Guidebook for Boston

Marla
Guidebook for Boston

Food Scene

Delicious food - feels like you're on a tropical vacation
7 locals recommend
Merengue Restaurant
156 Blue Hill Avenue
7 locals recommend
Delicious food - feels like you're on a tropical vacation
Awesome bakery and community center
39 locals recommend
Haley House Bakery Café
12 Dade Street
39 locals recommend
Awesome bakery and community center
yummy
Tasty Burger
yummy
Right by the house. It takes some time to get your food - but it's very tasty.
6 locals recommend
Suya Joint Restaurant
185 Dudley St
6 locals recommend
Right by the house. It takes some time to get your food - but it's very tasty.
29 locals recommend
Dudley Cafe
15 Warren St
29 locals recommend
Great diner
11 locals recommend
Victoria's Diner
1024 Massachusetts Ave
11 locals recommend
Great diner
Cash only. Open 5pm-1am. Great kitschy, retro romp! A good deal for fantastic food and drinks. It's a small place, go early or be ready to wait a little. A TV plays retro cartoons or shows, the walls are filled with strange art other beautiful oddities.
41 locals recommend
Delux Cafe
100 Chandler Street
41 locals recommend
Cash only. Open 5pm-1am. Great kitschy, retro romp! A good deal for fantastic food and drinks. It's a small place, go early or be ready to wait a little. A TV plays retro cartoons or shows, the walls are filled with strange art other beautiful oddities.
Best bakery around
180 locals recommend
Flour Bakery
1595 Washington St
180 locals recommend
Best bakery around
Delicious tappas
168 locals recommend
Toro Boston
1704 Washington St
168 locals recommend
Delicious tappas
In the heart of JP, great deal for lunch buffet. Beautiful interior space.
45 locals recommend
Bukhara Indian Bistro
3698 Washington St
45 locals recommend
In the heart of JP, great deal for lunch buffet. Beautiful interior space.
Built on craft beers from around the world. Offering 40 rotating drafts and 60 bottles. The kitchen serves locally sourced modern American comfort food with many vegetarian options.
38 locals recommend
Five Horses Tavern - South End
535 Columbus Ave
38 locals recommend
Built on craft beers from around the world. Offering 40 rotating drafts and 60 bottles. The kitchen serves locally sourced modern American comfort food with many vegetarian options.
(Cambridge) Right by the Kendall Movie Theater, stop in after you catch a flick. Milkshakes to swoon over and upscale diner food with retro decor. Fun fun fun . . . In a city with limited late night dining, Toast's 3am closing time makes it a dream. Bar closes at midnight, but the all-day breakfast, sandwiches, burgers and other friendly treats are served up till close.
41 locals recommend
The Friendly Toast
1 Kendall Square
41 locals recommend
(Cambridge) Right by the Kendall Movie Theater, stop in after you catch a flick. Milkshakes to swoon over and upscale diner food with retro decor. Fun fun fun . . . In a city with limited late night dining, Toast's 3am closing time makes it a dream. Bar closes at midnight, but the all-day breakfast, sandwiches, burgers and other friendly treats are served up till close.
Great food, excellent brunch. Live music on several nights of the week. Nice interior - gets very busy. Full bar with good cocktails. Right in the middle of the Boston Center for Arts in the South End.
229 locals recommend
Beehive Restaurant
541 Tremont St
229 locals recommend
Great food, excellent brunch. Live music on several nights of the week. Nice interior - gets very busy. Full bar with good cocktails. Right in the middle of the Boston Center for Arts in the South End.
This place gives you the most for your money. Pissa, subs, traditional.
Dudley Square Grille
150 Dudley St
This place gives you the most for your money. Pissa, subs, traditional.
Small (60-seat) place is in the heart of Boston's South End. Pajama Brunch (Saturday/Sunday), Taco Tuesday, and monthly themed events, have made it a much-loved spot in Boston's culinary landscape.
23 locals recommend
Tremont 647
647 Tremont Street
23 locals recommend
Small (60-seat) place is in the heart of Boston's South End. Pajama Brunch (Saturday/Sunday), Taco Tuesday, and monthly themed events, have made it a much-loved spot in Boston's culinary landscape.
A Boston fixture and classic Irish bar.
9 locals recommend
J.J. Foley's Cafe
117 E Berkeley St
9 locals recommend
A Boston fixture and classic Irish bar.
I suggest reservations: http://www.224bostonstreet.com/index.html A special place with amazing food.
7 locals recommend
224 Boston St
224 Boston Street
7 locals recommend
I suggest reservations: http://www.224bostonstreet.com/index.html A special place with amazing food.
One of our top pics because the food is amazing, and the prices are too. It's a little off the path - but worth it. Also, you need to ask for your bill- or the staff will think you just want to hangout.
33 locals recommend
Pho Hoa Restaurant
1370 Dorchester Ave
33 locals recommend
One of our top pics because the food is amazing, and the prices are too. It's a little off the path - but worth it. Also, you need to ask for your bill- or the staff will think you just want to hangout.
Great specialty pizza in a nice sit-down restaurant AND a New England favorite - candlepin bowling! This place is near a bunch of other shops so you can walk around the area and take it in. Then stop in for $25 per-lane per-hour, and $2 for bowling shoe rentals.
74 locals recommend
Flatbread Company
45 Day St
74 locals recommend
Great specialty pizza in a nice sit-down restaurant AND a New England favorite - candlepin bowling! This place is near a bunch of other shops so you can walk around the area and take it in. Then stop in for $25 per-lane per-hour, and $2 for bowling shoe rentals.
A select menu of fancy foods. Small place with low moody light - This is near the Coolidge Movie Theater and lots of other shops in Brookline.
25 locals recommend
The Regal Beagle
308 Harvard Street
25 locals recommend
A select menu of fancy foods. Small place with low moody light - This is near the Coolidge Movie Theater and lots of other shops in Brookline.
