Yes you’re right but it’s still my fav. I think Modern is the best New Haven style. I also really like zuppardi’s

To weigh in on any pizza suggestions my number one is Zenelli’s and second after that is Modern (since you said you’re doing pizza in another comment). Please pass on brick oven it’s solid for late night but so many better options for dinner time

Ordinary is really vibey and enjoyable with nice cocktails, I love owl shop, it’s a cigar bar and going inside feels like stepping back in time. Cafe nine usually has live music in a fun dive bar setting. And you can always hit up barcade. If you’re in Wooster square area for pizza, check out Libby’s afterwards for a coffee and Italian pastries

Also I’ve heard gateway is a good community college and have had multiple friends attend

Not yale affiliated, I have never felt unwelcome in new haven, in fact I have seen more “hate” directed towards yalies from non-yalies than the other way around, they seem totally apathetic and honestly I have never found their presence problematic, except as front of house restaurant worker (sometimes they are a little privileged and difficult to deal with in that context). But it’s truly nothing crazy and never extends into the realm outside of work for me. Overall I think the fact new haven is a college town keeps it youthful and vibrant. Housing around yale is significantly more expensive but as soon as you leave the yale bubble you’ll be able to find more affordable housing, and by leave I mean travel 10-15 minutes outside of downtown. I would suggest looking into east haven and west haven for housing, and sometimes the westville neighborhood of new haven. I recently relocated to New York and it has its major perks but I definitely miss home and would recommend making new haven your new spot!

west haven is fine I lived there for almost three years. I have lived in new haven for 4 years total and I never felt any safer there lol

Check out the Yale are museum! It’s free on chapel street. Group W bench on the same street is a historic little head shop that has great souvenirs and jewelry. Check out Wooster square if you want some pizza and Libby’s for Italian pastries. Ordinary and Owl Shop are my favorite bars and they both have a great vibe. Walking up east rock to check out the monument and the city below is always nice if you’ve never done it. And finally lol, union league cafe is an amazing special occasion restaurant. I also like shell and bones for great seafood and oysters and a pretty waterside view. Tavern on state is also worth a try for a nice dinner but I’ve honestly had mixed experiences there, and if I’m planning to spend that much money on dinner I want consistency

Their mashed potato pizza is bomb as well if you’re getting a whole pie!! Just check which days they do slices, I think it may only be weekend nights but I could be wrong. Parking will be hard there at that time, but brick oven has its own little parking lot

Ask for Nick at Burning hearts in Hamden. Only person in the area I trust for piercings. Also recommend black diamond and stay true but they aren’t in new haven area

Bar has the best slices!! But brick oven is more convenient