Guidebook for Boston

Matthew
Guidebook for Boston

Drinks & Nightlife

Really great dive right across the street from the apartment.
7 locals recommend
Model Cafe
7 N Beacon St
7 locals recommend
Really great dive right across the street from the apartment.
This place sucks but they give you free popcorn and the drinks are cheap.
15 locals recommend
Silhouette Lounge
200 Brighton Ave
15 locals recommend
This place sucks but they give you free popcorn and the drinks are cheap.
A great room. The live music is usually very good, they have a solid beer selection, a decent kitchen, no TVs, and the right ambiance.
152 locals recommend
The Paramount
44 Charles Street
152 locals recommend
A great room. The live music is usually very good, they have a solid beer selection, a decent kitchen, no TVs, and the right ambiance.
You can smoke and drink at the same time here, and you can't beat the atmosphere. Great way to finish a night in the North End.
Stanza Dei Sigari
292 Hanover St
You can smoke and drink at the same time here, and you can't beat the atmosphere. Great way to finish a night in the North End.
This establishment invented the Boston Cream Pie. Go have a slice, it's really very good.
The Last Hurrah
60 School St
This establishment invented the Boston Cream Pie. Go have a slice, it's really very good.
Another bar.
23 locals recommend
Wonder Bar
186 Harvard Ave
23 locals recommend
Another bar.
Hundreds of beers to choose from!
29 locals recommend
Sunset Grill & Tap
29 locals recommend
Hundreds of beers to choose from!
One more bar.
20 locals recommend
The Horse Allston
20 locals recommend
One more bar.
Yet another acceptable bar.
19 locals recommend
Great Scott
1222 Commonwealth Avenue
19 locals recommend
Yet another acceptable bar.
In the summer they have a beautiful back porch. The food and the beer selection are both excellent.
57 locals recommend
Deep Ellum
467 Cambridge St
57 locals recommend
In the summer they have a beautiful back porch. The food and the beer selection are both excellent.
The TGI Friday's of communism
30 locals recommend
The People's Republik
878 Massachusetts Ave
30 locals recommend
The TGI Friday's of communism
another bar
8 locals recommend
Common Ground
85 Harvard Ave
8 locals recommend
another bar
Best dive in town.
66 locals recommend
Brendan Behan Pub
378 Centre St
66 locals recommend
Best dive in town.
Alright bar if you don't mind Harvard people.
19 locals recommend
Grendel's Den Restaurant & Bar
89 Winthrop St
19 locals recommend
Alright bar if you don't mind Harvard people.
Very good Irish bar.
Tommy Doyle's
96 Winthrop Street
Very good Irish bar.
Scorpion bowls, and loud music, and such...
33 locals recommend
Hong Kong
1238 Massachusetts Ave
33 locals recommend
Scorpion bowls, and loud music, and such...

