BOSTON

(includes: Allston, Boston, Cambridge, Dorchester, Gloucester, Hingham, Hull, Somerville & Weymouth)

BAKERIES, COFFEE, ICE CREAM & TEA
●Flour – 12 Farnsworth Street (Fort Point Channel); 617-338-4333; flourbakery.com; beloved sticky buns and sour cream coffee cake; try homemade pop tarts.
●Flour – 1595 Washington Street (South End); 617-267-4300; flourbakery.com; beloved sticky buns and sour cream coffee cake; try homemade pop tarts.
●Flour – 190 Massachusetts Avenue (Central Square); 617-225-2525; flourbakery.com; beloved sticky buns and sour cream coffee cake; try homemade pop tarts.
●Sofra Bakery & Cafe – 1 Belmont Street (Cambridge); 617-661-3161; bustling bakery-café; Arab-style food.
●Toscanini’s – 899 Main Street (Cambridge); 617-497-5511; tosci.com; ice cream; try banana pudding.



BARS & NIGHTCLUBS
●Beehive – 541 Tremont Street (South End); 617-423-0069; beehiveboston.com; live jazz; Mediterranean food; supper club feel; may wait 1 hour to enter.
●Belly – 1 Kendall Square (Cambridge); 617-494-0968; bellywinebar.com; wine bar with outdoor seating under light canopy.
●Cambridge Brewing Co. – 1 Kendall Square, Building 100 (Cambridge); 617-494-1994; cambridgebrewingcompany.com; established in 1989, oldest brewpub in greater Boston area serving handcrafted beer, and first in America to brew Belgian ale.
●Cantab Lounge – 738 Massachusetts Avenue (Cambridge); 617-354-2685; cantab-lounge.com; longstanding dance venue (old school); where Bliss Broyard likes to dance.
●Club Passim – 47 Palmer Street (Cambridge); 617-492-5300; clubpassim.org; dark basement bar since 1950s on alley off Harvard Square; legendary live music spot; Joan Baez got her start here and she introduced Bob Dylan here.
●Coppa – 253 Shawmut Avenue (South End); 617-391-0902; coppaboston.com; rustic bar-restaurant with good bar food.
●Crow’s Nest – 334 Main Street (Gloucester); 978-281-2965; crowsnestgloucester.com; working-class bar.
●Deep Ellum – 477 Cambridge Street (Allston); 617-787-2337; deepellum-bostom.com; elegant pub with 28 different beers on tap.
●Deluxe Café – 100 Chandler Street (South End); 617-338-5258; reigning kitsch temple.
●Drink – 348 Congress Street (Waterfront); 617-695-1806; drinkfortpoint.com; subterranean bar, located in converted wool warehouse; cocktails served in vintage barware; try Maximilian Affair (mescal,
St. Germain, Punt e Mes, and lemon juice); homemade pretzels.
●Neptune Oyster – 63 Salem Street (North End); 617-742-3474; neptuneoyster.com; tiny spot where frat boys drink beer with elite; marble bar; famous for its “lobster roll.”
●Oberon – 2 Arrow Street (Cambridge); 617-496-8004; cluboberon.com; nightclub theater.
●People’s Republik – 876-878 Massachusetts Avenue (Cambridge); 617-491-6969; peoplesrepublik.com; communist-themed bar with Mao and Soviet propaganda posters.
●River Gods – 125 River Street (Cambridge); 617-576-1881; rivergodsonline.com; dj-spun music and drinks.
●Row 34 – 383 Congress Street (Fort Point); 617-553-5900; row34.com; oyster bar in industrial setting; notable beers.
●75 Chestnut – 75 Chestnut Street (Beacon Hill); 617-227-2175; 75chestnut.com; tucked on romantic side street, dimly lighted restaurant feels like brownstone, with tin ceilings and mahogany pillars.
●State Park – 1 Kendall Square, Building 300, Lower Level (Cambridge); 617-848-4355; statepark.is; Cape Cods by pitcher AND southern comfort food.