Specialty coffees and teas, house made biscuit breakfast sandwiches, gourmet sandwiches and salads, seasonal soups and pastries made from scratch. Dinner service daily and brunch on weekends. Also, a prepared foods takeout market next door and a second location on nearby Clarendon Street that offers fresh, healthy take-away foods
94 locals recommend
South End Buttery
314 Shawmut Ave
94 locals recommend
Specialty coffees and teas, house made biscuit breakfast sandwiches, gourmet sandwiches and salads, seasonal soups and pastries made from scratch. Dinner service daily and brunch on weekends. Also, a prepared foods takeout market next door and a second location on nearby Clarendon Street that offers fresh, healthy take-away foods
Tapas both simple and elegant using the finest seasonal picks from local markets and unusual specialties from Spain and the Mediterranean.
169 locals recommend
Barcelona Wine Bar
1700 Beacon St
169 locals recommend
Tapas both simple and elegant using the finest seasonal picks from local markets and unusual specialties from Spain and the Mediterranean.
If you find yourself in Cambridge, check out this from-scratch vegetarian diner where everything can be made vegan if it isn't originally, and most things can be made gluten-free. Everything is delicious. On the strip with all the other shops.
36 locals recommend
Veggie Galaxy
450 Massachusetts Ave
36 locals recommend
If you find yourself in Cambridge, check out this from-scratch vegetarian diner where everything can be made vegan if it isn't originally, and most things can be made gluten-free. Everything is delicious. On the strip with all the other shops.
Right across from the Huntington Theater and The Boston Center for the Arts complex.
72 locals recommend
B&G Oysters
550 Tremont St
72 locals recommend
Right across from the Huntington Theater and The Boston Center for the Arts complex.
Venezuelan restaurant that is a cozy find. The tiny, tin-ceilinged room is packed with people listening to Nuevo Latino music and drinking plenty of wine — malbec from Argentina, carmenères from Chile — as they wait for tables. And there isn't a lobster roll in sight. Try the arepas (grilled corn muffins stuffed with shredded meats and cheeses), or the empanadas (dough filled with beef, plantains and cheese). The line is outside the door every night around 6, but you can skip the wait if you eat later; Orinoco serves until 11 p.m. on Fridays.
38 locals recommend
Orinoco: A Latin Kitchen
477 Shawmut Ave
38 locals recommend
Venezuelan restaurant that is a cozy find. The tiny, tin-ceilinged room is packed with people listening to Nuevo Latino music and drinking plenty of wine — malbec from Argentina, carmenères from Chile — as they wait for tables. And there isn't a lobster roll in sight. Try the arepas (grilled corn muffins stuffed with shredded meats and cheeses), or the empanadas (dough filled with beef, plantains and cheese). The line is outside the door every night around 6, but you can skip the wait if you eat later; Orinoco serves until 11 p.m. on Fridays.
This diner serves breakfast until 2:30 in the afternoon. Twirl on stools at the Formica counter and eat fried eggs and bacon, fat English muffins and heaping stacks of blueberry pancakes — with Boston cream pie for dessert.
25 locals recommend
Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe
429 Columbus Ave
25 locals recommend
This diner serves breakfast until 2:30 in the afternoon. Twirl on stools at the Formica counter and eat fried eggs and bacon, fat English muffins and heaping stacks of blueberry pancakes — with Boston cream pie for dessert.
In Mission Hill (near the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum). Good BBQ at a decent price.
9 locals recommend
SoulFire
182 Harvard Ave
9 locals recommend
In Mission Hill (near the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum). Good BBQ at a decent price.
Ice Creams made with coconut or almond milk packs a fresh flavor punch. Not your typical stuff - feel free to sample until you find your winner. Near Jamaica Pond and the other shops on Center St.
51 locals recommend
[FoMu]
617 Centre St
51 locals recommend
Ice Creams made with coconut or almond milk packs a fresh flavor punch. Not your typical stuff - feel free to sample until you find your winner. Near Jamaica Pond and the other shops on Center St.
Voted best brunch 2016. We have yet to check this place out - but it's on our list.
18 locals recommend
Banyan Bar + Refuge
553 Tremont St
18 locals recommend
Voted best brunch 2016. We have yet to check this place out - but it's on our list.
Many of our friends from Texas have noticed that Boston is lacking when it comes to authentic Mexican food. El Pelon stands out in Bostons sea of bland Mexican food. Customer favorites include fish tacos (prepared with locally made corn tortillas, lightly breaded Atlantic cod, limed onions, house made spicy mayo, pickled cabbage and fresh cucumbers) and the award winning, a recently featured by Taco Trip with Aaron Sanchez, the El Guapo burrito (prepared with carne asada, Mexican rice, black beans, jack cheese, fried plantains, lettuce, and our home made crema and smoky fire roasted salsa). Now I'm hungry.
53 locals recommend
El Pelón Taqueria
92 Peterborough St
53 locals recommend
Many of our friends from Texas have noticed that Boston is lacking when it comes to authentic Mexican food. El Pelon stands out in Bostons sea of bland Mexican food. Customer favorites include fish tacos (prepared with locally made corn tortillas, lightly breaded Atlantic cod, limed onions, house made spicy mayo, pickled cabbage and fresh cucumbers) and the award winning, a recently featured by Taco Trip with Aaron Sanchez, the El Guapo burrito (prepared with carne asada, Mexican rice, black beans, jack cheese, fried plantains, lettuce, and our home made crema and smoky fire roasted salsa). Now I'm hungry.
(Harvard Square, Cambridge) The Rooftop At Filipe's Taqueria is a chill place to grab a taco and sip a margaritas under the open air.
21 Brattle St
21 Brattle Street
(Harvard Square, Cambridge) The Rooftop At Filipe's Taqueria is a chill place to grab a taco and sip a margaritas under the open air.

