The Works Bakery Cafe

I love this place. Of course, I picked a lovely day to sit outside while I waited for a friend…read more It's got a great vibe; it's a house turned coffeehouse, open and bright, with wooden floors and center bar/service area. Order inside, and it's delivered with a smile when ready. The outside patio is embraced by a low white picket fence adding charm and demarcation to the space. You can buy excellent pastries inside, or go next door to the bakery. Share is a great place to meet friends, hang out, do some work, or, as I did, relax and people watch. I'll be back.

This place is honestly the cutest. One of the baristas left candles at each of our table one time…read more The music is great. Everyone is kind and it's such a nice environment. I've only ever had the salmon bagel before but it was so good. I love their lattes, matcha, and I appreciate that they serve the macchiato with sparkling water because many places don't. It's also not very expensive, thankfully. This is my favorite place to go study.

Energy balls! It was helpful to see a full ingredient list. / Oct. 2022

A variety of seating, including cool bar-style seats to see the barista action / Oct. 2022

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Drink and food menus / Oct. 2022

30 Boltwood

3.4(130 reviews)

0.2 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!

Duck breast, scallops, Chardonnay, Prosecco cocktail

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The Mammoth

Cushman Market and Cafe

4.2(125 reviews)

2.6 mi

Delicious non vegan and Vegan options, super good pastries, great coffee lovely garden seating…read morearea, clean bathrooms, tidy dining room and pleasent service. Great spot. Thanks and we will be back!

Before the menu change, I ordered a vegan tofu reuben with their delicious slaw, called a "Cosmos."…read more It was so good, I ordered it again, thinking it was impossible for them to get it right two times in a row. They did. So I came back a THIRD time and ordered it AGAIN, just to see if they can still keep their vegan cheese melted just right on top. It was incredible, AGAIN. Now that I've gotten this out of the way, ask where it is on their new menu as it is under revision--I don't like the tempeh version as much. Onto the rest of the atmosphere of Cushman. One of the most pleasant features of Cushman Market and Cafe is that it is nestled at an important corner in northeast Amherst. You need to travel further west to get to The Mill District and not much opens there early, and there's little else I can recall in the other cardinal directions. It's a pleasant trip, with plenty of parking in front, behind, and in a strip of side road across the street. I've never been in the market, so let me keep talking about the Cafe. The atmosphere of the Cafe is wonderful, with locals, safety officers, and regulars all visiting at each meal hour from breakfast to lunch. Nestled inside what looks like an old barn, complete with doors still hanging, Cushman has memorabilia from decades of music, sports, politics, and news frozen under acrylic, different for many of their tables. The café seems to have at most 20 chairs, and the staff behind the counter will deliver it to your table, call your name, or leave other orders by a stand near the back entrance. Cushman Cafe offers a variety of meals, alongside baked goods and freshly mixed café drinks. While I'm not a fan of the switcherels, I have enjoyed their dirty Chai lattes, iced teas, fresh coffees, and free water if I recall in a pinch. They have gender neutral bathrooms--which is great if you're tired of waiting in line for one of two as they are large but single occupancy. They offer cold panini sandwiches, hot panini, all sorts of eggs, egg sandwiches, and egg breakfasts, vegan and vegetarian options, alongside a seemingly visible carnivorous focus for their new menu's default. If you had a chance to hop on a bus and travel around Amherst, or you were passing through to the highways, Cushman Cafe is worth a quick stop. I've rarely had to wait long for my meals even in busy hours, and this is because of the large and competent kitchen, who--if you'll remember--can get a delicious sandwich right any day of the week. I hope cell service returns there!

Hard looking Scone

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Esselon Cafe and Coffee Roasting

4.2(409 reviews)

4.6 mi

I frequented this place in its early days and it maintains its high standard of all things…read morewholesome. Today I had the Vegan Brekkie Tofu scramble, sautéed spinach, mushrooms, avocado, and grilled tomato served with toast and mixed greens in balsamic vinaigrette. I enjoyed it completely. It was my one meal of the day and it delivered on every note. For new patrons, Please be patient they are making these meals with love in behind the scenes.

Cute coffee shop! Ample amount of seating and more seating on a heated patio. They have a self…read moreservice station for water and condiments. I ordered the mushroom and ham omelet, it was so fluffy! Definitely a good portion. The sour dough bread was good, but a bit tough. I wanted to try the lamb sausage patty so I added it on the side. The golden latte was one of the most unique coffees I've ever had. It was a tumeric based coffee with other spices like cardamom and cinnamon, actually really good!

Inside

Grilled cheese and tomato bisque

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Iced Latte, Iced Chai, and Iced Matcha Latte

Pulse Cafe

4.5(250 reviews)

2.9 mi

Oh yes ! Wow! A vegan pizza restaurant! If I lived near by I'd be here all the time !! It's located…read moreliterally just off a trail ! My pizza was out of this world && my cupcake sooo healthy and tasty! I miss you. lol

Large restaurant; order at counter; they bring food to table…read more Roasted yams are fantastic; sweet and tasty. Black bean burger was fine; patty on the small side and dry; glad I added sauteed onions. I didnt want to use the aioli sauce; wouldnt be dry if you use the sauce. Bun was terribly dry; I took one bite and decided not to eat the rest of the bun (was it a GF bun?). I'm thankful to have found this vegan restaurant. If you order the black bean burger, get a lot of toppings.

