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City in Massachusetts, United States
Photo: AlexiusHoratius, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Northampton is a city in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts. It has a picturesque and vibrant downtown, consisting of numerous art galleries, restaurants and quirky shops sprinkled among coffee shops and performing arts venues. It is home to prestigious Smith College and the Clarke School for the Deaf. Northampton lies 15 miles (25 km) north of the City of Springfield, and 6 miles (10 km) west of Amherst, another bohemian college town.
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This historic district consists almost exclusively of buildings that line Elm Street or Round Hill Road. Quite a few historic houses and other buildings are in this district, which is about a mile long.
2nd floor, above Ultragal. Not-for-profit gallery, started by Hampshire College students, specializing in contemporary art and new media.
Includes the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum.
Has musical acts nightly, usually focusing on lesser-known artists. It is also has a restaurant with a full menu and full bar.
Features bigger name artists.
Features more youth-oriented acts.
Northwest of downtown Northampton. 591-acre conservation area owned by the City of Northampton and co-managed by the Northampton Conservation Commission and Broad Brook Coalition.
Classic 19th-century theater in the heart of Northampton, showcasing local acts in the performing arts, including music, dance and theater.
Local airport that hosts flying programs, including summer camps, pilot training, and air sight-seeing tours.
Moroccan place, very tasty and inexpensive.
Vegetarian restaurant, wholesome and delicious. Try the Harvest Burger!.
This is where the locals go when they want to impress someone.
Many vegetarian and vegan options, plus delicious smoothies: try 9-1-1.
Worth a special trip for the great ice cream. The servers will mix in ingredients called "smoosh-ins". Hot fudge sundaes and heavenly milkshakes available.
If you like Indian food, this is your place.
Authentic Mexican food.
Largest pizza in the world (or at least the Pioneer Valley or Noho).
A pizza place run by the same people who own Spoletos, so you can expect not just your standard pepperoni, but also carmalized onions with white sauce or calimari pizza.
A fairly expensive restaurant but worth the prices. You won't be disappointed.
Named after, and in the house of, Sylvester Graham, inventor of the Graham cracker. Very popular place, especially for breakfast. The house and surroundings are beautiful, but the food can be a little hit or miss.
Offers a mix of Chinese and Japanese cuisine, but serves surprisingly good sushi nonetheless.
Regularly voted the best sushi restaurant and the best Japanese restaurant in the Pioneer Valley, Osaka has great service, innovative sushi ideas, and, best of all, giant boats to eat your sushi off.
Has menus for several Northampton restaurants on their website, including many of those listed above. As their name implies, they deliver orders from these restaurants.
Unique "choose your own" style menu in which you pick a protein, a sauce, and two sides- large variety of options, and always a large list of special items- also offers appetizers, salads and panini. Great atmosphere, live Jazz on Sunday nights, delicious food. Call ahead if you want to get a seat!
Delicious Mediterranean food, a number of vegetarian options. Try the stews, salads or crepes. Dine inside (a bit crowded) or outside on the patio.
Interesting breakfast options, mainly scrambles and sandwiches (vegan options available). Great sandwiches for lunch. Small, but delicious menu, specials generally available. Not really a quiet spot, but good food served quickly.
Above Sierra Grille. Delicious Italian food, nice atmosphere.
Mexican restaurant owned by Spoletos serving traditional Mexican dishes, tapas, and the widest selection of Tequilas and Mescals in the region. Try the flavored Margaritas or Mojitos!
A restaurant that embodies its name! Local Burger offers a variety of specialized burgers, including turkey, veggie and portobello, in addition to beef. Serves only fresh meats from local farms.
Large menu offering a wide variety of Thai specialties.
Teas from all over the world and light fare. Also sells teaware.
The Pioneer Valley's first brewpub, serving food that is as good as the beer is.
Located in the historic Union station, serves up typical pub food to go along with the beer.
Lovely, quiet, unpretentious, fresh coffee (fresh every hour), yummy treats. Free New York Times on the tables each morning.
Bar featuring 40 quality beers on tap.
A popular place to get good coffee and great baked goods while enjoying free WiFi.
Great little cafe in Florence serving coffee, specialty drinks, shakes, smoothies, breakfast and lunch! Supports a number of local farms and other entities.
Just your typical Starbucks. Not a ton of seating, but enough, considering the number of coffee shops in Noho.
In the center of town: by far, the nicest place to stay. The staff is always friendly and accommodating. Built in 1927, the hotel building is historic.
An old department store that was converted into several unique boutique stores and restaurants.
The largest selection of natural fiber clothing and accessories in the country. Ask about the endless benefits of hemp and you'll be blown away.
One of the largest and most remarkable yarn stores in the country, noted for its size and its diversity of offerings for spinning, weaving, knitting, and crocheting.
Amherst's store has moved to a spot in downtown Noho. This location is bigger and more open, and as always, they have great prices for CDs and DVDs.
A division of the larger Provincetown store, home to all sorts of interesting merchandise for the "alternative lifestyle." They have interesting clothes, jewelry, incense, and other paraphernalia.
Local division of the chain of stores, located in the old bank on Main Street. Large selection of men's and women's apparel and home goods.
By bus
Peter Pan Bus Lines has frequent service from Boston and New York to Northampton. All buses run through Springfield first.
By train
By plane
Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut is 25 miles (40 km) from Northampton with easy access onto I-91 North.
Like many cities in the Pioneer Valley, Northampton is eminently walkable, but is also a very bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly city.g.g.) Lyft and Uber are popular in the area.
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Hartford · International · BDL
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