Entertainment & Activities

188 locals recommend
Franklin Park Zoo
1 Franklin Park Rd
188 locals recommend
15 locals recommend
William J. Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park
1 Circuit Dr
15 locals recommend
815 locals recommend
Fenway Park
4 Jersey St
815 locals recommend
17 locals recommend
Huntington Theatre
264 Huntington Avenue
17 locals recommend
brewery tours
164 locals recommend
Samuel Adams Boston Brewery
30 Germania Street
164 locals recommend
brewery tours
independent movie theater
194 locals recommend
Coolidge Corner Theatre
290 Harvard St
194 locals recommend
independent movie theater
independent movie theater
100 locals recommend
Kendall Square Cinema
355 Binney St
100 locals recommend
independent movie theater
independent movie theater
44 locals recommend
Brattle Theatre
40 Brattle St
44 locals recommend
independent movie theater
Medium sized music venue - shows typically sellout
77 locals recommend
House of Blues Boston
15 Lansdowne St
77 locals recommend
Medium sized music venue - shows typically sellout
Classical Music, Plays, and concerts of various kinds - Boston has many beautifully restored theaters - The Wang being one of the most impressive.
34 locals recommend
Boch Center - Wang Theatre
270 Tremont St
34 locals recommend
Classical Music, Plays, and concerts of various kinds - Boston has many beautifully restored theaters - The Wang being one of the most impressive.

