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The Archives

4.7 (39 reviews)
Open • 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

THE ARCHIVES · YELP ASSISTANT

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This is what they call a charcuterie board.  What a joke. Ritz crackers and a few pieces or cheese and mustard. Pickled vegetables $ 28.00.
Lawson O.

So it was our first and last time to ever go here. Some people may find it great. But we don't. What a joke. We have been to better speak easy locations that the drinks were awesome and the prices reasonable. This place not so much. Drinks start at $16 to $28 dollars. The charcuterie board is the simplest board I've ever seen with a bowl of Ritz crackers seriously that's ridiculous and it's $28 for some cheese some pickled vegetables some meat and Ritz crackers.

Field Study
Maya B.

You have to find The Archives inside a real estate office.... but that is all part of the fun surprise! The Archives is the best craft bar in the area, by far. This is a "must stop" if you are in Amherst! Their carefully curated cocktail menu is filled with so many creative drinks. The interior of the bar is whimsical, cozy, and charming. The seating is definitely better suited for smaller groups, especially at peak times. Parking is available on the street or in a lot nearby.

Touch of grey. Baysider
Caroline L.

Very fun hidden bar! Love all the decor inside. We got the touch of grey and baysider. We wanted something light and these are exactly what we expected. The touch of grey is very smooth. The baysider is citrusy and very refreshing. You order at the bar and they'll bring you the drinks. Service was quick and attentive.

Lucid Dream
Lauren G.

I got the Lucid Dream and it was excellent! The drink had a very "clear" taste with a hint of chamomile. It was very easy to sip and refreshing as well. The bartender was incredibly knowledgeable about alcohol which I appreciated. Cocktails range from around $16-20 with a few outliers but I can definitely say I got what I paid for!

menu
Clarissa H.

The Archives is a new swanky little speakeasy in Amherst! They have a fun list of fancy cocktails and a quirky space. There's one booth, bar seating, low table seating, and a cute other room with seating. I think if we had the booth or the cute little room it would've felt more private, but it was kind of hard sitting by the door people had to walk by. Also the bench is just kind of uncomfortable. The cocktails were so fun, and I love the big ice cubes. I had the touch of grey, which was a very light summery drink. I loved it! Risky business was really good, but the espresso martini was a bit too odd with the mezcal for me. The pink squirrel was a great dessert cocktail, can't even taste the alcohol! (Hint: look for the realty sign)

a lounge area
Charlie D.

Interesting selection of curated drinks. Will appeal to brown and clear drinkers as the absinthe drinker

chill?
Nora S.

Very delicious dedicated cocktails! modern ambience informative cool bar tenders- little nooks to hang out in

Alpine Martini, Birds of Paradise
Khaing W.

Cozy vibe and good drinks. perfect place to stop by after a dinner date for couples. The drinks are both pretty and delicious.

Three cocktails, Risky Business in center
Sue S.

Loved the vibe, although the table next to us was suuuuper loud. The seating wasn't very comfortable, but the cocktail menu was amazing. It was hard to choose, but everyone loved their choice. I got the Risky Business, which was a smoky twist on a Negroni.

Dip
Angela L.

Haha @ the person who reviewed this place 1 star and doesn't understand the concept of a speakeasy. This bar is as its address states, in the basement. We were a little lucky and had another group go in before us so that kinda gave a clue as to where the bar was. But once we got closer, the music was a giveaway. The entrance, which looks like a wall of filing cabinets (it's just wallpaper so it's obvious) holds the hidden door. We tried 4 cocktails, the milk punch being my fav. Also tried the crème brûlée (fall flavor) and the potato potato dip. Potato chips with potato salad dip....what a creation.

Sharon D.

Read about the speakeasy that opened in Amherst, and confirmed by Yelp and Atlas Obscura, so we had to go find it when we were out there. Located at the old Twisters (if you know you know). We went with another couple from the area who knew nothing about it. We get to the lobby and for a moment, couldn't figure out how to enter, but you look to the left by the file cabinets and it becomes clear. You become transported to a very dark, pretty and comfortable bar with booths, high tops and plenty of little living room nooks for seating. Order at the bar and enjoy your very creative craft cocktails. Very enjoyable experience and I'm

Shelly F.

