• STUDENTS
  • ALUMNI
  • FACULTY
  • STAFF
  • LIBRARY
Cooley Law Logo
MENU
  • APPLY
  • J.D.
      • J.D. Program
      • Prospective Students
      • Apply Now
      • Tuition & Financial Aid
      • Scholarships
      • FAQ
      • Contact Admissions
      • Campus Locations
      • Course Catalog
      • Schedule Options
      • Study Abroad
      • Our Student Body
      • Academic Calendar
      • U.S. Legal Studies for Foreign Attorneys
  • EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
      • Social Justice Clinics
      • Community Service Clinics
      • Externships
      • Simulation Courses
      • Competitions
  • MAKE A GIFT
      • Giving Tuesday 2021
      • Annual Fund
      • DEI Champions
      • Merit Scholarship Fund
      • Planned Giving
      • Cooley Society Membership
      • Donor Honor Roll
  • ABOUT
      • Mission, Values, and Vision
      • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • Home of the National Legal Mentoring Consortium
      • Commitment to Social Justice and Access
      • Leadership & Administration
      • Blog
      • Campus Locations
      • Title IX and Campus Safety
      • Media Requests
      • Consumer Information
      • Jobs

Search

Living in Tampa, Florida: Unique study spots for students

tampa_downtown.jpg

So, you’ve decided to continue your education in beautiful Tampa Bay, Florida. Smart choice! If you’re new to the area, finding places to study may seem like a scavenger hunt. There are several quiet nooks and hidden hideouts in this lively coastal region, but here are five student favorites to jump-start the process.

The Oxford Exchange

Located in West Tampa, this European-inspired space is a restaurant, bookstore, coffeehouse, and décor shop rolled into one. In its four years of existence, the Oxford Exchange has become a popular spot for business meetings, study groups, and relaxing. It’s important to note that the OE doesn’t offer WiFi, so it’s a great spot if you’re just looking to hit the books or write term papers. If you do need WiFi, check out the Commerce Club. A membership is required, but it includes access to the Shaw Library which features individual desks, multiple conference rooms, private phone booths, group tables, and couches for comfortable seating. The OE is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Kaleisia Tea Lounge

Voted best teahouse by Yelp in 2014, Kaleisia Tea Lounge has become a staple for students living in Tampa. Located 15 minutes northwest of Cooley’s Tampa Bay campus, Kaleisia features a sanctuary specifically for people looking for a quiet space to work, study, or reflect. The lounge is closed on Tuesdays but open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesday, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 12 to 6 p.m. on Sundays, giving students ample time to pack in a study session.

Ginger Beard Coffee

This local favorite specializes in crafting nitrogen-infused cold brewed coffee. Operating out of the Pour House  in Grand Central, Cooley Faculty Secretary Cody Babb says it’s the best cold-brewed she’s ever had. They also offer three varieties of doughnuts from Datz Dough daily — maple bacon, Fruity Pebbles and Crème Brule. Bonus: they offer discounts to students! Take your books into Ginger Beard Coffee on #TextbookTuesday for 10 percent off. This coffee shop is best for early morning studiers, as it’s open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday – Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The Sail

If you’re looking to soak up some Vitamin D while reviewing your notes, or prepping for your next big exam, The Sail near the Tampa Convention Center is just the spot. Nestled in the heart of downtown Tampa, The Sail is a 360-degree pavilion that provides visitors with spectacular views, delicious food, and a variety of unique drink options. When’s the last time you watched the sun set while studying?  The sail opens at 11 a.m. every morning and closes at 2 a.m.

Brandon Regional and Riverview

If you’re looking for a traditional study space, be aware that there is a plethora of libraries to choose from in the area. Of course law students enjoy their own premier library at the Cooley Tampa Bay campus, but the area also includes the Brandon Regional Library and Riverview Branch Library. Both offer free WiFi, two and a half hours of free computer use, printing, and copying. Riverview’s library is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and are closed on Sunday, and closest to the Tampa Bay campus. If you do want to hit the library on a Sunday, the good news is Brandon Regional Library is open. The two-story space located in the Sandy Rodriguez Center, is just five miles from Cooley’s Tampa Bay campus. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 12:30 p.m.–5 p.m. on Sunday.

If you’re like most students, you’ll need a change of scenery throughout the year. So use this as a bucket list and try them all. You’ll likely find your own favorites as you settle in. Already have one? Tell us what you would add to this list in the comments section below!

Schedule a Campus Visit

Tags: Legal Education, Tampa Bay Campus
Back to Blog
  • Tweet

Related Articles

Law Student Couple Win in Love and Regional Client Counseling Competition

This blog was originally published on February 14, 2015. “Who needs just red roses and dark...
Read More

Cooley Law Student Ashley Hart Born to Fight For the Underdog

Taking on the world is something Cooley Law School law student Ashley Hart is not afraid to do. In...
Read More

Three Most Common Mistakes Students Make in Law School

Starting law school can be thrilling, exciting, and sometimes overwhelming when you are trying to...
Read More

Subscribe to Email Updates

Recent Posts

Posts by Topic

  • Cooley Faculty (135)
  • Cooley Alumni (123)
  • Cooley Students (84)
  • Legal Education (78)
  • Faculty Experts (72)
  • Tampa Bay Campus (27)
  • Diversity (24)
  • Cooley Law School Students (21)
  • Dean's Fellow (19)
  • From Where I Stand (18)
  • Awards (13)
  • Faculty Research & Scholarship (12)
  • Innocence Project (12)
  • Military Students (11)
  • Plain language (11)
  • Study Abroad (11)
  • Multicultural Lawyering (10)
  • Michigan Lawyer Employment Data (7)
  • Cooley Law School History (6)
  • Lansing Campus (5)
  • Library Blog Series (5)
  • Weekend Program (5)
  • Equal Access to Justice (4)
  • Kimberly O'Leary (4)
  • Legal Ethics (4)
  • Bar Exam Advice (3)
  • Externships (3)
  • International Law Faculty Experts (3)
  • Resiliency (3)
  • Continuous Improvement (2)
  • Cooley Career Office (2)
  • Service & Integrity (2)
  • online learning (2)
  • Cooley Mission (1)
  • Homeland & National Security Law Review (1)
  • LL.M. (1)
  • LSAT Prep (1)
  • Tribute (1)
see all
Cooley Law Logo

Cooley Law School
300 South Capitol Avenue, Lansing, MI 48933
Tampa Oaks I, 12802 Tampa Oaks Boulevard, Suite 150, Tampa, FL 33637
(517) 371-5140

Contact Us

Contact Admissions

Read Our Blog

Full Sitemap

Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

Consumer Information

In corde hominum est anima legis. | The spirit of the law is in the human heart.

Cooley Law School is an independent, private, non-profit educational institution accredited by the American Bar Association and the Higher Learning Commission. 

Read non-discrimination policy

If you encounter accessibility barriers while on our website, please notify our Accessibility Office using the Inaccessible Content Notification Form.

© 2024 Cooley Law School
Designed By InVerve Marketing