Things To Do
Dorchester (where we live & Emmanuel works!)
Note: this is the biggest neighborhood in Boston so these recs only cover a small portion of what Dorchester has to offer! Home to Emmanuel's school, the Joseph Lee K-8 School. SIRI & EMMANUEL'S FAVORITE DORCHESTER THINGS: Neponset River Trail is our favorite place to walk along the river & estuary that leads into Boston Harbor! Fields Corner is home to our favorite Boston book store, Just-Bookish, and fave cafe, home.stead! ***HOT TAKE*** - we believe Via Cannuccia serves better Italian food than anything we've tried in the North End! Lower Mills restaurants are fun - we especially like Yellow Door Taqueria! Upham's Corner is home to Comfort Kitchen, our caterer! Try them out & reserve early! Dorchester Vietnamese food! Pho 2000, Huong Que Vietnamese Restaurant, and Ban Toi Restaurant, to name a few. Shanti for delicious Indian food! Dorchester Brewing Company and Boston Harbor Distillery have been fun hangs :)
Roxbury (where Siri works!)
Note: this is where Boston’s historically Black community is and has resided (among other parts of the city), and is Malcolm X’s old stomping grounds. Also home to Siri's school - the David A. Ellis Elementary School! Nubian Square (formerly Dudley Square) has many small, Black-owned shops such as Frugal Bookstore and Black Market, which is both a gallery and an initiative that runs various pop-up events in the area! Check out the Haley House Bakery & Cafe, former home of Boston's vibrant poetry community (it's temporarily closed but hopefully open again by this summer!) Other restaurants: Suya Joint, also in Nubian Square, is a popular Nigerian restaurant, P&R has cheap, good Jamaican food, and our current favorite spot on the Roxbury-Dorchester line for cheap, delicious Venezuelan food is Don Tequeño y Doña Arepa - some of Siri's students' families work there! We also highly recommend Madhouse Cafe for delicious coffee and Lebanese treats (not too far from Nubian Square)!
Emerald Necklace
Jamaica Plain is a great place to start walking the Emerald Necklace with its beautiful Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Pond, and Franklin Park - highly recommend getting some ice cream on Centre Street at JP Licks and walking around the pond with it! You can also go out to eat at any of the restaurants on Centre Street - see below for recs!
Jamaica Plain (where Siri lived & worked for 5 years!)
Definitely check out the parts connected to the Emerald Necklace, specifically Jamaica Pond, Franklin Park, and the Arnold Arboretum! Centre Street is a great place to walk and explore the restaurants. We enjoy JP Seafood, Soup Shack, Casa Verde (specifically for their tortas), Tres Gatos (a little pricey Spanish tapas with a cool record store in the back), When Pigs Fly (delicious bread bakery), and JP Licks ice cream! JP PLACES WE LOVE: Brassica, one of our favorite restaurants in the city! It’s pricey but truly delicious, unique food & drinks every time, and super friendly servers. Siri's friend Brenna works there and is wonderful - tell her Siri sent you if you go! Papercuts, a lovely independent bookstore, and the Lucy Parsons Center, a radical bookstore with random hours! Ula’s Cafe - a great spot to grab breakfast or hang out and get some work done! Close to Stony Brook on the Orange Line. Sam Adams Brewery - fun tour and lovely patio to hang out on a summer's day.
Downtown
Touristy things to do: Boston Commons and Public Gardens (truly very beautiful), the duck tours (actually so fun), the Freedom Trail & Black Heritage Trail tours. Chinatown!! A must-see and eat! Stop by one of the many Chinatown bakeries for a little midday snack along with some boba tea or get dim sum! If you’re a coffee drinker, George Horwell Coffee and The Thinking Cup are highly recommended by many. Siri loves Cafe Nero's hot chocolate! Check out Haymarket if you get the chance. The Boston Public Market there is fun, as is Faneuil Hall for the experience. For nightlife, Hong Kong if you are feeling rowdy and young. There’s a guy who passes out chicken teriyaki on skewers on the dance floor and female servers who bring around jello shots in syringes. That’s the vibe. If you’re feeling more fancy, there’s the haley.henry wine bar, which is pricey but has cool and unique wines. It’s a very small space, so get there early to reserve a seat, or put in a reservation online.
South End (where the wedding venue is!)
Historical "South End" of Downtown Boston and also a historical hub for Boston's Black community More Than Words, our wedding venue and a wonderful book store with a purpose, is located here! Feel free to check it out before the wedding and support their awesome work. Darryl's Corner Bar and Kitchen is here - a Black-owned restaurant with delicious soul food and good live jazz music; their Sunday brunch is fun too! Other restaurants we’ve enjoyed: Bar Mezzana, Barcelona (there’s also a location in Brookline), Toro, the Beehive (often have live music), and Fuji at Ink Block (great sushi & drinks). Also recommend checking out the SoWa Open Market if you can. It's open on Sundays from 11am - 4pm.
