Nick and I each moved to Boston for school thinking it’d be temporary, but the charm of this small, historic city (with no shortage of seafood…yum) grew on us tremendously over time. We often get questions on what to do and where to eat, so finally pooled our favorites into this mega post! I’ll be keeping this updated and will add any new or forgotten favorites. Let me know if you guys have any questions, and be sure to check out my map at the bottom to see where everything mentioned here is located! When traveling we like to visualize where all the places we want to hit up are located, then find somewhere to stay central to those.
Things to do
Walking
Boston is very much a walking city, so pack your flats! One of my favorite paths to walk is starting at Hynes or Copley subway station on the green line, going along Newbury Street (our biggest shopping street) all the way to the Boston Public Garden and Boston Common. There you can also have a picnic, take kids on the (very slow-moving) swan boats or merry-go-round, and eat soft serve from the Boston Frosty truck. There is a week of gorgeous tulips in mid-spring, foliage a-plenty come Fall, or you can ice skate on the “Frog Pond” in the winter. From the Boston Public Garden, you can walk to either the small boutiques in charming Beacon Hill, grab a bite in Chinatown, or follow the Freedom Trail through Quincy Market to Charlestown.
Shopping!
Clothing and shoes under $175 are exempt from sales tax in Massachusetts, so I see many visitors shopping their merry hearts out. For individual items priced over that amount, the first $175 is still tax-exempt. Newbury Street is an outdoor shopping area with a range of stores from my affordable favorites like H&M, Uniqlo, and Zara to splurge spots like Burberry, Chanel, and much more. Other popular stores include Rothy’s, Reformation, Abercrombie and Allbirds. I also like the Copley Place & Prudential Center malls, which are right nearby, which is really one large indoor mall with department stores like Neiman Marcus and Saks, a variety of high end designer boutiques, and shops like Sephora, Banana Republic, Club Monaco, Stuart Weitzman, etc.
Picking
Fruit
We have a delicious variety of pick-your-own farms in MA, however most are a 30 minute + drive outside of Boston. If you happen to have a rental car, be sure to check out what’s in-season for picking! Berries (strawberries, blueberries, cherries) start late spring through the summer, peaches ensue in late summer, and then apples, pears, and pumpkins are in full swing come fall. Here are a few of my posts at local farms: Tougas Farms (also here), Honey Pot Hill, Parlee Farms, Verrill Farm.
Flowers
For lovers of fresh blooms, Tip Top Tulips North of Boston and Wicked Tulips in RI can be picked April – May, Parlee Farms up north has gorgeous zinnias & dahlias in August – September, and Colby Farms has a field of sunflowers that peak briefly in September. Note though that Colby Farm’s flowers are for viewing, not for picking! Each of these farms are about an hour outside of the city, in different directions.
Boating
If the weather is nice, you can walk or run along the Charles River on the Esplanade path. You can rent kayaks or canoes from a small stand stationed near the Hatch Shell. From the river, you can see Boston on one side and Cambridge on the other. Pack some sandwiches and drinks to refuel while out on the water! There are also several awesome playgrounds for a variety of ages right along the Esplanade path that my kids really enjoy!
Other Popular Activities:
– Visit Harpoon brewery for a flight of beer, or more importantly, their freshly baked soft pretzels (the cinnamon sugar one with cream cheese icing dip … droool). I also love to drink Downeast Cider but haven’t yet been to their tasting room. It’s located in East Boston, near the airport, and is open Thurs – Sun. If beer is your main objective, though, Nick’s favorite in the city is Trillium Brewing (multiple locations, all w/ outdoor seating).
– Stop by the Copley Square farmers market open on Tuesdays and Fridays, from Spring to Fall. Or if you’re by the south end, visit the SoWa market which is open Sundays May – October, featuring food trucks, a vintage market, and tents run by small artisans.
– Pop into the historic Boston Public Library. Pinkies up for their tea set of savory sandwiches and sweet treats, and of course your own potful of tea. The BPL is one of my most favorite spots in the city, although I’m a little biased since we got married there!
