By Austin Froelich

Shanahan Café (Harvey Mudd)

Located on the first floor of the big Shanahan building at Harvey Mudd College, the Shanahan Café effectively functions as a two-story on-campus Starbucks. It has bagels, fruit juices, granola bars, and a wide array of coffees to choose from. The Café often features music at just the right volume, loud enough to catch a rhythm but quiet enough to allow for long conversations. While the playlist of songs at the Café may sometimes feel too small, it still helps provide additional energy for those who rely on the café for a bagel or coffee before class in the morning. The décor is not overly complicated, but its uniformity of red in the walls and couches in the lower level and blue in the walls and couches in the upper level confers a sharp contrast.

The Hub (Claremont McKenna)

Claremont McKenna’s Hub serves a dual-purpose, allowing for day-breaks during when the sun is up and breathers from parties after the sun goes down. There is a wide selection of food, with several entrees, a room full of chips and other types of snacks, and many types of vitamin drinks. In addition to using flex money, you can also use a leftover meal swipe to buy food, a feature that no other café in the Claremont Colleges has. There are two pool tables in the middle of the seating area, a television to help sports enthusiasts catch up on games, and plenty of seats that take the form of booths, circular tables, and cushions.

The Motley Coffeehouse (Scripps)

Next to the Scripps’ Malott Dining Commons, the Motley Coffeehouse provides a refreshing environment for students to relax, work, and pick up a bite to eat. The café offers a wide variety of coffees, tea, bagels, and baked goods. There is plenty of space both indoors and outdoors to work. Inside, the walls are completely brick and are adorned with various pieces of artwork give the Motley a wide range of color. The music offers a calm, peaceful vibe, although it is a little quiet. The outdoor space, Seal Court, allows for students to enjoy their conversations or complete their work while enjoying the fresh air and the view of a beautiful fountain. A little early for a lunch appointment at Malott? Sit down and enjoy the Motley’s calm vibe for a few minutes. 

Pit-Stop Café (Pitzer)

Pitzer’s Pit-Stop Café provides a small but cozy environment for grabbing a quick refreshment amid the stresses of college life. The café offers coffee, espresso drinks, gourmet sandwiches, wraps, salads, fruit cups, juice, chips, and freshly baked pastries. The décor inside is not too complicated, but the walls contain enough orange to provide a distinct sense of Pitzer inside. Outdoors, many tables surround the café, giving customers plenty of room to decompress while enjoying the fresh air. The tables are scattered among walkways so chances are high that a best friend just leaving class will pass by.