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For a meal on the waterfront, try Pier 6 in the Charlestown Navy Yard just steps from the USS Constitution, where you'll be treated to New England seafood coupled with outstanding harbor views. Plates are piled high with fried calamari, seared octopus, and lobster rolls, and the giant shellfish platter of local oysters, clams, shrimp, and lobster will draw all eyes to your table. Whether you're upstairs on the roof deck, outside on the large patio and bar, or in the dining room with floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors, there isn't a bad seat in the place. Three seasons of the year, the mahogany bar on outdoor patio is packed during the evenings for cocktails (perhaps a Pier 6 Painkiller or a Chai Cold Brew Martini) with the after-work and singles crowd. Through the night, small pleasure crafts slowly approach the moorings as their captains hop out for a cocktail and a quick bite. Spring and summer brings a complimentary weekend boat shuttle from the ReelHouse in East Boston.
1 8th St., Boston, Massachusetts, 02129, USA
Known For
- Waterfront location
- Lively cocktail scene
- Fresh shellfish dishes
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$$$ | Back Bay |
In a pristine white space next to the Prudential Center, beloved local chef/co-owner Jody Adams takes Mediterranean fare up a notch, with starters like Spanish octopus, local burrata, and meatballs, and entrées like whole roasted branzino and house-made pastas wowing diners. Other popular dishes include grilled lamb chops and saffron mussels. In good weather, the outdoor bar and patio is a bustling spot to drink and dine.
Ring Rd., Boston, Massachusetts, 02199, USA
Known For
- Artful seafood preparations
- Bountiful raw bar
- Elegant Back Bay setting
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$$$ | North End |
When the pizzaiolo (certified pizza maker noted by the Napoli Pizza Council) is from Naples and he works on a hand-built brick Marra Forni pizza oven, chances are he's churning out some authentic Neapolitan pizza. Toppings stay simple, with four-cheese, margarita, or prosciutto, while creative combos also keep the customers coming back. Not a fan of the red sauce? Try their white pizzas, with either figs, arugula and goat cheese, or potato and herb. While it's known for its piping hot pies, this lively also serves Italian classics such as chicken parm, cacciatore, and caprese ravioli, along with unique dishes like shrimp limoncello and Italian squash blossoms.
264 Hanover St., Boston, Massachusetts, 02113, USA
Known For
- Piping hot pies
- Shrimp limoncello
- Authentic Neapolitan pizza
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$$$ | Back Bay |
This two-story French-inspired bistro and café offers a stylish spot to sip a latte and enjoy a quiche in the morning, power lunch at midday, or dine on dishes like duck l'orange or the plate of the day, such as lemon chicken tagine or trout almandine at night. The weekend brunch menu includes classics, like croque madame, with ham, Gruyère and bechamel on brioche, topped with a sunny-side-up egg, and a to-die-for cinnamon skillet bread. The decor channels Paris, with lots of subway tiles, copper accents, and art nouveau touches. Two bars, one on each level, offer plenty of space to spread out.
900 Boylston St., Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
Known For
- First-floor bar scene
- Onsite to-go café
- Buzzy scene
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$$$ | Back Bay |
Café society blossoms along Newbury Street, particularly at Sonsie, where a well-heeled crowd sips coffee up front or angles for places at the bar. Lunch and dinner dishes veer toward basic bistro fare with an American twist, such as kale Caesar salad with grilled chicken and pan-roasted salmon with potatoes, chard, and beet "ketchup." The restaurant is terrific for weekend brunch, when the light pours through the long windows, and is at its most vibrant in warm weather, when the open doors make for stellar people-watching. A downstairs wine room, meanwhile, offers more intimacy. The late-night pizza and dessert menu (nightly until at least midnight) is perfect for after-hours cravings, including their famous espresso martini.
327 Newbury St., Boston, Massachusetts, 02116, USA
Known For
- American bistro favorites
- Sceney vibe
- Sunday brunch
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$ | South End |
SRV, short for Serene Republic of Venice, bills itself as a bacaro, or Italian wine bar, which in the South End translates into a happening cocktail scene. The chic set gathers to sip on aperitifs like Aperol Spritz and negroni bianco before tucking into tantalizing small plates and hand-crafted pastas made from flour the chefs mill themselves from durum wheat berries. Sharing is the way to go and once you've forked up some two-bite pork-beef meatballs and marinated olives it's time for pastas and risottos, like the ricotta gnudi or potato, asiago, and rabbit tortelli.
569 Columbus St., Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, USA
Known For
- Venetian bar bites
- Cocktail party buzz
- Casual, fun feel
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$ | Back Bay |
Here's comfort food at its best—sophisticated enough for adults (lobster pot pie), yet simple enough for kids (burgers and pasta). The attractive space has plenty of booths for spreading out in, and the great patio is a lively spot in summer. It's the perfect people-watching perch as you dine on dishes such as decadent three-cheese macaroni, Stephi's burger, and huge Back Bay chopped salad.
190 Newbury St., Boston, Massachusetts, 02116, USA
Known For
- Burgers
- Large portions
- People-watching from the patio
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$$$ | Back Bay |
Boston uberchef Jasper White's casual New England seafood restaurant is a boisterous, bright, fun eatery next to the Prudential Center (he also has one in Cambridge and at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut), where creamy clam chowder and fried Ipswich clams share menu space with golden crab cakes and cedar-planked, maple-lemon–glazed salmon. In addition to a handful of chicken and meat dishes for those not into seafood, White features some of the most succulent lobsters in the city (he has a patented process for cooking them). Go super local with a traditional New England clam bake, complete with red potatoes, corn, linguica, clams, and mussels served in a net bag.
