Guidebook for Boston
Parks & Nature
One of the most beautiful urban parks in the country. You're missing out if you stay in Beacon Hill and don't visit this park at least once.
440 locals recommend
Boston Public Garden
One of the most beautiful urban parks in the country. You're missing out if you stay in Beacon Hill and don't visit this park at least once.
Colonian English-style town common, and a great shortcut (via Joy Street) if you're walking to Chinatown, Downtown, the Theater District, Leather District, etc.
567 locals recommend
Boston Common
139 Boylston StColonian English-style town common, and a great shortcut (via Joy Street) if you're walking to Chinatown, Downtown, the Theater District, Leather District, etc.
Essentials
Whole Foods Market
413 Centre StNearest full-size grocery store, 5-minute walk.
Beacon Hill Market
55 Anderson StClosest mini mart, just around the corner.
Closest pharmacy to the apartment, next to the Red Line station. There's another CVS next door to Whole Foods, which is only slightly farther but much bigger.
429 locals recommend
CVS
624 Massachusetts AveClosest pharmacy to the apartment, next to the Red Line station. There's another CVS next door to Whole Foods, which is only slightly farther but much bigger.
Second-closest pharmacy to the apartment: slightly farther than the CVS by the Red Line station but much bigger and next door to Whole Foods.
429 locals recommend
CVS
624 Massachusetts AveSecond-closest pharmacy to the apartment: slightly farther than the CVS by the Red Line station but much bigger and next door to Whole Foods.
One block down the hill but they have removable lint traps in the dryers, which you can empty to speed up drying times.
16 locals recommend
Home Style Laundry
60 Phillips StOne block down the hill but they have removable lint traps in the dryers, which you can empty to speed up drying times.
Food Scene
J.P. Licks
659 Centre StThe best ice cream place in Boston now has a location in Beacon Hill.
Thinking Cup
165 Tremont StGood coffee (Stumptown) and pastries.
Super greasy low-brow pizza by the slice. Open very late on weekends and very close to the apartment. Good post-bar soakage.
Felcaro Pizzeria
280 Cambridge StSuper greasy low-brow pizza by the slice. Open very late on weekends and very close to the apartment. Good post-bar soakage.
A Boston institution for breakfast/brunch. They've been here forever and there's often a line in the morning but it moves quickly. Very neighborhoody feel.
152 locals recommend
The Paramount
44 Charles StreetA Boston institution for breakfast/brunch. They've been here forever and there's often a line in the morning but it moves quickly. Very neighborhoody feel.
Bakery/cafe, and a nice place to sit for coffee or breakfast.
15 locals recommend
Panificio Bistro & Bakery
144 Charles StBakery/cafe, and a nice place to sit for coffee or breakfast.
The Upper Crust Pizzeria
20 Charles StGood pizza, by the slice.
There are lots of good restaurants in the South End but this is one of the best. Take the SL5 (Silver Line) from Downtown, or walk or Hubway.
168 locals recommend
Toro Boston
1704 Washington StThere are lots of good restaurants in the South End but this is one of the best. Take the SL5 (Silver Line) from Downtown, or walk or Hubway.
Excellent sandwiches, and one of the tiniest restaurants you'll ever see. In the often overlooked and very small colonial/Georgian neighborhood of Bay Village.
24 locals recommend
Mike & Patty's
12 Church StExcellent sandwiches, and one of the tiniest restaurants you'll ever see. In the often overlooked and very small colonial/Georgian neighborhood of Bay Village.
Much of the good yet inexpensive food around downtown is in Chinatown. This is one of the better ones, though some people prefer the Gourmet Dumpling House around the corner.
17 locals recommend
Dumpling Cafe
695 Washington StMuch of the good yet inexpensive food around downtown is in Chinatown. This is one of the better ones, though some people prefer the Gourmet Dumpling House around the corner.
Great ramen place with hand-pulled noodles and only two items on the menu: ramen with 2 pieces of pork and ramen with 5 pieces of pork. Call ahead to make sure they'll be open, expect to wait in line (or arrive early) before they open at 5, and prepare for a food coma. Red Line to Porter.
34 locals recommend
Yume Wo Katare
1923 Massachusetts AveGreat ramen place with hand-pulled noodles and only two items on the menu: ramen with 2 pieces of pork and ramen with 5 pieces of pork. Call ahead to make sure they'll be open, expect to wait in line (or arrive early) before they open at 5, and prepare for a food coma. Red Line to Porter.
