Downtown Amherst is easily accessible to the students of UMass Amherst — whether you decide to walk or take the bus, it doesn’t take long to get there. There are plenty of hidden gems within downtown Amherst from cafes to bookstores, there’s something for everyone. Here are my top five favorite places to go in Amherst that are definitely worth a visit!
- Coronation Cafe
-
Coronation Café offers a welcoming environment where you can find some delicious and healthy foods. They also have great coffee, smoothies, and tea! My favorite drink to get there is their iced matcha latte with a little bit of vanilla added to it! There are plenty of seating options, including outdoor seating, for those who want to sit down, but you can always take food to go. There are a variety of yummy breakfast and lunch options, if you like savory food this is the place to be. The only downside is that they are a little bit more expensive than some places, but the quality of the food is worth the price!
- Moge Tee Amherst
-
If you’re obsessed with bubble tea drinks like me, Moge Tee is the BEST place to go in Amherst. They have traditional bubble tea, which is always a good option, but they also have a variety of drinks that I haven’t found anywhere else. They have options like cheese foam, popping boba, fresh fruit, Yakult, and more! My favorite thing to get is the cheese foam mango slush tea with regular boba — if you like anything mango I would recommend this for you.
- Insomnia Cookies
-
Insomnia Cookies is the best place to go spontaneously when all you need is a sweet treat. It’s a short walk away from any bus stop in downtown Amherst, and I love taking my cookies to go and eating them on the bus ride back. They have plenty of basic options like chocolate chip for a delicious price! They also have deluxe cookies, the sea salt caramel being the best in my opinion, which cost a little bit more than the original cookies but it is worth it. They are open until 1 a.m. on the weekdays and until 3 a.m. on the weekends which means it’s the best place to go for a late-night snack.
Jocelyn Hsu / Spoon - Amethyst Gems
-
If you’re not a foodie and are looking for somewhere to go downtown, Amethyst Gems is a great place to visit! Amethyst Gems is a local jewelry and crystal store located on the same street as Insomnia Cookies and they have a cute selection of crystals, rings, and necklaces. I find crystals so pretty and love adding them to my dorm room. My favorite purchase from Amethyst Gems is a miniature rose quartz crystal tree!
- Amherst Books
-
I am a huge bookworm and I am always looking to add books to my collection. Of course, I can always order books on Amazon or Barnes & Noble, but I find it very important to support small businesses. Amherst Books has a good selection, especially of young adult and new adult books, which is perfect for a college town. My favorite genres are fantasy, dystopian, and romance, which Amherst Books always has a variety of options for. If you’re looking for a specific book, you can check to see if it’s in stock on their website, though I think it’s better to go in person because you never know what you’ll find!
These are only a few of the many places that you can visit in downtown Amherst! They are all worth checking out, but feel free to explore more of Amherst as there is so much it has to offer.
Can’t get enough of HC UMass Amherst? Be sure to follow us on Instagram, listen to us on Spotify, like us on Facebook, and read our latest Tweets!