Overnight Stay: Northampton, Massachusetts
The Western Massachusetts college town has a vibrant dining scene with great coffee, pie, vegetarian fare, and more.
Welcome to the weekend! Here’s what you’ll find in this week’s newsletter:
Overnight Stay: Northampton, Massachusetts, home to Smith College and an array of great restaurants and shops, is a delicious place to spend a day.
The Order: Need a late night snack? In Madison, Wisconsin it’s all about the steak and salmon sandwiches at a downtown supper club.
Weekend Getaway: To get all our Madison recommendations, download our Field Guide to Madison, a 38-page dining guide organized into a curated three-day itinerary with 25+ recommendations for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks. It’s free this month for paid subscribers!
Weekend Reading: Chef Lee Wolen talks about his Cleveland roots, a quiet Indiana retreat, and a quick getaway to Hawaii.
Explore the Heart of Western Massachusetts
NORTHAMPTON, MASS. — Growing up in nearby Holyoke, Northampton was always the cool town. It’s home to Smith College, and I’d go there to shop and eat Chinese food in elementary school, Thai food in high school, and sushi in college. (I went to Mount Holyoke nearby, so I spent a lot of time in Northampton during my college years, too — mostly at Osaka).
Cool places have started opening in other nearby towns, too. We’ll be checking in soon on Easthampton, home to one of my favorite cocktail bars, Gigantic. But Northampton still retains that classic college town charm, with a walkable downtown, low-key coffee shops, and an array of great little restaurants. I get back to Northampton a few times a year, and always want to check out what’s new and revisit some old favorites. Here are our current picks for where to eat and drink.