Explore Meal Plans

Students will have the opportunity to update Spring 2023 semester meal plans from January 5 - 19 via the Yale Hub

Here for You!

On behalf of a very enthusiastic Yale Hospitality team, welcome to Yale! Our entire team is here to ensure your experiences at Yale are memorable – in more ways than one.

You will have opportunities to tap into various nutritious, delicious, and crave-able food. We believe in food that is good for people and the planet. For those with unique dietary needs, we have resources to help you eat safely, and with peace of mind. Ask for what you need – we’ve got you covered!

At Yale, dining halls are at the heart of the residential college experience. They are the place where you meet with your friends and community. This fosters a true sense of community, belonging, and home-away-from-home in every college – and at Yale.

To help guide you, please find the latest meal plan information below!

Full (21)

We want you to get the most out of your Yale experience – especially as a First-Year! For this reason, this plan is required for all first-year students. This plan provides you with the setting to engage and create memories with your residential college community while familiarizing yourself with the dining experience at Yale.

In case you are looking for a change in scenery, you can enjoy meals at any of our 14 residential colleges where your classmates live – in addition to Commons at Yale Schwarzman Center There will be opportunities for your friends and family to share a meal in the dining halls when they come to visit! If you’re looking to grab and go delicious meals, feel free to use your lunch transfers at The Bow Wow and Steep Café. Living off-campus? No worries! This plan is available to you too.

Flex (14)

Calling all upper-level students! By now, you likely have your course schedules, activities down to a science, and know locations on and off campus like the back of your hand. Just for you, this plan offers added flexibility sure to fit with your busy schedules. Choose from breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner to enjoy on a weekly basis. What’s more – this plan gives you even more opportunities to grab a meal in dining halls with your family, friends and guests when they visit on campus. Undergrads living off-campus? No worries! This plan is available to you too.

Connect (Off-Campus)

If you’ve chosen to live off-campus, you remain part of the Yale community! You will be automatically enrolled in this flexible plan, designed to provide you with opportunities to connect on-campus with your friends and classmates. While not a full meal plan, Bonus Meals and Points provide you with plenty of meal and location options to stay connected (and bring guests too)!

Grad 30 (Graduate & Professional Students)

You’ve got enough to focus on with continuing your education. Let’s check eating nutritious (and delicious) meals off your list! This plan gives graduate and professional students a bank of 30 meals to use throughout the semester. Choose from exciting meal options at Commons and The Bow Wow, at the centrally-located Yale Schwarzman Center, to fit your unique schedule.

Yale Hospitality Retail & Café Locations

Retail & Cafe Location

Commons*
Elm
Ivy
The Bow Wow*

Yale Schwarzman Center
Grove Street & College Street
New Haven, CT
Ramen at Becton Becton Hall
15 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT
Steep Café* Yale Science Building
260 Whitney Avenue
New Haven, CT
Café Med* Yale School of Medicine
333 Cedar Street
New Haven, CT
Health Center Café Yale Health
55 Lock Street
New Haven, CT
West Campus Yale West Campus
100 W Campus Drive
Orange, CT
Slifka Center Dining
Yale Science Park

*Lunch meal swipes/transfers accepted

Service Standards

Our current service standards provide flexible food options throughout residential colleges and designated dining locations. Opportunities and important information for Meal Plan holders are as follows:

  • Dine In at your choice of residential college dining hall and enjoy your meal on china with flatware
  • To Go Containers are available upon request, however, we highly encourage you to support our sustainability initiatives plus enjoy your college community by dining in
  • Pre-Order your choice of SmartMeals for lunch and/or dinner via mobile app
  • Dietary accommodations continue to be managed through Yale Hospitality’s registered dietician
  • Kosher meals will be available via lunch transfer through the Joseph Slifka Center for Jewish Life

The Fine Print

  • Meal Plan credits are not transferable to others — they can only be used by the meal plan holder
  • All Meal Plan swipes indicate one (1) swipe per meal period (Full, Flex, Connect Meal Plans)
  • Unused swipes do not transfer to future weeks
  • Unused bonus meals and dining points will carry over from the Fall to Spring semester
  • All points expire at the end of the academic year
  • Lunch meal period swipes/transfers must be between 11:00am and 3:00pm (until 4:00pm at The Bow Wow)
  • You may not swipe again at residential dining halls until the dinner period, which starts at 5:00pm
  • Meal plans are only valid during the specified academic year term and cannot be redeemed
  • Meal transfer swipes are not available on weekends (Saturday and Sunday)
  • Guest swipes are complimentary meals provided to students by Yale Hospitality
  • Refunds of meal plan payments are not permitted unless a student is leaving the University early in a semester or under other very extenuating circumstances.
  • This policy is governed by the University. View Yale College Undergraduate Regulations for more information.
  • Additional meal plan questions? Please contact us at yale.hospitality@yale.edu