Parks & Nature

379 locals recommend
Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
125 Arborway
379 locals recommend
Boston has made this into an ever changing venue for public art. Currently on view through October 2016 is 'Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads' by internationally acclaimed Chinese contemporary artist Ai Weiwei.
54 locals recommend
Rose Kennedy Greenway
Atlantic Avenue
54 locals recommend
Boston has made this into an ever changing venue for public art. Currently on view through October 2016 is 'Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads' by internationally acclaimed Chinese contemporary artist Ai Weiwei.
(about a 30min drive outside the city) You know, it's THE Walden Pond. Writer Henry David Thoreau spent two years living in a cabin on its shores, providing the foundation for his most famous work, Walden; or, Life in the Woods. The sight of his cabin is nothing special- but the pond itself is a beautiful swimming spot. Call ahead on perfect weather days to make sure you can get in. After the $5 parking sells out- they don't let anymore folks in. Worth the drive to Concord. While in the area you can visit the DeCordova Sculpture Park. These two things could easily fill a day.
99 locals recommend
Walden Pond
99 locals recommend
(about a 30min drive outside the city) You know, it's THE Walden Pond. Writer Henry David Thoreau spent two years living in a cabin on its shores, providing the foundation for his most famous work, Walden; or, Life in the Woods. The sight of his cabin is nothing special- but the pond itself is a beautiful swimming spot. Call ahead on perfect weather days to make sure you can get in. After the $5 parking sells out- they don't let anymore folks in. Worth the drive to Concord. While in the area you can visit the DeCordova Sculpture Park. These two things could easily fill a day.
Get some ice cream at J.P. Licks then, take a walk around the pond.
218 locals recommend
Jamaica Pond
218 locals recommend
Get some ice cream at J.P. Licks then, take a walk around the pond.

Arts & Culture

1042 locals recommend
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington Ave
1042 locals recommend
Great permanent collection of contemporary works. The building overlooks the harbor. Also one of the best local stages for dance.
299 locals recommend
Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston
25 Harbor Shore Dr
299 locals recommend
Great permanent collection of contemporary works. The building overlooks the harbor. Also one of the best local stages for dance.
Check out this never-changing, trapped-in-time, oddity. Isabella Stewart Gardner's home is preserved exactly as she instructed. In recent years, a small contemporary gallery and music venue were added. It's all pretty magical.
500 locals recommend
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
25 Evans Way
500 locals recommend
Check out this never-changing, trapped-in-time, oddity. Isabella Stewart Gardner's home is preserved exactly as she instructed. In recent years, a small contemporary gallery and music venue were added. It's all pretty magical.
architecture tours. Beautiful building with amazing collections
288 locals recommend
Boston Public Library
700 Boylston St
288 locals recommend
architecture tours. Beautiful building with amazing collections
Boston Center for the Arts is a hub for several venues. The Mills Gallery shows contemporary art and is open to the public for free. The Cyclorama is a large venue for events and shows. Plaza Theatre has a full schedule of plays and dance performance. See what is going on http://www.bcaonline.org/
9 locals recommend
Boston Center for the Arts
539 Tremont St
9 locals recommend
Boston Center for the Arts is a hub for several venues. The Mills Gallery shows contemporary art and is open to the public for free. The Cyclorama is a large venue for events and shows. Plaza Theatre has a full schedule of plays and dance performance. See what is going on http://www.bcaonline.org/
205 locals recommend
Harvard Art Museums
32 Quincy St
205 locals recommend
560 locals recommend
Museum of Science
1 Museum Of Science Driveway
560 locals recommend
162 locals recommend
Boston Children's Museum
308 Congress St
162 locals recommend
109 locals recommend
Symphony Hall
301 Massachusetts Ave
109 locals recommend
Surrounded with a whole cluster of Art Galleries, Samson is one of the most exciting.
Samsøñ
450 Harrison Ave
Surrounded with a whole cluster of Art Galleries, Samson is one of the most exciting.
Supports contemporary artists who work in painting, photography, sculpture, video and works on paper. The gallery focuses on building the careers of lesser-known artists and promoting ones who are under recognized.
Carroll and Sons
450 Harrison Ave
Supports contemporary artists who work in painting, photography, sculpture, video and works on paper. The gallery focuses on building the careers of lesser-known artists and promoting ones who are under recognized.

