390 Best Restaurants in Massachusetts, USA

This local hangout is a true community space, with everyone from commuters grabbing an organic coffee and a pastry in the morning to locals enjoying a soup-and-sandwich combo at lunch to students snacking on a muffin while doing their homework in the afternoon. The owners pride themselves on offering an inclusive space and using sustainable practices, such as using compostable products instead of plastic.

Another addition to the already impressive dossier of hot spots from local restaurateur Frank DePasquale, this classic Italian steak house features rustic cuisine influenced by the Umbria region as well as a selection of steak cuts, house-made pasta, and local seafood. Pair a delicious glass of red with classic dishes and a variety of decadent beef cuts—from a rich and nutty 55-day dry-aged New York bone-in sirloin to a gentle Japanese Wagyu sirloin to a grass-fed Tomahawk rib eye for two. Venture up to Mia, the North End’s newest and only roof deck bar, for specialty apps designed for sharing, signature cocktails, and music.

Inside the tasteful boutique Eliot Hotel lies an innovative izakaya (informal Japanese gastropub) helmed by chef-owner Ken Oringer and executive chef David Bazirgan, who offer boldly flavored renditions of Asian street food—grilled eel, Wagyu beef dumplings, chow fun noodles, Dungeness crab fried rice, and dozens of tempting sashimi and nigiri choices. Although the bites can add up price-wise, the menu has a sprinkling of inexpensive dishes, like Kurobuta spare rib and blistered shishito peppers. Cocktail aficionados will appreciate the creative and sophisticated offerings, and it's worth checking out the extensive reserve sake menu.

Opening its doors 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), as you 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 are the simple and hearty portions of Yankee-style seafood and steaming bowls of chowder. Those in the know call ahead for the Shore Dinner, 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.

Walk into the Upper Crust's first location, and you'll see the staff pulling scratch-made dough in the open kitchen. The Neapolitan-style pizza—you can order by the slice (they're huge) or by the pie—is really tasty, and toppings go creatively beyond a classic cheese or pepperoni. We recommend ordering at the Beacon Hill shop and eating at the few stools there or taking it to-go and heading for Boston Common, which is just a short walk away, rather than utilizing the delivery service.

This California-based fast-food chain makes living that plant-based life a little easier. The extensive meat-free menu features burgers, sandwiches, entrée salads, tacos, burritos, and desserts sans meat, dairy, eggs, and other animal products, so you can fill up on tasty meals without sacrificing any dietary restrictions. Go bowl or go home, with heaping mounds of ancient grains and veggies, topped with plant-based proteins and spices; or enjoy a sunrise kimchi Beyond Burger or crispy chick’n parm. Snack on the popular nachos or buffalo chick'n wings, and wash it all down with their fountain ginger hibiscus or pomegranate green iced tea.

Inspired by Copenhagen's Vesterbro meatpacking district, this edgy café caters to South Boston's residents on weekdays. Everything is made to order, whether you are looking at a selection of toasts, breakfast sandwiches, salads, or wraps, and there's a selection of fresh pastries to go with tea, coffee, and espresso drinks.

Since 1961, this bustling Italian bakery and deli has been making fresh breads and rolls, serving some of the tastiest sandwiches around. One of the shop's signatures is the now-famous Saint Joseph Sandwich, made with their Italian bread stuffed with Italian deli meats, olive oil, and oregano. Pick up one (or two), along with other grocery items, before heading to the beach for a picnic.

Although this place looks like it could be part nightclub, the soup here is no joke. Each bowl of broth has been simmered over a long stretch to create a rich and flavorful base for a dozen varieties of ramen topped with fresh ingredients. There's a great selection of sake and soju (a rice alcohol), including a house sake brewed in the United States.

Built in 1780 and reportedly one of the country's oldest taverns, this restored Colonial neighborhood pub in the quaint and historic gaslight district was once frequented by George Washington and Paul Revere. After a blustery walk through the Navy Yard, grab a seat by the fireplace and warm yourself with hearty chowder, lobster mac, or short rib shepherd's pie and a Sam Adams draft. Named after Dr. Joseph Warren, a physician and one of the revolutionary leaders killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill, the tavern was one of the first buildings reconstructed after the Battle of Bunker Hill, which leveled Charlestown. The building still oozes history, with beamed ceilings made from salvaged Charlestown Navy Yard wood, dark woods, low lighting, and large fireplace reflecting its Colonial roots.

Aptly named for a plot on a map, Waypoint is a step on the path to coastal-inspired fare that includes an excellent raw bar with crudo, bivalves, and the celebrated caviar served with doughnut holes. On the menu, as an homage to the ocean, are whole-fish roasts and indulgent seafood pasta dishes, as well as slow-roasted meats and inventive pizzas for landlubbers. The creative cocktail program is highlighted by several varieties of absinthe served from copper, twist-top faucets.

Overlooking the Bridge of Flowers and Deerfield River, this quaint upscale pub filled with plants and local artwork is a charming place to catch lunch. Tables on the enclosed porch offer a nice view while you enjoy a hearty burger or fancy salad.

This small bakery is big on cupcake creativity. Beyond your basic vanilla or chocolate, this spot offers flavors like Root Beer Float, Strawberry Crunch, and the occasional Unicorn Poop, which is a fun, colorful sprinkle concoction.

When Chef Christopher Stam and the Alchemy crew opened a burger joint in a strip mall, the Vineyard took notice. Happy to report that this simple spot (just a few tables and some plants, with a take-out counter) is a fun find in Edgartown—and a nice respite from the eye-popping prices at the fancy spots. You wouldn't plan an anniversary dinner here, for sure, but the smash burgers are tasty and the veggie burgers pack some flavor. Sides include shakes, onion rings, and salty skinny fries.

