While there are no official statistics, I feel anecdotal evidence suggests that eating breakfast is a divided topic for Cornell students. I’ve personally been on both sides and have some opinions on the matter. During my first semester, I had plenty of time before my first classes and stopped by Morrison almost every morning.However, when I started taking an 8 a.m. course my second semester, I didn't feel that breakfast was worth waking up even earlier than I already had to. Now, with 9:05 or 10:10 a.m. courses, I have found myself having breakfast again, though no longer at Morrison. From early morning spots for when you need a bite before 8 a.m., or quick places to grab food on the go before catching a bus back home, this is a short guide to breakfast on and around campus.
North Campus
Generally, the only dining hall open for breakfast on North Campus is Morrison Dining. They tend to be reliable with roughly the same food items each day: either sausage or bacon, green beans, maybe some eggs (if there’s no shortage), a fruit bar filled with cantaloupe and (if you’re lucky) fruit smoothies. They always have oatmeal, yogurt cereals and the dessert bar is stocked with some sort of breakfast pastry – like cinnamon twists or crumb cakes. They tend to rotate between offering pancakes, french toast sticks and other breakfast items you may expect to see. But, if the line’s not too long, you can always make a waffle, if that’s your preference. While these may not be particularly diverse breakfast options, they might be enough to sustain you through a semester without needing BRBs.
Aside from Morrison, Novick’s and Crossings will be open and serve sandwiches and coffee if you want something on the go — I found myself falling into a routine of ordering a sandwich from one of these cafes before getting on a bus for break, even sending my friends off with one after they visited Ithaca. The sandwiches and coffee are delicious, but they will cost you BRBs.
Breakfast on a Sunday is tricky: the only place open before 10 a.m. is Novick’s, with the rest opting only to serve brunch. Appel gets pastries and bagels from Ithaca Bakery every Sunday, which is delicious and definitely worth waiting in line. Morrison also offers a few more options for their brunch service, opening all of the stations, including Kosher, which tends to have long lines for the lox bagels they serve. Overall, breakfast on North tends to be altogether repetitive, offering some variety on weekends and in their cafes.
West Campus
While West certainly operates on a smaller scale than North, the number of houses provides a bit more variety. On weekends, Rose House Dining Room is the only house open before 10 a.m. They offer a basic continental breakfast, which is more bare-bones and tends not to have many hot items. On weekdays Keeton House Dining Room also offers this style of simple breakfasts like Rose.
Alternatively, Jansen’s Dining Room at Bethe House and Becker House Dining Room serve as an oasis for any who want to eat hot food in the morning, providing a variety of breakfast options including muffins, hot proteins, vegetables, and rotating carb options. Living in Keeton, it took me a minute to figure this out, but now I find myself eating at Bethe most mornings before making the trek up the slope.
Central Campus
In addition to using meal swipes, central campus offers a variety of cafe options for if you want a bit more variety in your food. I find myself gravitating towards Bus Stop Bagels and Goldie’s Café, as they offer stereotypical but delicious breakfast foods such as bagels, muffins and more, along with some coffee options if you need the caffeine. That said, there are more than ten cafe options across Central and most students find their own favorites based on where their classes are. Plus, with most of them opening at 8 a.m. (and some even at 7 a.m.), they provide a convenient spot to pick up some fuel on the way to class — although you’ll have to use some BRBs for it.
Honorable Mentions
While outside the scope of Cornell’s official campus, Collegetown Bagels is iconic, and while it doesn’t accept any form of Cornell-sponsored payment, it’s consistently crowded, especially on weekends. While I’ve only gone a few times, I’ve always found the bagels to be delicious. The 7-Eleven in Collegetown is also open 24 hours, so if you’re in need of some quick, cheap food you can head there.
The Ithaca Farmers Market is also a must-visit spot. Open on weekends starting at 9 a.m. or 10 a.m., the bustling stalls and beautiful waterfront view provide an amazing atmosphere to grab breakfast. It’s also a good incentive to get a bit of exercise in, walking from the nearest bus stop –– or you can drive down if you’re able. The Ithaca Apple Fest, which opens at 10 a.m. this year, is also worth mentioning. It has some amazing apple cider donuts (I still remember this vividly a year later) from a variety of vendors — I highly recommend going and checking it out.
Overall, your breakfast options will typically depend on where you live on campus, where your first classes are and if you’re fine with eating repetitively. Weekend options tend to have more variety and options (and, in my opinion, taste a little better) but they usually open a little later. During weekdays, your meals may repeat, but if you can find some regulars you like, or switch it up every so often with a cafe run, you’ll be able to enjoy your breakfast a bit more. Good luck to everyone taking morning classes (and to those waking up early in general), and happy eating!
Melanie Delfosse is a sophomore in the College of Human Ecology. She can be reached at md2262@cornell.edu.