Afternoon tea set w/ matcha green tea lattes at Boston Public Library
-For the little ones: as a free stop, you can pop into the children and toddler’s room at the Boston Public Library. Other family-friendly activities are visiting Boston Children’s Museum ($1 Sunday afternoon tickets, and Martin’s park playground is right around the corner), New England Aquarium, and the Museum of Science.
– Take a Duck Tour which is an amphibious vehicle that hits up most of the city’s major landmarks, then plops into the Charles river to show a bit of Boston via water.
– Catch a Red Sox game at Fenway Park, then chow down at one of the many nearby food options on Peterborough Street (Rod Thai Family Taste, El Pelon Mexican, Basho) afterwards.
– Explore the Boston Harbor islands via ferry or boat tour. Recommended for history buffs (hotspots include war forts and a historic lighthouse) or hikers, not those seeking beachy sand to sunbathe on.
– Check the Boston Calendar for a list of local happenings, events, classes, or other things to do.
– Visit the Museum of Fine Arts or the Isabella Stewart Gardner art museum (indoor courtyard pictured below).
Getting Around
A rental car is not necessary while in Boston unless you want to do a lot of day trips to the outer areas. In fact, finding and paying for parking is quite a burden, so I always suggest visitors take Uber, Lyft, a cab or try public transit on our MBTA train system.
Where to Eat and Drink
Breakfast & Brunch
– Jugos – Tiny, tiny to-go spot located centrally near Copley Square, so on a nice day you can enjoy your food on the benches there (they also have a slightly bigger location with more food options in the South End). Grab a fresh smoothie or juice, frozen acai or pitaya (dragonfruit) bowls, or their chicken salad avocado toast.
Acai bowl from Jugos
– Tatte – A cute, Instagram-able local bakery/café with multiple locations all around town, easily some of the most Instagram’d spots in the city.
– Dim Sum – we go to Hei La Moon for bigger groups, Winsor Cafe for takeout, or if it’s just the two of us or if it’s a weekday, we usually do Great Taste which is a small hole in the wall. Great Taste also has this traditional dish we love which is braised beef brisket & tendon over seared rice noodle rolls (pictured in the iron pot below) – it’s not on the menu so I try to show this photo! And if you’re in Chinatown, you’ll definitely want to stop at one of the many bakeries to pick up some buns to snack on later. 101 Bakery is our favorite for egg tarts and Portuguese tarts.
Dim Sum faves: shrimp & chive dumplings for me, sweet custard buns for Nick
– Cafes & Dessert – I’m more a tea person but Nick also loves his coffee! His favorite local coffee shops are George Howell in downtown crossing and the Thinking Cup on Newbury Street (right by all the shopping). For sweet treats, we like Coco Leaf for Viet-inspired desserts, and Fomu (multiple locations) has some of the best non-dairy ice cream around – I even like it better than most regular dairy ice cream!
Lunch & Dinner: Loosely ranked in order of a super casual to a nicer ambiance
– None of these places are right in the city, unfortunately, but if craving Vietnamese we usually order from the following: Pho Viets in the Allston or Newton area. Banh Mi Ba Le for Banh Mi sandwiches and rice plates, or Pho Le for noodle soups, fish sauce fried chicken wings, and more traditional Vietnamese dishes.
Pho Viets beef stew over egg noodles, grilled pork & cold cut banh mi sandwiches
– Chicken & Rice Guys – for a quick grab & go lunch. Modeled after NYC’s popular “Halal guys” (which is now also in the Boston area) but C&R Guys actually tastes like real meat and is way better than the Halal Guys Boston location, imo. A small combo (chicken & lamb gyro over rice) is usually plenty to fill me up – don’t forget to douse it in their yummy sauces!
– Taiwan Cafe – Decent soup dumplings in town, which doesn’t say much if you have a Din Tai Fung near you…but most of us don’t. What to get: juicy soup dumplings (transfer to your soup spoon carefully, nibble a hole off the top, and sip the soup out slowly to avoid a traumatic mouth-scalding experience), regular pan-seared dumplings, scrambled egg with beef & tomatoes rice plate (Chinese comfort food), Szechuan style white fish in spicy broth (“shui zhu yu”).