●Trillium Brewing Co. – 369 Congress Street (Fort Point); 617-453-8745; trilliumbrewing.com; farmhouse-style brewery.
●Trina’s Starlite Lounge – 3 Beacon Street (Somerville); 617-576-0006; trinastarlitelounge.com.
●West Bridge – 1 Kendall Square (Cambridge); 617-945-0221; westbridgerestaurant.com; weather permitting, have outdoor cocktail at outdoor bar.
●Woodward – 1 Court Street (Downtown, at Ames Hotel); 617-979-8100; ameshotel.com; minimalist; great people-watching.



HOTELS
●Ames Hotel – 1 Court Street (Downtown); 617-979-8100 or 800-231-3885; ameshotel.com; 114 minimalist rooms; stylish and affordable – great deal; 1889 facade.
●Bass Rocks Ocean Inn – 107 Atlantic Road; 978-283-7600 or 888-802-7666; bassrocksoceaninn.com; huge; gorgeous ocean views, outdoor pool, and modern accommodations; across road from rocky shore; feels like old-fashioned resort (1960s-era motel, most recently renovated in 2008); rooms have sliding glass doors that open onto balcony or patio, and either king or twin beds; 2^nd floor rooms have slightly better views; colonial revival mansion built in 1899 and known as “wedding-cake house” holds handful 1-bedroom suites and public areas, including billiard room and library; in afternoon, staff serves coffee, tea, lemonade, and chocolate-chip cookies.
●Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf – 70 Rowes Wharf (Waterfront); 617-439-3914 or 800-752-7077; bhh.com; perfect harbor views; recently renovated; staff can arrange chartered boats for guests who want to explore city by water.
●Copley Square Hotel – 47 Huntington Avenue (Back Bay); 617-536-9000 or 866-891-2174; copleysquarehotel.com; avoid tiny “roomettes”; also make sure that you book at this Copley, and not other 2; adequate and well-located.
●Eliot Hotel – 370 Commonwealth Avenue (Back Bay); 617-267-1607 or 800-443-5468; eliothotel.com; 4 stars.
●Fairmont Battery Wharf – 3 Battery Wharf (Waterfront); 617-994-9000 or 800-257-7544; Fairmont.com; expensive hammam spa by Exhale.
●15 Beacon – 15 Beacon Street (Downtown); 617-670-1500 or 877-982-3226; xvbeacon.com; boutique hotel with great restaurant.
●Hotel Veritas – 1 Remington Street (Cambridge); 617-520-5000 or 888-520-1050; thehotelveritas.com; reconstructed 19^th Century home; affordable.
●Inn at St. Botolph – 99 St. Botolph Street (Back Bay/South End); 617-236-8099; innatstbotolph.com; stylish, well-located rooms; no parking, help with bags, reception (to speak of), or concierge; ask for 3^rd floor suite because room 100 is “dungeon”; many rooms have gas fire-places; all have sleek kitchenettes; for extended stays.
●Liberty Hotel – 215 Charles Street (Beacon Hill); 617-224-4000 or 866-961-3778; libertyhotel.com; in former jail.
●Mandarin Oriental – 776 Boylston Street (Back Bay); 617-535-8888; mandarinoriental.com/boston.
●Newbury Guest House – 261 Newbury Street (Back Bay); 617-437-7666 or 800-437-7668; newburyguesthouse.com; brownstone with quaint touches like brick fireplaces; clean design.
●Ritz-Carlton – 10 Avery Street (Boston Common-Chinatown); 617-574-7100 or 800-559-2354; ritzcarlton.com; recently renovated.
●75 Chestnut – 75 Chestnut Street (Beacon Hill); 617-227-2175; 75chestnut.com; tucked on romantic side street, dimly lighted restaurant feels like brownstone, with tin ceilings and mahogany pillars.
●Taj Boston – 15 Arlington Street (Back Bay); 617-536-5700 or 800-196-9825; tajhotels.com.
