University guides
On this page
Guelph Meal Plans 2026-27: Plan Sizes and Dining Halls
If you live in a traditional residence at Guelph, you must buy a Campus Meal Plan. That covers South Residence, Gordon Hall and the North Residences. It's optional in East Residence, West Village, East Village and off campus. For 2026-27, the five plan sizes range from $5,750 to $7,850 for the year. Guelph's plans aren't a set number of meals. You pay à la carte, and dining-hall food is 25% off and tax-free when you use Basic dollars.
Sources checked September 30, 2026. View sources
The five 2026-27 plan sizes
Every plan covers fall and winter and is paid in two instalments. Each instalment includes a $150 capital fund charge for dining hall improvements and a fixed overhead charge for running the dining halls. The rest loads as food dollars. Half your food dollars load at the start of September and the rest in mid-December.
| Plan | Year total | Per instalment | Food dollars per instalment (Basic + Flex) | Guelph says it suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | $5,750 | $2,875 | $1,470 + $438 | Students off campus most weekends, lighter appetites |
| Light | $6,300 | $3,150 | $1,470 + $630 | Students on campus some weekends, lighter appetites |
| Full | $7,050 | $3,525 | $1,470 + $893 | The most popular plan: alternate weekends on campus, average appetite |
| Plus | $7,430 | $3,715 | $1,470 + $1,026 | Alternate weekends on campus, larger appetite |
| Varsity | $7,850 | $3,925 | $1,470 + $1,173 | On campus most weekends, athletes, larger appetites |
How Basic and Flex dollars work
Basic dollars get the 25% discount and no HST at Hospitality Services dining locations, including the University Club. On-campus franchises such as Starbucks, Pizza Pizza and Subway don't get the discount.
Flex dollars cover what Basic doesn't. That includes vending machines, food trucks, the Bullring and Brass Taps, Eastside Café and Grocery in East Residence, off-campus partner restaurants and Red Top Taxi. Flex purchases are taxed, and no meal plan money can buy alcohol.
When your Basic balance hits zero, dining-hall purchases come out of Flex without the discount. You can move money between Basic and Flex only when the account you're moving it to is under $100, so check your Basic balance often.
- Leftover dollars carry over as long as you're a Guelph student.
- The plan is non-refundable and can't be cashed out.
- Money you add later also has a fixed overhead charge deducted.
- For 2026-27, Guelph allowed plan-size changes until September 30, 2026.
- Your student card is your meal card. Guelph is a cashless campus.
Where the dining halls are
Guelph lists six main dining locations. The hours below are the posted regular hours, and Guelph says special hours can apply, so check before you go.
| Dining hall | Where | What's there | Regular hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creelman Hall | North end of campus | Made-to-order marketplace, salad bar, vegetarian and vegan dishes, pizza, pasta, deli and desserts | Weekdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; weekends 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Mountain Dining Hall | South Residence | Salad bar, pasta, coffee shop with waffles and crepes, grill, vegetarian and vegan dishes | Weekdays 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
| Prairie Dining Hall | South Residence | Hot meals, vegetarian and vegan options, salad bar | Monday to Thursday, noon to 8 p.m. |
| Lennox Addington (LA) | Main floor of Lennox Addington residence | Grill, pizza, omelettes, pasta; LA Starbucks next door | Weekdays 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
| UC Chef's Hall | Main floor of the University Centre | Food court stations including sushi, burritos, Mongolian BBQ, shawarma, a salad bar, Tim Hortons, Pizza Pizza and KFC | Weekdays; each station sets its own hours |
| OVC Cafeteria | Ontario Veterinary College | Breakfast sandwiches, pastas, soups, wraps and salads, with gluten- and nut-free baked items | Weekdays 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
If your plan is optional: the Ultra Food Plan
The Ultra Food Plan is for East Residence, West Village and East Village residents, commuters and upper-year students. It isn't available in residences with a mandatory plan, such as South and North. You start with a $500 deposit and top up any amount online.
Ultra saves 10% on most Hospitality Services purchases, plus the 8% HST savings. Vending, Eastside Variety, the Bullring, Brass Taps, off-campus restaurants, delivery and Red Top Taxi don't get the 10% and are charged 13% HST. Funds never expire while you're enrolled, but they're non-refundable.
The optional Textbook Plan
You can add a Textbook Plan for the University Bookstore and Gryph's Locker. It's $1,000 with a Campus Meal Plan or $500 with an Ultra plan. Each bookstore purchase earns a 10% rebate that's added to your Flex or Ultra balance the next business day. The full amount loads in September, and unspent money carries into the next year unless you ask for a refund. Contact the Meal Plan Office at mealplan@uoguelph.ca to add one.
Allergies and special diets
Hospitality Services has a Registered Dietitian and a Student Nutrition Awareness Program (SNAP). You can book a meeting before or early in the year to tour the dining halls and go over the stations to be careful with.
If you have a severe allergy and live in residence, Guelph strongly encourages a Food Allergy Emergency Plan Form, which is posted out of public view in the dining halls. Guelph also offers housing with kitchens free from common allergens, and kosher kitchens, when space allows. Ingredient cards don't flag every allergen, so tell staff about your allergy each time you order.
Keep exploring
Sources and updates
This independent guide summarizes the official information linked below. Availability, access rules and application cycles can change; check the relevant university page before making a decision.
- University of Guelph Hospitality Services: meal plans overview
- University of Guelph Hospitality Services: 2026/2027 Campus Meal Plans
- University of Guelph Hospitality Services: Ultra Food Plan
- University of Guelph Hospitality Services: dining halls and hours
- University of Guelph Hospitality Services: special diets and allergies