– Futago Udon – One of our family FAVES (Nori included) that we always bring visitors to. If you dine in, it’s a smaller but baby-friendly restaurant with a changing table. The fried chicken curry udon isn’t something I thought I’d like, but it is surprisingly delicious (ask for the chicken on the side to keep it crispy). In the summer Nick always gets the Mad Tiger (room temperature dish) and I like the hot version, their Dan Dan Noodles.
Lobby rolls, steamers, and fried shrimp from Tony’s Clam Shop
– For good ol’ New England seafood in a casual setting, there’s the fisherman shack James Hook where you can grab a roll to-go or Yankee Lobster Co (right by Harpoon Brewery), both of which are a bit toursity. If you’re in Quincy (neighboring town to Boston), Tony’s Clam Shop has lobster rolls, fried seafood & steamers right by a small strip of water and a size-able kids playground. If you haven’t had steamer clams before, they are so big & tasty when in-season…our out-of-town visitors can never get enough!
For a different take on the classic lobster roll, Eventide is in the Fenway Park area and serves a tasty but small lobster atop a pillowy “bao” bun with brown butter. Also, Luke’s Lobster is a chain that is conveniently located for visitors near Newbury Stret and I’ve always enjoyed the seafood rolls there!
– Shabu Zen (2 locations) – my weekly go-to for comfort food, especially in colder weather. If you haven’t had shabu or hot pot before, your ingredients come raw and you cook them quickly yourself in a boiling pot of broth, then eat with a dipping sauce that you mix up in your little sauce cup. What to get: combos (their #A5 beef, boneless shortrib, or the tontoro pork combo) that come with veggies, rice or udon noodles; plus a sake or a watermelon smoothie.
– Spring Shabu is a great spot for all you can eat veggies and carbs (and green tea soft serve ice cream!), and you order the proteins a la carte.
Hot pot feast
– Salty Pig – Restaurant with large patio near the Newbury Street / Copley area focusing on charcuterie, pizzas, and a nice craft beer selection … aka the express path to my husband’s heart. I do appreciate that they make a lot of their own charcuterie and pasta. Sundays are “red sauce Sundays” with cute checkered table cloths.
– Holly Crab – Boston isn’t known for its cajun-style seafood boils, (Houstonians, no need to get it here) but if you haven’t tried it before, this place hits the spot! Shellfish comes in plastic bags smothered in garlicky, spicy, buttery and citrusy goodness. Put on the bib and rubber gloves, and leave your white silk blouse at home. Their crawfish here are very small, so our go-tos are the shrimp, mussels, and king crab legs (a splurge but so good) in holly crab medium sauce with sides of corn and sausage in the bag. Shaking Crab is a Boston chain that is also popular, with one location by the Public Garden!
Spread at Holly Crab (don’t be deceived by my photo staging…the boil comes in a big plastic bag)
– Oyster happy hour spots (note: these happy hours are OFTEN subject to change, so please call ahead to ask) – You can’t come to New England without indulging in fresh oysters, but they can add up at the usual prices! Black Lamb in the South End has $2 oysters as of Summer 2023.
– The Daily Catch (multiple locations) – small, “cozy” Italian seafood pasta spots known for their lobster fra diavolo dish made for sharing. We also love the aglio olio, which is their house-made squid ink pasta (you can substitute this noodle in most of their other pasta dishes too, for a small charge) tossed with oodles of garlic and ground calamari. I keep highlighting the spots with fresh house-made pasta, as some of the most popular Italian spots here don’t make their pastas or even their sauces! We prefer the Brookline location for this restaurant, as the North End one has rushed and at times, rude service (neither take reservations).
Daily Catch Lobster Fra Diavolo for 2; various squid ink pasta dishes
–Douzo by the Copley and Back Bay train stations is our favorite for “elevated takeout” sushi aka date night at home. Dining in ambiance is nothing special, but our go-to takeout is the chef’s sushi dinner (12 piece nigiri for ~$45). We also like the chef’s nigiri dinner or special rolls from Basho (same ownership as Douzo)! Update 2022: our current favorite sushi spot is Sakana in Cambridge! All of their nigiri and specialty maki rolls (except the one with beef – wasn’t a fan) have been fresh and delish. My usual order: nigiri dinner, sakana roll, hokkaido roll & crimson roll.
