In the midst of winter’s chill, nothing beats warming up in a cozy spot with a steaming mug of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Neighborhood coffee shops provide more than caffeinated delights, they offer a sense of community where people peruse bulletin boards, read the paper, trade gossip, eavesdrop, and perhaps write a bestselling novel. Here are 10 favorites.
Dottie’s Coffee Lounge,Pittsfield
Plush furniture, sage green walls, well-worn wooden floors, and peacock feather decor — plus excellent coffee — make this storefront shop on busy North Street a popular destination. Most everything here is locally produced, including milk from area farms for steamed hot chocolate with house-made chocolate sauce. Barrington Coffee roasts Dottie’s beans, and tea drinkers can choose from over 20 selections. Dottie’s makes breakfast sandwiches, soups, and has a build-your-own-bagel bar, though true coffee-and-sweets aficionados will gravitate to the pastry case for whoopee pies, peanut butter bars, cupcakes, muffins, scones, brownies, and other treats provided daily by Bake Me Pretty in Lenox. For entertainment, there’s a piano that anyone is welcome to play. 444 North St., 413- 443-1792, www.dottiescoffeelounge.com