Food Scene

This is the most decadent sushi buffet I've ever been to. They've freshly cooked up two live lobsters for my table. Everything is top notch quality, and the service is great. $29-$32/person
16 locals recommend
Maki Maki Japanese Sushi
304 Western Avenue
16 locals recommend
This is the most decadent sushi buffet I've ever been to. They've freshly cooked up two live lobsters for my table. Everything is top notch quality, and the service is great. $29-$32/person
The upstairs is a great restaurant and the downstairs is a great bar. They have the best cheeseburger in Metro Boston, and the best grilled cheese and tomato soup on the planet.
12 locals recommend
Garden at The Cellar
991 Massachusetts Ave
12 locals recommend
The upstairs is a great restaurant and the downstairs is a great bar. They have the best cheeseburger in Metro Boston, and the best grilled cheese and tomato soup on the planet.
Korean fried chicken
9 locals recommend
SoulFire
182 Harvard Ave
9 locals recommend
Korean fried chicken
Solid Lebanese shawarma place
17 locals recommend
Garlic 'n Lemons
133 Harvard Ave
17 locals recommend
Solid Lebanese shawarma place
Some pretty good Brazilian food.
Cafe Brazil
421 Cambridge St
Some pretty good Brazilian food.
A great little hole in the wall.
6 locals recommend
Thai Place
184 Brighton Ave
6 locals recommend
A great little hole in the wall.
Not my favorite, but it's pretty famous, and certainly worth trying.
96 locals recommend
Regina Pizzeria
11 1/2 Thacher St
96 locals recommend
Not my favorite, but it's pretty famous, and certainly worth trying.
Good kafta kabob
Azama Grill
54 Harvard Ave
Good kafta kabob
Great hearty meals. I suggest either the brisket dinner, the meat loaf, or the chicken pot pie; it's that kind of place.
61 locals recommend
Zaftigs Delicatessen
335 Harvard St
61 locals recommend
Great hearty meals. I suggest either the brisket dinner, the meat loaf, or the chicken pot pie; it's that kind of place.
Best place in town for falafel.
15 locals recommend
Rami's
324 Harvard St
15 locals recommend
Best place in town for falafel.
Out of this world Italian seafood restaurant.
115 locals recommend
Giacomo's
355 Hanover St
115 locals recommend
Out of this world Italian seafood restaurant.
This is my favorite oyster place and just about my favorite restaurant anywhere. If I could only eat one more meal in Boston for the rest of my life, it would be here.
104 locals recommend
Neptune Oyster
63 Salem St
104 locals recommend
This is my favorite oyster place and just about my favorite restaurant anywhere. If I could only eat one more meal in Boston for the rest of my life, it would be here.
A bit of a tourist trap, but you should definitely do it once.
203 locals recommend
Mike's Pastry
300 Hanover St
203 locals recommend
A bit of a tourist trap, but you should definitely do it once.
A smart alternative to waiting in line at Mike's for a half hour.
44 locals recommend
Bova's Bakery
134 Salem St
44 locals recommend
A smart alternative to waiting in line at Mike's for a half hour.
I love this restaurant.
11 locals recommend
Le's Vietnamese Cuisine
137 Brighton Ave
11 locals recommend
I love this restaurant.
These people have a good breakfast thing going. Try the chicken and waffles.
8 locals recommend
Allston Diner
431 Cambridge St
8 locals recommend
These people have a good breakfast thing going. Try the chicken and waffles.
Best Pizza in Boston
68 locals recommend
OTTO
289 Harvard St
68 locals recommend
Best Pizza in Boston
Great bagel shop
13 locals recommend
Kupel's Bakery
421 Harvard St
13 locals recommend
Great bagel shop
Named "Best Deli" by Boston Magazine, this is a real classic, tacky and charming old Jewish deli. Rubin's has been around for 85 years, it's an institution.
Rubin's
Named "Best Deli" by Boston Magazine, this is a real classic, tacky and charming old Jewish deli. Rubin's has been around for 85 years, it's an institution.
Damn good cup of coffee.
12 locals recommend
Refuge Cafe
155 Brighton Ave
12 locals recommend
Damn good cup of coffee.
Burmese food.
Taqueria El Carrizal
254 Brighton Ave
Burmese food.
Good slices. Open until 2.
Bravo Pizza
160 Brighton Ave
Good slices. Open until 2.
This pizza place has been around since 1905. I gaurantee you have never been anyplace like it. Must if coming from Logan.
94 locals recommend
Santarpio's Pizza
111 Chelsea St
94 locals recommend
This pizza place has been around since 1905. I gaurantee you have never been anyplace like it. Must if coming from Logan.
This is just the quintessential old low brow Boston fish joint. It's located on the Boston Fish Peer, and has a great view of the harbor. I highly recommend it.
19 locals recommend
No Name Restaurant
17 Fish Pier St E
19 locals recommend
This is just the quintessential old low brow Boston fish joint. It's located on the Boston Fish Peer, and has a great view of the harbor. I highly recommend it.
A very famous place. You'll probably recognize the giant cup of coffee on the roof. Open 24 hours. Great food.
12 locals recommend
South Street Diner
178 Kneeland St
12 locals recommend
A very famous place. You'll probably recognize the giant cup of coffee on the roof. Open 24 hours. Great food.
Awesome place to go for dim sum. Been around since the 50s.
9 locals recommend
China Pearl Restaurant
9 Tyler St
9 locals recommend
Awesome place to go for dim sum. Been around since the 50s.
Boston is pretty gentrified today; there really is no underbelly. Chau Chow City and Centerfolds are vestages of the once thriving "Combat Zone." Go at 3am, if you get the opportunity.
Chau Chow City
Boston is pretty gentrified today; there really is no underbelly. Chau Chow City and Centerfolds are vestages of the once thriving "Combat Zone." Go at 3am, if you get the opportunity.
A single Italian cook runs this place. He makes every dish to order in a little pan.
Alfredo's
229 Brighton Avenue
A single Italian cook runs this place. He makes every dish to order in a little pan.
That's right, Burmese.
Yoma Restaurant
5 N Beacon St
That's right, Burmese.
A burger joint owned by the same people as Ten Tables. I think its super.
53 locals recommend
Grass Fed
605 Centre Street
53 locals recommend
A burger joint owned by the same people as Ten Tables. I think its super.
Great coffee shop, and so forth.
149 locals recommend
City Feed and Supply
672 Centre St
149 locals recommend
Great coffee shop, and so forth.
Widely regarded as some of the best Indian in the city.
45 locals recommend
Bukhara Indian Bistro
3698 Washington St
45 locals recommend
Widely regarded as some of the best Indian in the city.
Ten Tables' second location. Amazing restaurant. A must if you're into fine dining.
16 locals recommend
Ten Tables Cambridge
5 Craigie Circle
16 locals recommend
Ten Tables' second location. Amazing restaurant. A must if you're into fine dining.
The most famous burger in town. Pretty good, too.
58 locals recommend
Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage
1246 Massachusetts Ave
58 locals recommend
The most famous burger in town. Pretty good, too.
Great place to eat if you can get in. It's basically one big kitchen with a half a dozen tables in it. It's an interesting dining experience.
53 locals recommend
The Daily Catch
323 Hanover St
53 locals recommend
Great place to eat if you can get in. It's basically one big kitchen with a half a dozen tables in it. It's an interesting dining experience.