Dining area

Blueberry pancakes, chicken and waffles

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Service area

Amherst Inn

4.4(31 reviews)

0.3 mi

It was love at first site! I can't say enough great things about the Amherst Inn. So charming and…read morethe first painted Lady I've have ever been in. It's family owned and you can tell because they take such pride & care of ownership; because everything is pristine and beautifully maintained. We stayed in the 'Austin' room with one (so comfortable) queen bed and our room looked out on to the main highway; which was surprisingly quiet considering it was graduation week. Went down stairs for breakfast every morning and found out they had gluten-free options- eggs, cereal, omelettes, bread... so impressed! Thank you!!! Location is fabulous! Walking distance to all the shops and to Amherst College. ;)

This Inn is Gorgeous!!! Rooms are a generous size. Inn keepers are Extremely friendly and helpful,…read moreexcellent breakfast menu. I would Highly Recommend staying here. All local attractions are walking distance from the Inn.

Napoleon's room features a queen bed with an electric fireplace and en-suite bathroom.

Cyrus has a queen bed with en-suite bathroom.

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The Lions Den has a double bed, en-suite bathroom and electric fireplace.

The Black Sheep

3.4(198 reviews)

Real good food. Real chill people. Also nice coffee. Simple as that…read more Was a great stop on my trip up to Portland.

When we lived in Amherst, this was a regular spot for us and each time we are back, this is one of…read moreour first stops. My husband has also been known to hop on his motorcycle, make the 3 hour drive out and back, just for their sandwiches. Quality is fantastic. Menu is varied and so delicious, and there is something here for every dietary need amd sensitivity. The staff is fantastic and service is quick. It does get busy, so consider ordering online. We do love eating there since the vibe is so chill. Seating inside gets you plenty of cool retro posters amd outside a great view of Amherst. We love The Black Sheep!!!!

Iced americano & chocolate croissant

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Retail Fridge

The Stables Restaurant

4.1(186 reviews)

2.4 mi

Tasty fluffy and cooked to perfection. Can't wait to go back. Service was a 10/10 and the…read morerestaurant is very homey.

Stopped in for breakfast on a Sunday and the food was pretty lack luster. The waitress who served…read moreus was very lovely and had great energy. But we found it interesting that the bill was given to us as were given our food. We get that it was busy but the hash browns were not cooked and the meal lacked salt and just felt like it was cooked in a hurry. We left pretty disappointed, expecting a lot more from this very local spot with a lot of years behind it.

Back counter area to the right

Breakfast combo scrambled eggs, home fries, English muffin, bacon, pancake

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Peek into the kitchen -I was sitting at the breakfast bar straight ahead was the kitchen

Johnny's Tavern

4.1(471 reviews)

Wow. I had never been to Johnny's and tried it tonight with three others. First of all, our server,…read more"Karen 2" (on the bill) was fabulous! I swear the woman could read our minds, anticipating our questions. Now to the food. We started with fried brussel sprouts. Huge portion. Flavorful, not overcooked, just the right amount of crispness...and those bacon pieces!? Yum. I had the chicken wings and a beet salad. I'm a Buffalo, NY native folks, and thus have had my share of great chicken wings. Johnny's wings were on par with anything I've had in the Queen City. My only suggestion to make it real Buffalo style is thick blue cheese dip. The other meals served were amazing - two pasta dishes and the fried chicken. All tasty. Everyone loved their dishes. The prices were very fair for the quality and quantity of food brought to the table. I'm surprised at the 4.1 Yelper average. The meal and service we had tonight was excellent.

I took my daughter to Johnny's for her birthday and was looking forward to trying the restaurant…read moreagain. It had been a while since I was last there. We ordered the calamari for an appetizer and it was very good as usual. Calamari (fried) is served atop an aioli that's heavy with garlic. For my main course I opted for the branzino with seafood risotto. I would not recommend this dish. The branzino came out slightly warmer than room temperature with a big dollop of room temp butter on it. I wonder if the intention was to put the plate under the salamander to warm / crisp things up prior to service but was forgotten. So I scraped the butter off the fish and onto the side plate it went. I was hoping for crispy skin but alas it was not to be found on this dish. Off came the skin and onto the side plate as well. The fish did have a good flavor to it. The seafood risotto was swimming in butter and was not edible. There were several mussels (in the shell) in the risotto, as well as small bay scallops, and several shrimp. The scallops and shrimp were incredibly overcooked and the mussels so gritty that they were inedible. This place used to be my favorite restaurant. I think that this is the last time that I'll dine at Johnny's in Amherst.

The bar was packed on a Tuesday night.

