With an extensive selection of baked goods — milk bread slathered in tahini and torched house-made marshmallow fluff, griddled cornbread with pineapple jam and koji, miso apple cake — this cozy Turners Falls cafe is enlivening the Pioneer Valley with unique flavor combinations alongside classic brunch staples. Be sure not to miss the sodas incorporating shrubs in flavors like preserved lemon, tulsi, and thyme.

Founded in 2019 with a mission to serve handmade baked goods in a homey, comforting space, this Greenfield shop has become a favorite among locals, who start their mornings with fresh tarts, sourdough loaves, and other pastries. Sourcing local is a priority for owner and head baker Brian Meunier, who relies on Holyoke’s Ground Up Grain, Deerfield’s Clarkdale Fruit Farms, and other neighboring producers.

Despite the tagline “books you don’t need in a place you can’t find,” locals and visitors still find their way to this converted 1842 gristmill to take advantage of its numerous study spaces, reading nooks, and outdoor picnic areas. Overlooking the Sawmill River, the property also houses a used-record store and small cafe serving pressed panini, veggie salads, and cold noodles.

In a region teeming with American Chinese food, this Amherst spot stands out, and for good reason. Two decades after Lili Jia immigrated to the U.S. from Xi’an, she opened her restaurant in 2017 and has been imbuing the Pioneer Valley with the spicy, savory flavors of China’s Shaanxi province ever since. Customer favorites include the hand-pulled biang biang noodles sluiced in fragrant chile oil; plump dumplings filled with cabbage or leeks that bob up and down in savory, sour broth; and hearty rou jia mo stuffed with tender stewed pork.

Housed in the historic Amherst cinema, this coffee shop doubles as a bar in the evening, so you can start your day in the gorgeous space and work all the way through until happy hour. Freshly baked pastries and a wide selection of thoughtfully sourced teas show up first. As afternoon wears on, wine, beer, and cocktails emerge with trays of oysters and hot dogs with fun toppings. Plan to arrive early during exam season to score a spot, as UMass and Amherst students tend to fill the space, cramming over copious cups of coffee.

A bustling destination for brunch, especially on Parents Weekends at any of the five colleges, Esselon’s simple, fresh fare is as hearty and filling as it is healthy. The capacious outdoor patio and gardens seem to go on forever, with plenty of shaded tables where you can enjoy your meal or post up for a while with coffee and a book. Be sure to pick up a bag of the freshly roasted beans on the way out, and maybe a cookie or two to go with.

Opened in 1941, the Miss Florence Diner is one of the oldest operating lunch cars in the country and still retains many of its historic architectural details from nearly a century ago. In classic diner fashion, expect a seemingly infinite list of offerings ranging from oversize omelets, pancakes with toppings galore, cold salad sandwiches, and patty melts from the griddle.

Promoting seasonal ingredients and supporting local farmers, this postage stamp of a shop has become a fixture in the Pioneer Valley. In 2022, Florence Pie Bar received a nod from New England Magazine, which named it one of the five best pie shops in New England. Biscuit sandwiches, hand pies, breads, and galettes both savory and sweet sell out quickly, so be sure to stop in early or place large orders ahead of time.

A working dairy since the late ’90s, Flayvors of Cook Farm is perhaps best known for ice cream, made and sold right on the property. Order a few scoops or a pint to enjoy with friends at one of the outdoor picnic tables just feet from the farm’s cows grazing against the panoramic backdrop of the Hadley hills. Flayvors is one of the few purveyors of raw milk in the area; it’s worth grabbing a gallon on your next visit.

While you can certainly order a great cocktail at this Main Street bar, it’s the expansive rotating beer, wine, and cider list that has cemented the Dirty Truth’s presence as a NoHo staple. Many Smithies start their evenings out by enjoying mixed pickles, burgers, mustard-slathered soft pretzels, and other turned-up pub fare, before working their way back toward campus.

Situated next to the Calvin, one of Northampton’s many live music venues, Jake’s is the ideal spot, whether you’re recovering from last night’s debauchery or meeting a professor for brunch. The pancakes are as good as any diner flapjacks, and the Benedict is sure to please, but don’t hit Jake’s without trying the hash of the day in flavors like Moroccan beef, Italian sausage and peppers, and taco supreme, along with the traditional corned beef variety.