–Momi Nonmi – It’s pretty pricey here but Chef Chris is super passionate about the food. If you are a vegetarian or have other dietary restrictions, they ask that you make a reservation and let them know a couple of days in advance as many of the components of the dishes are made from scratch in-house.
– Neptune Oyster in the North End (little Italy) is an iconic Boston spot for a big, hot, buttered lobster roll (market price on average is $35). Their food is usually yummy, but it’s a small restaurant and a wait could easily set you back a few hours unless you go at non-peak times. Now that I’ve had both Neptune Oyster and Saltie Girl on Newbury St several times, I have to say I prefer Saltie Girl which takes reservations!
Lobster roll, oysters, littlenecks and fried clams from Neptune Oyster
– Barcelona Wine Bar – love this tapas spot! 2 locations in Boston. Great, bustling place to go with friends or to just sit at the bar. This is actually a chain restaurant from CT, but they do a great job with ambiance and catering to local tastes (their bread from a local bakery is heavenly, always hot and fresh). Make reservations if you can!
– Toro – another tapas spot, by one of my favorite chefs in town. What to get: The cheesy Mexican-style corn, seafood paella (better than others in town; half size is plenty for sharing!), roasted cauliflower, bone marrow topped with braised oxtail. It’s so yummy, we’d eat here more if they took reservations.
– Drinks – Nick and I have opposite tastes in alcohol (he’s a beer, whiskey and scotch man, and I prefer anything but) but one thing we can agree on is we both like the drinks at Shojo. Nick also likes the menu-less bar Drink where you blab out what types of things you like in a beverage and the bartender makes you something, while you munch on their complimentary buttery popcorn.
I am actually going on my first SOLO trip to Boston on Saturday! Very confused on what to pack. Being from Miami, I am unsure if sweaters are needed. Any tips are GREATLY appreciated! BTW – OBSESSED with your style!
In Boston to visit my sister who moved here and hitting up your recommendations! The Salty Pig was really good and they had off-menu kids options 😊
Hello. Does it snow in November Thanksgiving week. Planning to visit this year. Thanks for all the suggestions. If any update or more food place recommendations that would be great. Thank you
Hi Louisa, it might! In Boston we’ve had snowy Thanksgivings and also unseasonably warm ones too. My recommendation is to pack warm layers!
hi jean, have been following you for years, and i also went to college in boston, at wellesley! i’m taking my daughter for college trips soon and we’re planning to visit BC — are you a happy alum? what did you most like about the school? and any food recs that are college-specific whether at BC, or near BU?
Hi, Jean!
Thank you for your content: fashion, motherhood, all of it! It’s incredible for one person to cover so many topics that are relevant to my life. I recently moved to the Boston area and my kids have the same food allergies as your daughter’s. Can you please recommend Boston area restaurants that are allergy friendly?
Thanks for the wonderful guide.. make foodie like me sooo happy! There is a Malaysian restaurant near China Town called ‘Penang’ is pretty good.
Hi, Jean!
You first inspired me by your clothing tips and recommendations, and now you also provide yummy meal ideas. I recently moved to the Boston area and my kids seem to have the same food allergies as your daughter’s. Can you please share your favorite restaurants that prepare dishes that your daughter can enjoy? I would so appreciate it!
Hello!
I just moved to Brookline and am very excited to be here. This guide is very helpful. What restaurants have you gone to with your daughter? I would love to know places that are allergy-friendly.
Hi Jean. I love your blog and I’ve been following you forever. Guess what?! We’re finally going to Boston! We’re going to spring break so my son can check out Harvard, Yale and other campuses. Any suggestions on where to stay?
How fun! Honestly I am not familiar with the hotels around here since i’ve never stayed in any of them! When friends visit they often get airbnbs. You can get one in Harvard square in Cambridge so your son can get a better feel for life there, or if you want to be on the Boston side I’d recommend staying by the Copley Square area for easy walking and public transit!