Everything was wow factor! The one app I almost didn't order ended up being my addiction and newest favorite.... The celery! Service was great and the drinks were just amazing! Can't wait to go back soon! This will be a frequent spot now that we found it! Ambiance was great too just wish they had a tad more comfy seating. The bench style is cool but not comfortable for people with back issues.

A is for The Archives

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5 months ago

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7 months ago

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10 months ago

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4 years ago

Such a cool spot to find out in the middle of Amherst. Won't give away the entrance but head down ;) Amazing drinks and friendly bartender

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3 years ago

Expensive drinks for where they are and kinda pretentious scene. The staff were mostly nice. Metal stools really uncomfortable after awhile.

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Ask the Community - The Archives

Review Highlights - The Archives

“These folks are truly artisans and know their mixology like they got advanced degrees in it.”

Mentioned in 3 reviews

Read more highlights

Monkey Bar & Grill

Monkey Bar & Grill

3.0(36 reviews)
0.1 mi
•$$

Stumbled upon this restaurant after a long move-in day at UMass and following a very strong street…read morerecommendation from some random dude who looked like a local (probably the owner's brother!). It wasn't until I was seated with my wife and 13 yr old son that I read other reviews here and it was too late to abandon ship. Oh well. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Service was very pleasant and attentive, although our waiter forgot our appetizer platter and just brought dinners, and had trouble getting our drink orders straight. This aside, the food was very good and fresh. I had the iron steak with gorgonzola, wife had the seafood risotto, and son had the "tour of italy" chicken parm (owner is from Naples). Although I found my portion to be lacking in size (as with my starter salad), it was very tasty and well prepared. Wife and son loved theirs. My house salad with lemon vinegarette was extraordinary. I am already looking for a lemon vinegarette recipe. Happy enough to have made a reservation for a sweet window booth for the entire family when we return for Family Weekend in Oct. Net net....good chow, nice atmosphere although I HATE seeing TVs (over bar) when I dine, and a diverse menu for all palates. Wish I had some rawbar and time to have dessert. And I'm sure all would have improved if I didn't have to pass on more vino due to a impending drive home to eastern MA.

Decent place to hang, love when my room mates dj there and bring all the people, oh but the staff…read moreand bouncers are absolute losers, throw drinks at them. Lie about being on the guest list and are disgusting to women.

Photos
Monkey Bar & Grill - Monkey bar action

Monkey bar action

Monkey Bar & Grill - A different angle.

A different angle.

Monkey Bar & Grill - Mango tuna tartar, hint of wasabi on top, perfect.

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Mango tuna tartar, hint of wasabi on top, perfect.

Amherst Coffee - Craft cocktails

Amherst Coffee

3.6(196 reviews)
0.1 mi
•$$

I love this place. First time I visited, I walked into the old building, smelled the coffee and…read morebakery, looked around at the comfy casual setting with folks enjoying themselves, and thought "Ahh - now THIS is a coffeehouse!" I've been back several times, and if I lived in Amherst I'd be a regular. The bakery items I sampled were fresh and well made. IDK if they were made in house, or from a local artisan, but they matched the quality of AC's coffee. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, barista skilled without the attitude. Like I said - I wished I lived in Amherst, so I could take up residence at the corner table.

Amherst Coffee is a solid little spot right in the heart of downtown Amherst, tucked inside a…read morehistoric building that still shows off what looks like its original woodwork and old New England charm. There's plenty of seating, both inside and out, and the patio is the perfect place to soak up a beautiful day. The staff who took my order for an iced mocha latte couldn't have been friendlier, all smiles and welcoming. The person who brought it out, though, served it with just enough classic Northeast attitude to remind me I wasn't in Texas anymore, and somehow it fit the place perfectly. Sitting outside, watching students hustle by and friends linger over coffee, it was easy to see why this place is a local favorite. Amherst Coffee captures exactly what you hope to find in a quintessential New England college town: good coffee, good people, a little personality, and just enough Boston-style edge to keep it authentic.

