However, the downside to La Colombe is its limited seating. Six of the nine available tables were designed to fit one person, while the remaining tables accommodate only two. Such a limitation makes it difficult for students to find a place to settle in and be productive.
Homeroom Gladwyne
Located nine minutes from Villanova, Homeroom Gladwyne provides guests with a modern neighborhood cafe design and aesthetic that allows students to feel at home and relaxed enough to settle in and work. Its seasonal menu offerings can entice students to continue visiting, making a simple coffee outing an enhanced dining experience. Homeroom’s hours of operation are less accommodating, however, as it closes at 3 p.m. and is not open on Sundays, reducing one’s study options and times.
Gryphon Cafe
Also nine minutes down the road from Villanova, Gryphon Cafe resides in Wayne. Wayne is a vibrant area that offers an array of shops, restaurants and neighborhoods to walk around and explore. The cafe’s two-story structure offers a quaint upstairs area resembling a library and a lively downstairs section with various seating options. Open until 5 p.m. daily, Gryphon Cafe provides the ideal environment for students to focus on work and socialize while enjoying a unique beverage from its array of rotating homemade coffee syrups. However, Gryphon Cafe tends to become crowded on the weekends, and given the cafe’s compact feel, distraction may impact one’s productive atmosphere.
Green Engine and Tour le Jour
Two popular choices, Green Engine and Tour le Jour, are both located in Haverford, 10 minutes from campus. Haverford is a prime area for students to escape their workload, with a trail across from the coffee shops that can be used for walks or sitting on benches outside before or after study sessions. Green Engine is well-known among Villanova students for its high-quality coffee from Rival Bros. and its variety of fresh healthy food options such as toasts, sandwiches and salads. While it is a great spot to meet friends, seating can fill up quickly. Another downside is that it closes early, at 3 p.m. on Sundays and 4 p.n. the rest of the week. This may prompt students to seek an alternative space to get their work done, such as Tour le Jour. Tour le Jour is located across the street and offers a later option for students, as it remains open until 7 p.m. However, there is limited available seating, with Tour le Jour’s cramped layout hindering productivity compared to Green Engine’s more spacious design.
Char and Stave
A bit further from campus, Char and Stave is 15 minutes from Villanova, past Suburban Square. Char and Stave offers a quiet workspace and ideal atmosphere for studying, along with unique social events such as weekly Quizzo specials and happy hours. Compared to other cafes, Char and Stave ensures students have ample time to complete their assignments while enjoying breaks to interact with friends, remaining open until 11 p.m.
Honorable Mentions
Additional noteworthy establishments on the mainline include GET Cafe in Narberth, Maman in Suburban Square and Mad Anthony in Wayne. Each coffee shop contributes to the Main Line’s extensive offering of spaces for students to achieve productivity and seek social interactions.
