If you were asked to name a city American students would be willing to move across the country to study in, would Bronxville come to mind? Living here we tend to forget, but Bronxville is home to both Sarah Lawrence College and Concordia College. If the only thing you know about the area is that it’s where Julia Styles wanted to matriculate in 10 Things I Hate About You, we’ve pieced together a helpful guide to every place you’ll want to eat, drink, shop, and kick back (when you’re not studying, or course).
Eat & Drink
Bronxville
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PHOTO BY MEAGHAN GLENDON |
Close to home — er, dorm — you’re going to have a solid assortment of cuisines to choose from, all at prices that won’t hurt your pockets. Wild Ginger and Haiku offer excellent pan-Asian/fusion and sushi, while Dumpling + Noodle rocks traditional Chinese staples with some fantastic execution. (Seriously, try the pork soup buns!)
Blue Moon Mexican Cafe is one of our favorites when it comes to south-of-the-border flavor, and there is a plethora of Italian joints in Bronxville so we’ll just say start out at Scalini Osteria and work your way through the list. When it comes to pizza, however, you need to hit up Best of Westchester/Burger & Beer Blast winner Coals Pizza, and for surf and/or turf Park 143 Bistro & Fish is your delicious and affordable go-to.
Related: Who Won Big At Our 2018 Burger & Beer Blast
On the beverage front, there is of course a Starbucks nearby, but for real bean-house coffee you should hit up Slave to the Grind. They understand and appreciate the fact that they’re the only thing sustaining you through an all-night cram session. For more ‘potent’ potables, of-age students will enjoy J.C. Fogerty’s on Kraft Ave. for its excellent pub attached to the main restaurant, and Pete’s Park Place Tavern, for it’s happy hours, wing nights, and soul-warming bar bites.
Eastchester
Head a little north of Concordia College and you’ll arrive in Eastchester, home of Broken Bow Brewery. You’ll definitely want to check out their tasting room, see what’s new on tap, and probably live there. For lunch, head out to Mason Sandwich Co., another local favorite, making sure to stop by Pane & Gelato after for a quick and delicious dessert. Polpettina’s flagship location will be one of your favorite places for dinner and particularly brunch, with its rustic Italian influences in its menu. Piper’s Kilt will also end up being one of your favorites, whether you’re in it for their Best of Westchester Reader’s Choice burgers and other pub grub or the extensive wine and craft beer menu.
Elsewhere
Take a quick jaunt over to Tuckahoe to check out The Tap House. A little more expensive than your weekly tavern visit, The Tap House is an amazing gastro-pub you’ll still want desperately to try. Worst case, save it for when your parents come to visit and offer to treat you. For a more affordable option week-to-week, Growlers Beer Bistro right next to the Metro-North station is a great call. Food is solid and not too expensive for student/commuter budgets, and the ever-rotating selection of craft beers (and local spirits) is well worth the trip. They even host trivia Tuesdays with prizes for the top teams, meaning it’s probably more cost effective to study for quiz night than your chemistry final.
It’s also worth noting that thanks to being essentially ringed by major Westchester parkways, Bronxville is a quick car ride away from Yonkers, Mount Vernon, and more local dining options. Maggie Spilane’s, for example, is technically in Mount Vernon, but being on the border it’s actually only about 7 minutes from the Sarah Lawrence campus. Maggie’s has fun events, a dynamite late-night menu, and is even on Uber Eats!
Shopping
Those parkways are going to be your friends again, here. Sarah Lawrence is practically next door to the Cross County Shopping Center (and it’s just a quick trip down Midland Ave. from Concordia). Hop on the Sprain and head North for a bit and you’ve even got access to Yonkers’ Ridge Hill shopping center, full of enclosed and stand-alone shops, restaurants, and attractions. Ridge Hill trips are also a great time to drop by the local Whole Foods for those less-than-local items you just can’t live without.
We’ll also gladly mention the Bronxville Farmers’ Market, open Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., May through November. It’s a great place to pick up local produce, baked goods, crafts, snacks, and more!
What to Do for Fun
For art lovers, Concordia Conservatory and the Osilas Gallery are right on the university’s campus and offer a range of seasonal programming and showings. If cinema’s more your thing, Bowtie Cinemas is nearly equidistant between the two schools, hosting a healthy mix of blockbusters and smaller/international films. For a grander experience (at least for your butts), Cross County and Ridge Hill both also house a Showcase Cinema De Lux. Kick back in those sweet leather reclining seats and have a date night that’ll put Netflix-and-chill to shame.
Sports and fitness fiends will be quite happy in Bronxville. Bronxville Dog Park is a great place to spend an afternoon if you love meeting fluffy quadrupeds, but there are plenty of human-centric parks in the area as well. Also in abundance: country and golf clubs both public and private. For the latter, Siwanoy Country Club is worth the membership if you play often, but Dunwoodie Golf Course is an excellent public option, complete with driving range and pro shop, plus its restaurant, The Fairways at Dunwoodie. If golf isn’t your thing you’ll still be plenty happy, as there are a number of local gyms and sports clubs. There’s a Pure Barre right in town, and Yoga Haven is great for practitioners of any age.
We should also point out, Empire City Casino (and Yonkers Raceway) are just a short ride away. Even if gambling isn’t your thing, the sheer number of concerts, guest appearances, conventions, and other events they host — like Westchester Magazine‘s annual Wingfest, hint hint — will always mean something fun is going on.
There’s still plenty more you’ll want to explore, and let us know anything you think we left off the list, but with this you should have enough to start off your first semesters in style!