●W Boston – 100 Stuart Street (West End); 617-261-8700 or 877-946-8357; whotels.com/boston; 235 sleek rooms that look over Theater District and beyond.



RESTAURANTS
●Alden & Harlow – 40 Brattle Street (Cambridge); 617-864-2100; aldenharlow.com; contender for Boston’s best burger; they only make 30 nightly so get there early.
●Alive & Kicking Lobsters – 269 Putnam Avenue (Cambridge); 617-876-0451; for lunch; must have classic New England lobster sandwich.
●Anthony’s Pier 4 – 140 Northern Avenue (Waterfront); 617-482-6262; pier4.com; famous seafood establishment.
●Atlantic Fish Co. – 761 Boylston Street (Back Bay); 617-267-4000; atlanticfishco.com; excellent seafood.
●Belly – 1 Kendall Square (Cambridge); 617-494-0968; bellywinebar.com; wine bar with outdoor seating under light canopy that, oddly, serves great fried chicken.
●Bistro du Midi – 272 Boylston Street (Back Bay); 617-426-7878; bistrodumidi.com; French seafood; ask to be seated upstairs because unbeatable Public Garden views.
●Bondir – 279A Broadway (Inman Square); 617-661-0009; bondircambridge.com; farmhouse chic.
●Bronwyn – 255 Washington Street (Somerville); 617-776-9900; bronwynrestaurant.com; German.
●Butcher Shop – 552 Tremont Street (South End); 617-423-4800; thebutchershop-boston.com; Back Bay restaurant that exudes bistro warmth with brick walls and red ceilings; menu tilts to small plates, but also regular entrees.
●Bridgeman’s Restaurant – 145 Nantasket Avenue (Hull); 781-925-6336; bridgemansrestaurant.com; landmark destination; romantic; excellent food.
●Clover Food Lab – 7 Holyoke Street (Cambridge); cloverfoodlab.com; food-truck phenomenom that is now store front, midnight eats locale.
●Craigie on Main – 85 Main Street (Cambridge); 617-497-5511; craigieonmain.com; for hamburgers (includes short ribs).
●Cuchi Cuchi – 795 Main Street (Cambridge); 617-864-2929; cuchicuchi.cc; mood-lit, belle-epoque-themed bar that serves vintage drinks like Pendennis Club Cocktail (apricot brandy, gin, lime juice, and Peychauds bitters).
●Deluxe Café – 100 Chandler Street (South End); 617-338-5258; reigning kitsch temple.
●East by Northeast – 1128 Cambridge Street (Cambridge); 617-876-0286; exnecambridge.com; Chinese cooking with New England ingredients; try braised lamb cannelloni with chili garlic sauce, Honeycrisp apple, and mizuna; good brunch locale; make sure to try their Chinese Bloody Mary.
●L’Espalier – 774 Boylston Street (Back Bay); 617-262-3023; lespalier.com; locally-sourced ingredients.
●Hungry Mother – 233 Cardinal Medeiros Avenue (Cambridge); 617-499-0090; hungrymothercambridge.com; Southern food.
●Legal Harborside – 270 Northern Avenue (Liberty Wharf); 617-477-2900; legalseafood.com; 3-story, glistening space alongside water; try baked stuffed lobster or abalone.
●Halibut Point Restaurant – 289 Main Street (Gloucester); 978-281-1900; highly regarded seafood.
●Island Creek Oyster Bar – 500 Commonwealth Avenue (Fenway-Kenmore); 617-532-5300; islandcreekoysterbar.com; seafood, focusing on oysters; farm-to-table.
●KO Pies – 87A Street (South Boston); 617-269-4500; kocateringandpies.com; beef pies, fish-&-chips; try Tim Tam for dessert.
●Legal Sea Foods – 255 State Street (Long Wharf, other location at Copley Place); 617-742-5300; legalseafoods.com; beautiful.
●Locke-Ober – 3 Winter Place (Downtown); 617-542-1340; lockeober.com; unique, wonderfully ornate interior, recently renovated; order oysters, JFK’s lobster stew.
