In this month's Conde Nast Traveler magazine, Julia Reed raises a glass to Boston, in her article on "Boston Unbottoned" (I recommend you actually read her article). In honor of the city I grew up in, here are my favorites in this extraordinary and historical city that I love so much.
Sites: Boston is a great walking city. The Freedom Trail is an excellent walking option that hits the big sites of the city. If you have a smart phone, there's an app you can use for the Freedom Trail.
Long Wharf: the main part of Boston's harbor. The New England Aquarium is located here, along with many restaurants. Boat tours and whale tours depart from here as well. Most of them take the whole day, so just keep that in mind if that is something you are interested in. There are ferries to the Boston Harbor Islands, which are supposed to be really nice. I've actually never been, but my parents frequently go.
North End: this is Boston's "Little Italy" and has some of the city's best Italian restaurants. Many inhabitants still speak Italian and carry on their Italian heritage as if they just stepped off the boat. Paul Revere's house is also located here.
USS Constitution: The USS Constitution sits in Charlestown Navy Yard just across the harbor from Longwharf. Public transportation here is in the form of a 5 minute ferry (part of the T system).
Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market: just across from the harbor and North End is Faneuil Hall, a great area to people watch. The pedestrian only area has shops, restaurants, and street performers.
Boston Common/Public Gardens: the Public Gardens is Boston's version of Central Park, just not as large and overwhelming. The gardens are a quaint area to take a break from the bustle of the city; in the morning get a coffee and sit down on one of the benches. In the Fall, you will be able to catch the leaves in full foliage.
Newbury Street/Copley Square: Newbury Street is the 5th Avenue of Boston with all its high end shops. Even if you don't plan on spending your money there, it is still a nice street to walk down. The Prudential building is around the corner and is the second tallest building in Boston (John Hancock building is the tallest). The Pru, as it's known to locals, has shops and restaurants. For bird eye views of the city head to the Skywalk Observatory on top of the Pru or grab a bite to eat at the Top of the Hub restaurant. I personally don't think the food at the Top of the Hub is that great, but I know many people who often recommend having dinner there. I just tend to take visitors up there for a cocktail with a side of spectacular views.
Beacon Hill: probably one of the most beautiful parts of Boston, Beacon Hill is a historical neighborhood with cobblestone streets, brownstones, and gas lanterns. I love strolling through here and I recommend everyone do it!
Harvard Square: as you probably have already guessed from the name, this is where Harvard University is. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues around the university as well.
Fenway Park: even for those who aren't fans of the Red Sox or baseball in general, can still appreciate seeing Fenway Park - oldest stadium in America!
Sports: Boston and Massachusetts natives are big sports fans. I've heard on numerous occasion that we're borderline insane. Regardless, there is nothing like catching a Boston sports game while in the city. Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, Bruins: I guarantee that not only the game will be fun to watch!
Museums: the best museums in Boston (in my opinion) are: Museum of Science, Museum of Fine Arts, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. If you only have time for one, I would do the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, as that is the most unique. The JFK President Library is another good one; though not very accessible by public transportation.
Restaurants: in general, seafood is the way to go in Boston. Stick to the local seafood such as lobster, clams, oysters, several types of fish. Salmon is either from the Pacific or farm raised, so I always tell people visiting to stick to other things unless you are really craving your salmon. Almost all restaurants - whether American, Italian, French, etc - have various seafood options. Obviously, seafood is not the only thing on the menu, so don't worry if you aren't a seafood type person.
Legal Seafood: there are several locations around the city. This is in no way a "chain restaurant". The seafood here is fresh (handpicked every morning from the fishing boats) and the locals are incredibly loyal to this Boston institution. I make my family go every time I go home to visit.
Scampo (Beacon Hill): located in the Liberty Hotel, the food is spectacular. I think this is the better of the two Liberty Hotel restaurants.
No. 9 Park (Beacon Hill): one of the more upscale restaurants of Boston, but you certainly can't go wrong here. It's been on the best restaurants in Boston list for years.
North End restaurants: for Italian food head into the North End. You can't really go wrong with any of the restaurants; it just depends on what type of atmosphere you are looking for. Charming and romantic: Carmen. Old colonial: Mamma Maria. Vibrant and trendy: Mare. Very Italian: Bacco, or Bricco. Small and traditional: G'Vanni's. Sometimes the best option is just to wander around and see what restaurant suits your mood that night. Wherever you eat, skip the dessert (or do double dessert) and head over to Mike's Pastry for delicious Italian desserts and treats. I highly recommend the cannolis. Don't be scared away by the long line coming out the door and often wrapping around the corner. Do as the locals do and skip the line and just move to the left. Mike's Pastry is a true Italian institution and as it is in Italy, there are no lines. So while the tourists, who don't know any better, line up to the right, the locals move to the left and nudge their way to any free space at the counter.
Durgin's Park (Faneuil Hall): a family, country-like diner, Durgin's Park has been around since 1742. Everything on the menu is Yankee recipes from the New England clam "chowdah" to the Boston baked beans (not the candy).
Harborside Grill and Patio (Hyatt Hotel): if it's a nice night, head over to the Hyatt Harborside (you can take the F2 ferry from Longwharf to the Hyatt). The restaurant gives the best views of the Boston skyline. Catch the skyline right before sunset so you can see it in day and at night.
Blue Ginger (Wellesley): this is outside of Boston in Wellesley, but if you do make it out there, the food at this place makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
Hotels: the best parts of Boston to stay in are Copley Square/Boston Common area, Beacon Hill, and Long Wharf. Any hotel in these areas would be good. Here are just some hotel suggestions, but as I said, any hotels in those areas would be good.
Liberty Hotel: possibly one of the coolest hotels in Boston, a former prison turned luxury hotel. The hotel also houses two excellent restaurants: Scampo and Clink.
