Hours of Operation and Meal Prices

Commons Meal Prices

General Access Meal Prices
  • Breakfast: $12.00
    • Children’s Rates:
      • Under 5yrs: Free
      • 5yrs to 7yrs: $8.00
  • Lunch: $14.00
    • Children’s Rates:
      • Under 5yrs: Free
      • 5yrs to 7yrs: $10.00
  • Brunch/Dinner: $16.00
    • Children’s Rates:
      • Under 5yrs: Free
      • 5yrs to 7yrs: $12.00
Faculty/Staff/Students Living Off-Campus Meal Pricing
  • Breakfast: $7.00
    • Children’s Rates:
      • Under 5yrs: Free
      • 5yrs to 7yrs: $3.50
  • Lunch: $8.00
    • Children’s Rates:
      • Under 5yrs: Free
      • 5yrs to 7yrs: $5.00
  • Brunch/Dinner: $12.00
    • Children’s Rates:
      • Under 5yrs: Free
      • 5yrs to 7yrs: $7.00
  • Family Friendly Fridays: Fridays between 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm.
    • Adults: $9.00
    • Children Rates:
      • Under 5yrs: Free
      • 5yrs to 7yrs: $5.00
Please Note: Faculty and staff pricing applies to Bates faculty,  faculty emeritus , staff and their immediate family paying to dine in Commons and students living off-campus.  A Bates ID may be required for verification. We accept debit cards, credit cards, Apple Pay and Bates College gift cards, but we do not accept cash.

Commons Academic Hours of Operation

Day Hours of Operation
Monday-Thursday Breakfast: 7:00am-10:30am Lunch: 10:30am-3:30pm Dinner: 4:30pm-8:30pm Note for Lunch: The grill opens at 11:00am. The Platforms close at 2:00pm. Salad and Deli close at 2:30pm. Brick Oven remains open until 3:30pm. The doors close at 3:30pm. Note for Dinner: The Platforms close at 8:30pm except Pasta which is open until 9:00pm. The doors close at 9:00pm.
Friday Breakfast: 7:00am-10:30am Lunch: 10:30am-3:30pm Dinner: 4:30pm-8:00pm Note for Lunch: The grill opens at 11:00am. The Platforms close at 2:00pm. Salad and Deli close at 2:30pm. Brick Oven remains open until 3:30pm. The doors close at 3:30pm. Note for Dinner: The Platforms close at 8:00pm except Pasta which is open until 8:30pm. The doors close at 8:30pm.
Saturday Hot Continental: 7:00am-9:30am Brunch: 9:30am-2:30pm Dinner: 4:30pm-8:00pm Note for Brunch: The Platforms close at 2:00pm except Salad & Deli which are open until 2:30pm. Doors close at 2:30pm. Note for Dinner: The Platforms close at 8:00pm except Salad/Deli which is open until 8:30pm. The doors close at 8:30pm.
Sunday Hot Continental: 7:00am-9:30am Brunch: 9:30am-2:30pm Dinner: 4:30pm-8:30pm Note for Brunch: The Platforms close at 2:00pm except Salad & Deli which are open until 2:30pm. Doors close at 2:30pm. Note for Dinner: The Platforms close at 8:30pm except Pasta which is open until 9:00pm. The doors close at 9:00pm.
The Last Academic Board Plan Meal in May is lunch for underclassmen on Thursday, May 28.

Academic Break/Recess Hours of Operation

April Recess
Day Hours of Operation
April 27 Dinner: 4:30pm – 8:30pm LAST BOARD PLAN MEAL
April 28-May 3 Hot Continental: 7:00am-10:30am Brunch: 10:30am – 2:30pm Dinner: 4:30pm – 8:30pm
May 4 Resume Normal Academic Hours of Operation
Faculty/Staff are invited to enjoy Brunch in Commons at no-cost on Wednesday, April 29. The Bobcat Den will be closed Saturday, April 25 – Sunday, May 3 and will reopen on Monday, May 4.

