Where to study in Brno? 9 places recommended by NEWTON University students

Article Outline:

1. Introduction: Why changing your study environment boosts your productivity
2. Academic temples of deep focus: Moravian Library (MZK)
3. Speciality coffee and creative flow: The Roses, Coffee Trail and Parq espresso bar
4. Industrial space and focus away from the centre: QB Coffee Roasters
5. Creative and bohemian energy: Kavárna Trojka and SKØG Urban Hub
6. Studying in the open air: Kavárna Podnebí, Lužánky Park and Rullerovo nábřeží (Ruller's Embankment)
7. Conclusion and checklist for a successful study day
8. References

When the exam period is in full swing, the deadline for your project submission or final thesis is looming, every university student starts looking for a space to study. We all know that moment when the walls of our own room start closing in on us and procrastination wins. A change of physical environment has been proven to stimulate cognitive functions, restore attention and help overcome a creative block (Mehta et al., 2012; Kaplan, 1995).

Brno is a vibrant city full of cafes and hidden corners, but finding the ideal study haven can be a science. You need a plug socket, a stable internet connection, a caffeine or matcha injection and an atmosphere where the staff won't burn you with a glare after you've finished your drink. Together with students from the NEWTON University campus in Brno at Technická 19, we have compiled a ranking of 9 proven locations that will support you in every phase of the semester.

1. Moravian Library (MZK)

When things get tough and you need absolute concentration on academic literature, the Moravian Library on Kounicova Street is a certainty that won't disappoint. Several floors of modern study rooms offer both quiet zones for individual preparation and team study rooms suitable for solving university case studies. Furthermore, the legendary night study room on the ground floor keeps watch even in the late hours (Moravian Library, 2024).

• Advantages: A plug socket at every desk, a stable Eduroam academic network, air conditioning, a huge collection of academic literature and an affordable cafe on the ground floor.
• Disadvantages: A more sterile institutional atmosphere, the necessity to carry a library card and a ban on consuming your own snacks directly in the halls.
• Transport from NEWTON (Technická 19): Great connection without changing. From the Technologický park terminus, hop on tram No. 12 and in 11 minutes get off at the Klusáčkova or Nerudova stop. It's about a 3-minute walk.

2. The Roses Beer & Coffee (Grohova)

For lovers of precisely prepared coffee and Nordic design, The Roses Beer & Coffee on Grohova Street is a cult address. It is an ideal representation of the so-called "third place" (Oldenburg, 1989) – a space between home and school, where informal networking mixes with work productivity.

• Advantages: First-class speciality coffee, renowned cinnamon buns, friendly staff and the opportunity to end a successful day with craft beer on tap.
• Disadvantages: A smaller space that fills up quickly around midday, and a more limited number of plug sockets.
• Transport from NEWTON: Take tram No. 12 for 13 minutes to Konečného náměstí, from where it is a pleasant walk of about 300 metres to Grohova Street.

3. Coffee Trail Garden

The Coffee Trail concept operates in Brno at two strategic addresses (Štefánikova and Lidická). The Coffee Trail Garden branch offers a magical courtyard garden, which in the warmer months serves as a peaceful oasis in the middle of the city's built-up area. It's an ideal place for brainstorming marketing strategies as well as reading through course materials.

• Advantages: A quiet and unhurried environment, comfortable armchairs and tables suitable for laptops, hearty brunches to top up your energy.
• Disadvantages: It tends to be busier during weekend breakfast times; outdoor seating is dependent on favourable weather.
• Transport from NEWTON: Tram 12 from the Technologický park stop to Klusáčkova (9 minutes) and from there about a 7-minute walk towards Štefánikova (approx. 16 minutes in total).

4. Parq espresso bar

If you are stimulated while studying by a dynamic city rhythm and plenty of natural daylight, Parq espresso bar on Moravské náměstí (Moravian Square) is the obvious choice. The large-format windows offer a calming view of the greenery of the newly reconstructed park with the statue of Jošt.

• Advantages: A view of the park, great espresso from leading European roasteries, quick service and close proximity to the city centre.
• Disadvantages: Smaller indoor capacity and compact tables on which an open A4 format will barely fit next to a laptop.
• Transport from NEWTON: Tram 12 takes you directly to Česká in 17 minutes, from there you walk 2 minutes across Moravské náměstí.

5. QB Coffee Roasters (Jundrov)

Do you need to get out of the centre and fully immerse yourself in analytical tasks or your dissertation? The QB Coffee Roasters roastery and cafe on Veslařská Street is a hidden Brno gem. It is located in a spacious industrial complex on the banks of the river Svratka, where you will find generous work tables and an airy space.

• Advantages: Plenty of space and privacy, their own top-quality roasted coffee, easy parking and an adjacent cycle path suitable for clearing your head between chapters.
• Disadvantages: Poorer pedestrian accessibility directly from the historical core of Brno itself.
• Transport from NEWTON: From Technologický park take bus line 84 to the Přívrat stop and change to a connection towards Jundrov (approx. 20 minutes in total), by car or on a shared bike about 10 minutes.

