56 Best Restaurants in Boston, Massachusetts

Stop at this artisanal grocer for cured meats and cheeses, croissants and scones, pasta salad sides, packaged crackers and jams, even a bottle of wine. You can also order gourmet sandwiches—there are a few eggy options during the breakfast hours, before the menu moves on to absolutely stunning meaty delights.

Airy and classic in atmosphere, this modern restaurant focuses on two things: food and local history (it is, after all, situated in a historic 1902 building). The menu features elevated takes on comfort food; at lunch expect more sandwiches. Who wouldn't want to dive into a tater tot poutine or a bowl of house-made onion dip with potato chips, while chatting up your dining partners and enjoying the occasional live music? Social describes the vibe on most nights, more so later into the evening.  Bostonia gets busy, so it's a good idea to make a reservation.

When folks need coffee, a great sandwich, or an irresistible sweet, like a pecan sticky bun, lemon tart, or double chocolate cookie—or just a place to sit and chat—they pay a visit to one of owner Joanne Chang's 10 Flour bakeries, including this one in the South End. A communal table in the middle acts as a gathering spot, around which diners enjoy morning pastries, homemade soups, hearty bean and grain salads, and specialty sandwiches, which change seasonally.

The ambience at this cozy Southie wine bar is artful and welcoming. Small-producer and unique natural wines are available by the glass or bottle and are meant to be paired with a well-edited menu of small plates and snacks that highlight ingredients from the New England region.

Once a favorite of former Cambridge resident Julia Child, this sophisticated shrine to New England cuisine has been a perennial go-to spot for Harvard students when their parents are in town since 1975. The seasonal menu could feature Cape scallop crudo, fresh pasta with braised veal and pesto, or fresh Cape lobster with lemon hollandaise. The restaurant also serves lunch and à la carte brunch (cinnamon buns on the pastry board are worth the visit alone). In addition to the elegant dining room there's a lush outdoor patio (with fans as well as blankets and an outdoor fireplace to accommodate any season).

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. Food focuses on Detroit-style pizza, with sandwiches and shareable plates, too. Children are welcome.

Don't be surprised to see a queue down the street at this neighborhood hot spot, no matter the time of day. Regulars come for waffles topped with fresh fruit, caramel-and-banana French toast, huge salads, and hefty sandwiches, all made to order, which 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.

One look at the neighborhood bar's menu will have you holding back belly laughs, even as it's grumbling with hunger. Plates are interesting and well thought-out, mainly hot sandwiches and apps. The space, which is long and lean, also boasts a shuffleboard, but you may have to wait in line to play it. Sunday nights are especially popular.

Enjoy earthy, market-fresh dishes at this cozy, brick-walled former butcher shop, where foodies, families, and folks from the neighborhood and beyond can't get enough of dream-team chefs David Punch and Lydia Reichert's culinary homage to New England. Begin with a cocktail from the excellent bar and end with a satisfied smile—made even bigger because area parking is plentiful and mainly free.

This cozy neighborhood gem features New England charm and a speakeasy-inspired atmosphere, serving up shrimp cocktail, lobster bisque, deviled eggs, and stuffed veal chop alongside antique-chic decor that celebrates Boston's history. Drinks are on point; beer is a well-edited mix of local and national offerings.

Sourcing ingredients from small, family farms is the main goal of this chef-owned and -operated, comfortable restaurant, where hungry diners clamor for loads of tasty small plates, bowls and burgers, and Detroit-style pizza. With its proximity to the TD Garden, it can and does get busy on game days.

Looking to drink the five teas that were dumped into Boston Harbor more than 250 years ago? Try a tea tasting or scone platter; other menu options include sandwiches and salads, sweets and pastries, and Colonial-inspired cocktails. You don't have to pay museum admission to imbibe at Abigail's. After your meal, stop into the museum gift shop where you can buy some tea (and lots more) to take home.

