Gastronomy
good Eat.
Together Enjoy.
University catering is an important part of campus life. It ensures that students, university staff and guests are well catered for in their everyday study and work life - reliably, affordably and in a variety of ways. Our canteens, cafés and bistros offer a place to meet, socialise and take short breaks between lectures, studying and work.
Quality, variety and transparency take centre stage. Freshly prepared dishes every day, vegetarian and vegan options and clear information on ingredients are just as important to us as fair prices and the responsible use of resources. In this way, university catering combines enjoyment with social responsibility - for a lively, sustainable campus life.
SPECIAL PLANS - BREAK WITH FLAVOUR
SMALL PAUSES - GREAT PLEASURE
Freshly brewed organic coffee, small snacks and refreshing drinks: Bona Vista is the ideal place to take a relaxing break between lectures and recharge your batteries.
The picnic is a lively meeting place where you can work flexibly, exchange ideas or take a spontaneous break. Versatile Self-service machines provide you with drinks, snacks and light refreshments throughout the day - reliably and well into the evening.
From 2 p.m., the Grill|Café invites you to relax - with cool drinks, hot dishes and snacks in a relaxed atmosphere. Perfect for a study break, time with fellow students or a short break from your studies.
Opening hours
Our catering facilities are open for you every week from Monday to Friday and provide you with fresh meals and tasty snacks every day.
During the semester break, the opening hours at the respective locations in Paderborn, Lippstadt and Hamm will change.
DeliCard
With the DeliCard you are well equipped for everyday university life: You can pay conveniently without cash in all canteens, cafés and launderettes of the Paderborn Student Union.
You can obtain the DeliCard directly from the DeliCard Service at Liese-Dreyer-Weg or in the CampusEck in the canteen foyer.
SUSTAINABILITY
Acting sustainably in the catering industry means using resources responsibly - from regional and seasonal food to waste avoidance and energy-efficient processes. In this way, environmental impact can be reduced while ensuring quality and future viability.
Mensa love at our locations
Whether it's a quick breakfast, a balanced lunch or simply a good coffee in between - you'll always find something tasty here.
On the UPB campus, Mensa Academica and Mensa Forum await you with fresh meals every day. At the Picknick you can meet friends for a break, and at the Bona Vista coffee bar you can get fine coffee specialities and snacks for in-between meals. The Grill|Café is the perfect afternoon snack for those with a big or small appetite. You will also find our canteen ZM2 on the Zukunftsmeile in Paderborn.
You can also enjoy lunch, snacks and drinks in a relaxed atmosphere at our locations in Hamm (Mensa Basilica) and Lippstadt (Mensa Atrium).
Our offer is open to everyone - students, university employees and external guests. Come by and savour it!
All Canteens & Cafés at a glance
Mensa Academica is Model canteen
Mensa Academica is a model canteen! The Studierendenwerk already took part in the „NRW Canteen Programme“ in 2024 and 2025. Numerous workshops were held and the processes at Mensa Academica were scrutinised. With the certification as a model canteen, processes were adapted, menus reviewed and active work was done to reduce food waste.
We are thus continuing to set an example for a sustainable canteen by raising awareness of healthy and sustainable nutrition. Because we value high-quality products and the future-oriented development of our catering offer!
For us, love doesn't just go through the stomach, but also through the canteen!
What is the NRW canteen programme?
The NRW canteen programme is a state programme run by the NRW Consumer Advice Centre to make communal catering - i.e. canteens and the like - more sustainable, healthy and fit for the future. Mensa Academica is one of six model canteens in NRW - that makes us proud!
Mensa Academica is Model canteen
Our motivation:
- be sustainable out-of-home catering
- Professional support in purchasing regional products and organically produced food
Our goals:
- sensitise people to modern nutritional awareness
- Continue to offer plant-based dishes
- Minimise food waste
Our offer:
- Daily changing fresh dishes
- Increased plant-based offerings in the menu
- Direct dialogue with the guests in MensaTalk
Erhard Wolf, Head of University Cateringe:
„When implementing the process, we draw on the experience and knowledge of other companies and the advice provided as part of the NRW canteen programme.“
Organic certification
With our catering facilities in Paderborn, Hamm and Lippstadt, we offer our guests the opportunity to enjoy balanced and varied out-of-home catering every day. We always focus on transparent processes and the processing of high-quality products!
For this reason, Bona Vista on the Paderborn University campus is certified organic. We offer organic coffee beans, organic espresso beans, organic drinking chocolates and organic teas. In addition, all the bread rolls on offer are organic.
Because we value quality and enjoyment!
vegan-friendly canteen - Mensa Academica honoured
Mensa Academica on the Paderborn University campus is one of the most vegan-friendly canteens in Germany in 2025!
We were once again honoured by the animal welfare organisation Peta Deutschland e.V. and are delighted to have been awarded 4 out of 5 stars. This means that we have improved by one point compared to last year's ranking!
Did you know? 43 % of the main courses sold are vegan!
At Mensa Academica, we offer you a daily changing menu consisting of a vegan or vegetarian stew, two different vegan main courses, a vegetarian and a meat/fish dish. There is also at least one vegan dessert alternative every day and the salad dressings are also vegan.
At the beginning of the year, the WDR came to visit, just in time for Veganuary! In a report for the Lokalzeit OWL programme, they reported on the vegan offerings of our university catering!
More than a canteen - We are here for you.
Frequent Questions about Mensa & Co. (FAQ)
Your contact person
Gastronomy
Erhard Wolf
Room: MEU. 713 (ME building)
Deutsch 
English (UK)