cafe

In past years, Hewitt Dining Hall has served as a vibrant and cozy space filled with natural light and much conversation among students and professors. Events such as Big Sub and Midnight Breakfast brought the student body together to celebrate and enjoy food. However, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures in place, Barnard Dining has been forced to adapt as students returned to campus this spring.

It might have been difficult to find the perfect study spot on campus during finals season, but how about during a global pandemic? For students living either on or off campus, it can be exhausting to search for a place to sit and work with the physical distancing guidelines. Spectrum’s got you covered with tips on where to study around campus during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For many Columbia students, the last time they ate indoors at a restaurant was in early March. Delivery apps like Seamless and UberEats have become their best friends, along with cherished recipes for banana bread and chocolate chip cookies.

The black-and-white checkerboard floors, exposed brick walls, red leather booths, and shining red lights displaying “MEL’S.” The dartboard, wooden chairs, and the cramped and dark interior of 1020. The long bar counter, antique light fixtures, and abstract paintings of Arts and Crafts Beer Parlor. These are the staple campus bars for many Columbia students today—places to de-stress, mingle, and enjoy drinks and classic bar food.

Learn about the mission and story of board game cafe Hex & Co. as it moves into its new and much larger space where the historic West End Bar once stood.

For the last four years, Belle Harlem operated a 12-seat chef’s table in its 275-square-foot space. The restaurant prided itself on its one communal table where everyone could share the space and chat with owners Darryl and Melissa Burnette. With a paid staff of one, the restaurant had an intimate, cozy character, seating diners just a few feet from the chefs at work. Then, the pandemic hit.

After over six months of closure, the historic brown and red booths of Tom’s Restaurant are once again occupied by tourists, Seinfeld enthusiasts, and locals. Since June, diners have chowed down on burgers, pancakes, eggs, and Tom’s iconic milkshakes outdoors in the summer heat while sitting at the restaurant’s bright orange tables. However, the inside of the restaurant remained off-limits for dining until now.

International café chain Blue Bottle Coffee is set to open its first location in Morningside Heights.

It is a known fact that Columbia University runs on coffee. Between the all-nighters in Butler and the late nights at 1020, we need that boost of energy to power us through the day.