Sip and study: Downtown coffee shops

Get out of the monotony of the library and head downtown to study in one of the two coffee shops located there: SouthBound Bagel & Coffee Shop or The Depot Coffeehouse & Bistro. Get your caffeine fix and a snack and enjoy a change of scenery while cramming for that test tomorrow morning.

SouthBound Bagel & Coffee Shop

For an early morning coffee fix, head over to SouthBound. Every morning, the cooks get up and make their bagels and bread fresh from mixes brought in from New York before serving them up to hungry customers. Adventurous souls should try the jalapeno cheddar bagel. There are many other options for breakfast as well, so there is a menu item for everyone. SouthBound has a cozy coffeehouse feel with indoor and outdoor seating. The interior walls are painted bright yellow with mismatched furniture, which adds to the quirky feel. The store has big, open windows that allow some of the outside in. Downtown Hattiesburg provides a nice backdrop to a long study session.

SouthBound also serves up tasty lunch specials. If a study session lasts through lunchtime, sandwich options available at this quaint shop. Try the pesto and grilled chicken or the turkey avocado. SouthBound even has some live music at this time.

The Depot Coffeehouse & Bistro

The Bakery Building downtown once served up fresh baked bread to the Hattiesburg area as Smith’s Bakery. However, the building has since been renovated, and the Depot Coffeehouse & Bistro now resides in part of the building. Since the coffeehouse is located in an old building, the atmosphere is quite unique. Exposed brick walls with tall ceilings and open windows along with an outdoor patio area invites customers in. The Depot has a snug loft with bookcases, couches and board games to hide away with. The shop also provides WiFi for customers, so it can be used as a study location. The Depot prides itself on being a casual place to enjoy good food with good friends.

The Depot uses fresh and unique ingredients in the items on their coffeehouse menu. They have a delicious selection of coffee drinks along with a variety of hot tea options. The one-of-a-kind menu options are unique but not intimidating. A favorite is the grilled cheese sandwich, which offers an assortment of cheese. American, Brie and jalapeno pimento are all options, but the Gouda is particularly good-ah. Tomato soup, crab-cakes and grits are just a few of the yummy selections to choose from at an affordable price for a college student on a budget. The Depot is a coffeehouse that could be found in a town such as Nashville or New York, but it is right here in downtown Hattiesburg and definitely worth experiencing.