Other recommendations: Fifteen Beacon, Boston Harbor Hotel, Taj Boston (former Ritz-Carlton), Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, W Boston, Fairmont Copley Plaza.
Long Wharf: the main part of Boston's harbor. The New England Aquarium is located here, along with many restaurants. Boat tours and whale tours depart from here as well. Most of them take the whole day, so just keep that in mind if that is something you are interested in. There are ferries to the Boston Harbor Islands, which are supposed to be really nice. I've actually never been, but my parents frequently go.
North End: this is Boston's "Little Italy" and has some of the city's best Italian restaurants. Many inhabitants still speak Italian and carry on their Italian heritage as if they just stepped off the boat. Paul Revere's house is also located here.
USS Constitution: The USS Constitution sits in Charlestown Navy Yard just across the harbor from Longwharf. Public transportation here is in the form of a 5 minute ferry (part of the T system).
Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market: just across from the harbor and North End is Faneuil Hall, a great area to people watch. The pedestrian only area has shops, restaurants, and street performers.
Boston Common/Public Gardens: the Public Gardens is Boston's version of Central Park, just not as large and overwhelming. The gardens are a quaint area to take a break from the bustle of the city; in the morning get a coffee and sit down on one of the benches. In the Fall, you will be able to catch the leaves in full foliage.
Newbury Street/Copley Square: Newbury Street is the 5th Avenue of Boston with all its high end shops. Even if you don't plan on spending your money there, it is still a nice street to walk down. The Prudential building is around the corner and is the second tallest building in Boston (John Hancock building is the tallest). The Pru, as it's known to locals, has shops and restaurants. For bird eye views of the city head to the Skywalk Observatory on top of the Pru or grab a bite to eat at the Top of the Hub restaurant. I personally don't think the food at the Top of the Hub is that great, but I know many people who often recommend having dinner there. I just tend to take visitors up there for a cocktail with a side of spectacular views.
Beacon Hill: probably one of the most beautiful parts of Boston, Beacon Hill is a historical neighborhood with cobblestone streets, brownstones, and gas lanterns. I love strolling through here and I recommend everyone do it!
Harvard Square: as you probably have already guessed from the name, this is where Harvard University is. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues around the university as well.
Fenway Park: even for those who aren't fans of the Red Sox or baseball in general, can still appreciate seeing Fenway Park - oldest stadium in America!
Sports: Boston and Massachusetts natives are big sports fans. I've heard on numerous occasion that we're borderline insane. Regardless, there is nothing like catching a Boston sports game while in the city. Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, Bruins: I guarantee that not only the game will be fun to watch!
Museums: the best museums in Boston (in my opinion) are: Museum of Science, Museum of Fine Arts, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. If you only have time for one, I would do the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, as that is the most unique. The JFK President Library is another good one; though not very accessible by public transportation.
Restaurants: in general, seafood is the way to go in Boston. Stick to the local seafood such as lobster, clams, oysters, several types of fish. Salmon is either from the Pacific or farm raised, so I always tell people visiting to stick to other things unless you are really craving your salmon. Almost all restaurants - whether American, Italian, French, etc - have various seafood options. Obviously, seafood is not the only thing on the menu, so don't worry if you aren't a seafood type person.
Legal Seafood: there are several locations around the city. This is in no way a "chain restaurant". The seafood here is fresh (handpicked every morning from the fishing boats) and the locals are incredibly loyal to this Boston institution. I make my family go every time I go home to visit.
Scampo (Beacon Hill): located in the Liberty Hotel, the food is spectacular. I think this is the better of the two Liberty Hotel restaurants.
No. 9 Park (Beacon Hill): one of the more upscale restaurants of Boston, but you certainly can't go wrong here. It's been on the best restaurants in Boston list for years.
North End restaurants: for Italian food head into the North End. You can't really go wrong with any of the restaurants; it just depends on what type of atmosphere you are looking for. Charming and romantic: Carmen. Old colonial: Mamma Maria. Vibrant and trendy: Mare. Very Italian: Bacco, or Bricco. Small and traditional: G'Vanni's. Sometimes the best option is just to wander around and see what restaurant suits your mood that night. Wherever you eat, skip the dessert (or do double dessert) and head over to Mike's Pastry for delicious Italian desserts and treats. I highly recommend the cannolis. Don't be scared away by the long line coming out the door and often wrapping around the corner. Do as the locals do and skip the line and just move to the left. Mike's Pastry is a true Italian institution and as it is in Italy, there are no lines. So while the tourists, who don't know any better, line up to the right, the locals move to the left and nudge their way to any free space at the counter.
Durgin's Park (Faneuil Hall): a family, country-like diner, Durgin's Park has been around since 1742. Everything on the menu is Yankee recipes from the New England clam "chowdah" to the Boston baked beans (not the candy).
Harborside Grill and Patio (Hyatt Hotel): if it's a nice night, head over to the Hyatt Harborside (you can take the F2 ferry from Longwharf to the Hyatt). The restaurant gives the best views of the Boston skyline. Catch the skyline right before sunset so you can see it in day and at night.
Blue Ginger (Wellesley): this is outside of Boston in Wellesley, but if you do make it out there, the food at this place makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
Hotels: the best parts of Boston to stay in are Copley Square/Boston Common area, Beacon Hill, and Long Wharf. Any hotel in these areas would be good. Here are just some hotel suggestions, but as I said, any hotels in those areas would be good.
Liberty Hotel: possibly one of the coolest hotels in Boston, a former prison turned luxury hotel. The hotel also houses two excellent restaurants: Scampo and Clink.
Other recommendations: Fifteen Beacon, Boston Harbor Hotel, Taj Boston (former Ritz-Carlton), Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, W Boston, Fairmont Copley Plaza.