19 Best Restaurants in Beacon Hill, Boston Common, and the Old West End, Boston

The Italian word "scampo" translates to "escape" in English, and that's what this restaurant at The Liberty hotel—the former site of the Charles Street Jail—is: an escape into chef-owner Lydia Shire's delectable, buttery take on Italian-American cuisine. Everything is made from scratch, down to the bread, and including a dozen different exceptional pastas and nearly as many crusty pizzas. Entrees are heavy on meat and fish, and it stretches beyond standard items to lamb chops, duck, suckling pig, and Dover sole. The creative menu is complemented by a sleek orange bar, curved white-leather booths, and one of the city's most connected crowds. Gluten-free menus are available.

This upscale bakery and café with several locations in Boston takes pastries to the next level. From tea cakes to the Jerusalem bagel, expect hearty baked goods with an air of elegance and influenced by the owner's Israeli heritage. Fantastic coffee drinks, including the house's signature halva latte. A breakfast, lunch and brunch menu features hearty plates all day, from breakfast sandwiches to salads, bowls, and shakshuka (an egg dish with tomatoes and peppers). The café's vibe welcomes those who appreciate attention to detail in both the food and the bright, lively atmosphere—so expect to wait in line. Tatte started as a single location in 2008; today it has expanded with locations across Boston.

Don't be surprised to see a queue at this neighborhood hot spot, no matter the time of day. Regulars happily line up for waffles topped with fresh fruit, caramel and banana french toast, huge salads, and hefty sandwiches, all made to order as you do from the counter. Newbies should note The Paramount's unspoken rule: Don't take a seat until after you wait in line, order, and pay.

Just off bustling Charles Street, this cozy neighborhood gem is filled to the brim with New England charm in the form of antique-chic decor that celebrates Boston's history. The menu of elevated American classics, from wedge salad to lobster rolls and filet mignon, is well curated, and the cocktails shine.

Sourcing ingredients from small, family farms is the main goal of this local, casual restaurant where hungry diners clamor for salads, burgers, and a few entrées. With its proximity to the TD Garden, it can and does get busy on game days, and service tends to slow down.

A mix of New England seafood dishes, European-style charcuterie, and an international flair to most everything else describes what you'll see on the menu at this West End restaurant with a view; you're meant to share plates with your guests, but you can also order solo if that's your preference. Meals here are comfortable, with coastal vibes and spectacular views of the Zakim Bridge.

Inspired by the authentic Mexican takeout readily available in West Coast cities, Anna's owner moved to Boston and opened shop more than 25 years ago. This small, local chain has been a hit ever since for its burritos, tacos, and quesadillas. Diners can select from 10 different meat and veggie-based toppings, from grilled steak and marinated pork to slow-cooked chicken.

A Beacon Hill legend, this was the first bar in the city to get its liquor license after the repeal of Prohibition. It opened in 1930, and was owned by the same family until the 1990s. Patrons sit at the dark-wood bar and high tops to watch a Celtics game and dig into a menu of tasty burgers, sandwiches, and a scrumptious brunch, including a spectacular Bloody Mary. The place is often packed with doctors and nurses from nearby Mass General enjoying post-shift drinks.

Situated in the TD Garden, this unique food hall serves up more than a dozen different food and drink options, many of which are little sister outposts for chefs and restaurants local to the Boston and New England area. Try barbecue at The Smoke Shop or Italian desserts at Mike's Pastry. Quick service is the name of the game, although Hub Hall does feature one sit-down restaurant, Momosan Ramen Boston by Morimoto. One thing is for sure, if you don't like crowds, avoid this place when there is a home Celtics or Bruins game, because it gets packed!

A rotating gallery of Persian art adorns the walls of this pearl-gray eatery specializing in home-style Iranian dishes. Along with classics such as fesejan, duck leg in a satiny pomegranate-walnut sauce, you'll find brain fritters, smoky eggplant puree, pollo (rice dishes), kebabs, and richly spiced lamb stews, including one seasoned with dried lime. The staff obviously enjoys explaining the menu, and the wine list is well selected for foods that often defy wine matches.

Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto brings his signature Japanese fusion to this casual ramen spot next door to the TD Garden. Of course, ramen (six styles, and a dozen toppings) is only one portion of the menu, which also features sushi, small plates, and grilled fish, meat, and seafood. In nice weather, diners can sit on an expansive patio sipping Japanese whiskey, sake, or shochu.

Do dress nicely for a visit to Mooo...., a luxurious, refined steak house inside the swanky XV Beacon hotel that remains civilized despite the restaurant's somewhat whimsical name. Prime, dry-aged steaks are served à la carte, and, although the Japanese A5 Wagyu sirloin will set you back $190, portions are as exaggerated as the prices. The menu also features a few seafood dishes and a poultry option; vegetarians and vegans are easily accommodated by request. The impressive, award-winning wine list boasts more than 500 entries, including a few very special bottles.

More than just a tap room, this place satisfies a variety of different needs, although beer is at the forefront; there are more than two dozen beers on tap—as well as a couple hard seltzers and some nonalcoholic varieties. The lunch and dinner menu has items made from scratch like salads, sandwiches, flatbreads, and main dishes. On the weekends, try a coffee made using Night Shift's own signature roasted beans. Children are welcome.

Owner and chef Josh Lewin serves up a sophisticated take on rustic, coastal Mediterranean food, and diners are meant to rest, order slowly, and enjoy a meal in multiple stages. Everything is made from scratch in the kitchen, and although the preparations are Italian-based, there's a nod to New England ingredients and seasonality. Inside the dining room, the vibe is modern, with blues and browns, and a gorgeous wood floor.

In need of snacks for a cocktail party or something for the grill, Beacon Hill residents pop over to this market famous for being Julia Child’s favorite butcher and known for procuring exotic game meats. Tamer choices include sandwiches, prepared salads, outstanding cheeses, breads, tinned fish, hummus, dips and more—this place is a foodie’s nirvana. Visitors enjoy coming in to browse around and pick up ready-made items for a lunch on-the-go—in nicer weather, perhaps a picnic on the nearby Charles River Esplanade.

Befitting its name, chef Brian Poe's casual Beacon Hill restaurant focuses on two main things: meat and interesting beers on tap. But, Poe's menu of meat goes beyond steak and chicken staples, and depending on the season and what's readily available from purveyors, dinner entrées may feature bison, camel, ostrich, emu, kangaroo, snake, yak, elk, or antelope. There are plenty of options for the less adventuresome, too. TipTap's vibe is lively, and the bar draws an after-work crowd from Government Center and the State House. The industrial space shows off a wall mural of Boston's past mayors, cedar shingles, and garage doors that open to the street in warmer weather.

Stop here for some ultra-thin-crust slices to go.

Walk into the Upper Crust's first location, and you'll see the staff pulling scratch-made dough in the open kitchen. The Neapolitan-style pizza—you can order by the slice (they're huge) or by the pie—is really tasty, and toppings go creatively beyond a classic cheese or pepperoni. We recommend ordering at the Beacon Hill shop and eating at the few stools there or taking it to-go and heading for Boston Common, which is just a short walk away, rather than utilizing the delivery service.