Boston - Dining & Drinking

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Seafood is a Boston favorite, as is the traditional Yankee boiled supper, but this ethnic melting pot brings has an eclectic selection of menus.

Drinking is a favorite pastime. Bars and pubs fill to capacity during the week when the after-work crowd comes out. College students add to the scene in laid-back establishments that serve more draft beer than martinis. On almost every corner of urban Boston you can find a casual pub or a swanky, retro-style lounge or nightclub. For local favorites, try the Delux Cafe & Bar, the Other Side Cosmic Cafe and Charley's Eating & Drinking Saloon.



Waterfront

Seafood rules the dining scene here, enticing visitors with clam chowder and lobster. Anthony's Pier 4 on Northern Avenue is a popular and well-established spot. Legal Sea Foods is a local chain that is popular with natives and tourists alike. The Barking Crab has beer and crabcakes galore, and the Daily Catch entices with its specialties from the sea.



Faneuil Hall

You can find Yankee suppers, Irish fare, seafood and pub fare in this historic downtown marketplace. Durgin-Park has pot roast and boiled dinners. The Black Rose is a good spot for a pint of Guinness. There are also food courts for a quick bite.



Beacon Hill

This beautiful, old-fashioned neighborhood is known for its intimate and romantic places, including The Hungry I, Todd English's famous Figs and the French-Asian Torch. Although there is often a wait for a table, the inviting cobblestone streets and gas-lit alleyways are perfect for a pre-dinner walk.



North End

This famous neighborhood is home to historic landmarks and the best Italian food in Boston and perhaps in all of New England. Hanover Street is packed with such popular establishments as Pomodoro, Mamma Maria, Mike's Pastry and Caffe Vittoria.



Chinatown

With the highest concentration of late-night dining options in the city, Chinatown eateries are crowded well into the night. Among the best are Chau Chow City and East Ocean City.



Newbury Street

Fusion restaurants and countless cafes line this busy Back Bay street. Stephanie's of Newbury and Sonsie Bistro & Cafe are swank spots for the dining elite. Davio's has great Italian food and a cozy atmosphere. The Jewel of Newbury features fine Moroccan cuisine, while 29 Newbury is known for celebrity spotting and chic dining in a intimate setting. For special occasions, L'Espalier is a truly romantic French restaurant.



South End

The South End, with its quaint row houses and manicured buildings, has been to several new restaurants in recent years as the gay community and families fleeing the suburbs have brought this area back to life. On a walk along Columbus Avenue and Tremont Street in this neighborhood, you will encounter restaurants offering modern French and American food, Ethiopian cuisine and down-home southern cooking. Tremont 647 and Mistral are two hotspots, and Apetito has a picturesque setting and excellent Italian food.



Cambridge

On the other side of the Charles River, Cambridge has many hidden jewels, many of which are priced out of the student budget range and offer a fine dining experience in this cosmopolitan little city. Casablanca is an obvious choice for Humphrey Bogart fans, and Chez Henri serves French cuisine with a South American twist. The Border Cafe is the place for margaritas and quesadillas.



Dining With a View

Restaurants with spectacular views include Top of the Hub, the Bay Tower Room and Spinnaker Italia.



Dining With a Scene

Boston has its share of hotspots, with ingenious menus by well-known chefs and the decor and clientele to match. Head to Oskar's in the Leather District, or check out Sophia's in the Fenway neighborhood, a multi-level tapas bistro with a dance floor and rooftop deck. Anago, inside the Lenox Hotel, is small but has a beautiful dining room and an intimate lounge. Clio, run by award winning chef Ken Oringer, serves well-dressed diners with discerning palates.

Often the best way to find a good meal in Boston is by exploring on foot. Every neighborhood in Boston has interesting choices, from gourmet to pub grub.



A Note About Smoking

"Smoking or non?" is a question one rarely hears in the Boston area, because "non" is usually the only option. The city of Boston allows smoking only in bars. If food is served, there must be six feet between the smokers at the bar and tables with food. As a result, some tightly-packed establishments do not allow smoking at the bar - be sure to ask before lighting up.