●Menton – 354 Congress Street (Waterfront); 617-737-0099; mentonboston.com; 2 daily menus – 4-course prix fixe and 7-course tasting; French-Italian; elegant.
●Nanina’s Italian Restaurant – 1578 Dorchester Avenue (Fields Corner, Dorchester); 617-288-2494; Italian.
●Neptune Oyster – 63 Salem Street (North End); 617-742-3474; neptuneoyster.com; tiny spot with marble bar; famous for its “lobster roll”; also some sushi; also, try Neptune Johnnycake with caviar & smoked trout.
●Nick’s Restaurant – 33 Washington Street (Weymouth); 781-337-3270; comfort food and good breakfasts; strange hours; close at 3:00 p.m. and then reopen at midnight.
●No Name – 15 Fish Pier Street East; 617-423-2705; nonamerestaurant.com; popular, rustic landmark serving New England seafood classics on historic Fish Pier since 1917.
●Oleana – 134 Hampshire Street (Cambridge, on Inman Square); 617-661-0505; oleanarestaurant.com; inventive Eastern Mediterranean dishes in warm, welcoming interior or peaceful garden patio.
●L’Osteria – 104 Salem Street (North End); 617-723-7847; losteria.com; authentic Italian food. Family, friends, neighbors.
●Ribelle – 1665 Beacon Street (Brookline); 617-232-2322; ribellebkline.com; especially good for brunch on weekends; very popular.
●Row 34 – 383 Congress Street (Fort Point); 617-553-5900; row34.com; oyster bar in industrial setting.
●Sarma – 249 Pearl Street (Somerville); 617-764-4464; sarmarestaurant.com; modern Mediterranean menu, featuring meze & Middle Eastern favorites, offered in colorful atmosphere.
●Sofra – 1 Belmont Street (Cambridge); 617-661-3161; bustling bakery-café; Arab-style food; must go for breakfast.
●Sportello – 348 Congress Street (Waterfront); 617-737-1234; sportelloboston.com; in Fort Point neighborhood; try strozzapreti (braised rabbit).
●State Park – 1 Kendall Square, Building 300, Lower Level (Cambridge); 617-848-4355; statepark.is; Cape Cods by pitcher AND southern comfort food.
●Temazcal – 250 Northern Avenue (Waterfront, between Boston Fish Pier and Trilling Way); 617-439-3502; temazcalcantina.com; Mexican food; chef is 2-times James Beard winner.
●Teranga – 1746 Washington Street (South End); 617-266-0003; Senegalese food; elegant space; fragrant, spicy dishes; try thiebou djeun (kingfish, jasmine rice, tomato sauce, cabbage, and carrots).
●Toro – 1704 Washington Street (South End); 617-536-4300; upscale taberna; Barcelona tapas.
●Trina’s Starlite Lounge – 3 Beacon Street (Somerville); 617-576-0006; trinastarlitelounge.com; great fried chicken.
●Wahlburgers – 19 Shipyard Drive, Hingham Shipyard (Hingham); 781-749-2110 or 855-924-5246; wahlburgers.com; burgers.
●Woodward – 1 Court Street (Downtown, at Ames Hotel); 617-979-8100; ameshotel.com; minimalist décor; try lobster hash.



SERVICES
●Classic Hahvahd Tour – 1376 Massachusetts Avenue (Cambridge); 617-674-7788; harvardtour.com; theatrical, 70-minute walking tour with crash course in Harvard history.



SHOPPING
●Acquire – 61 Salem Street (North End); 857-362-7380; acquireboutique.com; modern and vintage housewares.
●Boldfacers – 15 Channel Center Street (Waterfront); 617-428-0500; boldfacers.com; clothing, accessories, and specialty goods.
●Bricco Panetteria – 241 Hanover Street; 617-248-6800; bricco.com; Italian baked goods.
●Farm & Fable – 251 Shawmut Avenue; 617-451-1110; farmandfable.com; modern & vintage cookbooks & cookwares.
