Submitted by another-reddit-noob t3_10ctk8b in CambridgeMA
I’m looking for a bar that’s suitable for lone readers. Nice ambiance that people won’t look at me funny for sitting there with a book. I have a lot of books to read for my coursework and sometimes I like to change it up (and drink a beer).
[deleted]
I’d be down to read quietly in a bar with you, if you’d like some company. It sounds cozy and nice. I’ve had luck working at Lamplighter before?
Thirsty Scholar or Plough & Stars (best if you go in the afternoon, not the evening)
During the day, there are a lot of good options. I used to do Cantab. Cellar might be good. Scholar is a good option too. Lots of good options.
Most of them if you go off peak. Semolina over by Tufts is nice on a weekday afternoon. Harvest in Harvard square is nice for grownups. The Plough and Stars when they're not having music - the literary magazine Ploughshares was founded there.
Edit; oh and redemption in union square brews both coffee and beer. Good all day.
I've seen plenty of people reading or doing work/studying at Lamplighter
Corner table at plough when it’s quiet and the heaters on is cozy af
I know this was to op, but I'd love to join! I usually work/read at cafes and this sounds like a neat alternative.
Not helpful in this case but I lived in Seattle for a minute and there was a bar there that did monthly reading nights. $5 drinks. Sort of surprised no place has picked that up here.
By Peter O'Malley and his brother. Local urban legend is the Irish Republican Army moved guns through its basement.
I spend a lot of time in Seattle — got family there. Do you happen to remember what it’s called?
Grendels den in the afternoon might be a good place for this.
I don’t think this person is asking “which bar can I go to during peak hours to sprawl out with my books”. Very common thing to go to a bar or taproom and do some work or read.
Yeah, the new location at CX is usually super quiet during the day
this seems like an awesome suggestion, thank you
Cambridge Common! Great beer selection, very chill, spacious bar area during off-peak hrs. I used to live across the street and miss it every day!
Came to this subreddit literally to ask this (cafes close too early around here). I see a lot of options for during the day but what about at night? e.g. on a Wednesday or Sunday
i’ve also noticed that the coffee shops close early around here! i find it odd that a place with such a high student population doesn’t have any spots for coffee and studying in the evening! to the bar it is
If you do not mind Davis Square, Somerville, the downstairs bar at Redbones (called Underbones) was usually very quiet in the afternoons and early evenings. But I think it closed when the pandemic hit. Don't know if it reopened or will reopen. It had a huge beer selection on tap.
I don’t remember if the bar name is the same but I think it was at Hotel Sorrento. I went a few times and it was a nice change of pace, plus once the reading stretch ended you were among like-minded folks.
Lol, I do work in a bar and see no issue with it. Your own personal dislikes aren’t representative of the whole industry.
Examples given here like The Thirsty Scholar and Lamplighter both open late morning/early afternoon which is a perfectly fine time to grab a beer and get some work done. Maybe lighten up a little and try it yourself 🤷🏽
Seconded, I've spent many a lunch eating and reading at CC
But if they were open at 6, 7, 8pm, I’d come in there and buy a coffee. I don’t see why that’s different than me coming in to buy one coffee at 10am and staying until 3 studying.
I spent over a decade behind a bar and someone with a book in front of them was almost certainly a lesser headache and a greater tipper than those without. Not once did I ever have reason to take issue with someone because they pulled out a book.
Also anywhere Joe McGuirk is behind the bar, bring a book... But he might want to talk about it. He's a great bartender and reader. We've been drinking wherever he has been pouring for more than 20 years and he's never steered us wrong on a drink or book recommendation.
Also vote for him for city council next time he runs, he's a good dude.
If you like wine, I’d recommend rebel rebel in Union in somerville, especially when it’s a little warmer to sit outside.
The upstairs and bar are open but Underbones remains closed.
no, i just wanna sit with a book in my hand at the bar. what’s the different between me sitting at the bar with my phone or with a book?
I'd second the recommendation for Plough and Stars! I've had some lovely conversations and book suggestions from bartenders there.
It’s very odd because in my college town (Davis, CA), some coffee shops stayed open very late — usually at least 8 p.m. — explicitly because students would stay somewhere late to study off-campus. I expected the same when I moved here and started grad school; that is, being able to study in a coffee shop in the evening. Granted my experience was pre-COVID so things may have changed back at Davis in the interim.
same at my undergrad (Ann Arbor, MI). majority of coffee places were open until around 8-10pm. i really assumed that was commonplace (at least in college towns)!
Atwoods in east Cambridge
Something you'll never hear anywhere else in the world!
Shy Bird in Kendall is nice in the afternoon during winter it’s on the emptier side it has coffee and drinks and the food is very good. In the morning though it can be packed cause they serve brunch and breakfast. Good luck on your search mate :)
My ex went to lamplighter and just worked all day multiple days a week. Hope you don’t run into her, but confirmed this is a good location for it
Andala Coffee House in Central Sq is a favorite for working, reading, etc and is open late
They probably don't yet have enough business. I'm sure they were hit hard by the pandemic. Underbones is actually a really neat place. I found the bar there to be like a hidden gem. I think most people just know the upstairs bar.
Thanks for updating me!
and/or hotel lounges/bars. those tend to be open very late.
lol, appreciate the confirmation! i’m checking this one out for sure
this looks like a really great suggestion. thank you!
Even dinner time early/midweek is probably fine too, unless it’s much more busy than it used to be.
That is my SPOT <3
​
... maybe i shouldn't have said anything, don't want the joint to get too crowded...
Abismos t1_j4hovh5 wrote
Based solely off of the name, the Thirsty Scholar should accommodate this.