With locations in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, this family-owned burger joint slings grass-fed patties from Easthampton neighbor Chicoine Family Farm. Locals know to order their burgers “pink” or “no pink,” and they’ll recommend that you not miss the cornmeal-dredged fried pickles with ranch, Buffalo blue cheese fries, and savory-sweet Cap’n Crunch-battered chicken tenders.

This rustic downtown Northampton kitchen describes its cooking as “New England Italian.” The menu relies on the area’s bountiful produce and sustainably sourced meat, bringing those flavors to life through traditional Italian techniques. Most notably, the pastas — from the saffron bucatini a la vongole to the buckwheat campanelle with braised pork shoulder — are all house-made. Pair your primi and secondi with a glass of something from Homestead’s substantial Italian-leaning wine list.

The bakery is a point of pride at Woodstar, which is unquestionably evident after one taste of the breads or pastries. Beyond the bakery, there’s also a cafe space for studying or catching up with friends, which has become a fixture in Northampton for more than two decades. Warming soups, bagels, and sandwiches packed with cured meats, cheese, and fresh vegetables make for a filling lunch. Save room for the gluten-free, vegan Death by Chocolate cookie.

If Northampton had a Cheers bar, it would be Packard’s. Every square inch of the place displays pieces of local paraphernalia, including original signage from a few of the stores and restaurants the town has sadly lost over the past few decades. With a wide selection of beer on tap, tasty no-frills bar food, and dart boards and pool tables aplenty, this cozy pub is worthy of becoming your regular spot. It’ll be no time before everybody knows your name.

Founded outside of Boston 40 years ago, Herrell’s has made Northampton its home, dishing out generous scoops of ice cream to generations of Smithies and townies. Favorite flavors include dark chocolate-flecked, raspberry Purple Cow; Burnt Sugar & Butter; and Maple Cream. When your birthday rolls around, don’t forget to visit the scoop shop (with ID in hand) for free ice cream.

As a dairy and cattle farm, Barstow turns out a rightly famous beef chili, made with the farm’s own beef. Nestled just below Mount Holyoke and Skinner State Park, this is an ideal spot for an outdoor lunch, especially for picnickers planning an afternoon hike or students traveling to or from classes at Mount Holyoke.

Two childhood friends founded the Little Trúc food truck to serve then-hard-to-find regional Southeast Asian dishes such as bo luc lac, laab woonsen, and gado gado. The duo now produce a line of fresh curry pastes and chile oils, which are stocked in supermarkets and specialty stores across the country. Luckily, even with the national success, the truck remains in operation. Pick up something from the rotating menu to enjoy at one of the nearby breweries or parks.

What began as a pandemic hobby developed into an occasional “order-by-DM” outfit in a small Western Mass apartment, which in turn yielded Will Meyer’s full-time job. Along with business partner Mike Cook, Meyer slings sourdough-crust pies laden with cashew cheese and seasonal vegetables from an Airstream stationed outside of Abandoned Building Brewery. Make sure to save room for dessert, as the team is dishing up some exciting flavor combinations like carrot cake with Chinese five-spice powder and chocolate chip cookies with tahini.

Supporting local farmers, butchers, and dairies is a way of life in this part of the country, so it’s no surprise that Galaxy furnishes the names of its suppliers front and center on its website, and hosts will likely mention one or two throughout dinner service. Aside from what’s fresh, the menu doesn’t have a central focus, instead pulling inspiration from pan-Asian, Southern, and modern American flavors, all with a midcentury twist that matches the restaurant’s funky decor.

One could easily argue that Gigantic leads the pack on innovative and unexpected cocktail programs in this part of Massachusetts. The team of mixologists, including Punch contributor Al Culliton, place their collection of vintage spirits front and center, and they build a rotating menu of boozy, low-ABV, and NA beverages around seasonal ingredients and other calendrical themes. Head to the bar’s Instagram where the team announces themed tastings, queer nights, and karaoke.

As if a used-guitar shop housing a full-service bar and live music venue isn’t cool enough, try adding a food concept run by real-life lovebirds, chefs Christina Prairie and Peter Bunce. The duo dish out comforting bowls of dashi-laced fish, crunchy broccoli gomaae salads with sesame vinaigrette, stacked beef katsu sandwiches, and buckets of crispy fried chicken.