Guidebook for Amherst
Food Scene
A local staple. Coffee, tea, whisky bar. It's got a lively but calm vibe in the evenings. Definitely nice to visit late night. For day time visitors, it's a pretty good spot to get a coffee, find a little corner and sit and work, too.
27 locals recommend
Amherst Coffee
28 Amity St A local staple. Coffee, tea, whisky bar. It's got a lively but calm vibe in the evenings. Definitely nice to visit late night. For day time visitors, it's a pretty good spot to get a coffee, find a little corner and sit and work, too.
Great all day dim sum options. Also a neighborhood staple, with fresh authentic dishes, and fantastic and consistent service.
14 locals recommend
Oriental Flavor
25 S Pleasant StGreat all day dim sum options. Also a neighborhood staple, with fresh authentic dishes, and fantastic and consistent service.
When you want something cozy and local, try the cafe in the back, another neighborhood staple, hidden away from town in North Amherst in a little house by the tracks. During peak hours, it's full of students, and walking in the door feels kind of like returning to summer camp, in the best possible way. The service is warm and friendly, and food is farm fresh. It's a busy spot for a cozy breakfast (we tend to go for the breakfast sandwiches with hashbrowns; oh so good). & Visit the tiny little market shop for high quality essentials (small organic groceries, with a small but very fine selection of charcuterie and snack foods, soaps, detergents, etc.)
17 locals recommend
Cushman Market & Cafe
491 Pine StWhen you want something cozy and local, try the cafe in the back, another neighborhood staple, hidden away from town in North Amherst in a little house by the tracks. During peak hours, it's full of students, and walking in the door feels kind of like returning to summer camp, in the best possible way. The service is warm and friendly, and food is farm fresh. It's a busy spot for a cozy breakfast (we tend to go for the breakfast sandwiches with hashbrowns; oh so good). & Visit the tiny little market shop for high quality essentials (small organic groceries, with a small but very fine selection of charcuterie and snack foods, soaps, detergents, etc.)
One of our favorites! A sweet neighborhood spot with French bistro-inspired decor and menu. It's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and has incredible local coffee, fresh delicious food, and if you get there early enough, you can get the best to-go sandwiches in the region. With a warm upscale yet casual feel, and a truly remarkable dining garden, this is one of our very favorite spots to go to (just a 10-15-min drive away).
25 locals recommend
Esselon Café and Coffee Roasting
99 Russell StOne of our favorites! A sweet neighborhood spot with French bistro-inspired decor and menu. It's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and has incredible local coffee, fresh delicious food, and if you get there early enough, you can get the best to-go sandwiches in the region. With a warm upscale yet casual feel, and a truly remarkable dining garden, this is one of our very favorite spots to go to (just a 10-15-min drive away).
Our new favorite spot & sweet addition to the neighborhood, only 2 mins away. Great coffee, a warm aesthetic, and young and fresh atmosphere, with a solid menu of great breakfast and lunch options. It gets busy though, so be sure to visit when the weather's good and get a seat out on the patio.
15 locals recommend
Share Coffee Amherst
178 N Pleasant StOur new favorite spot & sweet addition to the neighborhood, only 2 mins away. Great coffee, a warm aesthetic, and young and fresh atmosphere, with a solid menu of great breakfast and lunch options. It gets busy though, so be sure to visit when the weather's good and get a seat out on the patio.
A really lovely little surprise, this seemingly ordinary bistro has a great menu with yummy food and wonderful service. Make sure to get a table out back though on their porch patio for a much nicer atmospheric dining experience.
8 locals recommend
Monkey Bar & Grill
63 North Pleasant Street A really lovely little surprise, this seemingly ordinary bistro has a great menu with yummy food and wonderful service. Make sure to get a table out back though on their porch patio for a much nicer atmospheric dining experience.
Incredible food, cocktails and atmosphere, the Alva Stone is tucked away in the historic Bookmill, where you can dine by a waterfall and enjoy a truly delcious meal. Go for a stroll around the Bookmill, grab a coffee or beer at Lady Killgrew's, then head to the Alva Stone for a lovely dinner. Now the Watershed!
This is one of our favorite places in the region, Alva Stone at the Bookmill in Montague is only a 20 min (scenic) drive away, along lovely country roads.
21 locals recommend
The Alvah Stone
440 Greenfield RdIncredible food, cocktails and atmosphere, the Alva Stone is tucked away in the historic Bookmill, where you can dine by a waterfall and enjoy a truly delcious meal. Go for a stroll around the Bookmill, grab a coffee or beer at Lady Killgrew's, then head to the Alva Stone for a lovely dinner. Now the Watershed!
This is one of our favorite places in the region, Alva Stone at the Bookmill in Montague is only a 20 min (scenic) drive away, along lovely country roads.
This is IYA's new and second restaurant in the region (the original restaurant in South Hadley is even better). It's a decent spot for ramen, sushi, and other quick dishes!
IYA
1 E Pleasant StThis is IYA's new and second restaurant in the region (the original restaurant in South Hadley is even better). It's a decent spot for ramen, sushi, and other quick dishes!
One of our best and favorite restaurants in the region. It's so, so good. It's a little trek away, about 35 mins by car, but on country roads and definitely worth it. A foodies haven.
Calico
One of our best and favorite restaurants in the region. It's so, so good. It's a little trek away, about 35 mins by car, but on country roads and definitely worth it. A foodies haven.
Our new favorite spot, only 3 mins away .. a rotation of seasonal and delicious small dishes, cocktails, mocktails, and excellent deserts.
Protocol
Our new favorite spot, only 3 mins away .. a rotation of seasonal and delicious small dishes, cocktails, mocktails, and excellent deserts.