Arts & Culture

A lot of big acts play here. It's two blocks away. You should know it's there. http://www.brightonmusichall.com
33 locals recommend
Brighton Music Hall
158 Brighton Ave
33 locals recommend
A lot of big acts play here. It's two blocks away. You should know it's there. http://www.brightonmusichall.com
Free on Thursday 5-9pm.
299 locals recommend
Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston
25 Harbor Shore Dr
299 locals recommend
Free on Thursday 5-9pm.
This is great old Art Deco theatre, and one of the top arthouse film exhibition theaters in the country.
194 locals recommend
Coolidge Corner Theatre
290 Harvard St
194 locals recommend
This is great old Art Deco theatre, and one of the top arthouse film exhibition theaters in the country.
More live music.
33 locals recommend
Paradise Rock Club
967 Commonwealth Avenue
33 locals recommend
More live music.

Shopping

Good enough.
15 locals recommend
Twin Donuts
501 Cambridge St
15 locals recommend
Good enough.
In case you need it.
100 locals recommend
CVS
839 Washington St
100 locals recommend
In case you need it.
Factory outlet within walking distance. People have found it convenient in the past.
7 locals recommend
New Balance Factory Store
173 Market St
7 locals recommend
Factory outlet within walking distance. People have found it convenient in the past.
Head shop within walking distance.
Buried Treasures
377 Cambridge St
Head shop within walking distance.
I'm just pointing out how conveniently close Walgreen's is.
118 locals recommend
Walgreens
1890 Columbus Ave
118 locals recommend
I'm just pointing out how conveniently close Walgreen's is.
I don't like the Back Bay much.
6 locals recommend
H&M
100 Newbury Street
6 locals recommend
I don't like the Back Bay much.
There's that.
26 locals recommend
Apple Boylston Street
815 Boylston St
26 locals recommend
There's that.

