Guidebook for Boston
Food Scene
Tasty and affordable brunch. Big sandwiches and really friendly staff. Packed on the weekends and right next to the T.
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McKenna's Cafe
107-109 Savin Hill AveTasty and affordable brunch. Big sandwiches and really friendly staff. Packed on the weekends and right next to the T.
Great place to grab a coffee to go, or sit in the eclectic chairs and hang out.
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Sugar Bowl Ice Cream & Coffee
857 Dorchester AveGreat place to grab a coffee to go, or sit in the eclectic chairs and hang out.
One of my favorite go to places for a comforting bowl of pho. Traditional Vietnamese selections and some of the most welcoming staff.
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Pho Hoa Restaurant
1370 Dorchester AveOne of my favorite go to places for a comforting bowl of pho. Traditional Vietnamese selections and some of the most welcoming staff.
Known for its 7 beef course most of all, but also another solid selection of Vietnamese cuisine.
8 locals raden deze aan
Ánh Hồng Restaurant
1370 Adams StKnown for its 7 beef course most of all, but also another solid selection of Vietnamese cuisine.
One of the best Indian restaurants in Boston. Excellent curries all around.
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Shanti Restaurant
1111 Dorchester AveOne of the best Indian restaurants in Boston. Excellent curries all around.
Big menu with lots of crazy combinations for sandwiches and a pretty solid pizza when you're craving it.
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Pantry Pizza & Kitchen
931 Dorchester AveBig menu with lots of crazy combinations for sandwiches and a pretty solid pizza when you're craving it.
Delicias Restaurant
149 Stoughton StSimple and comforting Latin food sold by the size of container. Take out.
Take out place for really savory roti. Make sure you get hot sauce! The owners are some of the nicest and caring people.
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Singh's Roti Shop
554 Columbia RdTake out place for really savory roti. Make sure you get hot sauce! The owners are some of the nicest and caring people.
Very affordable and very delicious tacos and burritos. They tend to sell out of their pork by the evening. The staff is quick and friendly. More of a grab and go hole in the wall place.
Taqueria Casa Real
860 Dorchester AveVery affordable and very delicious tacos and burritos. They tend to sell out of their pork by the evening. The staff is quick and friendly. More of a grab and go hole in the wall place.
My go to place for pan-asian cuisine. Can be a little pricey since dishes are to be shared, but if you go on a Monday or Tuesday, they have set date night menus for much cheaper. I love the pork baos, spicy dan dan noodles, and the coconut cream pie. You should book a reservation on OpenTable ahead of time.
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Myers+Chang
1145 Washington StMy go to place for pan-asian cuisine. Can be a little pricey since dishes are to be shared, but if you go on a Monday or Tuesday, they have set date night menus for much cheaper. I love the pork baos, spicy dan dan noodles, and the coconut cream pie. You should book a reservation on OpenTable ahead of time.
24 hours on the weekends. I usually judge a diner based on their meatloaf and Victoria's doesn't disappoint. The real highlight, however, is their 7 layer cakes. I often go just to get a giant slice of carrot cake. Just know that it'll be $7 for a piece of cake that no one should, but can, eat alone.
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Victoria's Diner
1024 Massachusetts Ave24 hours on the weekends. I usually judge a diner based on their meatloaf and Victoria's doesn't disappoint. The real highlight, however, is their 7 layer cakes. I often go just to get a giant slice of carrot cake. Just know that it'll be $7 for a piece of cake that no one should, but can, eat alone.
Local take-out place. Chicken + Waffles. Maple butter...it's really more about the food than the ambience.
The Hen House Wings 'n Waffles
1033 Massachusetts AveLocal take-out place. Chicken + Waffles. Maple butter...it's really more about the food than the ambience.
Greasy spoon style breakfast by day, and romantic restaurant by night. I often head to the location in Southie since it's closer, but this gives you the chance to walk around historic Beacon Hill.
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The Paramount
44 Charles StreetGreasy spoon style breakfast by day, and romantic restaurant by night. I often head to the location in Southie since it's closer, but this gives you the chance to walk around historic Beacon Hill.
One of my late night haunts. They serve dinner till 1:00 a.m. Excellent food/fine dining in a really cozy spot in the South End. It's easy to miss since their sign is just a martini glass.
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Franklin Cafe
278 Shawmut AveOne of my late night haunts. They serve dinner till 1:00 a.m. Excellent food/fine dining in a really cozy spot in the South End. It's easy to miss since their sign is just a martini glass.
One of my favorite bakeries from chef Joanne Chang (also of Myers+Chang). Several locations in Boston/Cambridge. I had a friend bring me a sticky bun from Boston all the way to Beijing for me, that's how good they are. Variety of cakes, cookies, and some gluten free options. They also serve sandwiches and coffee/tea.
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Flour Bakery
1595 Washington StOne of my favorite bakeries from chef Joanne Chang (also of Myers+Chang). Several locations in Boston/Cambridge. I had a friend bring me a sticky bun from Boston all the way to Beijing for me, that's how good they are. Variety of cakes, cookies, and some gluten free options. They also serve sandwiches and coffee/tea.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great daily specials and really comforting American style foods. The biscuit and gravy is one of my favorites for brunch or as a side to dinner. Trivia and live music on certain nights too.
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Savin Bar and Kitchen
116 Savin Hill AveGreat daily specials and really comforting American style foods. The biscuit and gravy is one of my favorites for brunch or as a side to dinner. Trivia and live music on certain nights too.
Irish bar with traditional food and lots of TVs to watch all the soccer games. Super friendly staff. Officially supports teams like Chelsea, Everton, and the New England Revolution.
