I've been at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles for about 6 months now and I've had plenty of time to explore the campus and the City of Angels. As a freshman with a car, I am one of few. Having it has given me the chance to go places other freshman cannot (unless you want to pay a hefty Uber fee) with ease. So I'm going to spread my knowledge to all of you so you can test out my favorite places to work in LA.
1. Dialog Cafe
My favorite place of all is Dialog Cafe in West Hollywood. Not only is it a convenient location with (possibly illegal?) street parking in one of the most glorious places in Los Angeles, the atmosphere is flat out amazing. It's a cute little coffee shop/cafe on Holloway Drive, literally just down the street from Sunset Boulevard. The staff is phenomenal, and they've began to recognize me as I come more often. Today, the barista who took my order welcomed me back and took a guess as to what I would order. Speaking of their products, the drinks are amazing. Full of flavor, and with substitutions to fit anyones diet, Dialog Cafe is certainly the best. They also have a wide variety of foods to choose from, whether that be Avocado Toast of a Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich, everything is amazing. Try Dialog Cafe if you want a slightly busy, but relaxing environment to study in.
2. Wallis Annenberg Hall
For those of you at USC, I can't recommend going to new Annenberg enough. The building is gorgeous, well lit, and it is extremely conducive to working on any sort of project. My one complaint about it is the lack of seating in the atrium part of the building. There's still plenty, but it does get a little hectic in the middle of the day. Despite this, I would still recommend ANN for any student, not just those in the School for Communication and Journalism. "The Cafe feat. ILLY" is also a good place to grab a quick bite to eat and for some coffee that beats Starbucks any day.
3. Loit Cafe
Yes, it is a really weird name. Trust me on this one though. Loit is a boujee, modern cafe in Downtown LA that has an insane menu of themed items. When you first walk in, you'll notice that everything black, white, or silver. The aesthetic of this cafe is ridiculously crisp, but it doesn't just stop with the infrastructure. Their menu consists of lots of charcoal-themed drinks and foods, and they all taste amazing. Being in Loit always helps me focus because it is so clean and I'm not distracted by the environment I'm in. If you're lucky enough to snatch up one of the three enormous tables at the center, Loit would be a great place to meet with partners for a group project.
4. Mudd Hall of Philosophy Library
Here's another one for you USC students. Check out MPH library if you're looking for some serious Harry Potter vibes. Running mostly off of natural light, the library is only open during the day. It becomes inconvenient when you have classes spread throughout the day, but if you have a couple hours to go and sit and do some homework, I would highly recommend it.
5. Starbucks
Literally any of them. I always find Starbucks good for those long grinds, no matter which one you're at. The few at and around USC can get super busy, but they're convenient for students to get to and to work at without having to worry about ubering somewhere else. But if one is feeling a little bit risqué, I would recommend going to one in Beverly Hills or West Hollywood. Just call ahead and make sure they have power outlets!
6. Leavey Library
I know what you're thinking. Leavey Library is notorious for being the place where dreams go to die. I must admit, it has been the place of many long nights and tears for me, but it gets the job done. As the only 24 hour library on campus, Leavey is a good place for USC students to spend late nights studying for finals at. The 24 Starbucks at TroGro is also only a minute away. Despite being cutthroat, Leavey does serve a purpose and if you're willing to give it a try, do!
