It can be difficult to find a good spot for a night out when you’re a student on the Stony Brook University campus without a car. So without resorting to consulting Reddit, here’s a collection of theatrical shows, restaurants, walking spots and activities to spend some quality time with a special someone or friends. These places are accessible on foot or by public transportation through the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), Suffolk County Transit or Stony Brook’s shuttle services.
This ice rink is located at the Port Jefferson Community Center, the last stop of the Port Jefferson Shuttle. As an ice skating rink, it has no competition in terms of convenience. Other spots like The Rinx in Hauppauge (Stony Brook Ice Hockey’s home ice) and Superior Ice Rink in Kings Park are much larger, but less accessible without a car. Because these rink locations are indoors, they are better suited for practicing professional ice skating and less for recreational skating. Admission prices range from $13 to $16 for two to three hours, with skate rentals priced at $7. The Rinx’s public sessions ended recently; however, make sure to check out this location next winter.
Located in Stony Brook, The Jazz Loft hosts many galleries preserving and presenting jazz memorabilia, art and photographs. Perhaps more suited for a date night or relaxed night out with friends, The Jazz Loft hosts performances from local to nationally-acclaimed artists. Tickets for Stony Brook students are $20.
A slightly pricier option for a night out is Theatre Three. The hall is currently showing the plays “Ring of Fire: The Johnny Cash Musical Show,” “Wait Until Dark” and “Half Time.” At $32 for students, tickets here are a bit more expensive but offer a date experience different from the usual dinner or coffee plans with its musical flair.
While bowling isn’t exactly known as an activity for a romantic night out, it’s included on this list as another unconventional activity if you’re bored of watching movies. Port Jeff Bowl also offers Stony Brook students a discounted deal of $20 for two hours and a shoe rental — just make sure you’re ready to find out how competitive your companion is.
Positioned right across from the LIRR Stony Brook station, Druthers Coffee is probably the most convenient off-campus spot. It’s your typical nice coffee shop, featuring a community table, smaller tables and a rustic-meets-minimalist vibe. They offer espresso drinks, pastries and a couple of meal options; I personally love the scones and I’ve heard great things about their avocado toast. One downside is that it tends to be pretty crowded, so it might not be the best spot to sit and chat for a long time, but its closeness to Stony Brook makes it worthy of this list.
This is pretty self-explanatory, but you can make the most of the natural spaces surrounding Stony Brook by walking the trails at Avalon Nature Preserve (or any trails in the area, really). Avalon Nature Preserve also hosts events like River Herring Monitoring, a Sea Turtle Facility Tour and a Vertical Oyster Garden Workshop, although some of these activities are limited to members. Although part of the Boardwalk overlooking Mill Pond is closed off due to lingering impacts of the flash flood in August 2024, trails luckily still remain accessible.
Slurp Ramen is a fairly affordable and tasty option for dinner. A flavorful bowl of ramen is the perfect thing to warm you up after a windy winter walk in the Port Jefferson Village. I can attest to it after eating there with my roommate on a freezing, dateless Valentine’s Day.
Crazy Beans, located in the Stony Brook Village, serves coffee, breakfast and lunch from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday through Saturday. Some popular options from their menu include pancake quesadillas, cinnamon french toast, banana coconut latte, home fries and iced coffee. This little restaurant’s retro interior takes inspiration from 1950s-style diners, creating a quirky atmosphere. If you’re able to, make sure to try their special lattes inspired by “New Girl” (2011-2018) and indulge in their tasty breakfast foods.
A vegetarian cafe with gluten-free options, Tiger Lily Café offers soy protein shakes, smoothies, juices and — obviously — coffee; their wraps are a fan favorite, though. It has a colorful, artsy, warm interior, showcasing local music and art. Their Acoustic Sunday Sessions feature local musical artists on their deck. If you’re a fan of the whimsical vibe, Tiger Lily Café could be a great place to lounge and talk while sipping on a drink and soaking in the atmosphere.
Located in the Stony Brook Village, Sweet Mama’s is based on recreating the nostalgic feeling of mom’s comfort food. They offer all the typical breakfast foods in their basic forms, but they also have the same foods with a special something, like their Croissant French Toast or Spicy Avocado Benny (eggs benedict). Or, if you’d rather a sweet treat, you can order an Egg Cream or a Hand-Dipped Milkshake with two straws.
Correction Statement: The previous version of this article stated that The Jazz Loft was located in Port Jefferson. It has since been corrected to say “Located in Stony Brook.”
