It’s back to school once again and many students are already starting to look out for new places to hang out, dine in, or basically while-away some time before the next class or before heading home.

From cool hang-out places to yummy food joints, the rise of hip and student-friendly spots around schools paved the way for a fun neighborhood in different parts of the metro. Now grab your friends and classmates and visit these places (compiled courtesy of Ford Ecosport) the next time you feel like catching a break from school work:

1. Taft: TableTaft Board Game Café. With the gaining popularity of board game cafes in the metro, nearby university establishments in Taft have also followed the bandwagon to let students bond over good food and fun games. The TableTaft Board Game Café is one of the board game cafes in the area that students flock into if they need a caffeine boost while paying their favorite board game. TableTaft Board Game Café is located at 2/F University Mall, Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila.

2. Katipunan: The Study. It really pays to have a good space for studying. At the heart of Katipunan is a place conducive for students to concentrate on their school chores and hang-out with their friends after. The cool thing about this space is that it has cubicles that you can rent for your study group, complete with sockets that will allow you to charge your gadgets. The Study is located at 2nd Floor, Regis Center, Katipunan Ave, Quezon City.

3. Espana: IChill Theatre Café. A well-loved spot in the Espana area is the IChill Theatre Café as it is popular for its unique underground theater. Students can enjoy the café’s affordable food offerings and frappe and chillers. They can also play board games, sing their hearts out, or watch a movie to cap off that busy school week. The IChill Theatre Café is located at 1125 Dos Castillas St, Sampaloc, Manila.

4. UP Village: The Z Compound. The Z Compound, or best known as “The Z,” commenced the food park trend back in 2013. The Z Compound can be found in the garden area of an old house and has long been a favorite for UP students as it offers a good mix of budget-friendly yet good food, perfect for a well-deserved lunch or afternoon break to ease through a hectic school day. The Z Compound is located at 33A Malingap, Diliman, Quezon City.

5. Manila: Café UK. A popular hang-out spot along the University Belt is Cafe UK, a coffee shop specializing in vacuum-brewed coffee, perfect for that caffeine fix that one needs to start off the busy day. Café UK boasts of its three-storey café complete with bar stools, cushioned chairs, couches, electric outlets, wi-fi connection, and drafting tables for architecture students. Café UK-Co is located at Dona Carmen Bldg. 2, 2nd St. Cor. D.R.C Aguila St. Mendiola, Manila.

6. Ortigas: Alice Tea Salon. The Alice Tea Salon takes inspiration from the popular novel Alice in Wonderland. From the moment you walk in the establishment, you will get a whimsical and quirky feel with its cool interiors. The café seems to have been gotten straight out of the book and the movie, making Lewis Carroll’s daydream come to life. Alice Tea Salon is located at 30 Pearl Dr, San Antonio, Pasig.