Not as great (and not as food-coma-inducing) as Yume Wo Katare but still pretty good. And more options, and a shorter line. Red Line to Porter
19 locals recommend
Sapporo Ramen
1815 Massachusetts AveNot as great (and not as food-coma-inducing) as Yume Wo Katare but still pretty good. And more options, and a shorter line. Red Line to Porter
A nice walk from the flat via Joy Street and the Common, or a hop on the SL5 (or SL4).
64 locals recommend
Myers+Chang
1145 Washington StA nice walk from the flat via Joy Street and the Common, or a hop on the SL5 (or SL4).
Pricey hotel restaurant which I can't necessarily recommend (I haven't eaten a meal there), but it's where the Parker House roll and the Boston cream pie were invented so it may be worth popping in for dessert. Malcolm X and Ho Chi Minh supposedly worked here in their formative years!
Omni Parker House
60 School StPricey hotel restaurant which I can't necessarily recommend (I haven't eaten a meal there), but it's where the Parker House roll and the Boston cream pie were invented so it may be worth popping in for dessert. Malcolm X and Ho Chi Minh supposedly worked here in their formative years!
One of the best restaurants in town. Pricey but casual-ish, with a changing menu and daily multi-course set menu. Reservations are recommended for dinner, although their burger is rumored to be excellent and you can order it at the bar (reservation not required) until they're sold out. Take the Red Line to two stops, to Central Square.
73 locals recommend
Craigie On Main
853 Main StOne of the best restaurants in town. Pricey but casual-ish, with a changing menu and daily multi-course set menu. Reservations are recommended for dinner, although their burger is rumored to be excellent and you can order it at the bar (reservation not required) until they're sold out. Take the Red Line to two stops, to Central Square.
Fire-engine-red food truck with nothing but $1.50 skewers. Grab one (or three) if you happen to be passing by. Southwest corner of Boylston (Essex) and Washington, or google for times/locations
China Trade Center
2 Boylston StFire-engine-red food truck with nothing but $1.50 skewers. Grab one (or three) if you happen to be passing by. Southwest corner of Boylston (Essex) and Washington, or google for times/locations
The coffee isn't as good as Peet's across the Street but the food is better. Perhaps the only patio seating on Charles Street. Often packed with neighborhood folks.
212 locals recommend
Tatte Bakery & Café
70 Charles StThe coffee isn't as good as Peet's across the Street but the food is better. Perhaps the only patio seating on Charles Street. Often packed with neighborhood folks.
Peet's Coffee
285 Harvard StGood coffee, and comfy indoor seating with a nice view.
Ogawa Coffee
10 Milk StGood espresso drinks
Good fast food, which happens to be vegetarian of high quality. They now have a few locations around town in addition to their food trucks.
106 locals recommend
Clover Food Lab
1075 Cambridge StGood fast food, which happens to be vegetarian of high quality. They now have a few locations around town in addition to their food trucks.
Pretty good tacos for Boston. A bit far from the apartment but worthwhile if you'll happen to be in Allston.
57 locals recommend
Lone Star Taco Bar
635 Cambridge StPretty good tacos for Boston. A bit far from the apartment but worthwhile if you'll happen to be in Allston.
Pretty good tacos for Boston. A bit far from the apartment but worthwhile if you'll happen to be in Allston. They have a new location in Cambridge now too.
57 locals recommend
Lone Star Taco Bar
635 Cambridge StPretty good tacos for Boston. A bit far from the apartment but worthwhile if you'll happen to be in Allston. They have a new location in Cambridge now too.
Oleana
134 Hampshire StVery good food, sort of modern and Turkish/Mediterranean-ish.
Very good northern-Italian-style food, especially their home-cured meats and a good wine selection.