I’m here and excited to check out some of these places! Thanks for this guide…would be cool to see you around town!
this is a wonderful guide. i cannot wait to visit!
Great tips, thank you. Any ideas on what to do with our 15 year old son? Anything to pry him away from his phone??
Thanks for these great tips. Making reservations as we travel next week. Any ideas on things to do with my 15 year old . . . that may pry him away from his phone??
Hi Jean,
This may be a noob question, but I've always wondered how do you create the customised google map?
Thank you Jean for this post! My husband and I road tripped through all of New England and ended up in Boston for a few days. We have been doing that trip every several years since and this year we are going again. We only got lucky with the foliage once. Other times we went too early or too late. From your experience, when would you say foliage is at peak in Boston? Beginning of October, mid Oct? Thanks!
Thank you for this awesome tips. I will definetely bookmark this post to come back before my next trip to the US.
Such great tips!!
Blonde in Cashmere
I was in Boston last year at about this time and it's a beautiful laidback city. I had a blast.
Hi Jeanette – we just returned from Boston yesterday, our first visit to this amazing city. I'm ready to go back. We used airbnb.com for lodging. 7 nights of lodging cost $968. We also took advantage of the GoBoston Card that allowed us entry to many attractions. Check out http://www.smartdestinations.com then select Boston for details. NOTE: If you are a Costco member, you can purchase these cards through Costco online at a reduced cost. I purchased the 3-day pass for $86.99 rather than the regular cost of $109. We used public transportation during our visit. The transit system, MBTA.com is wonderful and very easy to use. Their website has a "Trip Planner" that I used a lot. We purchased a "7-Day Charlie Ticket" which allowed for easy access on the subway, trolley and buses. This is the way to go. The only time the transit system did not work for us is when we had to get to the airport by 4am. So we used Uber for the very first time. I would definitely use Uber again. Very convenient. I hope some of these tips will help you in your planning. We also have to travel on a budget so I did a lot of searching prior to getting to Boston.
Jean – I have followed your site for several years now. I truly admire you and your style. Thanks to you, I have changed, or shall I say, improved my style. Your post on visiting Boston published while I was visiting, but from your previous posts, I was able to experience many sites based on your recommendations/photos. The BPL is amazing. I enjoyed the Public Gardens and Swan Boats. And the pastries at Tatte are wonderful, to name a few. I only wish I could have run into your while enjoying this beautiful city. I hope to return someday.
Thank you for your posts. I always look forward to them.
I will be visiting Boston this in August this year. Your post is pretty helpful and makes me look forward to being there.
x https://footlooseheels.wordpress.com/
We visit Boston every year, but there's always something new to check out. Thanks for the helpful guide – will be sure to check out some of these places during the next drive up!
Hi Jean, Do you know the name of the nail color you are wearing in the picture with the oysters?
I didn't realize you could do that! An oyster tour sounds like a slice of heaven to me. I'd love to hear your experience of the tour.
Thanks for this post! I'm moving back to Boston soon for b school (was there for undergrad 8 years ago) and I realized I have no idea where to eat anymore. Glad to see Shabu Zen is still a hit! Hope to bump into you one day. -minnie
Thanks for the detailed guide. Saving for later bc Boston has been on my list for such a long time now….
I've lived in Boston my entire life and definitely agree on a lot of the places you listed! Some of my other favorites:
Piattini Cafe – it's a hidden gem on Newbury St! Their lunch menu is super affordable and all of the sauces taste homemade.
Oath Craft Pizza – 1 location in South Station and another in Chestnut Hill
Q Restaurant – sorry Jean but I have to say that Q > Shabu Zen!
Bottega Fiorentina – cute little Italian eatery in Coolidge Corner, an equally cute neighborhood with a great independent bookstore and theater
Pad Thai Cafe – a hole in the wall for cheap Thai food near Hynes
Pho Basil – another great Vietnamese/Thai place, this one is on Mass Ave across from the Christian Science Church
Santouka Ramen – they have 2 locations now! 1 in Harvard Sq and 1 in Back Bay. worth a visit if you're craving ramen (and not from California 😉
Sugidama – another hidden gem, they serve soba in Davis Sq!