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Amherst Coffee - Grab a drink while you wait for your coffee

Grab a drink while you wait for your coffee

Amherst Coffee - Ordering counter

Ordering counter

Amherst Coffee - Inside

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Inside

Amherst Oyster Bar

Amherst Oyster Bar

3.7(49 reviews)
0.1 mi

We headed back to the Amherst Oyster bar for a meal on Sunday night. Lately I've been leery of…read moregoing to restaurants as typically I'm the person that gets the 'bad' meal. It didn't happen this time and for this I'm eternally grateful! There were several people in our party so we started with the seafood tower. It was very good and included 1 dozen oysters (pick 2 on the oyster list), 6 shrimp cocktail, tuna tartare, crab salad, and a small cup of seaweed salad. Along with came several lemon wedges, cocktail sauce, minionette, and some crispy flatbread. I didn't try the shrimp but had some of the rest and it was all excellent. For my main I opted for the Casarecce Vongole which was similar to linguini and clams (with casarecce). I'd typically think of the ridge on casarecce as holding a heavier sauce (this was olive oil based) but what the heck right? This was served with manila clams which are a little small but they were very good. The sauce was loaded with sliced garlic, some parsley, and a little red pepper flake. The meal was very good. One of the members of our party had some dietary restrictions and the staff was very good about working with her to assemble a meal that she could eat. She really enjoyed her meal as well.

First timer coming here. Not sure why I waited so long! We had a reservation for four at 7:15P on a…read moreSaturday night. Surprisingly, we wouldn't have actually needed the reservation; the place was pretty quiet for a Saturday night. Though, the college students are all gone for summer so that might play a part in it. Nonetheless. The food was DELICIOUS. The drinks were FABULOUS. We each had a few drinks and everyone seemed to enjoy what they had. I ordered the Don't Text Your Ex and that was so yummy. I loved the dragonfruit dusting on top. Our server, Scotty, kept us fed and hydrated all night. We started with 16 oysters, tried 4 different kinds, of all sizes. I wish I remembered which we did but they were all very good. Next came the calamari with hot honey. That was eaten up pretty quickly as well! Highly recommend. Entree wise, I ordered the Seared Scallops for myself, and the other party goers had the Lobster Roll (which comes hot, not cold), the Seared Tuna, and the Casarecce Vongole. Everyone was part of the clean plate club that night. All the dishes were so good I know I keep repeating myself! The bill can get pretty pricey if you're not paying attention. We will definitely be going back!

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Amherst Oyster Bar - Nice food area the place just opened

Nice food area the place just opened

Amherst Oyster Bar
Amherst Oyster Bar

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30 Boltwood - The charred salmon they served me, along with ice cold tomatoes. Ick.

30 Boltwood

3.4(129 reviews)
0.1 mi
•$$$

First time here and already planning our next visit. Everything about this restaurant is 5 stars,…read moreambiance service food and drinks. Don't leave Amherst without a stop here. You won't regret it About the Salmon dish: Salmon cooked perfectly, veggie & grains & lemon vinaigrette. Chefs kiss. Another impt tip, ask the bartender for a wine pairing. You won't be disappointed

While in Amherst visiting my nephew at a nearby university, he asked to go out to a "nice" dinner…read more I looked at places in the area and decided to drive by the Inn on Boltwood. The exterior captures the New England charm you'd expect. Parking was easy, on-street, and signage easily led us from the entrance of the inn to the restaurant. We were seated in the bar area where you could hear the bartender making conversation with everyone who sat there, while simultaneously making drinks for servers to run to their tables. Both of us felt like having steak, so when our menus were presented, we went straight for it! My nephew had the steak frites, which also came with green beans, and I had the filet mignon, accompanied by mashed potatoes and green beans. The bread basket was generous and the fresh whipped butter divine. Both steaks were cooked as ordered and the quality exceeded the pricepoint for our meals. For dessert, my nephew ordered ice cream and I opted for the affogato. Generous portions for both. Overall, this is a place to try either when looking for an evening out, a special occasion, or just because you feel like to enjoying the comfort of a New England Inn with the culinary options of city chef. Definitely recommend!

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30 Boltwood
30 Boltwood - Duck breast, scallops, Chardonnay, Prosecco cocktail

Duck breast, scallops, Chardonnay, Prosecco cocktail

30 Boltwood - The Mammoth

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The Mammoth

The Archives - cocktailbars - Updated November 2026

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