What is UC Davis Life Like?

Welcome to Aggie Life

The letter has arrived, and you have been accepted into UC Davis. Unsure of what awaits you on campus, you may picture what everyone says about it: Cows, biking, friendly students, and more cows. These are all true in fact! (maybe not as much about the cows) but there is much more to aggie life than this.

Davis at a glance

UC Davis is located in a small town west of Sacramento where the population is students, staff, and young families. Davis is through and through a college town, as the town is almost 100% based around the college. The town has 3 parts: the school, downtown and housing for students. The school bleeds right into downtown so the borders between campus and town are hardly there.

Davis due to its large number of International students, has a high number of asian restaurants, shops, grocery stores, and boba. There are probably more boba places in Davis than maybe all of the rest of the surrounding towns combined. This is far outside of the normal concentration for Asian culture in the central valley and by comparison is like an oasis in a desert.

The downtown is small, quaint and very aesthetic. It has a very charming farmers market every Wednesday and Saturday and is very walkable from end to end. The main street that many students frequent is G street with its two rivaling coffee shops (Temple and Pachamama) and many bars and restaurants.

Outside of downtown in the residential areas, all of the places (outside of far east Davis and far south Davis) feel very connected to the centre and school due to the excellent UC Davis free bus transport system.

Student Life on Campus

Despite UC Davis being the largest of all the UC Campus’s, there are 2 main areas of action on campus. One would be the MU and the other being the Silo.

The MU is the heart of student life at Davis. It is the central hub where most bus lines stop so many students are passing in and out of this region. There are ample places to grab food, study, and hang out between classes. Inside, the MU has the UC Davis Bookstore, Amazon lockers, a bowling alley/pool and gaming area (All it doesn't have is good food or coffee). The Freeborn Hall and Coffee House (aka the CoHo) are especially popular, although not very good -but this is just my opinion!

On the other side of campus is the Silo. This hotspot (also due to bus lines being routed to this as the stopping point) is the food trucks and food haven. It has a Peets coffee, lots of eateries, tons of outdoor and indoor settings and proximity to several lecture halls. During lunch hours, it's one of the liveliest places on campus, with students crowding picnic tables or relaxing on the grass between classes. The Silo also houses bike services and student job opportunities, making it a practical stop as much as a social one.

If not in these two areas, there are many halls and lots of campus to explore. From the beautiful lake and arboretum to the odd bathroom in an unnamed hall with a bed in it, there is much to see.

Student life off campus

Between studying and having fun with friends you might forget you need to sleep, or where to sleep; well have no fear as this section will solve those issues. UC Davis provides one-year guaranteed housing for eligible first-year freshmen, with meal plans included and options to join Living-Learning Communities (LLCs) based on interests and identities So yippee! Over 90% of freshmen live in the Residents hall so it isn't required but you would definitely miss out on meeting lots of potential friends.

For freshmen there are 3 dorm options:

1. Segundo – Northwest Traditional, doubles/triples; central location
2. Tercero – Southwest, Triples; near STEM buildings
3. Cuarto – Just northwest of central campus (basically off campus)

The best by location would probably be Tercero but it is the oldest so ehhh not the best. Segundo would probably be the best one as Cuarto is the newest, bigger rooms, and the best food but it is pretty far off campus so walking to classes would not be an option. But if the pros outweigh the main cons the Cuarto is for you!

For Sophomore, Transfers, and all other grade levels you have 4 options

1. The Green at West Village - University Run “on campus housing”
2. Sol at West Village - University Run “on campus housing”
3. Orchard Park - University Run “on campus housing”
4. Off Campus living - all on you

So a common option for the sophomore students and transfers who don't know better options go with the Green at West village. So the Green is a very interesting place, imagine a soviet era apartment block on the outside and plasticy hotel apartment interiors - sound good to you? They are not the worst but certainly not the best option. Rooms come in singles, doubles, and quads each and you have to pick them based on a competitive time slot lottery. The students don't tend to be social here and stay to themselves and only communicate through the discord.

Sol at West village is in the same area as the green but it is slightly better but this housing is oddly very popular with international students. There are many different housing layouts and some of the unlikely souls get their apartments on the ground floor right in front of the bus stop, truly a fate worse than death. But unlike the green, students tend to be social and there is a pool so that is a great plus!

Orchard park is a newer apartment complex which was designed for grad students. It is similar in look and design to the Green but the rooms are nicer and slightly bigger for better value. You most likely wont do this unless you are a 5th year senior or grad student so do not be concerned with this option.

Lastly would be off campus housing, the potential best or worst option depending on where you live. Housing is really quite competitive so it is best to know who you are living with and find a place in January/February and sign a lease in February/March for the best pick of apartments. There are many options and ranges of pricing, it is best to ask juniors and seniors in your clubs to see what they would recommend living in.

Pros and Cons

Below is some pros and cons broken down into a more manageable viewing:

Pros:

• Bike-Friendly Culture: Davis is one of the most bike-friendly campuses in the nation, making it easy and cheap to get around.
• Tight-Knit Community: The small college-town feel means you’ll constantly run into friends and have a strong sense of belonging.
• Strong Academics & Research Opportunities: Especially in STEM, agriculture, and veterinary sciences.
• International & Diverse: The town has a surprisingly global culture for its size, reflected in food, clubs, and student demographics.
• Beautiful Outdoors: Arboretum, farmers market, and proximity to NorCal destinations (Sacramento, SF, Lake Tahoe).

Cons:

• Small-Town Limits: Davis can feel slow or “sleepy,” especially compared to bigger UC cities like LA or Berkeley.
• Housing Competition: Off-campus housing is competitive and can get expensive relative to the town’s size.
• Weather: Summers are very hot, and winters can be rainy and foggy.
• Limited Nightlife: Bars and social life exist, but options are minimal; you’ll likely need to head to Sacramento for more variety.
• Food Quality on Campus: Many students complain the dining commons and CoHo aren’t great; most prefer off-campus dining.

Food, Coffee, and more: Where to eat and hang out

Coffee & Study Spots:

• Temple Coffee – good coffee but expensive, always packed with students but limited outlets for computers.
• Pachamama – Right across from Temple; more relaxed vibes and often less crowded. Limited seating but excellent seasonal coffee drinks
• Mishka’s Café – Classic Davis coffee shop with cozy seating and late hours; perfect for midterms and finals season. Decent number of outlets and seating but the coffee isn't as good as the two above.
• Cloud Forest Café – A little farther from downtown, but quiet and some think it is underrated. Some decent seating and a good number of outlets

Boba:

With the absurd boba density, some are lacking but other are great:

• Teaspoon – expensive but excellent quality.
• Lazi Cow – Instagram-famous for its giant drinks and funky decor.
• Sharetea – Classic chain, solid milk tea.

Food Favorites:

There are many places to eat and if you want to try everything go ahead, but these are the best and you can skip the rest.

• Taqueria Guadalajara – One of the best spots for cheap and filling Mexican food.
• The Davis Farmers Market – Wednesdays and Saturdays.
• Sophia’s Thai Kitchen – Great Thai food and a fun rooftop bar vibe in summer.
• Yakitori Shoukudo – Great Japanese food and excellent ramen.