students at bbq

Dining

student at bbq


Dining Options for Every Appetite  

Lesley University’s dining service, Lesley Hospitality, goes beyond food - it’s about fueling your day, your studies, and your sense of connection. Across all three of our campuses, you’ll find dining options for every lifestyle and schedule: all-you-can-eat meals in Washburn Commons, fresh-made grill favorites at Ava’s Kitchen and Porter Café, and quick snacks and essentials through the Lesley On the Go Market. Whether you’re grabbing a smoothie between classes or sharing a sit-down meal with friends, Lesley makes it easy to eat well and feel at home. 

Stay up-to-date on Lesley Hospitality’s upcoming events, special offerings, and more by following the Lesley Hospitality dining team on Instagram @lesleyhospitality. 

Chef and two dining workers behind a food case

Find a Meal Plan that Works for You  

Lesley offers a range of flexible and affordable meal plans for residential and commuter students, including full-access options, commuter block plans, and a-la-carte payment choices. With features like Meal Exchange, Dining Dollars, mobile ordering, and reusable to-go containers, Lesley meal plans are designed to be convenient, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible. Students with 30+ credits can even choose reduced-cost plans tailored to their campus routine. Whatever your schedule or appetite, there’s a plan to match. 

The Lesley Hospitality website provides information about meal plan options and costs for both campus residents and commuter students. To learn about the different payment options available at our dining locations, check out our Meal Plans 101 guide. 

Please note: All student residents are required to enroll in a meal plan.  

On-Campus Dining Locations 

Enjoy meals and snacks throughout the day at four convenient eateries across our three campuses. All are accessible to current students, faculty, and staff with an approved Lesley ID card. For menus, nutrition information, hours of operation, and more, visit Lesley’s Hospitality Services website.  

Location: South Campus, Washburn Hall, First Floor  

Address: 16 Phillips Pl, Cambridge, MA 02138  

The Washburn Dining Commons is a buffet-style venue with eat-in and sustainable takeout options. Enjoy daily rotating entrees, a customizable sauté station, salad bar, fresh soups, made-to-order sandwiches, and desserts. Vegan entrees are also available at each meal period. Payment options include Dining Dollars, CashLynx, cash, or credit/debit card. 

Location: Porter Campus, University Hall, Third Floor 

Address: 1815 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140 

Porter Café offers counter-service breakfast and lunch grill, burgers, sandwiches, and smoothies. You can pay for your meal using Meal Exchange, Dining Dollars, CashLynx, cash, or credit/debit card.  

Location: Porter Campus, University Hall, Third Floor 

Address: 1815 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140 

Just across the hall from the Porter Café is the 24/7 Lesley On The Go Market, which offers grab-and-go snacks, sandwiches, salads, and beverages, anytime. On the Go Market uses Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology to provide seamless, checkout-free shopping. After securing your payment upon entry, snag what you’d like and leave the market. Camera vision and sensor fusion technology record what you buy and automatically charge the items to your chosen payment method - no waiting in line required. You can pay for market items using CashLynx, Dining Dollars, or credit/debit card. 

Location: Doble Campus, McKenna Student Center, First Floor 

Address: 36 Mellen St, Cambridge, MA 02138 

Ava’s Kitchen offers fresh, cooked-to-order favorites including breakfast sandwiches, pub-style burgers, pizza, quesadillas, and more. You can also enjoy rotating vegetarian and vegan specials as well as meal stations that allow you to customize your order to your unique preferences. We also offer speedy grab-and-go options like salads, sandwiches, fruit cups, and yogurt. Ava’s Kitchen is also open late Monday through Thursday for easy meals after clubs and evening classes. Payment options include Meal Exchange, Dining Dollars, CashLynx, cash, or credit/debit card. 

Your Next Meal is Just a Tap Away

Conveniently order for pickup from Ava’s Kitchen or Porter Café anywhere using the mobile ordering app, Transact.  

Learn how to download the app.

Students sitting around a lunch table in the dining hall

Dietary Accommodations  

At Lesley, we strive to ensure students with food allergies and other dietary restrictions have a safe and healthy dining experience. Please review our accommodations below for vegan, vegetarian, halal, and kosher diets.  

  • Vegan and vegetarian selections are available at every Lesley dining location.
  • We offer several halal-certified options on our menus. However, if you adhere to a halal diet, please contact the Director of Lesley Hospitality, Tim Grills, to set up a meeting with our dining team for more information about halal-dietary options on campus.
  • We collaborate with Harvard University to provide access to Orthodox kosher meals through Harvard Hillel's Rabbi Ben-Zion Gold Kosher Dining Hall, which is a 15-minute walk from our South Campus. Please note that additional fees apply. For more details, contact the Director of Lesley Hospitality, Tim Grills.   


If you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions, please email Access Support Services so we can discuss how to best accommodate your needs. For additional information on dietary accommodations, you can also reach out to Hospitality Services.   

More Than Just a Meal 

Lesley Hospitality isn’t just about what’s on the menu - it’s about building community and creating memorable experiences. From themed Restaurant Nights and dietitian-led programs to hands-on workshops like Kitchen 101, students enjoy a calendar full of fun, food-centered events. These gatherings make our dining spaces hubs of campus life and community.  

Your Voice, Your Menu

Want to shape what’s served on campus? Join the Dining Advisory Group and share your ideas on menus, events, and services. It’s a chance to collaborate directly with Lesley Hospitality and make sure the dining experience reflects what students want - plus, there are gift card raffles at every meeting.  

Take the next step

Ready to begin your journey with Lesley? ​Share some basic information by filling out one of the forms below so that we can reach out to you with more information about our programs. Or, email admissions@lesley.edu to connect with a member of our admissions team.

Undergraduate Inquiry Form  |  Graduate Inquiry Form  |  Threshold Inquiry Form