We came back from our French and Italian Riviera vacation about 3 weeks ago. I am missing the evening dinners, people watching while having coffee in a cafe, late evening strolls, etc.

I would love some ideas from you on places to go in the Boston area which might revive the vacation feeling. Some of you might live in the area and may know about some great restaurants, cafes, etc. and others may have visited here and discovered a perfect place to bring back vacation memories. I would really like your ideas and suggestions.

Thanks.

I live in New Hampshire and was planning a Boston visit soon. I would like to get some of these suggestions also.

Havard Sq. in the evening, Newbury St. in the afternoon.

First place - North End
Runner up - Newbury St.

I'm not sure if it will be successful in recapturing the feel of the Riviera, but the North End is a great place to enjoy a cup of cappuccino. While there are many cafes, my favorite is Cafe Vittoria. A few doors down is Mike's Pastry shop, which is famous for its Italian pastries. Their pignoli cookies are out of this world. Be prepared for a long line, especially around dinner time, but it is certainly worth the wait.

If you're hungry, Il Panino serves up some of the best Tuscan cuisine I've ever had. In fact, when my husband and I traveled to Tuscany for our honeymoon, our parents picked us up at Logan airport upon our return. They then took us to Il Panino for dinner. I was prepared for slight disappointment, as we had just enjoyed the "real thing." Well, the food there was fantastic, and comparable to some of the great restaurants we enjoyed in Tuscany.

Newbury Street is a great place to people watch. On a warm, sunny day enjoy a late afternoon lunch at one of their numerous outdoor dining spots.

Good luck!

I agree with the previous posts - the North End & Newbury Street.

Try www.phantomgourmet.com (TV show hosted by local KISS 108 radio personality Billy Costa). The site includes feedback from outsiders as well. They have never steered us wrong.