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houston-market

Houston Market is one of the most popular places for students to use their dining dollars.

Credit: Sophia Dai

There are plenty of places on campus where you can use your Dining Dollars and PennCash. Here are some of Penn's markets and cafes which are close to the heart of campus that offer a wide variety of food and drink.  

Cafes

Starting this fall, Mark’s Café, located in the basement of Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, will serve as a “self-checkout micro-market." After receiving student feedback, the café will offer vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan food options along with various beverages, including coffee and tea. At two self-checkout kiosks, students can use Dining Dollars, PennCash, and credit and debit cards. The café operates during normal Van Pelt Library hours.

Accenture Café,  in the Towne Building in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, offers a large selection of La Colombe brewed beverages, sandwiches, salads, soups, and pastries. The café is only open on weekdays: Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

New College House Café, found in New College House, features an "all-you-care-to-eat" dining hall and a retail café. The retail café sells to-go pastries, parfaits, fruit cups, sandwiches, and beverages. Students can also go here to use the “Meal Exchange," generally an entrée, sides, and a drink in exchange for one meal swipe. It is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Monday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Dining dollars can also be used at the Starbucks which is located on the bottom floor of 1920 Commons. With extended hours until midnight every Monday through Thursday and on Sundays, Starbucks serves as a popular study space.

Students and faculty can also go to Joe’s Café on the ground floor of Steinberg-Dietrich Hall for coffee, breakfast sandwiches, and pastries from the local Metropolitan Bakery. This year, Joe’s Café will also begin to feature a morning Bagel Bar, lunch deli, and “internationally inspired” hot meals and soups. The cafe is open on weekdays: Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  

Credit: Katharine Cocherl

The Starbucks on the bottom floor of 1920 Commons serves as a popular study spot for students.

Markets

Gourmet Grocer, located in 1920 Commons, is Penn’s on-campus market. Gourmet Grocer sells local and popular brands, kosher food, gluten-free options, toiletries, and also has a meal bar where students can get cold and hot foods to-go. The market is open Monday through Sunday at varying hours. 

Located on the bottom floor of Houston Hall and a popular lunch and dinner spot, Houston Market features a variety of food options such as hand-rolled sushi, ramen bowls, pasta bar, grill station, salad bar, pizzas, gelato, pastries, and smoothies. Houston Market is open Monday through Sunday at varying hours.

Pret A Manger, which has stores around the globe, is located on the first floor of Huntsman Hall. While the main Pret is located on the main floor of Huntsman Hall, a smaller Pret can be found on the second floor in the MBA Café. The menu includes a variety of sandwiches as well as croissants, organic coffee, and teas. Pret is open Monday through Sunday at varying hours.

McClelland Express, found in the center of the Quad, also sells retail items such as toiletries and groceries that can be purchased with Dining Dollars. McClelland is open Monday through Friday at different hours for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.