North End
The historical "North End" of Downtown Boston and also historically very Italian. Lots of spaghetti! Lots of Italian spots in general! We've enjoyed Trattoria il Panino, specifically the ravioli porcini entree and the shrimp al limoncello appetizer. We’ve also enjoyed Parla, a tiny spot with fun bartenders who make creative & whimsical drinks! Try the Dungeon Master for a real surprise :) Truthfully, however, we have had the best Italian food in Boston not in the North End, but in Dorchester at Via Cannuccia, so maybe you should just go there. There’s a stretch of parks in the North End (along the Rose Kennedy Greenway) that are fun to walk through. The old cobblestone streets are a classic Boston experience (and NOT a fun experience to drive through - do not drive here ever).
Back Bay/Copley
The Esplanade along the Charles River is the perfect place to have a sunset picnic by the Hatch Memorial Shell where the Boston Pops perform in the summer. There's often a pop-up brewery nearby and you can rent kayaks to go out on the river! Check out Copley Square and the Boston Public Library (Central Branch) - genuinely a sight to see and not just because we're librarians! The Prudential Center - you can’t miss its tower! It’s an indoor mall with lots of shops and places to eat like Boston’s own Eataly, the Cheesecake Factory, and Earls Kitchen and Bar. Newbury Street (expensive) is popular for shopping and eating. Trident Bookstore & Cafe is a highlight! Hecate is a super cool speakeasy with very friendly staff and unique cocktails! No reservations so arrive early to get your name on the wait list and then grab some food nearby while you wait! Buttermilk & Bourbon has yummy Nola-inspired Southern food (though if you’re actually from the South, don’t quote us on this hehe)
Allston/Brighton (E's family lived here when they moved to Boston & adult E lived here for 6 years!)
We LOVE Coreanos (fusion Korean-Mexican food - the chicken poppers, tteokbokki, and their Korean fried chicken are our faves). Siri loves visiting the Russian Bazaar because they sometimes sell Kalles Kaviar and always have lingonberries :) Lots of good Asian food in general in this neighborhood. Some other places we like are: Dolphin Bay, Oppa Sushi, Shabu-Zen (hot pot), and there are many more! We’ve enjoyed Lone Star for food and drinks. We also like Grasshopper for vegetarian Asian-inspired food. Music! There are really fun music venues in this area! Brighton Music Hall in Brighton and Paradise Rock Club in Allston. Roadrunner is a newer and BIG music venue in Allston that is also fun! Boston University and Boston College are located here, as is the Chestnut Hill Reservoir - a lovely spot for a peaceful walk!
Fenway–Kenmore
This is where Fenway Park is, if you’d like to see a Red Sox Game. #sports We like Lucky Strike, which is a fun bowling alley/arcade/pool hall that you have to be 21+ to enter. Next door is Loretta's Last Call, with 21+ weekly line dancing, live music, and a late night donut shop called Back Door Donuts open from 7pm-2am. There is a lot of nightlife here, but it’s pretty bro-ey. We like Sweet Cheeks for good barbecue and the Cheeky Monkey for drinks and pool, though it is also kind of bro-ey. That’s just the vibe here, in case you didn't get that. The House of Blues is a great concert venue in the area. There’s a Trillium Brewing location here. Blackbird Donuts is delicious and El Pelon Taqueria has a good burrito with plantains.
Longwood
This isn't a real Boston neighborhood as much as an area of Boston. The Longwood Medical and Academic Area is a medical campus in Boston. Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the Harvard School of Dental Medicine are all here but the reason we are listing it are the nearby museums which are definitely worth visiting! The Museum of Fine Arts is of course very impressive and often has fun, free events to check out while you’re in town. Another favorite is the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. It is just a beautiful, relaxing space with fascinating new exhibits and events all the time! It also feels small and manageable :) Northeastern University, MASSART College, and Wentworth are located nearby here as well.
Roslindale (featuring West Roxbury)
Roslindale and Roslindale Square are connected to the Arnold Arboretum which is one of the best places to walk and explore in Boston The Roslindale Farmers’ Market on Saturdays is something to check out! Exodus Bagels are AMAZING bagels (***HOT TAKE #2*** can actually compete with New York bagels!!) Distraction Brewing Company is a fun brewery in the area Sugar Baking Company (in West Roxbury but pretty close to Roslindale) is a popular bakery And if you are a thrifter and want to brave the deeps of West Roxbury, we recommend the Savers on VFW Pkwy
Southie AKA South Boston
GrandTen Distillery has fun tours and a nice space to hang out and play games! Castle Island is a good walk along the Boston Harbor here. We tend to think of Southie as “Young White Woman Central” (*it is historically “old Boston,” think “pahk your cahr in Hahvard Yahd” and there are still pockets of that, too, but it has been rapidly gentrified by yuppies) - there are lots of popular restaurants that are hard to get into unless you have reservations. We’ve enjoyed Lincoln and Loco Taqueria and Oyster Bar (across the street from each other). We really recommend Moonshine 152 (“East Coast & Asian flavors”) and Purple Shell (a sushi spot that is very instagrammable with lots of fire-related spectacles but also very delicious)
Hyde Park
The two of us don't find ourselves in Hyde Park all that often, but if you make your way there, here are a few recs! The Martini Memorial Shell Park has an amphitheater that occasionally hosts musical acts and outdoor movies and it's a good place for a walk. Stony Brook Reservation is also a lovely scenic area to walk and hike We really like Roundhead Brewing Co. - it's a cool space and also the first Latino-owned brewery in Massachusetts (it's Peruvian so they also sell their own version of chicha morada, a delicious purple corn juice)! The only restaurant we've been to here (outside of Emmanuel's childhood) was Park 54 which we recommend! There is also a Roti spot here, D Coal Spot, which we've been told (by folks we trust) is the best Roti spot in Boston (will update here once we've tried it)
East Boston (where Boston Logan Airport is)
Note: we don’t know East Boston very well sadly so our recs are surely lacking :/ The ICA has the Watershed location here which usually has a unique art installation. Revere Beach is not the best beach ever, but you can take a ferry from there to the Watershed. Piers Park is a huge park that you can walk along all the way to the airport (#funfact) and it has a great view of the city! There is a Downeast Cider location here that's fun!
