UCSC Dining

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UCSC Dining Official UCSC Dining account. Our services & events are open to all. You belong here! Learn more by visiting the DSAS You Belong Here webpage via linktree below.

UCSC Dining is a self-operated food service department here at the University of California, Santa Cruz. We are the 33rd largest food service operation in the nation, and the largest student employer on campus. We work to nourish the campus community so that all Banana Slugs can thrive! UCSC’s location on the Monterey Bay offers more than just magnificent views and unique educational opportunities, it offers an array of seasonal, local foods. This region grows some of the most amazing produce, which our chefs incorporate into the menus at the dining halls and cafés on campus. Our online comment card is available at http://diningcomment.ucsc.edu/

Fresh year, fresh flavors—and the wise way to lunch! 🦉✨ Owl's Nest just dropped a whole new menu concept, and spoiler al...
10/02/2026

Fresh year, fresh flavors—and the wise way to lunch! 🦉✨

Owl's Nest just dropped a whole new menu concept, and spoiler alert: it’s ALL about the bowls (and they’re already a huge fan favorite!).

Here’s what’s cooking:
• Signature Bowls: Loaded with fresh salmon, tuna, chicken, tofu, or tempeh, on a rice or noodle base, and with plenty of toppings and sauces.
• Build-Your-Own Bowls: Choose a rice or noodle base, pick your protein (chicken, fish, or plant-based!), and load up on tons of delicious toppings and sauces.
• Dietary-Friendly: Vegan and vegetarian options so everyone eats well.

Need a drink or a quick bite on the run? We’ve still got your favorite boba, espresso drinks, and grab-and-go goodies ready. 🧋

📆 Owl's Nest regular fall hours: Mon–Fri, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Closed Sat & Sun

🔗 Links in bio for full Owl's Nest menu and webpage with hours and info.



Image Description 1:
A smiling person standing in front of the Owl's Nest ordering counter, holding two freshly made food bowls stacked with colorful toppings. A light yellow banner with green text reads "Owl's Nest Bowls are here!" across the top and center, with the circular Owl's Nest logo in the bottom right corner.

Image Description 2:
A flat-lay photo showcasing four different meal bowls arranged in a grid on a light green background, each filled with various fresh ingredients like avocado, tuna, seaweed salad, mango, pickled ginger, and green onions. The round yellow and white Owl's Nest logo is centered in the middle of the four bowls.

New Banana Slugs, make sure to stay fueled up for all the exciting Slug Start festivities! 🍌Returning Banana Slugs, welc...
09/22/2026

New Banana Slugs, make sure to stay fueled up for all the exciting Slug Start festivities! 🍌

Returning Banana Slugs, welcome back—we can't wait to see you again! All dining halls are now open regular hours! Markets, cafes, and Perk coffee bars are running on special hours until Thursday, when all UCSC Dining locations open with regular fall hours for the start of fall classes. 🍽

🔗 Head to the link in our bio for special Slug Start dining hours, location schedules, and daily menus! ✨

UCSC Dining Services are open to all and designed to be inclusive, accessible, and welcoming. Learn more by visiting the DSAS You Belong Here webpage. Link in bio.

Image Description
Six students are sitting together at a long, black outdoor dining hall patio table. Yellow and white bold text frames the photo at the top reading "FIND YOUR WAY TO FOOD" and at the bottom reading "DURING SLUG START".

Need to swap your meal plan before move-in? 🍽️If you are moving into university housing with a required residence hall m...
09/08/2026

Need to swap your meal plan before move-in? 🍽️

If you are moving into university housing with a required residence hall meal plan, you have until September 14 to update your selection in the Housing Portal!
Not sure which option fits your routine best? Take our quick quiz to find the perfect match for your habits and lifestyle.

If you're happy with your meal plan choice, no action is needed.

🔗 Link in bio for the Housing Portal and Meal Plan Quiz!

📸 Image Description:
Four students stand side-by-side inside a dining hall, each holding a plate with food. Overlaid across the top is a yellow graphic box bordered in bright blue containing the bold text "want to change your MEAL PLAN?". The lower-right corner features a circular yellow logo for "UC Santa Cruz dining".

On campus over the holiday weekend? College Nine/John R. Lewis Dining Hall is open all weekend, including Monday, Sept. ...
09/04/2026

On campus over the holiday weekend? College Nine/John R. Lewis Dining Hall is open all weekend, including Monday, Sept. 7, for the Labor Day holiday!

Head over during the meal periods below to fuel up:
Mon–Fri: Breakfast 8–10 a.m. | Lunch 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. | Dinner 5–7 p.m.
Sat–Sun: Brunch 9 a.m.–2 p.m. | Dinner 5–7 p.m.
The dining hall is closed in between meal periods.

🔗 For the rest of summer Dining special hours visit dining.ucsc.edu/special-hours. Link in bio.

UCSC Dining services are open to all and designed to be inclusive, accessible, and welcoming. Learn more by visiting the DSAS You Belong Here webpage. Link in bio.

📸 Image Description:
Bright blue background with the text "Labor Day Holiday Weekend" at the top and "College Nine/John R. Lewis Dining Hall is open!" at the bottom, centered around an aerial photo of UCSC's College Nine surrounded by redwoods and overlooking the ocean, along with the UCSC Dining logo.