Commons Commencement Hours of Operation

Day Hours of Operation
Friday, May 29 Breakfast in Commons: 8:00am-10:00am Lunch in Commons: 12:00pm-2:00pm Dinner in Commons: 5:00pm-7:00pm Note: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are open to seniors and underclass students who have approval to remain on campus. Bates ID required
Saturday, May 30 Breakfast in Commons: 8:00am-10:00am Lunch in Commons: 10:30am-2:30pm Dinner in Commons: 5:30pm-7:30pm Note for Breakfast: open to seniors and underclass students who have approval to remain on campus. Bates ID Required Note for Lunch & Dinner: open to seniors, their families and underclass students who have approval to remain on campus. Families can use one of their senior’s guest passes or pay with a credit card. The cost for lunch guests is $12 per person. The cost for dinner guests is $14 per person. Bates ID Required
Sunday, May 31 Breakfast in Commons: 7:00am-8:30am Traditional Commencement Lunch: 12:00pm-2:00pm Note for Breakfast: open to seniors and underclass students who have approval to remain on campus. Bates ID required Note for Lunch: open to seniors and their families and occurs in front of Commons and under the Bardwell Field Tent.

Commons Pre-Summer Board Plan Hours of Operation

Day Hours of Operation
June 1 CLOSED
June 2-June 10 Brunch: 10:00am-2:00pm Dinner: 5:00pm-7:30pm
June 11 Lunch: 10:30am-2:30pm Dinner: 5:00pm-8:00pm
June 12 Breakfast: 7:00am-10:30am Lunch: 11:30am-2:00pm
June 13 Breakfast: 7:00am-10:30am Lunch: 12:00pm-2:30pm (BBQ Outside)
June 14 Brunch: 7:30am-12:00pm Dinner: 5:00pm-7:30pm
June 15-June 17 Breakfast: 7:00am-9:00am Lunch: 10:30am-1:30pm Dinner: 5:00pm-7:30pm
June 18 Breakfast: 7:00am-9:00am Lunch: 10:30am-1:30pm
June 19 Dinner: 5:00pm-8:00pm
Please Note: the Summer Meal Plan Starts June 20 and Ends August 14

Commons Summer Hours of Operation

Day Hours of Operation
June 20-August 14 Breakfast: 7:00am-9:00am Lunch: 11:00am-2:30pm Dinner: 4:30pm-7:30pm *Exception is July 4
August 15-August 19 CLOSED
*July 4 Brunch: 10:30am-2:00pm Dinner: 4:30pm-6:00pm

Bobcat Den Hours Of Operation

The Bobcat Den is closed during all Breaks and Recesses, and will close at 3pm during Exam Weeks. The Bobcat Den hours are:
  • Mondays: 7:45am-3:00pm
    • No Pub Hours
  • Tuesdays: 7:45am-6:00pm
    •   Pub Hours: 4:00pm – 6:00pm
  • Wednesdays: 7:45am-6:00pm
    • Pub Hours: 4:00pm – 6:00pm
  • Thursdays: 7:45am-10:00pm
    • Pub Hours: 5:00pm – 9:00pm
      • Thursday, March 26th, the Den will close at 2:30pm for Bobcat Break.
  • Fridays: 7:45am-Midnight
    • Pub Hours: 6:00pm-10:00pm
  • Saturdays: 6:00pm – Midnight
    • Pub Hours: 6:00pm-10:00pm
      • Saturday, March 28th, the Den will be closed for Gala.
  • Sundays: Closed

Curb Cats Food Truck Hours of Operation

The Curb Cats Food Truck will operate on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays this summer beginning on Wednesday, July 1 -Thursday, August 13 from 10:00am-2:00pm. Come check it out!

Bobcat Catering Hours of Operation

Bobcat Catering is happy to serve the campus community daily. To guarantee we can accommodate your event, please keep the following in mind:
  • Standard catering requests need at least five business days’ notice.
  • If you’re requesting beer or wine, please give us a minimum of ten business days’ notice.
Be aware that requests made with less than five business days’ notice might not be fulfilled and will incur a late fee. We schedule on a first-come, first-served basis and can’t guarantee support for all late requests. Upcoming Service Limitations Please note important information below concerning times when catering service will be limited or unavailable. Bobcat Catering will not be taking additional catering requests on: 2026
  • March 28: Gala
  • April 10: Mount David
  • May 28-31: Commencement
  • June 2-8: Facility/Equipment Maintenance
  • June 11-15: Reunion
  • June 19, 20: Trek Across Maine
Bobcat Catering will be taking limited Catering Requests on: 2026
  • April 10: Mount David
  • April 30-May 2: Trustees
  • May 24-28: Senior Week