Tea Do – best bubble tea in Boston IMO
I can go on but will leave it at that 🙂
My husband and I moved to the Cape a few years ago and the number one biggest thing I miss is a good bowl of pho! Can't wait to get to Boston and try your recommendations. Thanks!
Myers and Chang is beyond my favorite. Then Sorelina, Toscano and L'Espalier.
My fav lunch spots: Luke's Lobster, Flour, Tatte, Sweet Green, Render Coffee and Shake Shack every now and then.
I'm looking forward to trying more dinner spots in Cambridge. I'm in real estate in Boston so I find myself over there often during the day but then don't make it back over the river at night very much. Hopfully in the Fall when the market cools down a tad…
There is no better guide than the one coming from a local! Thanks for sharing these wonderful spots. Your post brought so many great memories! My husband and I visited Boston exactly this time last year. I fell in love with the city from day one and cannot wait to go back. It was so nice to walk around every nook and cranny of the city and stroll among quaint neighborhoods. Boston definitely has a lot of character, and very relaxed vibe, especially in summer. We covered a lot of ground, but there is still so much I didn't manage to see though and Harpoon brewery and Isabella Gardner Stewart art museum will definitely be on my priority list next time I visit. My husband and I also indulged in the local gastronomy. Loved Thinking Cup for coffee and cannot recommend The Pavement Coffeehouse in Newbury strongly enough! Their Spanish latte and bagel sandwiches were fantastic! Neptune Oyster was great (scallops as well as well as their lobster roll!), and I am still dreaming about that cheesy Mexican-style corn from Tapas. Some other spots I would encourage to try is Pho Pasteur in Chinatown for a scrumptious pho and Craigie on Main for a nice tasting menu. Also, Sacco’s Bowl-Haven by Davis Square in Cambridge is an old-school bowling alley with cool vibe with a retro restaurant with wood-fired flatbreads and beer. We had a blast there with friends one day. Hope to be back soon, will surely use your tips! 🙂 xoxo, nano | http://www.travelwithnanob.com
There is no better guide than the one coming from a local! Thanks for sharing these wonderful spots. Your post brought so many great memories! My husband and I visited Boston exactly this time last year. I fell in love with the city from day one and cannot wait to go back. It was so nice to walk around every nook and cranny of the city and stroll among quaint neighborhoods. Boston definitely has a lot of character, and very relaxed vibe, especially in summer. We covered a lot of ground, but there is still so much I didn't manage to see though and Harpoon brewery and Isabella Gardner Stewart art museum will definitely be on my priority list next time I visit. My husband and I also indulged in the local gastronomy. Loved Thinking Cup for coffee and cannot recommend The Pavement Coffeehouse in Newbury strongly enough! Their Spanish latte and bagel sandwiches were fantastic! Neptune Oyster was great (scallops as well as well as their lobster roll!), and I am still dreaming about that cheesy Mexican-style corn from Tapas. Some other spots I would encourage to try is Pho Pasteur in Chinatown for a scrumptious pho and Craigie on Main for a nice tasting menu. Also, Sacco’s Bowl-Haven by Davis Square in Cambridge is an old-school bowling alley with cool vibe with a retro restaurant with wood-fired flatbreads and beer. We had a blast there with friends one day. Hope to be back soon, will surely use your tips! 🙂 xoxo, nano | http://www.travelwithnanob.com
Are you really under 5 ft tall? You look so tall, like 5ft6..
I never knew what to do in Boston when I visited a couple years ago….thanks for sharing this!
Characters & Carry-ons
One of my favorite restaurants and very favorite coffee roaster is in Boston! You guys should try Craigie On Main in Cambridge, and George Howell (I think there's also a location in Boston Public Market now) for coffee. Don't add anything to your pour-over or chemex and let the beans shine. I'm also a huge fan of Giacomos in Little Italy, even though the line is always long.
Try Priceline, using the "name your price" option. Boston has a ton of hotels, and the city is compact enough that it's hard to go wrong. September (but not Labor Day) is a nice time to visit.