Hi friends! I hope everyone had a restful Thanksgiving break, and for those who celebrate the holiday, I hope you ate lots of yummy food. Speaking of great food, one of my favorite things about the town of Amherst and the greater Western Massachusetts area is that there are so many incredible restaurants. Seriously, when I toured the college for the first time, I was flabbergasted by the sheer number of food options in town. For the past year and a half, I’ve been lucky enough to have a schedule that allows me to not have class on Fridays (if it’s at all possible for you, I highly highly recommend it). So, last spring, my friend Dakota and I decided to use our free Fridays to meet up for a weekly brunch and study session, and consequently, we have tried a ton of different spots. Now, since we are somewhat of self-proclaimed brunch experts, I wanted to make a blog series highlighting and reviewing the nearby cafes and breakfast spots we have visited. Enjoy!
Coronation Cafe
Generally speaking, I’ll be reviewing these brunch spots in no particular order. However, since Coronation Cafe holds a special place in my heart, I felt like I had to put it first. The cafe is run by a local Mennonite community and is located on the far side of the town of Amherst, so it’s not quite as close to central campus. However, if you’re willing to walk the extra five minutes, you’ll experience a delicious breakfast spot. The first time I discovered Coronation Cafe was actually during my own “Be a Mammoth” day in 2023, when accepted students have the opportunity to participate in events and open classes on campus. While I wouldn’t say that cafe was the main reason I ended up choosing Amherst College, the coffee I had was delicious. When Dakota and I rediscovered Coronation almost a year later, we quickly fell in love with the cozy little brunch spot. They make many of their coffee syrups in-house, their menu selection is great, and their homemade soft pretzels are absolutely out of this world. The people working are always incredibly friendly, and the frequent student discounts and special deals are of course very appreciated. While you really can’t go wrong in Coronation, my personal menu recommendations are the “honey almond biscotti” latte, the cinnamon rolls, the apple cheddar turkey panini, the veggie pesto omelet, and the parmesan soft pretzel. And, if I had to choose a favorite spot in the cafe, it would have to be the little round table in the back left corner next to plants and a big window. So, while I don’t say this often, I think I have to give this breakfast spot a resounding 10/10.
Amherst Coffee + Bar
If you ask an Amherst College student for a coffee shop recommendation, “AmCo” is most likely the first answer you’ll get. The cafe is certainly a favorite spot for both students and town residents alike, and their drinks do not disappoint. Their iced latte with local maple syrup is truly a wonderful, wonderful thing, and i’d argue that aside from maybe the farmer’s market bakery stands, Amherst Coffee has the best almond croissants in town (and I have tried MANY almond croissants). The interior of AmCo is also pretty gorgeous, and is perfect if you want to grab a drink and look mysterious while doing your homework in a corner of the cafe. And, as if the space wasn’t already cool enough, the coffee shop transforms into a bar Tuesday – Saturday, starting at 4pm. So, if you’re looking for a well made drink and some great ambiance, this is the place to go. However, since their food menu is limited to a couple of pastries (and some massive chocolate chip cookies), I can only give Amherst Coffee a 8.5/10 for the purpose of our weekly brunches.
I hope you all enjoyed this first installment of the Amherst Brunch Series! If you have any questions about Amherst College (or brunch of course!), feel free to email me at eknauer27@amherst.edu. Bye for now!