Looking for a job that works around your class schedule? UCSC Dining is hiring student employees now!At most locations, ...
09/03/2026

Looking for a job that works around your class schedule? UCSC Dining is hiring student employees now!

At most locations, you pick your own shifts — plus every shift includes a free meal, and you'll build real skills in communication, teamwork, and time management while earning money and meeting other students.

No experience needed. Dining is a first job for a lot of Banana Slugs, and you'll get the training and support to get started.

Ready to apply? Search Student Dining positions on Handshake. New to Handshake? Visit the Career Success website to set up your account.

Follow .ucsc for updates, or email [email protected] with questions.

Image description
A UC Santa Cruz Dining student employee — a young woman in a blue t-shirt with long dark hair and hoop earrings — smiles at the camera from behind a point-of-sale register in a bright, sunlit campus dining location, with large windows, wooden beams, and a small vase of pink orchids visible in the background. The UC Santa Cruz Dining logo appears in the top left corner. A gold banner across the bottom of the graphic reads "Come work for us!" in bold navy text, with "Gain experience and enjoy great perks" below it.

There’s a new way to use and manage your meal plan from your phone! 🤳UCSC Dining has launched Atrium Campus Connect, our...
08/31/2026

There’s a new way to use and manage your meal plan from your phone! 🤳

UCSC Dining has launched Atrium Campus Connect, our new meal plan and payment system replacing the GET app.

Students: Download the Atrium Campus Connect app to access your meal plan at Dining locations, check your balance, review transactions, add funds to Flexi Dollars and Slug Points, set low-balance alerts, and more. You can also continue using your physical UCSC ID card.

Faculty and staff: Atrium is also available to manage your Dining account. Mobile app access requires an additional access request.

🔗 Learn more and get started at the link in bio.

📸 Image description: The top section features a dark blue banner with yellow and white text that reads "Get connected with your meal plan" and "Download the Atrium Campus Connect app." Below the banner, a smiling young woman wearing a blue shirt and black headphones around her neck sits at a wooden dining hall table, using a fork to eat a meal from a white plate. In the lower right corner, a yellow circle displays the "UC Santa Cruz dining" logo.

We’re transitioning to a new meal plan and payment system to better support students and make it easier to manage and us...
08/26/2026

We’re transitioning to a new meal plan and payment system to better support students and make it easier to manage and use your meal plan.
As part of the transition, the GET app will stop working Thursday, Aug. 27 at 6 a.m.

For now, please know, your meal plan will remain intact, and any remaining funds will transition into the new system and be available during the transition.

Beginning Aug. 27, remember to bring your physical Student ID card when visiting UCSC Dining locations. You’ll need it to swipe into dining halls and use your meal plan at retail dining locations.

More information about the new system and how to access it is coming soon. Thanks for your patience as we make the transition!

Image description:
A graphic with a dark blue background features bold yellow and white text announcing a transition in meal plan payment systems. At the top, bold yellow text reads "GET APP TRANSITION," followed by cursive white text stating "New meal plan payment system coming soon!" Below the text is the yellow "UC Santa Cruz dining" logo. The middle section states in white and yellow bold text that the "GET app will stop working Thurs, Aug 27." The bottom section highlights in yellow and white text: "Beginning Aug. 27: remember to bring your physical Student ID card when visiting UCSC Dining locations."

Early closure announcement: Stevenson Coffee House will close early tonight at 7 p.m.We apologize for the inconvenience....
08/13/2026

Early closure announcement: Stevenson Coffee House will close early tonight at 7 p.m.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

We anticipate resuming regular operations tomorrow.

Heads up! ☕️ Stevenson Coffee House will close early at 3 p.m. this Friday, July 10, for repairs.Need your afternoon fue...
07/09/2026

Heads up! ☕️ Stevenson Coffee House will close early at 3 p.m. this Friday, July 10, for repairs.

Need your afternoon fuel? Check out other open UCSC Dining locations and live hours at dining.ucsc.edu/locations-hours (link in bio).

UCSC Dining Services are open to all and designed to be inclusive, accessible, and welcoming. Learn more by visiting the DSAS You Belong Here webpage. Link in bio.

📸 Image Description:
A brown graphic featuring a central circle split into light and dark brown halves, with text reading "Stevenson Coffee House" on top and "Friday, July 10 Closing at 3 p.m." on the bottom.

Planning to be on campus over the Fourth of July holiday weekend? The university will observe the holiday on Friday, Jul...
07/02/2026

Planning to be on campus over the Fourth of July holiday weekend? The university will observe the holiday on Friday, July 3, but Cowell/Stevenson Dining Hall has you covered with regular summer hours (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) Friday through Sunday. All other summer dining locations will be closed during the holiday weekend.

Have a safe, relaxing, and happy Fourth of July weekend!

For real-time Dining hours and locations visit dining.ucsc.edu/locations-hours (linked in bio).

UCSC Dining Services are open to all and designed to be inclusive, accessible, and welcoming. Learn more by visiting the DSAS You Belong Here webpage. Link in bio.

📸 Image Description:
fireworks graphic in shades of blue and magenta beneath the text "FOURTH OF JULY Holiday Weekend SPECIAL HOURS" written in matching colors on a solid white background.

Address

1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA
95064

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