Entertainment & Activities
Independent cinema. Always with the best curation of films.
48 locals recommend
Amherst Cinema Arts Center
28 Amity StIndependent cinema. Always with the best curation of films.
A sweet little spot to dine by a waterfall, grab a drink or enjoy a coffee, and wander the creaky old bookshop, self described as: an independent bookstore in Montague, Massachusetts. The 1834 grist mill it occupies is listed as the Alvah Stone Mill on the National Register of Historic Places. The store's motto is "Books you don't need in a place you can't find," and it claims to have "40,000 books and one waterfall."
56 locals recommend
The Montague Bookmill
440 Greenfield RdA sweet little spot to dine by a waterfall, grab a drink or enjoy a coffee, and wander the creaky old bookshop, self described as: an independent bookstore in Montague, Massachusetts. The 1834 grist mill it occupies is listed as the Alvah Stone Mill on the National Register of Historic Places. The store's motto is "Books you don't need in a place you can't find," and it claims to have "40,000 books and one waterfall."
Arts & Culture
We're minutes away to Hampshire (12 mins by car)
A calm and delightful place to roam with little ones (12 mins by car).
49 locals recommend
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
125 W Bay RdA calm and delightful place to roam with little ones (12 mins by car).
Amherst College
We're minutes away to Amherst College (7 mins by car).
University of Massachusetts Amherst
We're minutes away to UMass (3 mins by car).
Visit the lovely botanical gardens and grounds (20-25 min by car).
31 locals recommend
Smith College Botanic Garden
16 College LnVisit the lovely botanical gardens and grounds (20-25 min by car).
Also a lovely place to spend a few quiet hours -- this small yet thoughtfully curated space is completely uncrowded, spacious, serene. An easy a 20-25 min drive.
61 locals recommend
Smith College Museum of Art
20 Elm StAlso a lovely place to spend a few quiet hours -- this small yet thoughtfully curated space is completely uncrowded, spacious, serene. An easy a 20-25 min drive.
Hampshire College
893 West StWe're only minutes away to Hampshire (10 mins by car)
Amherst Books
8 Main StWe love a good bookstore!
Unameable Books is a rare and wondrously curated bookshop -- unfussy, a little dusty, always well stocked. One of our favorite places to go in Brooklyn NY, now Unameable's got a second shop right here in Amherst MA! The collection there is stellar. For serious booklovers.
Unnameable Books
66 N Pleasant StUnameable Books is a rare and wondrously curated bookshop -- unfussy, a little dusty, always well stocked. One of our favorite places to go in Brooklyn NY, now Unameable's got a second shop right here in Amherst MA! The collection there is stellar. For serious booklovers.
One of the world's most innovative spaces for making and enjoying visual and performing arts (1 hr by car, an easy and pretty drive).
382 locals recommend
MASS MoCA
1040 Mass MoCA WayOne of the world's most innovative spaces for making and enjoying visual and performing arts (1 hr by car, an easy and pretty drive).
Step into another time and space, in the home and work of poet Emily Dickinson (3 mins by car).
49 locals recommend
Emily Dickinson Museum
280 Main StStep into another time and space, in the home and work of poet Emily Dickinson (3 mins by car).
Essentials
Trader Joe
The best organic grocery in the region. It's an easy 25 min drive. Best to go on Sunday mornings, when the drive is scenic and lovely and then takes less than 20 mins.
37 locals recommend
River Valley Co-op
330 N King StThe best organic grocery in the region. It's an easy 25 min drive. Best to go on Sunday mornings, when the drive is scenic and lovely and then takes less than 20 mins.
Whole Foods Market
327 Russell St12 mins away and very convenient.
A small grocery shop for local farm-fresh foods and other essentials in North Amherst. This North Amherst location is an easy 7 min drive away. NOW CHANGED TO A WINE AND CHEESE SHOP, NAMED PROVISIONS!
Atkins Farms - Your Local Market
113 Cowls RdA small grocery shop for local farm-fresh foods and other essentials in North Amherst. This North Amherst location is an easy 7 min drive away. NOW CHANGED TO A WINE AND CHEESE SHOP, NAMED PROVISIONS!
A perfect place for good organic groceries and other essentials at great prices. An easy 12 min drive.
20 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
375 Russell StA perfect place for good organic groceries and other essentials at great prices. An easy 12 min drive.
A very sweet spot for locally grown, delicious, and natural produce - ask about picking your own fresh incredible fruits and veggies - with extras like great wild caught smoked salmon, organic eggs, milk, cheese, and other small luxuries, fresh flowers, chocolates, etc. 6 mins.
Simple Gifts Farm
1089 N Pleasant StA very sweet spot for locally grown, delicious, and natural produce - ask about picking your own fresh incredible fruits and veggies - with extras like great wild caught smoked salmon, organic eggs, milk, cheese, and other small luxuries, fresh flowers, chocolates, etc. 6 mins.
A fantastic spot for fine foods, imported cheeses, wines, craft beers, beverages, and more. 7 mins.
Provisions, Mill District
65 Cowls RoadA fantastic spot for fine foods, imported cheeses, wines, craft beers, beverages, and more. 7 mins.
City/town information
This is one of our favorite towns in the Berkshires. An easy 45 min drive away to a sweet Main Street, with a small, quaint Main Street with great bookshops, restaurants, and boutiques, and a perfect little library for young toddlers and kids.
86 locals recommend
Lenox
This is one of our favorite towns in the Berkshires. An easy 45 min drive away to a sweet Main Street, with a small, quaint Main Street with great bookshops, restaurants, and boutiques, and a perfect little library for young toddlers and kids.