This brightly colored place with about a dozen tables turns out fresh, high-quality sandwiches and burgers, all served with coleslaw, dill pickle, and a smile. Beyond multiple beef burgers, you'll find classics like crispy, overstuffed Reubens, the Pastraminator, and the famous Atomic Meatloaf Meltdown, which has been highlighted on a number of foodie networks. Soups, salads, poutine, and chili are available, along with a small selection of beer and wine. If pies are more your thing, sister restaurant All-Star Pizza Bar is just across the street. Check out the Extra Funky specials.

While close to Fenway Park, Audubon feels more like a neighborhood joint than a tourist spot, though it does fill up on game days. Service is outstanding and matches the delicious dishes, many of which are made for sharing like warm pretzels, Halloumi sticks, and meatballs that make you want to order seconds. The cocktail menu is fun, too, with drinks like the Happy Camper, made with dark rum, mezcal, mint, lemon, and lemon/lime soda. Ask to sit on the patio in nice weather.

Creative, delicious, and irresistible, the sweet treats from Blackbird Doughnuts have a cult following—even rock star Adele praised them when in town for a concert. One of several outposts in the city, the Fenway location is tiny and it's a good idea to get there early before your favorite flavor sells out.

Tucked into the street level of the Hotel Indigo, Blake's offers an intimate space with a nice bar and a menu of salads, sandwiches, and sharing plates. Depending on the night, it can be quiet—or busy, especially on game days. 

This popular spot, tucked into a row of businesses across from the Forest Hills T station, is a lively restaurant and bar, with legions of fans who stop by for well-thought-out dishes like the addictive buttermilk-brined fried chicken and brunch hits like the brown butter pancakes and biscuits and gravy. The decor is cozy and warm, with counters, tabletops, and shelves made from antique woods repurposed from an old farmhouse. At night, the bar is packed with patrons sampling inventive cocktails from the bar staff who love to experiment. The patio is the spot to be in good weather. On Thursday and Friday mornings, the restaurant opens at 9 am and serves homemade doughnuts and coffee.

With the Bunker Hill Monument in your sights, relax with a wood-fired pizza and a pint. Brewer's Fork's list of 30 draft cider and craft beers is impressive (yet approachable) and its wine list massive. Pizzas go beyond the basics with toppings like spicy clam, meatballs, and smoked chicken, and the pie is served straight out of a gigantic fiery oven, the restaurant's only cooking method. Small plates such as wood-roasted Maine mussels and shawarma-style chicken thigh, and piled-high sandwiches like Wagyu burger and super-slow roasted turkey help satisfy hearty appetites. Brunch is lively and fun, featuring frittatas, weekly special waffles, and morning-friendly pizzas. There's even a midday menu of charcuterie and cheese boards and select pizzas between mealtimes. Decor includes pendant bulbs, daily special chalkboards, exposed brick walls, banquettes created from wine corks, and two seasonal patios.

Smack-dab in the middle of Southie, this is a popular hangout for the area's young professionals, and there's often a sports game on behind the bar. Frequent food and cocktail specials entice people to come and stay awhile, but the wood-fired pizza is a star of the menu, and the weekend brunch menu is always a great option.

This Cambridge hot spot is locally loved, which means there are usually long waiting times, but the breakfast and lunch menus are worth it. The omelet menu is far beyond your basic egg and cheese, with combos such as fig, prosciutto, and goat cheese, and there are brunch tacos, cinnamon swirl French toast, their 20-hour slow-cooked corned beef hash, and the signature eggs Benedict. The lunch crowd dines on panini, specialty sandwiches, and "big bowl" salads, They also serve up fair trade coffee, for an extra kick, as well as beer, wine, and cordials.  Closing time is 2 or 4 pm, depending on the day, so be sure to stop in early.

All you want and expect from a modern public house, this spot has burgers, steak frites, and, as the name promises, plenty of oysters. In addition, the bar offers more than 400 whiskeys, along with plenty of craft beers and wines. Like pig roasts? Book the unusual Citizen Pig Roast for 10 people, a family-style feast with a suckling pig and all the fixings.