●Formaggio Kitchen – 244 Huron Avenue (Cambridge); 617-354-4750; formaggiokitchen.com; try housemade rabbit pate.
●Fort Point Arts Community Gallery – 300 Summer Street (South); 617-423-4299; fortpoints.org.
●FP3 – 346 Congress Street (Fort Point Channel); 617-261-0484; fp3boston.com; gallery showcasing local artists.
●Front – 25 Channel Center Street (South); 617-670-3782; bobsyouruncle.com; gifts.
●Grand Circle Gallery – 347 Congress Street (Fort Point Channel); 617-346-6459; gct.com; extensive collection travel posters from travel’s Golden Age, starting in late 1800s through WWII.
●In.jean.ius – 441 Hanover Street (North End); 617-523-5326; injeanius.com; perfect jeans.
●Louis Boston – 234 Berkeley Street (Back Bay); 617-262-6100; louisboston.com; long-running gift emporium; edgy labels; apothecary.
●Revolution Books – 1158 Massachusetts Avenue, 2^nd Floor (Cambridge); 617-492-5443; revolutionbookscamb.org; hole-in-wall, communist bookshop that also sells mainstream fare.



SIGHTS & SITES
●Boston Children’s Museum – 308 Congress Street (Waterfront); 617-426-6500; bostonkids.org; waterfront space with hands-on exhibits.
●Boston Harbor Islands Pavilion – 191 West Atlantic Avenue (Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway); 617-223-8666; nps.gov/boha/index.htm; between Faneuil Hall and Long Wharf.
●Frog Pond – 84 Beacon Street (Boston Common); 617-635-2120; bostonfrogpond.com; seasonal skating.
●Harbor Islands – Boston Harbor; 617-223-8666; bostonharborislands.org; 34-island group across harbor from city.
●Harvard Art Museums – 32 Quincy Street (Cambridge); 617-495-9400; harvardartmuseums.org; Fogg Art Museum, Busch-Reisinger Museum & Arthur M. Sackler Museum; cultural megaplex designed by Renzo Piano & Thomas Lentz.
●Harvard Bridge – Massachusetts Avenue’s southeast end (Cambridge); web.mit.edu/spotlight/smoot-salute.
●Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology – 26 Oxford Street (Cambridge); 617-495-2460; mcz.harvard.edu; taxidermy.
●Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum – 280 Fenway (Fenway-Kenmore); 617-566-1401; gardnermuseum.org; 70K square addition by Renzo Piano.
●Institute of Contemporary Art – 100 Northern Avenue (Waterfront); 617-478-3100; icaboston.org; glass and steel museum that seems to hover over harbor.
●Kendall Square Community Skating – 300 Athenaeum Street (Cambridge); kendallsquare.org/play; seasonal.
●MIT Chapel – 44 Massachusetts Avenue (Cambridge); 617-253-4795; mit.edu; Eero Saarinen designed.
●MIT Museum – 265 Massachusetts Avenue (Cambridge); 617-253-5927; web.mit.edu/museum; make sure to see Mark Epstein Innovation Gallery with its emotive robot and motion-sensitive holograms.
●Mount Auburn Cemetery – 580 Mount Auburn (Cambridge); 617-547-7105; mountauburn.org; founded in 1831; gorgeously maintained gardens and 100s variety trees; persons buried include Buckminster Fuller, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Winslow Homer, and abolitionist Harriet Jacobs.
●Museum of Fine Arts – 465 Huntington Avenue (Back Bay); 617-267-9300; mfa.org; John Singer Sargent, Paul Revere’s silver “Sons of Liberty” bowl, and stained glass window by Louis Comfort Tiffany; also, Jackson Pollock and Georgia O’Keefe, Dorothea Lange and Ansel Adams.
●Rose Kennedy Greenway – downtown; rosekennedygreenway.org; mile-long ribbon of lawns, public art, and playgrounds; start at South Station and meander toward North End.