For one reason or another a comfortable cafe with free internet access never fails to improve my work ethic and concentration. I'm now at the point of dependency and thought I would share with you all some of the recent havens that have stolen my heart (and more than their share of my pens)...
Tucked away behind an old stone wall church in Central square, Cambridge, with a facade not unlike your friendly neighbor's apartment, lies a discretely cast-away FREE wi-fi hotspot. Andala Cafe. Its intimate foyer unfolds to reveal individual nooks with couches and coffee tables and a porch with similar style. Pureed banana with milk and honey to accompany a bowl of vegetarian chili and waitstaff that know when to give you your space and when to sit down and join you for some jo is something you can pleasantly rely on here.
Back Bay's Trident Cafe, however, will forever be my old faithful study hub. The first free internet cafe I stumbled upon while living in the area and it still proves to be a challenge to surpass. Breakfast anytime, fresh fruit smoothies, open til midnight, and various forms and categories of literature in every direction you choose. This year, I will say, I was disappointed to discover that the owners had removed the power outlets to defray any lingering laptop junkies like myself. But if you're ok with 3 hours of internet access and a tasteful balance of comfort foods and light organic dishes from which to select, grab a book or 2 and a bar stool and saddle up.
Just down the road you'll find Espresso Royale. Free wireless, home-brewed rich hot chocolate, an eclectic handful of chatty baristas and a plethora of Boston hip-and-happening reading material at your disposal. The manageable downside to this micro-sized cafe is its proportionally tight seating. But, depending on the time of the day, the privacy factor may not be an issue or may escape your attention altogether.
Eastern Standard, located in the Commonwealth Hotel across from Kenmore station, offers more of an upscale, professional vibe. If you work well with a couple of cocktails in you then this is your winner for sure. Fortunately, if drinks and concentrating don't mix well with you, Eastern Standard still has a decent menu, although a bit pricey, and free internet provided that you plug in a random hotel room number. The waitstaff are cued into this trick but proceed to cater to your whims and make you feel just a little more powerful than when you walked in.
Toscanini's in Central square survives solely on its coffee and ice-cream sales. I have nothing but respect for the Toscanini gang. The frappes are a great substitute for a meal (or a 2nd helping) and the indie-rock/folk playing in the background sets the mood for hitting the books in my opinion. Plenty of outlets to settle in with your compact electronics, however, the seating may convince you to cut your study session a bit shorter than anticipated.
Feel free to post any of your personal fave free wi-fi spots that shouldn't go neglected!
Happy studying people.
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