Cafes of the Pioneer Valley

Your List

1.Esselon Cafe
Coffee roaster, home of the best iced Chai I’ve ever had, and rich with a menu of delicious items for all meals of the day. Not to mention the beautiful summer garden concealed from the road by a set of poplar trees and dotted with adirondack chairs and picnic tables.

2. Haymarket Cafe
This cafe has an entrance so small and obscure, you may just walk right by it. The tiny sign hanging above the door displaying its name will be your only clue. The long and slim entrance leads back to an upstairs portion of the cafe where you can buy coffee, pastry, and homemade (and actually healthy!) smoothies. 
Pro tip: Try the Daucus: Carrot, Soy Milk, Banana, Frozen Yogurt, and Cinnamon. 
The downstairs of the cafe has recently been converted into more of a sit-down style. The candlelight and quirky set-up are perfect for a date — or a quick lunch. The tomato basil mozzarella sandwich on focaccia bread is a solid choice.

3. The Roost
Filled with plants and writerly-looking locals, this one is my personal favorite. The inside is refurbished with mismatched antique chairs, and a handwritten menu boasts beer, wine, and a selection of great entrees. House-made pastries are fresh everyday and include: carrot cake, gluten-free lemon cookies, cupcakes, and muffins. 
Pro Tip: Arrive early in the morning and get a warm blueberry muffin baked that morning.

4. Amherst Coffee
For a small cafe that doubles as a wine bar, this place is a chic and cozy venue, perfect for getting work done or taking your date after a movie at the nearby independent cinema.

5. The Black Sheep
The Black Sheep is part cafe, part deli, and part bakery. Opened primarily for breakfast and lunch, this venue has a huge selection of nontraditional sandwiches with punchy names. They also make a variety of salads and small dishes as well as baking their own baguettes in-house.

So if you find yourself in our humble valley, grab some food or a coffee at one of these spots. Part of the charm in traveling is, after all, living like a local.