34 locals raden deze aan
The Banshee
934 Dorchester AveIrish bar with traditional food and lots of TVs to watch all the soccer games. Super friendly staff. Officially supports teams like Chelsea, Everton, and the New England Revolution.
Parks & Nature
Small local beach with a great walking/bike path. Kayaks and paddleboards are available to rent during the summer.
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Carson Beach
165 HarborWalkSmall local beach with a great walking/bike path. Kayaks and paddleboards are available to rent during the summer.
There are basketball and tennis courts here, but if you climb to the top of the hill, you'll find the local puddingstone rock, as well as a great view of the harbor.
Savin Hill Park
25 Caspian WayThere are basketball and tennis courts here, but if you climb to the top of the hill, you'll find the local puddingstone rock, as well as a great view of the harbor.
Arts & Culture
Beautiful architecture and historical offerings. Great view of the harbor.
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John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum & Library
Columbia PointBeautiful architecture and historical offerings. Great view of the harbor.
Local gallery owned by a colleague. Features mostly local artists with rotating shows almost monthly.
HallSpace
950 Dorchester AveLocal gallery owned by a colleague. Features mostly local artists with rotating shows almost monthly.
Beautiful view of the ocean and has the JFK Library on campus.
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University of Massachusetts Boston
100 William T Morrissey BlvdBeautiful view of the ocean and has the JFK Library on campus.
The South End Open Market (SOWA Market) is open on Saturday and Sunday. It's a great place to shop for local artist creations and eat lunch at the food trucks. The galleries in the South End are usually open and free to go into, and there are several vintage and antique shops.
It's easy to get to by T, if you get off at Broadway and walk across the big bridge.
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South End Open Market
375 Harrison AvenueThe South End Open Market (SOWA Market) is open on Saturday and Sunday. It's a great place to shop for local artist creations and eat lunch at the food trucks. The galleries in the South End are usually open and free to go into, and there are several vintage and antique shops.
It's easy to get to by T, if you get off at Broadway and walk across the big bridge.
Free admission on Thursdays after 5:30 p.m. Usually a great selection of contemporary art with a varied permanent collection that rotates every few months. The architecture and view from the top floor is worth the trip alone, as you can see the Boston Harbor from the cantilevered building.
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Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston
25 Harbor Shore DrFree admission on Thursdays after 5:30 p.m. Usually a great selection of contemporary art with a varied permanent collection that rotates every few months. The architecture and view from the top floor is worth the trip alone, as you can see the Boston Harbor from the cantilevered building.
One of the oldest museums in the nation. Free admission on Wednesdays after 4:30 p.m. Open late till 9:30 Wednesday through Friday. You could spend an entire day in this museum! Has a comprehensive collection from ancient, Renaissance, to modern art. They always have fantastic new rotating exhibitions, as well as a nice restaurant, bookstore, and theatre for music performances.
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Museum of Fine Arts
465 Huntington AveOne of the oldest museums in the nation. Free admission on Wednesdays after 4:30 p.m. Open late till 9:30 Wednesday through Friday. You could spend an entire day in this museum! Has a comprehensive collection from ancient, Renaissance, to modern art. They always have fantastic new rotating exhibitions, as well as a nice restaurant, bookstore, and theatre for music performances.
Essentials
Largest local grocery store is right next to the JFK/UMass T stop.
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Star Market
4 River StLargest local grocery store is right next to the JFK/UMass T stop.
Closest Vietnamese grocery store. Lots of cheap produce, especially great for fresh herbs.
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Phú Cường Market
1188 Dorchester AveClosest Vietnamese grocery store. Lots of cheap produce, especially great for fresh herbs.
Getting Around
Closest T stop on the Red Line. Take the train towards Alewife to get into downtown. Braintree or Ashmont trains will take you back to this station.
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JFK / UMass station
599 Old Colony AveClosest T stop on the Red Line. Take the train towards Alewife to get into downtown. Braintree or Ashmont trains will take you back to this station.
Sightseeing
Castle Island has park space and is near the beach. There is a Revolutionary War fort that has tours on the weekends. There are often kite surfers in the bay, and in the summer you can rent boats and kayaks. Sullivan's also serves up the cheapest lobster roll in town.
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Castle Island
2010 William J Day BlvdCastle Island has park space and is near the beach. There is a Revolutionary War fort that has tours on the weekends. There are often kite surfers in the bay, and in the summer you can rent boats and kayaks. Sullivan's also serves up the cheapest lobster roll in town.
If you go "over the bridge" into the actual hill of Savin Hill, you'll find some beautiful historic houses and a small local beach and park. At the very top of Grampian Way is a beautiful view of Boston that not many people know about.
Grampian Way
Grampian WayIf you go "over the bridge" into the actual hill of Savin Hill, you'll find some beautiful historic houses and a small local beach and park. At the very top of Grampian Way is a beautiful view of Boston that not many people know about.
Great park by the Boston Harbor. There are often music/art festivals in the summer and fall.
Christopher Columbus Park Path
Christopher Columbus Park PathGreat park by the Boston Harbor. There are often music/art festivals in the summer and fall.
Faneuil Hall was an old marketplace, and now you'll find lots of touristy shops and a massive food court at Quincy Market. There are also street performers in spring and summer. Great place to stop by as you walk around downtown Boston.
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Faneuil Hall
1 S Market StFaneuil Hall was an old marketplace, and now you'll find lots of touristy shops and a massive food court at Quincy Market. There are also street performers in spring and summer. Great place to stop by as you walk around downtown Boston.