Top 5 Geeky Hangouts After Lecture!

University life is as much about having fun as it is about getting a degree. Of course, some institutions may have it better than others when it comes to a cool place to hang out right after the lecturer has ended his long speech on a 50 presentation-slides. Well, most of the time, the places that undergraduates hang out really depend on who they really are and their degree of geekiness. Below, in no particular order, are my picks on the Top 5 After-Lecture hangouts for the geeks irregardless of schools or courses. 1. 15 Minutes

This outlet, located right at the entrance of LASALLE College of the Arts, is named for Andy Warhol's famous quote - “In the future, everybody will be world famous for 15 minutes”. And hence, this place is also known as the perfect stage to earn a 15 minutes of fame for young creative talents by showcasing their performances. The café is open Mondays to Saturdays from 11.15am till 11pm, and on Fridays it closes even later at 12 midnight. There is a variety of seating options - a long table with benches for large groups, smaller tables for groups of 4 to 6, and sofas for those who want to lounge around in front of the stage. Live performances happen every so often, with announcements posted on their website and Facebook page. And even if there's nothing on, you can people-watch through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

The lunch menu includes salads, sandwiches and main courses such as fish and chips, pasta and pizza, at very affordable prices - everything is below 10 dollars. The dinner menu includes tempting offerings such as sliced duck breast salad, a fusion-style udon salad, and a refreshing watermelon and feta salad. Pasta and pizza, those mainstays of café menus, get a makeover with toppings such as wasabi prawn and Thai pesto chicken. Remember to leave room for desserts such as baklava and their signature cup desserts that come in various flavours. 15 Minutes also has a drinks menu that runs the gamut from beer and liquor to wine. This alone probably cements its status as a great place to hang out after classes, whether for students or for faculty members. Living up to its name, 15 Minutes is definitely a place for Friends, Food and Fame, for at least a good 15 minutes! 2. Island Creamery

Good news to students of Ngee Ann Polytechnic!Island Creamery has opened a second outlet at King Albert Park, the same building that shares the largest Mcdonald's outlet in Singapore. It's definitely going to be another hot spot for all the sweet tooth students right after their CCAs and lectures with just a five minutes walk away.

The main draw of Island Creamery is, without a doubt, its all-natural ice cream in local flavours like Teh Tarik and Pulut Hitam. However, delicious ice cream still loses something if you're not having fun while eating it, and this is where Island Creamery excels. The KAP outlet has the famous photo wall where you can paste up a mugshot of yourself and your friends, or look for acquaintances among the many smiling faces. Magazines are also available so that you can give your brain a break after reading piles of school notes. 3. McDonald's at King Albert Park

Ngee Ann Polytechnic students are pretty spoiled for choice when it comes to off-campus hangouts. Fast-food restaurants are always student magnets, but the McD's at KAP has a lot going for it - location, lots of space, and free Wi-Fi. With two levels of seating, there's usually enough space to accommodate those who use such places for studying. On the other hand, there are also enough isolated tables that you can bring a date here and converse in relative privacy. And even though a fast-food outlet may not strike you as the most romantic of destinations, the warm lighting does wonders for anyone's complexion, plus you can take a seat on the upper level and peer down at the other customers (who are likely to be your schoolmates). 4. The Cathay

Located smack in the middle of town, The Cathay is easily accessible from numerous educational institutions - SMU, LASALLE, NAFA, and of course the latest arts school in town - SOTA (School of the Arts), which is just literally next door. The trendy student demographics of these institutions ensure that The Cathay's tenant mix of indie shops, boutiques and entertainment centres are always appreciated. Film students would probably go for arthouse films at The Picturehouse, while dance students would find a welcoming place at Jitterbugs Swingapore in the basement. Now put on your geek glasses and get cinematic or groovy. The Cathay also boasts a selection of food outlets that differ from the usual fast-food mix at other shopping centres. Foremost among these would be the steak restaurant Aston's, located on the 3rd floor. It's easy to find - just look for the queue outside. If you just want a quick snack before your movie starts, the basement has a variety of outlets located around the central fountain, including Popeye's and New York Pizza. Casual dining is available here as well, with Nihon Mura providing reasonably priced Japanese cuisine and Café Indulge serving pizza, pasta and other café fair. Note that Café Indulge have a set lunch promotion from 12pm till 5pm every day, so it definitely makes a good choice for a late lunch after lectures. 5. Bugis

The entire Bugis area is teeming with youth-oriented outlets, so it would be inadequate to pick just one mall. So the entire area, consisting of Iluma, Bugis Junction, Bugis Village and even the National Library Board at Bras Basah, gets included in the list. Iluma has Filmgarde as the cinema operator, providing an indie filmgoing experience. KOI is also in the compound, proving that you only need to do one thing to be successful - but you must do it well. The long queues in front of the outlet day and night are testament to the success of their bubble tea formula. Bugis Junction maintains its status as a prime teen hangout with a very Japanese, Harajuku-type vibe. And while Bugis Village is more of a tourist attraction, its recent renovations and quirky stalls may be worth the walking and perspiration if you are into odd finds. National Library Building (NLB) is not to be scoffed at either. While some of us may shudder at the idea of stepping foot into a library again, because of the inevitable "mugger" connotations, NLB has air-conditioned study rooms and a fantastic view of the city all the way to Marina Bay. And if you just need a breather from your hectic academic life, head up to the Courtyard on Level 5 or the Retreat on Level 10 to relax among the plants. And best of all, it's free! You don't even have to buy a drink or worry about being chased out! Going back to the ground level, get some coffee while doing your readings at Hanis. 6) Ya Kun Last but not least, we didn't forget about NTU students at the far west. They have Ya Kun at Boon Lay MRT. But when the majority of students live on campus and can have parties in their dorms, who needs a place to hang out?

Signature Kaya Toast Set

So, students, no matter which institution you're a part of, just make the best of it. Remember, the most important thing about hanging out is that you do it with a bunch of friends, and ultimately, wherever your friends are, that's where the fun is. Check out these cafes for your next hang out Discover the best cafes and restaurants near you!