Fried Brussels Sprouts + bread

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Squid Ink Spaccatelli

Fresh Side

3.5(228 reviews)

Try the tea rolls! So good! My favorite bite during the warmer months!…read moreAnd that coconut based drink is my favorite summertime AF sip downtown. The ribs appetizer is better than you'd expect And the coconut soup will warm your soul on a cold day - paired with the hot ginger drink & it'll cure what ails ya

This place has become a new staple for me in Amherst. Walking in and sitting down, the atmosphere…read morefelt warm and homey in a way I can't fully describe. The servers were very attentive and ensured all allergies were accounted for with the orders. They have phenomenal GF and vegan options--all with manageable prices!! As a broke college student, I'm glad I can still enjoy some delicious food. LET ME TELL YOU. This was my first Pad Thai ever and it did not disappoint. Definitely take a night at Fresh Side with delicious food and a warm apple cider.

G F Pad Thai Noodle

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Pad thai with some pre-fab chicken slices

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Kett L.

10 years ago

Very clean, spacious, plenty of outside light and windows. I've only ever had the bagels and coffee and have never been disappointed. I have found the staff to be friendly. They always give my kids and I a cup of water with ice in it and never charge us extra for the water. There is a little area for children to sit at, kid sized tables and a chalkboard on the wall. There is some very comfortable seating, although a few wobbly tables, so we avoid those if we have hot drinks. Bathrooms are always clean and accessible for people in wheelchairs. They have a punchcard for coffee and bagel sandwiches, so after certain amount, you get one free. They have freshly squeezed orange juice, deli sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches, and serve your own coffee, with a variety of different kinds of coffee. I am very picky about my coffee, and I love theirs! They also have some gluten-free muffins. Lots of natural wood in there, very comfortable place to be in. Very inviting. Much prefer this place to the other bagel place in town. read more

Ms. P.

9 years ago

The Works is a good place. You should go there. The smoothies are great! One reason to go there is the food is cheap! The food there is good. There is a brownie. Another reason I like it is there is a kids' section. There is a drawing board. The cookies are big. You can split it or save some for later.(J.W.) One reason I like the works is the food. They have different options like brownies, chips, juice and cookies. Another reason I like the works is the kids' section. They have a chalk board the kids can write on. Make sure not to mix up the smoothies with the juice. They look the same. (E.A.S.) The Works is the best breakfast place. Don't you like bagels and smoothies? One reason is the space for the kids is great. There is a chalk board and a little table and chairs. Another reason I like The Works is the food. There are bagels, cookies, brownies and cinnamon buns. The brownies at the works are small so you might want to keep one for yourself. (S.L.) read more

Mary D.

9 years ago

Yum! Yum! Yum! When you come inside of The Works the smell of bagels comes through your nose. So go to The Works!One reason The Works is the best place is because it has wonderful bagels. If you order a bagel and you take a bite or two you will get really full. They were really hot. If you have any kids, you can show them the chalkboard. L.B. Yum..cinnamon rolls and smoothies! The Works is the best place for coffee and sweets! One reason why I like The Works is they have a lot of stuff to choose from. For example, they have cinnamon rolls, smoothies, and bagels. I had the cinnamon roll and it was so sticky and big! E.B. read more

Sara S.

7 years ago

The food is overpriced and mediocre . There are just a bunch of stickup girls working here and they're all angry at their boyfriends so watch out if you choose this place to have your business meeting lunch . Best to give your hard earned dollars to a better lunch spot like Zhangs Chinese Kitchen in south amherst . read more

Joe B.

7 years ago

For no reason, my friend and I got banned here. We are paying costumers. And we never cause any problems. The employees like us. I think, theirs a discrimination going on. What, this place can't have homeless people buy coffee here. read more

Blanca T.

4 years ago

La comida es muy deliciosa y estoy emocionado de volver allí! Me encanta el ambiente y los trabajadores son muy amables. No hablo mucho inglés, así que me ayudaron con un hablante de español, lo cual fue genial. read more

Pedro A.

4 years ago

The place is amazing and has amazing food, I love the atmosphere and the location and the staff is very professional and friendly.

Drey U.

12 years ago

Highest prices ever an it's not even that good of food. Instead go across the street and get 3x much food at Antonio's for 5$.

Parker H.

4 years ago

Good quality cafe, worth making the stop at some point if you're in the area. Smoothies were surprisingly good.

Todd M.

4 years ago

good service great food! the staff was polite and the food came out promptly and fresh.

Darrin C.

4 years ago

I love eating here! Great food and environment! The staff is friendly and attentive.

Jeidan W.

4 years ago

Great food and Great vibes! Online ordering and doordash options also awesome!! read more

Brittany M.

10 years ago

Always fresh and flavorful ingredients. My go-to for lunch & breakfast!

Emerson E.

4 years ago

great food :) the staff was so nice and helpful!!

Yara A.

4 years ago

Excellent Food and Quality Service

Ashley I.

4 years ago

Great vibes & customer service!

The Works Bakery Cafe - bagels - Updated October 2026

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