Boston
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Boston - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Leavitt & Peirce
Harvard SquareA throwback to another era, this storied museum-like tobacco shop has been in the same location since 1883, when it served as a clubby gathering spot for young Harvard men, who puffed away while playing pool on the back billiard tables. While Harvard oars, hockey sticks, and photos still adorn the ivy-green walls, the store now caters to a broader clientele in search of quality smoking items, old-fashioned straight razors and shave brushes, chess and checker sets, and small gift items, such as beer steins.
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2. The Harvard Coop
Harvard SquareWhat began in 1882 as a nonprofit service for students and faculty is now managed by Barnes & Noble College, a separate entity that manages college campus bookstores. Housed in the same location since 1906 and affectionately called The Coop (pronounced "coop," not "co-op"), the store sells books and textbooks (many discounted), school supplies, clothes, and accessories plastered with the Harvard emblem, as well as basic housewares geared toward dorm dwellers. If you need a public restroom, you'll find it here. And if you're looking for MIT swag, they have a location on that campus as well.
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3. Bonde Fine Wine Shop
Harvard SquareChallenging the very concept of a wine shop, Bonde is more like an experience, or a place you'll "bond" with the vintages. Owner Bertil Jean-Chronberg (one of America's only master sommeliers) sells only eco-responsible wines, 95% of which are from American micromakers. His wine accessories are unique—think swordfish tusk wine stoppers custom-made for the shop and stunning champagne sabres—and the tiny display table transforms to eight-person "Wednesday Wine Tastings" with food pairings.
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4. Cambridge Antique Market
Off the beaten track, this antiques hot spot has a selection bordering on overwhelming: five floors of goods from more than 150 dealers ranging from 19th-century furniture to vintage clothing, much of it reasonably priced. You can find everything from collectible magazines to China dolls, art work to fine silver. Head to the basement for a large selection of secondhand bikes.
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5. Cambridge Artists' Cooperative
Brattle StreetUnique, handcrafted ceramics, weavings, jewelry, paper, wood, and leatherwork fill this two-level artist-owned and -operated store, with more than 200 global artists represented—more than half of whom hail from New England. Spend time perusing the glass cases of artistic hand-crafted notions that greet you inside the front door, then stroll downstairs for wearable art in the forms of scarves, purses, and more.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. Concepts
Shoes/Luggage/Leather GoodsSneaker collectors love having what other people can't find and this store features exclusives by Nike, New Balance, Vans, Adidas, and others. Fanatics line up around the block when a limited-edition shoe debuts.
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7. Grolier Poetry Book Shop
Harvard SquareA beloved hangout for T. S. Eliot and E. E. Cummings when they attended Harvard, this tiny shop founded in 1927 carries classic, modern, and contemporary in-print poetry from all over the world.
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8. Harvard Book Store
Harvard SquareTime disappears as you browse the tables and shelves of this always-busy bookstore packed with new titles and used books, as well as remaindered books. Founded in 1932, the collection's diversity has made the store a favored destination for casual readers and academics alike, as they have plenty to discover within the floor-to-ceiling bookcases. You can also stock up on Harvard University gifts, or catch an author reading.
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9. Marathon Sports
Sporting GoodsKnown for its personalized service, Marathon gives advice for choosing the perfect shoe, whether you're a beginning walker or a serious sprinter. With numerous branches, including one in Boston (671 Boylston Street) and another in Brookline (1638 Beacon Street), this flagship store sees many a marathoner stopping in to buy shoes before the Boston race each spring.
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10. Mint Julep
ClothingCute dresses, playful skirts, and form-fitting tops make up the selection here. The Cambridge location is a little larger and easier to navigate, but Brookline houses the original.
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11. Raven Used Books
Harvard SquareLooking for a stash of scholarly or literary used books? The Raven attracts local students eager to unload their university press titles. The store stocks approximately 15,000 carefully used books on topics ranging from social and political theory to art and architecture and buys more than 1,000 books weekly, with discounts ranging from 50% to 80% off the cover price. It's situated next to the Christian Science Reading Room, in case you need a quiet place to settle down with your purchases.
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12. The Garment District
Kendall SquareStep into this warehouse-like building through the famous pink door and head to the second level to find a massive selection of vintage, used, and new clothing and accessories. Boston Costume, the sister business on the first floor, draws thrift pickers to the back room to paw through an 850-pound bale of clothes that's dumped on the floor each day (twice on Saturday and Sunday); items are sold for $2 per pound. Students crowd the entire store year-round, and everyone comes at Halloween for that perfect costume. They're also known for their vintage wears, dating back to the ’50s for as retro as you please.
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13. The Shops at the Garage
Harvard SquareDefinitely one of Harvard Square’s oddities, this multistory mini--shopping mall is in fact a converted parking garage with a winding walking ramp. Unique shopping opportunities include Hidden Treasures, Newbury Comics, The Hempest, and the cutesy little Japanese Anime Zakka. There’s a tattoo parlor for ink enthusiasts as well as a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream for frozen treats.
36 John F. Kennedy St., Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138, USA617-354–5096
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