Alexis Lam

8:19 a.m., November 8, 2024

Contributing journalist

Have you ever found yourself running around campus looking for a place to study that won’t depress you? Bass is for when you’re really in the trenches, Sterling and the Gilmore Music Library are a little too quiet, and the Stacks are just… the Stacks. Or do you find yourself looking for a cool place to take your two-week situation that makes you seem cultured and interesting? If you’re someone like me who can’t be bothered to climb all the floors of the headquarters’ Swensen Tower to snag the glass-walled meeting room – or if you’re someone who’s just looking to get get away from campus a little – I have just the place for you.

Tucked away on the streets of Whitney and Audubon is a magical place offering tasty treats, drinks and even a late night bar. To be honest, I was going to keep this place, but everything about it is too beautiful to keep to myself.

The Loop by Hachiroku is a hidden gem that has quickly become my new favorite weekend study spot near campus. With a large, open interior, The Loop transformed the once-empty Audubon Street studio into a supermarket/cafe/night bar hybrid.

During the day it is a small Japanese supermarket and cafe bar. Not only do they offer a plethora of Japanese snacks, drinks and instant noodles, but they also offer fresh produce, ready-to-eat meals and delicious traditional and modern Japanese desserts. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite with a rice ball, hungry for a bento meal, or even just craving something sweet, The Loop has something for everyone.

Their coffee bar offers a small but large variety of matcha and caffeinated drinks. Hands down, their matcha latte is some of the best matcha I’ve ever had near the Yale campus.

On the other side of the supermarket is their late night bar/restaurant where customers are welcome to sit and eat.

The atmosphere is perfect for a small student café. The large interior is grayscale but very stylish, and the walls are a grid of windows that allow plenty of sunlight to come in and light up the place.

On weekend afternoons, I often find myself making the trek from Stiles to Audubon Street just to have some space and quiet away from campus. With my Daunt Books tote bag and camera in hand, I step into my little pocket of heaven. I buy a matcha latte, coffee jelly and a scoop of pickled plum rice and sit at the window bar where I continue grinding for a few hours until they open for dinner service .

In the evening, the empty lounge area transforms into a sake bar and restaurant offering Japanese tapas. The minimalist hanging light turns on and the tables glow with candlelight. This is a great place to bring a date, a friend, or do a solo date and treat yourself to a great meal. I hope to get a table there this weekend.

So if you ever need a few hours away from campus during the day, are craving Japanese food, or need a new hangout, try The Loop!