With the dainty twinkle lights sitting against exposed brick elements, this neighborhood spot creates an intimate atmosphere with a lively energy. Chilled seafood starters along with smaller plates like Leyla's focaccia and carne cruda are perfect for lighter snacks, while house-made pastas and entrées, including mustardy pork Milanese and roasted red snapper, are hearty additions to the table. The brunch crowd fills up on dishes such as almond paste brioche toast and fried chicken and waffles. An outdoor brick patio is perfect for seasonal dining. The wine bar aspect is showcased through an impressive "by the glass" or bottle selection, along with craft beers and cocktails (their seasonal rosé sangria is a local favorite).

With a full menu served until 1:30 am and an industry-heavy clientele, the Franklin has jumped to the head of the class by keeping things simple yet effective, from the well-crafted cocktails to the homey cuisine: think skillet-smoked mussels, lasagna, and steak frites. The vibe tends to feel more like a bar than a restaurant (hence the copious bartender awards), so be forewarned that it can get loud, and the wait for a table (there aren't very many of them) can be long.

In a building originally designed by historic architect Charles Bulfinch in 1816, this place has a lively atmosphere day or night, with the sounds of revelry bouncing off its exposed brick walls and wooden beams. The kitchen serves up decent comfort food and a solid weekend brunch.

This Beacon Hill legend was the first bar in the city to get its liquor license after the repeal of Prohibition—and it's almost 100 years old. Patrons sit at the dark-wood bar and high-tops to watch a Celtics game and dig into a menu of tasty burgers, salads, and pizzas. The place is often packed with doctors and nurses from nearby Mass General enjoying post-shift drinks.

Located in the Charles Hotel, this cheerful, country-style restaurant is named after chef-owner Peter Davis's pet pig, Henrietta. Davis is passionate about working with small area growers and purveyors, as well as harvesting veggies and honey from the restaurant's rooftop garden and hives, which is evident in his fresh, honest, wholesome, New England–style dishes like juicy Yankee pot roast, Ritz-crusted scrod, and creamy Maine crab-corn chowder. He occasionally even offers that old Yankee standby for dessert, Boston cream pie, but his signature chocolate bread pudding with caramelized rum bananas and vanilla bean ice cream is always available. Purchase a stuffed Henrietta pig in the small gift shop. Grab a seat at the U-shape bar (next to the photo of Henrietta with Pres. Bill Clinton) to enjoy a preprandial coffee, cocktail, or zero-proof refreshment, or head outside in spring or summer to dine al fresco in the large outdoor patio.

Since 1981, J.P. Licks has been serving up delicious homemade ice cream and frozen yogurt, later adding its own roasted coffee and baked goods, in a fun, funky atmosphere. This is the original shop, but outposts can be found all over the city, all with the same great flavors and service. You can pop in for a latte and scone in the morning and return in the afternoon for a scoop or a frappe. In warm weather, the outdoor patio is packed with ice cream lovers.

The signature Curley Burger is what originally brought in crowds when this place opened years ago, and it's still very much a staple of the menu, but there's way more American comfort food to pick from. If you're looking for a nosh after 11 pm, you can order up snacks like corn dogs and chicken wings until 1:30 am—a rarity in Boston. Less well known is Bogie's Place, a secret-ish room that serves up steaks and caviar service from behind a curtain. 

This is a solid spot for great burgers, pizzas, and brews, though a full bar and a few pasta and main dishes, such as chicken marsala and mac and cheese, are also on offer. Somewhat rare for the neighborhood, the restaurant is open daily for breakfast/brunch with an extensive menu of classics, like eggs Benedict, Belgian waffles, and pancakes.

The huge, juicy roast-beef sandwiches served at Kelly's Roast Beef, a local institution since 1951, are the sole reason some Bostonians make the trek to Revere. Other menu favorites include the fried clams and hand-breaded onion rings. It's open from 5 am to 2:30 am Sunday through Thursday, and until 3 am Friday and Saturday.