Tour Group Dining
Tour Group Dining at UCSC
Planning a campus visit with your student group? UCSC Dining is proud to offer affordable, all-you-care-to-enjoy meals at our residential dining halls for qualified tour groups. Whether you’re visiting from a school, community organization, or outreach program, this page provides everything you need to know—from making a reservation and payment options to dining hall locations and guest guidelines.
Start planning your visit below, and let us know how we can support a smooth and welcoming dining experience for your group.
Dining hall information and locations
All UCSC dining halls offer all-you-care-to-enjoy meals with a variety of fresh and flexible options every day. You’ll always find a salad bar, deli bar, fresh fruit, and a selection of fountain drinks and hot beverages. During breakfast, lunch, and dinner, each dining hall also features a rotating menu of hot entrées to suit a range of tastes and dietary needs—including vegetarian and vegan options.
To see what’s being served during your visit, check the daily menus. For information about food allergies, special diets, and ingredient details, visit our Dietary Needs, Accommodations, and Allergies page.
Depending on availability and group needs, tour groups may dine at any of UCSC’s five dining halls:
- College Nine/John R. Lewis Dining Hall
- Cowell/Stevenson Dining Hall
- Crown/Merrill Dining Hall
- Porter/Kresge Dining Hall
- Rachel Carson/Oakes Dining Hall
If you are unfamiliar with the campus, you can use campus maps to find where the dining halls are located.
Tour group discounts
| Meal | Student Price | Chaperone Price |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | $11.65 | $11.65 + tax |
| Lunch | $12.50 | $12.50 + tax |
| Dinner | $13.32 | $13.32 + tax |
This discounted rate is available to student outreach groups visiting campus from community colleges, high schools, middle schools, and community organizations. Participants must not be current UCSC affiliates. To receive the discount, your group must:
- Contact the UCSC Dining Administrative Office to make a reservation
- Make a single payment transaction at the time of service
Groups that do not meet these criteria are welcome to dine with us at the general admission rate.
Note: The tour group discount cannot be combined with any other discount or payment method.
Payment Options
Purchase orders and cash are not accepted.
Checks
Make checks payable to “UC Regents” and bring them to the cashier at the dining hall on the day of your visit. Please do not mail checks in advance. Need our Tax ID? Email dining@ucsc.edu to request a W-9.
Credit cards
Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express are accepted. To qualify for the discounted rate, the group meal must be paid in a single transaction. Individual credit card payments will be charged at the full price.
Entertainment Reporting Form (ERF) / Intercampus Order (IOC)
UC campuses may pay using an Intercampus Order (IOC), while UCSC departments should use an Entertainment Reporting Form (ERF). Please bring a signed copy of the approved form with you on the day of your visit. Do not bring the original.
If you’re using one ERF for multiple meals, email a scanned copy of the approved “master” ERF to the Dining Administrative Office at least 3 business days before your first meal. We will provide supplemental forms to take with you to each dining hall.
Note: Your group’s Day-of Coordinator will receive an itemized receipt for all charges.
Reservation process and planning tips
Dining hall assignment
We do our best to honor your location preference, but we also consider group size, transportation logistics, special events, and other scheduled reservations when assigning dining halls.
Dining hall capacity
We currently limit guest counts to 100 people per dining hall, per meal. Larger groups must split into smaller groups and may be assigned to multiple dining halls. Whether we can accommodate your group will depend on existing reservations and your ability to divide.
Outside food policy
To maintain a consistent dining experience for all guests, outside food is not permitted inside UCSC dining halls. All individuals who enter must pay the standard entry fee, including those accompanying groups. If your group plans to bring packed lunches, please plan to enjoy them outside the dining halls. The Campus Tours Office is happy to suggest scenic and convenient picnic spots across campus—give them a call at (831) 459-4118 for recommendations.
Reservation confirmation
Confirmation timelines vary depending on the time of year. We aim to confirm reservations at least 2 weeks before your visit. During summer, we may not confirm earlier than 1 week prior.
Ready to make a reservation?
Please complete the reservation form, including the “notes” section. We’ll follow up with you as soon as possible. Still have questions? Email us at dining@ucsc.edu.