64 locals recommend
Coppa Enoteca
253 Shawmut AveVery good northern-Italian-style food, especially their home-cured meats and a good wine selection.
Good fast food, which happens to be vegetarian of high quality. They now have a few locations around town in addition to their food trucks
106 locals recommend
Clover Food Lab
1075 Cambridge StGood fast food, which happens to be vegetarian of high quality. They now have a few locations around town in addition to their food trucks
Good fast food, which happens to be vegetarian of high quality. They now have a few locations around town in addition to their food trucks
106 locals recommend
Clover Food Lab
1075 Cambridge StGood fast food, which happens to be vegetarian of high quality. They now have a few locations around town in addition to their food trucks
Good fast food, which happens to be vegetarian of high quality. They now have a few locations around town in addition to their food trucks
106 locals recommend
Clover Food Lab
1075 Cambridge StGood fast food, which happens to be vegetarian of high quality. They now have a few locations around town in addition to their food trucks
Good fast food, which happens to be vegetarian of high quality. They now have a few locations around town in addition to their food trucks
106 locals recommend
Clover Food Lab
1075 Cambridge StGood fast food, which happens to be vegetarian of high quality. They now have a few locations around town in addition to their food trucks
Good fast food, which happens to be vegetarian of high quality. They now have a few locations around town in addition to their food trucks
106 locals recommend
Clover Food Lab
1075 Cambridge StGood fast food, which happens to be vegetarian of high quality. They now have a few locations around town in addition to their food trucks
Flour Bakery
1595 Washington StFlour Bakery
1595 Washington StL.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates
52 Brattle StVery good chocolates.
Everything Else
Nearest transit station, MBTA Red Line. Free transfer to all Green, Orange, and Silver Lines, and buses.
57 locals recommend
Charles/MGH station
Nearest transit station, MBTA Red Line. Free transfer to all Green, Orange, and Silver Lines, and buses.
Sightseeing
The most prestigious residential block in New England. Reminiscent of London with its gated privately shared green, and in the (relative) understatedness of the homes. Gawk at John Kerry's townhouse.
14 locals recommend
Louisburg Square
10 Louisburg SquareThe most prestigious residential block in New England. Reminiscent of London with its gated privately shared green, and in the (relative) understatedness of the homes. Gawk at John Kerry's townhouse.
This federal building has been converted into condos/timeshares, but you can still grab a drink and take the elevator up to the observation deck and see the city. Check online for times and hours.
Marriott Vacation Club Pulse at Custom House, Boston
3 McKinley SquareThis federal building has been converted into condos/timeshares, but you can still grab a drink and take the elevator up to the observation deck and see the city. Check online for times and hours.
Arts & Culture
The perfect place to see a free concert while picnicking on a summer evening (various local orchestras, choirs, operas, etc.).
45 locals recommend
Hatch Memorial Shell
47 David G Mugar WayThe perfect place to see a free concert while picnicking on a summer evening (various local orchestras, choirs, operas, etc.).
One of the "Big Five" American symphony orchestras in the second-best sounding hall on the planet. If you're under the age of 40, search the web for "BSO 20 under 40" to get $20 tickets.
111 locals recommend
Boston Symphony Orchestra
301 Massachusetts AveOne of the "Big Five" American symphony orchestras in the second-best sounding hall on the planet. If you're under the age of 40, search the web for "BSO 20 under 40" to get $20 tickets.
Check out Arthur Ganson's kinetic sculptures in their permanent collection. Red Line to Central or Kendall.
105 locals recommend
MIT Museum
314 Massachusetts AveCheck out Arthur Ganson's kinetic sculptures in their permanent collection. Red Line to Central or Kendall.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
25 Evans WayIf you go to the MFA consider the Gardener too.
If you go to the Gardner Musem, consider the MFA too.
1042 locals recommend
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington AveIf you go to the Gardner Musem, consider the MFA too.
A small permanent collection but check out the events and exhibits. A nice place to view the harbor, especially if you're up for a bike ride or a walk through downtown or along the waterfront.
299 locals recommend
Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston
25 Harbor Shore DrA small permanent collection but check out the events and exhibits. A nice place to view the harbor, especially if you're up for a bike ride or a walk through downtown or along the waterfront.
Harvard Museum of Natural History
26 Oxford StHarvard Art Museums
32 Quincy StMuseum of Comparative Zoology
26 Oxford StEntertainment & Activities
Relatively cheap sailing lessons/classes, and very close to home.
17 locals recommend
Community Boating Inc.
21 David G Mugar WayRelatively cheap sailing lessons/classes, and very close to home.
AMC Boston Common 19
175 Tremont StA good independent movie theater just off the Green Line "C" branch.
194 locals recommend
Coolidge Corner Theatre
290 Harvard StA good independent movie theater just off the Green Line "C" branch.
If you like film, check the calendar of the HFA (http://hcl.harvard.edu/hfa/) to see what's playing during your stay. Screenings are often accompanied by lectures or filmmaker talks. If you're interested in architecture, the building was designed by Le Corbusier and is his only building in North America.
12 locals recommend
Harvard Film Archive
24 Quincy StreetIf you like film, check the calendar of the HFA (http://hcl.harvard.edu/hfa/) to see what's playing during your stay. Screenings are often accompanied by lectures or filmmaker talks. If you're interested in architecture, the building was designed by Le Corbusier and is his only building in North America.