Sightseeing

470 locals recommend
Freedom Trail
139 Tremont St
470 locals recommend
399 locals recommend
New England Aquarium
1 Central Wharf
399 locals recommend

Getting Around

136 locals recommend
Boston - Logan International Airport station
One Harborside Drive
136 locals recommend
Buses and Silver Line, very near to our house. Some folks prefer to use the train - but the buses are good too.
14 locals recommend
Dudley Square station
14 locals recommend
Buses and Silver Line, very near to our house. Some folks prefer to use the train - but the buses are good too.
Orange line, closest T (train) stop to our house. You can walk here and connect all over the city.
49 locals recommend
Roxbury Crossing station
1400 Tremont St
49 locals recommend
Orange line, closest T (train) stop to our house. You can walk here and connect all over the city.
If you are staying a long while - you can buy a cool custom bike here.
Bikes Not Bombs
284 Amory St
If you are staying a long while - you can buy a cool custom bike here.
Hubway

Drinks & Nightlife

Gay - drag shows and live music in the basement. Very historic!
Jacques' Cabaret
79 Broadway St
Gay - drag shows and live music in the basement. Very historic!
Best local, live music in Boston
32 locals recommend
Midway Café
3496 Washington St
32 locals recommend
Best local, live music in Boston
Gay bar. DJs
21 locals recommend
Club Café
209 Columbus Ave
21 locals recommend
Gay bar. DJs
Great small venue music scene. Great drag shows on occasion.
19 locals recommend
Great Scott
1222 Commonwealth Avenue
19 locals recommend
Great small venue music scene. Great drag shows on occasion.
Great place for live music, food is also excellent.
150 locals recommend
Wok N Roll Restaurant
1908 Massachusetts Ave
150 locals recommend
Great place for live music, food is also excellent.
Dancing, queer night, music, & food.
25 locals recommend
Zuzu
474 Massachusetts Ave
25 locals recommend
Dancing, queer night, music, & food.
In JP, Depending on the time: a great place to eat and drink, then after it turns into a dance party of various themes. Sometimes live music and karaoke.
107 locals recommend
Bella Luna & The Milky Way
284 Amory St
107 locals recommend
In JP, Depending on the time: a great place to eat and drink, then after it turns into a dance party of various themes. Sometimes live music and karaoke.
Easy to miss this wonderful gay dive bar, as it only has a statue of an eagle outside to let you know how to find it. Mostly a place for the dudes, this cruise bar is not just for the Levi/leather crowd - it happens to be my favorite place to get a cheap (Boston cheap) beer and hangout. Pool table in the back. Right by the Huntington Theater - stop in after you see a show. You can order a pizza down the street and they will let you eat it while you play pool.
Boston Eagle
520 Tremont St
Easy to miss this wonderful gay dive bar, as it only has a statue of an eagle outside to let you know how to find it. Mostly a place for the dudes, this cruise bar is not just for the Levi/leather crowd - it happens to be my favorite place to get a cheap (Boston cheap) beer and hangout. Pool table in the back. Right by the Huntington Theater - stop in after you see a show. You can order a pizza down the street and they will let you eat it while you play pool.
A small club in the South End gets packed - Live music 365 days a year - no cover- is what Wally's offers. Check the website for the schedule. Open 6pm-2am 7 days a week.
96 locals recommend
Wally's Cafe Jazz Club
427 Massachusetts Ave
96 locals recommend
A small club in the South End gets packed - Live music 365 days a year - no cover- is what Wally's offers. Check the website for the schedule. Open 6pm-2am 7 days a week.