Sightseeing

This is the place to be in the summer. It's a colonial era fort that has been repurposed into a state park. I note it for the people watching, and great views of the bay.
187 locals recommend
Castle Island
2010 William J Day Blvd
187 locals recommend
This is the place to be in the summer. It's a colonial era fort that has been repurposed into a state park. I note it for the people watching, and great views of the bay.
The Lyman Estate has the oldest surviving greenhouses in the united states. Amazing in winter, the greenhouses are consistently heated to tropical temperatures and feature rare and exotic plants.
7 locals recommend
Lyman Estate
185 Lyman St
7 locals recommend
The Lyman Estate has the oldest surviving greenhouses in the united states. Amazing in winter, the greenhouses are consistently heated to tropical temperatures and feature rare and exotic plants.
The Brook Farm Association for Industry and Education was an early American utopian experiment in communal living (thanks Wikipedia). A cool bit of history, and a great spot for a picnic.
Brook Farm
The Brook Farm Association for Industry and Education was an early American utopian experiment in communal living (thanks Wikipedia). A cool bit of history, and a great spot for a picnic.
Established in 1634, Boston Common is the oldest city park in the United States. Bring some peanuts, the squirrels will come right up to you and eat them out of your hand, no foolin'.
567 locals recommend
Boston Common
139 Boylston St
567 locals recommend
Established in 1634, Boston Common is the oldest city park in the United States. Bring some peanuts, the squirrels will come right up to you and eat them out of your hand, no foolin'.
Boston Light is the first and second oldest lighthouse in the US. You can catch a ferry at Rowes Wharf that will take you around to various Harbor Islands. It makes for a great summer afternoon.
Boston Light
Boston Light is the first and second oldest lighthouse in the US. You can catch a ferry at Rowes Wharf that will take you around to various Harbor Islands. It makes for a great summer afternoon.
It's the New England Aquarium.
399 locals recommend
New England Aquarium
1 Central Wharf
399 locals recommend
It's the New England Aquarium.
JFK's birthplace
83 Beals St
JFK's birthplace
There's that.
118 locals recommend
Massachusetts State House
24 Beacon Street
118 locals recommend
There's that.
Do a Google image search for Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum courtyard.
500 locals recommend
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
25 Evans Way
500 locals recommend
Do a Google image search for Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum courtyard.
They offer tours. You get some free beer out of it.
114 locals recommend
Harpoon
1 Harborside Dr
114 locals recommend
They offer tours. You get some free beer out of it.
You can go see this, and say you did it.
71 locals recommend
Harvard Yard
2 Kirkland St
71 locals recommend
You can go see this, and say you did it.
Chinatown.
96 locals recommend
Chinatown
96 locals recommend
Chinatown.
The Prudential is the 50th tallest building in the United States, and the tallest in New England. I don't know if it's worth $15 to go up on the observation deck, but that's up to you.
142 locals recommend
YOGASMOGA
800 Boylston Street
142 locals recommend
The Prudential is the 50th tallest building in the United States, and the tallest in New England. I don't know if it's worth $15 to go up on the observation deck, but that's up to you.
A beautiful, historic bridge. This is also a point of entry to the Harborwalk, which I recommend as a scenic alternative to Atlantic Ave.
Old Northern Ave Bridge
A beautiful, historic bridge. This is also a point of entry to the Harborwalk, which I recommend as a scenic alternative to Atlantic Ave.
Oldest ballpark in MLB.
815 locals recommend
Fenway Park
4 Jersey St
815 locals recommend
Oldest ballpark in MLB.
Many goings on here in the summertime.
279 locals recommend
Charles River Esplanade
Charles River Esplanades
279 locals recommend
Many goings on here in the summertime.

Everything Else

The club features the only eucalyptus steam room in New England, and a heated pool with a very nice city view. $30 for a day pass
Equinox Sports Club Boston
4 Avery St
The club features the only eucalyptus steam room in New England, and a heated pool with a very nice city view. $30 for a day pass
It's a hookah bar.
12 locals recommend
Habibi's Lounge
1217 Commonwealth Avenue
12 locals recommend
It's a hookah bar.
Another hookah bar.
Sheesha Lounge
417 Cambridge St
Another hookah bar.
On Friday and Saturday Haymarket turns into a pretty impressive street market. I suggest you go get some clams on the half shell (3 for $2), and stop into the Green Dragon for a beer.
19 locals recommend
Haymarket Square
19 locals recommend
On Friday and Saturday Haymarket turns into a pretty impressive street market. I suggest you go get some clams on the half shell (3 for $2), and stop into the Green Dragon for a beer.
This is Boston's hipster neighborhood. There are some good bars and restaurant, and frequent outdoor goings-on in the summer.
02130
This is Boston's hipster neighborhood. There are some good bars and restaurant, and frequent outdoor goings-on in the summer.
All kinds of goings on in the summertime.
164 locals recommend
Samuel Adams Boston Brewery
30 Germania Street
164 locals recommend
All kinds of goings on in the summertime.
A beautiful arboretum, owned and maintained by Harvard University.
379 locals recommend
Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
125 Arborway
379 locals recommend
A beautiful arboretum, owned and maintained by Harvard University.
If you're looking to buy some bourgeois duds, this is one of the flagship stores.
Brooks Brothers
46 Newbury St
If you're looking to buy some bourgeois duds, this is one of the flagship stores.
Bowling
Kings Bowling Billiards Lounge
Bowling

Essentials

Huge Chinese grocery store. Has a great food court, too.
21 locals recommend
Hong Kong Supermarket
1 Brighton Ave
21 locals recommend
Huge Chinese grocery store. Has a great food court, too.
It's convenient.
393 locals recommend
Stop & Shop
301 Centre St
393 locals recommend
It's convenient.