Seaport (home to the ICA, site of our first date & Emmanuel's old job!)
The ICA is located here as is the Boston Children’s Museum. The ICA in particular is our favorite recommendation for museums: It’s small and beautiful with really thought-provoking installations happening all the time. It’s right on the water so it has great views of the harbor and because of its size, you can really see it all in one visit! Harpoon Brewery - really yummy pretzels and good beer! We enjoy getting a flight of beers in the beer hall, though you can also pay $5 during the week or $10 on weekends for a tour and unlimited beer tasting! You can keep your tasting glass as a souvenir! People also like Cisco Brewery If you want an oyster shot (you probably don’t), The Barking Crab has them along with other seafood along the water! You can walk along the Boston Harbor here, which is lovely - we did this after our ICA date! Lolita’s Fort Point location is here! District Hall Boston has various pop-up events. Lawn on D is a fun outdoor venue with swings and big lawn games.
Boston Harbor Islands
If you have the chance, check out the Boston Harbor Islands! A true gem of a natural resource in our city!! Spectacle Island is especially beautiful but can’t go wrong with any of them! Siri recommends bringing picnic supplies and/or beach supplies depending on the island! Most of the islands don’t have a lot going on beyond a small snack stand unless there is a specific concert or event - you’re there for the views and exploring. There are also whale watching tours down there that are actually pretty cool - lots of whales off the coast of Boston!
Cambridge (where Emmanuel worked for 6 years!)
We are entering Greater Boston. Cambridge is it's own city, but it is very accessible on public transit Harvard University and MIT are located here - they have cool campuses to walk through. We recommend walking along the Charles River Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge is a GORGEOUS arboretum, beautiful trees and plants, and a great birding spot In Harvard Square, there is Felipe’s for reasonably priced food - it’s a good burrito spot. Emmanuel’s preference for coffee places, especially espresso-based drinks, is Broadsheet Central Square is worth checking out. We like Asmara, an Eritrean-Ethiopian cafe. We like Little Donkey, although it’s a little pricey. La Fábrica has good food, too! For nightlife, we enjoy The Middle East, which often has live music. For good vegan food, Veggie Galaxy is a good spot! Happy Lamb is a good Mongolian hot pot place. Apple Cinemas has cheap movie tickets! The Museum of Science is also here! In between Boston and Cambridge.
Somerville
We’ve had a lot of fun at Sacco’s Bowl Haven for candlepin bowling and flatbread - they serve alcohol as well. Ebi Sushi is a great sushi place. Yume Wo Katare is a highly recommended ramen place in Somerville (Emmanuel loves it) - huge portions and you make a wish with each bowl! Check out Bow Market for outdoor lounging, eating, drinking, and shopping. They support local artists and vendors, and they tend to have fun events happening throughout the year so look them up ahead of time! Their instagram is a great place to see what they have to offer, too. The Fells in Somerville is also a great place for hiking!
Medford
Tufts University is located here! There’s a good donut shop called Donuts with a Difference
Brookline
Check out Coolidge Corner with Brookline Booksmith and Coolidge Corner Theater Genko Ittetsu Ramen is a great little ramen place tucked back in the arcade building.
Watertown (featuring Newton)
There is an Intelligentsia coffee shop located here if you’re a big coffee drinker! The previously mentioned Mount Auburn Cemetery and Arboretum is very nearby here in Cambridge. The Armenian Museum of America is located in Watertown! You can also find the Scandinavian Living Center and Scandinavian Cultural Center in nearby Newton!
Quincy (featuring Milton)
Quincy has lots of really great and affordable Asian food! Two places we'll spotlight that are not Asian food are Pearl and Lime, and Fuji at WOC (there's also a FUJI @ Ink Block in the South End) Blue Hills Reservation can be accessed from Quincy or Milton and is a really great hiking spot that makes you feel like there is no way you're as close to the city as you are!