The Best of Western Mass: UMass Amherst Edition

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UMass Amherst offers so much to its students that keeping track of all the great opportunities can be challenging. This article is a handy reference for the best of what UMass has to offer. Whether you’re looking for the perfect study spot or a new on-campus café, you'll find useful insights here.

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South College offers a great space for studying.

Best Study Spot: South College

South College takes the cake as one of UMass’s best study spots because of its convenient location next to the Honors College and its abundance of quiet study spaces. On the first floor, you will find a large, dedicated workspace that is often quite full but somehow still very quiet. On the third and fourth floors, there are tables and chairs, some of which overlook the hills of the Pioneer Valley. If you live in the Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community, this is a great place to do homework on those chilly days when you don’t want to walk too far. 

Best Coffee: Post and Bean Café

The John W. Olver Design Building is home to the best coffee at UMass Amherst, available at the Post and Bean Café. Here you can order coffee and espresso beverages, as well as sandwiches and pastries. If you are near Franklin Dining Commons or Isenberg, this is a great alternative. Inside the café, there are plenty of tables where you can enjoy your food or drink while surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows. 

Best Grab & Go: Franklin Dining Hall

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In my opinion, this is the best Grab & Go on campus, because it is located close to many academic buildings and is generally less crowded compared to Worcester Grab & Go. For just one meal swipe, students can get one entree and four sides. The sides are usually fruit cups, beverages, vegetables, desserts, and hot options. My personal favorite entree from this Grab & Go is the famous Frank-Fil-A sandwich, a spin on the class Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwich. 

Best Spot to Relax: Campus Pond

There are plenty of quiet oases on campus where you can relax if you need to take a break from the hustle and bustle of your day, but my personal favorite is the campus pond. Here you will find plenty of benches to sit at where you can watch the wildlife explore the pond. The fountains also make for a relaxing ambiance. On a hot day, it is a great place to find some shade under one of the trees and enjoy the day. 

The Campus Pond is a beautiful spot to relax on campus.

Be sure to check out these spots if you haven’t already, and if you have any other favorites be sure to let us know!