My Sapienza days might be over, but I still enjoy going out to San Lorenzo once in a while. It's the student neighbourhood in Rome, right next to Sapienza University. I have swapped my study books for my crochet hook, but both of those activities require a specific vibe, one I'm very good at spotting. While a library is always a fine place to study, I personally appreciate a good café, one with coffee, a cosy atmosphere and maybe a sweet treat. In this blog post, I'll tell you all about my favourite cafés to study in San Lorenzo. If you study at Sapienza University, make sure to stop by these spots, as they're right around the corner.
Giufà Libreria Caffè
First on the list is Giufà Libreria Caffè, located on Via degli Aurunci, close to Piazza dell'Immacolata in San Lorenzo. This square is a popular meeting spot in the area, and I'll write more about it in my future San Lorenzo neighbourhood guide, which I'll link here once it's published.
Giufà Libreria Caffè is a cosy, colourful bookshop with black-and-white tiles on the floor and a small café inside. From here, you can order coffee, sandwiches, sweet treats and other classic café items. What I love about this café is that, while there are tables inside (although they're quite small), there is also seating outside! Since the weather is often beautiful in Rome, this is a nice touch for me.
At Giufà Libreria Caffè, there is free Wi-Fi that you can use while studying. From what I've seen, there are only one or two plug sockets available, so make sure you bring a fully charged laptop in case those spots are already occupied. Of course, cafés like this are also perfect for working, reading or any other activity besides studying, which is why the atmosphere is so important to me.
This café is very quiet and relaxed, and the staff are kind. I think it's more of a two-hour study session kind of place than somewhere to spend the whole day. But if that's what you're looking for, I can highly recommend going here (and trying the brownie!).
Tip: While these cafés are all located in the San Lorenzo area of Rome, I've also written a similar article about cafés where you can work or study in Pigneto. So, if you're looking for more laptop-friendly spots in Rome, feel free to check that one out too!
SH82
Next is SH82, and here the concept is a little bit different from that of regular cafés. SH82 is open during the week from 12:00 to 18:00, and what makes it unique is that this café is essentially a study room, completely free of charge. The Shalom Catholic community wanted to create a space with a familiar and hospitable environment, where everything is offered for free, to meet the needs of young people, including those who are less fortunate. If you want, there is a donation box, and when you leave, you can donate as much as you like.
I have to be honest, I wasn't aware of the concept before I went here, and I was utterly surprised by how nice everyone was. I was given a small introduction to the concept, people introduced themselves to me, everyone was smiling, and I really thought, damn, I feel so comfortable here. There were many young people present from all over the world, and if you are new to Rome and looking for a place to make friends in a low-effort way, I can highly recommend going here.
There are plenty of plug sockets available to charge your devices, and there is free Wi-Fi too. The whole space feels like your living room, and I have to say, I almost spent the entire day here. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
If I had to mention one thing, it would be that the coffee isn't the highest quality, so if you're dying for a really good coffee, maybe get one somewhere else. You are even allowed to bring your own food here, and I'm already looking forward to coming back.
TOMO Libreria Caffè
Last is TOMO Libreria Caffè, yes, another café-slash-bookstore. You can probably already tell I have a type! However, TOMO is much bigger than Giufà and is more suited to longer study sessions, with more plug sockets available, for example.
However, this shoutout to TOMO comes with a little disclaimer. While I used to come here a lot, the last time I visited, the café at the back of the bookstore was closed, and nobody could really explain why. Maybe there was some sort of event happening later that day, which meant they couldn't open the bar and serve customers, but this is definitely something to keep in mind when visiting. I'll keep an eye on the situation myself.
That being said, I spent so many hours here studying, reading and working that they still deserve a shoutout. If you find the café area of the bookstore closed, like I did (hopefully not!), the other two options mentioned above are literally five minutes away.
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you find the perfect place in San Lorenzo to study! These cafés are perfect for studying between lectures or catching up on mandatory readings before class (we've all been there). Besides studying, all of these cafés can also be great spots for meeting new people and making friends in a low-effort way when you need a little company.
If I've missed your favourite study spot in San Lorenzo, feel free to let me know in the comments, as I'm always open to new inspiration. San Lorenzo is a great neighbourhood with amazing nightlife too, and I can't wait to write more about that soon.
If you want to stay updated on all things Rome and me, don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter!
I'll talk to you soon, my loves.
With much love,
Juliette