50 Dalton St., Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
Known For
- Fresh seafood
- Succulent lobster
- Fun, casual atmosphere
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$$$ | |
Decked out in cheery colors of yellow, red, and green, this popular, somewhat touristy spot has the feel of a seaside clam shack located smack dab in the middle of Boston. An outdoor patio and lobster tent in summer features stunning views of the Financial District; in winter, dining retreats indoors to a warmhearted version of a waterfront dive, where you'll encounter a classic New England clambake or oysters and littlenecks from the raw bar, followed by meaty, golden crab cakes. Expect big crowds and big prices, especially on warm-weather evenings.
88 Sleeper St., Boston, Massachusetts, 02210, USA
Known For
- Lobster rolls
- Crowds in summer
- Water views
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$$$ | Harvard Square |
This dimly lit, nautically inspired spot pays homage to the ocean in not only decor but tasty fare. Against a backdrop of sailing ships and vessels, antiqued mirrors, and chandelier bubble-like bulbs, day-time appetites fill up on beer-battered fish-and-chips, po'boys, and lobster rolls, while the dinner crowd enjoys entrées like bucatini frutti di mare, seared scallops, swordfish tacos, and an oyster bar that features dozens of the bivalve beauties, as well as a massive chilled grand seafood tower. Even the cocktail list gives a nod to life at sea, with names like the tequila-based Oyster Shooter, an Irish whiskey concoction known as Fool's Gold, and the Bow & Arrow rum drink.
15 Dunster St., Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138, USA
Known For
- Cozy atmosphere
- Chilled seafood tower
- Quick bar dining
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$$$ | Kendall Square |
With three foodie destinations under one roof, The Shed is a dining hat trick right in the middle of Cambridge Crossing's Picnic Grove (a new green area in the heart of the city). The Lexington is chef/owner Will Gilson's shining star of the space, serving up dishes that highlight foods from The Herb Lyceum, a four-acre working farm in Groton operated by his family since the 1800s. Dine high above the city on the restaurant's coveted roof deck. Favorites have included grilled Berkshire chops, rabbit mafadine, mushroom tartine, and spring rigatone. The Shed also is home to sister eateries Cafe Beatrice, an early-morning breakfast spot, and Geppetto, an eatery for all things Italian.
100 N First St., Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02141, USA
Known For
- Crafty cocktails
- Amazing patio scene
- Fresh ingredients from the chef's family farm
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$$$ | Downtown |
Dig into snack items and meals with global flourishes at this dark-wood and leather-dressed restaurant. You may need to use your phone to light up the menu before ordering—it can get pretty dark inside. Into the evening, as it would at any social hot spot, the convivial din gets louder, especially at the bar.
60 Franklin St., Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Known For
- Signature buffalo cauliflower
- Extensive local beer selection
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$$$ | North End |
An intrigue in both meaning and sentiment, this captivating North End trattoria on historic Hanover Street serves up multiregional Italian cuisine through fresh and fine ingredients that fuse together the sights, scents, and tastes of the Old Country. Styled after a Tuscan villa, the dark woods, candles, dim lighting, and marble accents build the perfect surroundings for sipping fine Italian wines from one of the area’s most extensive wine lists. Handmade pastas, Vitello Milanese, Risotto di Capesante (pan-seared sweet sea scallops with brown butter and sage atop seasonal vegetable risotto), Rich's Famous Lasagna Bolognese, and Swordfish Puttanesca all keep mouths watering. Sweet teeth adore the Italian donut holes and chocolate cookie pot pie. A coveted spot is the #77 table (named for co-owner Bruins hockey legend Ray Bourque) for two overlooking busy Hanover Street. It's known as the most romantic table in Boston, so call ahead to beat others to the lovebird’s eye view.
233 Hanover St., Boston, Massachusetts, 02113, USA
Known For
- Balcony seating for two
- Owned by Bruins hockey legend Ray Bourque
- Old-school Italian dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: validate parking at the Haymarket Garage ($3 for 3 hours)
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$$$ | Government Center |
Opening its door in 1826 and earning a place on the National Historic Landmark list, the Union Oyster House is Boston's oldest restaurant. Dine like Daniel Webster (alongside his nightly hangover-heavy tumbler of brandy and water) and order oysters on the half shell at the ground-floor raw bar in the oldest part of the restaurant. For a heartier meal, head to the dark and low-ceilinged upstairs via a narrow staircase (very Olde New England) to find “The Kennedy Booth,” the president's favorite. Small tables and chairs (as well as kitschy nostalgia) are charming, as is the simple and hearty portions of Yankee-style seafood and steaming bowls of chowder. The Shore Dinner is a New England feast of clam chowder, steamers or mussels, live lobster, native corn, red bliss potatoes, and gingerbread or Indian pudding. Sinking your teeth into more than you can handle? You aren’t the first. The toothpick was first used in the U.S. here. On weekends, make reservations or risk enduring waits of historic proportions. One cautionary note: locals hardly ever eat here.
41 Union St., Boston, Massachusetts, 02108, USA
Known For
- Oldest Boston restaurant
- Long waits on weekends
- Oysters