This small South End spot might be unassuming, but its chef-founder, Yisha Sua, earned herself a James Beard Foundation Award Best Chef Northeast nomination in 2023. Enjoy classics like spring rolls, garlic shrimp, and General Gao’s chicken, or try authentic Dian dishes found nowhere else in Boston, such as wood ear mushroom salad, Grandma’s Potatoes, mint beef, and the sharable Xishuangbanna lemongrass tilapia. It has a sister restaurant, South of the Clouds, in Brighton, known for its Yunnan rice noodles.

This contemporary version of a Jewish delicatessen offers genuinely lean corned beef, chicken matzo ball soup, and a lovely whitefish salad plate. If you believe breakfast is the most important meal, you'll be happy to know it's served all day, so you can skip the hour-long weekend brunch waits elsewhere and enjoy the area's best pancakes, Benedicts, and stuffed French toast any weekday. You can also easily make a meal of the delicious potato pancakes with homemade applesauce and sour cream. If you have room, cheesecake or treats from the bakery case await.

Algiers Coffee House, upstairs from the Brattle Theatre, is a favorite evening hangout for young actors and artists. Linger over mint tea or a plate of hummus, or enjoy a glass of wine on the second-floor terrace and watch the world go by.

Cozy, clustered tables fill both floors at this genuine Middle Eastern café, where you can peer at soaring, wood-paneled cathedral ceilings as you listen to classical music. The updated menu at this beloved Harvard Square landmark includes beer and wine, as well as pita bread, hummus, tabbouleh, varied salads, exotic teas, and strong coffee—Arabic or Turkish, brewed in a brass briki (brass or copper pot). Service tends toward low-key; visit when you're in the mood to linger over conversation or a novel.

Once beyond the vicinity of Harvard Square, Brattle Street lacks eateries, so before your walk consider stocking up at Darwin's Ltd. on Mt. Auburn, which carries delectable, Cambridge-inspired sandwiches and other "comestibles and caffeinated provisions."

Recharge with a fresh-baked sticky bun and oversize mug of coffee at this South End favorite. Award-winning chef Joanne Chang and her staff serve up delicious creations including soups, hearty salads, and sandwiches. There are additional locations in South End, Fort Point Channel, and Back Bay in Boston, and Central Square and Harvard Square in Cambridge.

A good spot to refuel on a budget is Flour Bakery + Café, a perennial candidate for Boston's best sandwiches and stuffed bread. Also superb are the fresh pizzas, dinner specials, and delicious pastries. You may end up taking home one of their cookbooks as a sweet keepsake.

Here's a happy reminder that dinner with children doesn't have to mean hamburgers and juice for everyone. While the youngsters race around the designated play space with sippy cups before noshing on hot dogs and homemade mac and cheese, parents can sip sangria, beer, or any one of the carefully chosen wines before tucking into more sophisticated fare, such as grilled salmon or sirloin with blue-cheese butter, arugula, and fries. Come dessert, kids can order the chocolate chip cookie as big as their head, while parents can get their own sugar fix with some warm maple bread pudding topped with whipped cream. Folks visiting sans child may want to ask for one of the grown-ups tables in the quiet, screened-off area near the front, but they also might want to consider another restaurant altogether: diners have compared the place to a day-care center or romper room.

The Hi-Rise Bread Company, just on the edge of Harvard Square, is a nice stop for a pick-me-up coffee, fresh-baked treat, or fantastic sandwich on homemade bread. It's a great spot for people-watching and the espresso is excellent.

The locally owned-and-operated J.P. Licks scoops homemade ice cream, frozen yogurts, sherbet, and sorbet in all the basic varieties, plus there are non-dairy, gluten-free, and vegan options, and seasonal flavors like Apple Crisp and Fresh Cucumber. There are 13 locations in and around Boston.

Here, chef-owner Tony Maws uses the same high-quality ingredients he cooks with at his fine dining establishment, Craigie On Main, but turns them into the rustic, belly-warming fare he makes for his family at home—crispy pork ribs with spicy BBQ sauce, wood-fired grilled chicken and child-friendly house-made hot dogs and spaghetti with meat sauce. Communal tables, wood floors, and brick walls contribute to the laid-back vibe, along with a 14-seat bar serving simple but tasty cocktails, artisanal beers, and off-beat wines. It's billed as a "neighborhood joint," but given the families, students, and city folk filling the tables, clearly word has gotten out.

A rotating gallery of Persian art adorns the walls of this pearl-gray eatery specializing in home-style Iranian dishes. Along with classics such as fesejan, duck leg in a satiny pomegranate-walnut sauce, you'll find brain fritters, smoky eggplant puree, pollo (rice dishes), kebabs, and richly spiced lamb stews, including one seasoned with dried lime. The staff obviously enjoys explaining the menu, and the wine list is well selected for foods that often defy wine matches.

What began as a tiny restaurant adjacent to a Cambridge fish market has grown to important regional status, with more than 30 East Coast locations, including almost a dozen in Boston. The hallmark is the freshest possible seafood, whether you have it wood-grilled, in New England chowder, or doused in an Asia-inspired sauce. The jumbo lump crab cakes are divine (no fillers) and the clam chowder is so good it has become a menu staple at presidential inaugurations. For a true taste of New England, don't miss the golden cracker-crowned baked lobster stuffed with shrimp and scallops, one of the most popular entrées at all Legal restaurants.

Toscanini's Ice Cream is a well-loved local spot, specializing in all sorts of creative flavors; it has garnered national attention from the likes of the New York Times and People magazine. Also a good place for coffee, the shop frequently has small art exhibits. From the MIT Museum, it's two blocks up Mass Ave. toward Central Square; look for it on the right.

Stop here for some ultra-thin-crust slices to go.