MIT Banana Lounge — Local services in Cambridge

If one had to describe what it is like to be at MIT, the Banana Lounge would be the perfect spatial manifestation of that feeling.

Imagine yourself rushing through the bustling halls of the iconic MIT dome building, seeing glimpses of complex instruments through the windows of the science classrooms and students trying to claim a space in the future spaceship study halls, while an amalgam of colorful, loud flyers on the pinboards rustle as you pass them. Suddenly, a slither of a smell enters your nose. What is that smell again? You can't yet place it, but you know it's something familiar, so you decide to follow it.

As you seem to approach the source of the smell, it strengthens increasingly. On every turn of a corner, when it is so strong you think you can almost taste it, you find a new empty hallway to follow. You realize suddenly what the smell is -- bananas! Finally, you see a yellow brick wall and an entry to what seems to be a study space. The smell is almost repugnant now, you have to start breathing through your mouth to bear it.

Congratulations. You found the Banana Lounge: a liminal place where one can help themselves to ramen, play with Legos, and first and foremost the unwavering source of a seemingly infinite amount of free bananas. It's a truly disorienting place where time and context seem to be barred by a giant wall of banana.

Unlike the yellow brick wall on the outside suggests, this place is not at all decorated with monochromatic yellow lounge chairs as one might expect of a true Banana Lounge™. No, it's likely the most unceremonious place on earth with its spotty carpet, random colorful furniture, and the one random dark corner with handpainted clouds that it is all about. You pass people chilling or even napping as you approach the giant dark stacks of crates while you fight the nauseating waves of isoamyl acetate hitting your palate. You reach into a dark crate and your hand senses the heat that thousands of bananas emit. Warm, dark, perfectly ripe bananas.

But in its sensory inelegance lies its true beauty, because the Banana Lounge is everything but not designed. Over the years, the student volunteers who run this place have perfectly optimized the whole process of distribution and storage. The science of smart banana supply chains.

So, please, do yourself a favor and visit this place. It encapsulates everything being at MIT perfectly: the complete surealism of the situation at hand, the free stuff, the odd but obsessively executed ideas, the radical focus on sheer functionality, and the sense of community and care.

Thanks for keeping it real, Banana...

The MIT banana lounge provides the perfect environment for studying. It is comfortable and serene, with a comfortable seating area and plenty of natural light. The atmosphere was conducive to productivity, and I was able to focus and get some serious work done.

But what really sets the MIT banana lounge apart is the quality of the bananas. As someone who takes their fruit very seriously, I was blown away by the freshness and flavor of the bananas on offer. They were perfectly ripe, with just the right amount of sweetness, and I couldn't get enough of them.

But perhaps the most profound impact that the MIT banana lounge had on me was the sense of community that I felt there. There were people from all walks of life, all gathered together in pursuit of knowledge and personal growth. I had some truly inspiring conversations with my fellow lounge-goers, and I left feeling energized and motivated to continue pursuing my goals.

In short, I can't recommend the MIT banana lounge enough. If you're looking for a peaceful and productive place to study, with high quality bananas and a sense of community, then look no further. It's a five-star experience all around, and I can't...

MIT 的「香蕉屋」（Banana Lounge）是校園內一個由學生自發經營的獨特空間，位於 Compton Laboratories 大樓的 26-110 教室。​這個空間最初於 2015 年由學生 Malte Ahrens 和他的朋友們創立，旨在提供一個讓學生能夠放鬆、交流的場所，並選擇香蕉作為免費供應的點心，因為香蕉價格實惠、方便攜帶且富含營養。​最初的資金來自 MIT 大學部學生會的支持，後來獲得了校友兼創投家 Brad Feld 以及其他校友和學生組織的贊助。​如今，香蕉屋每週三次（週一、週三、週五）收到香蕉配送，每次約有 100 至 120 箱，週總計約 300 箱。​除了提供健康的點心外，香蕉之廳還設有咖啡、懶人沙發和創意空間，成為學生互動和放鬆的社交中心，充分體現了 MIT 鼓勵創新與社群精神的校園文化。

The MIT Banana Lounge, nestled in Room 26-110 of the Compton Laboratories building, is a unique student-run space offering free bananas and a welcoming environment 24/7. Initiated in 2015 by student Malte Ahrens and friends, the lounge was envisioned as a communal area to relax and connect, with bananas chosen for their affordability, portability, and nutritional value. Initially funded by the MIT Undergraduate Association, the lounge's operations are now supported by MIT alumnus and venture capitalist Brad Feld, along with contributions from other alumni and student organizations. Today, the Banana Lounge receives banana deliveries three times a week—on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays—with each delivery consisting of 100 to 120 boxes, totaling approximately 300 boxes weekly. Beyond providing a healthy snack, the lounge serves as a hub for student interaction, featuring amenities like coffee, beanbag chairs, and creative spaces, embodying MIT's spirit of innovation and...