Nighttime Gems on Campus

The best late night spots on campus.

By Tyler Davis

Photo by BU.edu

There are plenty of places to go out late at night on BU’s campus besides your dorm. Here are some of the best places nearby for late night studying, food, or to hang out with friends:

Mugar Memorial Library

The most practical place to study on campus is the main library: located in central campus, Mugar is an easily accessible meeting point for all terriers. Mugar extends their hours during finals, and has multiple quiet and silent floors to create a customized work environment. According to an article by Reader’s Garden, the quiet space of a library is a great motivator for studying, providing a space for students to focus better.

Bay State Underground

The late night cafe at Marciano also provides the duality of being a great place to study and a great place to socialize. Bay State Underground, which opened in 2018, is usually open from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The cafe provides students with an option to get work done late at night outside of the dorms, with a wide range of meal and snack options. Late night is also optimal for students on a budget, as you can use dining or convenience points for purchases.

“It’s just nice to sit there and study. There’s a section where people usually talk and then there’s a section where people usually study,” said Meghna Patel (SAR ‘26). “Depending on what I’m trying to do down there, I can get some food and then either sit and talk with my friends or study a little bit.”

Kenmore Classroom benches

If you need a calm place to sit outdoors at night, the benches outside of the Kenmore Classroom building are a great option. Featuring a mural on the side of the building and greenery surrounding the benches, it can be a serene environment.

“I like to go to the benches near the Kenmore Classrooms because you can watch the bunnies at night,” Madi Koesler (COM ‘25) stated, “and there’s always pretty flowers, when they’re not dead of course.”

Late Night Bites

There are many places on BU’s campus that have late hours: one of the most popular places in central campus is Insomnia Cookies. Insomnia has options for everyone, offering both regular and vegan cookies, in addition to ice cream and brownies. Conveniently, Insomnia is open until 1 a.m. and offers delivery.

An extremely popular option in West campus is Raising Cane’s, with its line snaking through the entirety of the restaurant most nights. After gaining a cult-like following from social media, many have come to love the food at Raising Cane’s, including chicken fingers and chicken sandwiches. Cane’s is open until 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends.