Even in the whirlwind of exams, papers, final projects, and moving out, there are so many moments when I look around and think, “Wow, I love this place so much.” From the majestic chapel to the blooming gardens, Duke is a beautiful place to live and learn. As promised, here is a list of my favorite spots on Duke’s campus!
The West Union
After much ado, our brand-new West Union (“WU” if you’re texting) finally opened in August 2016! This incredible, HUGE space has 4 floors of restaurants, study spaces, and chill zones. I could write a whole post on my favorite spots in West Union, but I’ll try to contain my excitement. From Il Forno’s personalized pizzas, to Gyotaku’s made-to-order sushi, to Tandoor’s naan, to Farmstead’s farm-to-table veggies, the West Union has something delicious for every palate.
CaFe
Last year, CaFe in WU was my first stop before classes every morning. Why wouldn’t it be, when you can get your coffee and a breakfast sandwich or crepe all in the same place? I highly recommend pairing the iced match green tea latte with a Nutella and banana crepe. Then, head upstairs to chill on the comfy beanbag chairs.
The Commons
As if the regular dining options weren’t enough, WU is also home to The Commons, a rooftop sit-down restaurant that also boasts a buffet brunch on the weekends. This is a great place to bring your parents for dinner — especially if they are footing the bill. Just make sure to call in your reservation well in advance of popular dates, like Blue Devil Days, Homecoming, or Family Weekend.
Visiting Durham? Check out my favorite places in Bull City!
The Gothic Reading Room
If you prefer peace and quiet while studying, the Gothic Reading Room is the library for you! I did not find this space until my a cappella group hosted our Holiday Concert there during my freshman year.
The Well
The Well is another incredible new building on campus that just opened during the 2017 spring semester. Prior to its opening, health services were scattered in different buildings, so meeting your health needs could require making several trips across campus. Now, all student wellness services are located in one building, the Well, which is centrally located near the West Union, between the Bryan Center and Wilson Gym. Although you wouldn’t typically think of a health center being a cool place to hang out, I like studying in the Well’s peaceful, sunny, and private study chairs. Sometimes, a student will sit down to play the Steinway piano in the lobby. I also love to read outside in the Well’s meditation garden.
The Nasher
The Nasher is Duke’s very own art museum, located on Campus Drive. It houses visiting art exhibits and many fancy events (some of which are FREE for students) throughout the year. It is also home to a restaurant, where you can eat an amazing weekday lunch, Thursday night dinner, or Saturday brunch on food points! During reading period every semester, the Nasher also hosts study hours — a.k.a. the only good thing about final exams. For a full day during reading period, they fill the open space with tables, free snacks, coloring books, and art supplies, and you can order “real” food from the restaurant. It gets crowded, so make sure you get there early to stake out a good spot.
What are your favorite spots on campus? Let me know in the comments below! If you are thinking of attending or applying to Duke and have questions about campus or student life in general, please don’t hesitate to reach out — I’d love to chat!