6. Kavárna Trojka

Kavárna Trojka represents an unmistakable pillar of Brno's student and bohemian life. The Renaissance vaults of the historical palace, vintage furniture and informal creative hum create an atmosphere that breaks down academic rigidity and stimulates original ideas.

• Advantages: Authentic genius loci, spacious rooms including a Renaissance courtyard, friendly student prices and an inspiring community.
• Disadvantages: Dim lighting in the more remote corners and the evening transformation of the cafe into a bar operation (the ideal time for focused work is the morning and early afternoon).
• Transport from NEWTON: Tram 12 to Šilingrovo náměstí (19 minutes) and from there a 2-minute walk along Dominikánská Street.

7. SKØG Urban Hub

An establishment that fundamentally shaped the current wave of Brno's cafe culture. SKØG Urban Hub combines industrial rawness, solid wooden tables and minimalist lines. Countless student start-ups and business plans have been created right here.

• Advantages: Spacious tables enabling teamwork, excellent filtered coffee (batch brew), high-quality plant-based gastronomy for an all-day stay.
• Disadvantages: Very high visitor numbers during afternoon peaks; after 5 PM the noise level rises with the arrival of evening guests for drinks.
• Transport from NEWTON: Tram 12 from the Technologický park stop to Šilingrovo náměstí or Česká, a 3-minute walk to Dominikánské náměstí (journey time approx. 18 minutes).

8. Kavárna Podnebí and Lužánky Park

When you tire of monitors and closed rooms, it's worth utilising attention restoration theory (Kaplan, 1995), according to which spending time in greenery radically reduces cognitive exhaustion. Kavárna Podnebí, hidden in a garden below the slope of Špilberk Castle on Údolní Street, offers an oasis of silence beneath the tree canopy. If you prefer a completely open space, roll out a blanket in the oldest city park in Lužánky – just grab a flat white in a takeaway cup and study right on the lawn.

• Advantages: Natural shade, fresh air, birdsong instead of city noise, and a proven reduction in pre-exam stress.
• Disadvantages: An exclusively seasonal solution (spring/summer) and a lack of plug sockets in the open air.
• Transport from NEWTON: To Podnebí, tram 12 to Česká and walk through the park below Špilberk (20 minutes). To Lužánky, tram 12 to the Nerudova stop and walk towards Lužánky (15 minutes).

9. Rullerovo nábřeží 

The modernised embankment of the river Svratka along Poříčí Street (named after the architect Ivan Ruller) has brought life back to the water's surface in Brno. Wide seating steps, wooden piers and adjacent seasonal stalls invite you to read course materials and hold informal team meetings (Brno City Chief Architect's Office, 2023).

• Advantages: An open public space, the calming sound of flowing water and a pleasant microclimate during hot summer days.
• Disadvantages: Missing work tables for laptops, zero charging possibilities and a dependence on nice weather (in the colder months the location is unusable for studying).
• Transport from NEWTON: Tram 12 to the Hlavní nádraží (Main Station) stop and change to tram No. 8 towards Křídlovická or Poříčí (total journey time approx. 25 minutes).

How to put together a productive study day?

Studying at university isn't a sprint, but an endurance race. Don't be afraid to alternate locations: handle your morning analytical work in the silence of the Moravian Library, use a spacious table in SKØG or Trojka for team meetings, and end your afternoon recap on a blanket in Lužánky. And if by chance you are battling procrastination, or you need to master a lot of material in a short time, check out our article on time management, read about how to manage your studies, career and free time, or get inspired by apps that will simplify your exam period.

Sources:

• BRNO CITY CHIEF ARCHITECT'S OFFICE, 2023. Revitalizace nábřeží řeky Svratky: Rullerovo nábřeží a protipovodňová opatření. Brno: KAM Brno. Available from: https://kambrno.cz
• KAPLAN, Stephen, 1995. The restorative benefits of nature: Toward an integrative framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology. Vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 169–182. ISSN 0272-4944. DOI: 10.1016/0272-4944(95)90001-2.
• MEHTA, Ravi, Rui Julie ZHU and Amar CHEEMA, 2012. Is Noise Always Bad? Exploring the Effects of Ambient Noise on Creative Cognition. Journal of Consumer Research. Vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 784–799. ISSN 0093-5301. DOI: 10.1086/665048.
• MORAVIAN LIBRARY, 2024. Výroční zpráva Moravské zemské knihovny v Brně za rok 2023. Brno: MZK. ISBN 978-80-7051-345-4. Available from: https://www.mzk.cz
• OLDENBURG, Ray, 1989. The Great Good Place: Cafes, Coffee Shops, Community Centers, Beauty Parlors, General Stores, Bars, Hangouts, and How They Get You Through the Day. New York: Paragon House. ISBN 978-1569246818.
• Answers from NEWTON University students