My husband is currently at Mass General so I've been hanging out in Boston for the past few days. Some thoughts:

1. Everyone on here is correct when they say no car is needed. The city is so walkable and the T is great. Driving isn't the disaster it's made out to be though. You just need to have fun with and laugh at yourself and your confused GPS. You need to be aggressive, and those taxi drivers are insane.

2. Hotels: I spend one day touring some hotels in the area. The Liberty is great if you have someone staying at Mass General. And it's right on the red line. The whole "old jail" theme is fun. It's right at Charles St which has some really cute shops and antique stores. My favorite hotel I went to was the Fairmont Copley Plaza. Beautiful hotel and great location for walking around the city. Wasn't a fan of the Westin across the street. The Taj was nice, not amazing, but has a wonderful location. I also enjoyed The Lenox.

3. Shopping: Charles St for boutique-y places, Newbury St for high end names.

4. Food: JP Licks on Charles St makes very good ice cream...not the most amazing I've ever had, but very good. Panificio on Charles St looks to have a nice brunch. Wasn't crazy about their sandwiches...the bread is weak. The tomato soup was nice. LA Burdick makes delicious chocolate, thought the hot drinking chocolate is too rich. I need to share it with someone. I also really enjoyed my cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcakes.

Heading back tomorrow...not sure where I'll go.

When my spouse was at MGH, I ate at Pierrot Bistro on Charles Street both for lunch and dinner and enjoyed it.I also ate at the Liberty Hotel one night, very good too.
Hope your husband is doing well.

I hope his problems are not acute.

If you have time to kill, it is very easy to take the Red Line to Cambridge.

North of Kendall Square is an area with a bunch of Portugese restaurants, of which I like Atascadero on Hampshire best.

The next stop on the Red Line is Central Square, home to Mary Chung's wonderful Szechuan restataurant.

The third stop is Harvard Square home of Dolphin Seafood, a great Greek seafood place that has been in the same location on a mezzanine floor of a condo building on Mass Ave. High quality, low price.

I don't venture to Porter Square, but the old Sears building has a concentration of Japanese restaurants and I think a Japanese grocery.

Davis Square, in Somervile but on the Red Line, has a real diner in a diner car, Redbone's Barbecue, Irish music bars with Irish food, and pretty much anything lose you might want to eat.

At the end of he line, Alewife, the only thing within walking distance is Jasper White's Summer House. Many would say it isn't worth the trouble, but if you are there, it has plenty of enjoyable food.

Tomorrow, the waterfront and North End.

Across from the Liberty is the John Jeffries, somewhat downscale compared to the Liberty but many with family at the Eye and Ear (which owns the hotel) and Mass. General have called it home.

Near Porter Sq. is an Elephant Walk, one of my favorite Asian-Fusion (w some French influence) places (has other locations around Boston).

Everyone on here is correct when they say no car is needed

For the visitor, that is largely true. I would never want to live in Boston without a car though. At a minimum, I would probably end up using Zipcar at least once or twice a week.

My favorite hotel I went to was the Fairmont Copley Plaza. Beautiful hotel and great location for walking around the city.

The public spaces are nicer than the rooms.

Panificio on Charles St looks to have a nice brunch.

It's decent. I prefer the Paramount though.

Davis Square, in Somervile but on the Red Line, has a real diner in a diner car,

Rosebud has been closed and sold. It is rumored to be reopening as a roadhouse.

Roadhouse?

Roadhouse?

I'm assuming they mean some sort of country/Southern themed place. Either that or a bar dedicated to Patrick Swayze.

Firstly, rizzo0904, here's hoping your DH will soon be well. And your stay brief. I am wondering just how much sightseeing you intend given the circumstances. Will he feel lonely?

My suggestion is just hop on the Red Line to Copley Square or go on down to Freedom Hall area for a short time. Yes, lots of eateries everywhere. Well, if you want a real diner come on out to Watertown to the nearby Deluxe Town Diner...Red Line to Harvard Square and then No. 71 bus out to Kimball stop (near our apartment). You might look around in the Harvard Square area but not much to really see (excluding eateries). But maybe you are gone already?

He's still there. Trying to balance keeping the kids in school with visits, so most time is spent in the hospital now since visits are shorter. During the five hour procedure I headed around town. I also escape in order to bring him food and snacks that are edible as opposed to the hospital food. His only restriction is no carbonation.

Not in Boston, but he and his roommate really enjoyed the muffins I brought in from gingerbread construction company in Winchester. It was a quick detour off 93.

Head for Green Space - Boston Common, the Public Garden, or, more further afield, the Harvard Campus, are all great for a mind clearing stroll!

Good luck to you and your husband. Keep us posted.

I spent many a day in the vicinity of MGH while my parents were patients there. My favorite thing was to stroll along the Esplanade - great way of finding some peace. Another favorite walk was up Charles St to the Public Gardens.

Hope your husband recovers quickly.

(side to Ozarksbill: exactly the neighborhood we'd like to move to, believe it or not - either direction on Mt. Auburn or Belmont). Keep eyes open for 4 BR (or 3+den/alcove) duplex, condo, house for us - probably can't afford freestanding house there, but maybe).)

Looks like he may get out today or tomorrow! We head back a week from Friday for a follow up.

Congrats to him and you! Any escape from "Hospital Land" is so liberating and comforting!

Whoa, HKP, prices are way up everywhere, even Watertown. Sounds like you might find something like a condo. Son bought a house in Medford two years ago...and a good thing.

glad to read he is doing well

We are home. Headed back next Friday for a follow up so we will need to find a lunch spot. Driving in.

Ozarksbill -- know that, all too well. Unfortunately, market here very sluggish and still sagging. Will leave large hse w large yard (don't need large of either at this point - want public transport) and adding 30% additional $$ to get 1/3 size. At this point, worried we won't be able to afford indoor plumbing! ;-} Will be "taking a bath" re: selling price, though, so.......

Pierrot Bistro on Charles Street across from MGH on is excellent. There is also an Italian place, Antonio's, where we also had a good lunch. I was camped out in an adjacent hotel for a week. Glad your husband is doing OK now.
And for much much better hospital cafeteria food, go next door from MGH to MEEI's cafeteria, a nice surprise, well prepared, fresh food. Great view overlooking the Charles too.