The suburb of Somerville has similar rules, and Cambridge permits smoking in only 17 bars in the entire city. Smokers should avoid the southwest suburb of Brookline, where all public smoking is banned.









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Border Cafe


Party atmosphere, superb margaritas
 32 Church Street
Boston, MA 02138
+1 617 864 6100
http://www.bordercafe.com/cambridge.html
Border Cafe
Mamma Maria


Elegance on North Square
 3 North Square
Boston, MA 02113
+1 617 523 0077
http://www.mammamaria.com/
Mamma Maria
North End


Old Italian beauty
 Hanover and Salem streets
Boston, MA 02113
+1 800 7 3326 7866 (Tourist Information / Toll Free)
http://www.cityofboston.gov/neighborhoods/neighborhoods.asp?ID=19
North End
The Boston Harbor Association


A Walk Along the Harbor
 374 Congress Street Suite 307
Boston, MA 02110
+ 1 617 482 1722 (The Boston Harbor Association)
http://www.tbha.org/
The Boston Harbor Association
South End


Hip Neighborhood
 Tremont Street and Washington Street
Boston, MA 02118
+1 800 7 3326 7866 (Tourist Information / Toll Free)
South End
Figs


Fig pizza and more
 42 Charles Street
(at Chestnut Street)
Boston, MA 02114-4604
+1 617 742 3447 / +1 617 242 9715 (Office - Charlestown)
http://www.toddenglish.com/Restaurants/Figs.html
Figs
Espalier


Gourmet dining
 30 Gloucester Street
Boston, MA 02115
+1 617 262 3023
http://www.lespalier.com/
Espalier
Legal Sea Foods


Lots of chowder
 26 Park Place
Boston, MA 02116
+1 617 426 4444
http://www.legalseafoods.com/
Legal Sea Foods
Barking Crab Restaurant


Waterfront crab shack
 Suikerrui 4
Boston, MA 2000
+1 617 426 2722
http://www.barkingcrab.com/
Barking Crab Restaurant
Faneuil Hall Marketplace


Food, shopping and history
 4 South Market Building
5th Floor
Boston, MA 02109
+1 617 523 1300
http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com
Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Sonsie


Upscale cafe for people watching
 327 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02115
+1 617 351 2500
http://www.sonsieboston.com/
Sonsie
Stephanie's on Newbury


Dining in style
 190 Newbury Street
Corner of Newbury & Exeter Streets
Boston, MA 02116
+1 617 236 0990
http://www.stephaniesonnewbury.com
Stephanie's on Newbury
Durgin-Park


Traditional New England fare
 340 Faneuil Hall Market Place
Boston, MA 02109
+1 617 227 2038
http://www.durgin-park.com
Durgin-Park
Charley's Eating & Drinking Saloon


Saloon-style dining
 284 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02115-2801
+1 617 266 3000
Charley's Eating & Drinking Saloon
Tremont 647


South End hip
 647 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02118
+1 617 266 4600
http://www.tremont647.com
Tremont 647
Anthony's Pier 4


Seafood with a view
 140 Northern Avenue
Boston, MA 02210
+1 617 482 6262
http://www.pier4.com/anthonys.cfm
Anthony's Pier 4
29 Newbury Street Restaurant


Sophisticated restaurant and bar
 29 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116
+1 617 536 0290
29 Newbury Street Restaurant
Mistral


French chic meets the South End scene
 223 Columbus Avenue
Boston, MA 02116
+1 617 867 9300
http://www.mistralbistro.com/
Mistral
Clio


Award-Winning Menu
 370 Commonwealth Avenue
Eliot Hotel
Boston, MA 02215
+1 617 536 7200
http://www.cliorestaurant.com/
Clio
Delux Cafe


Neighborhood secret
 100 Chandler Street
Boston, MA 02116-6015
+1 617 338 5258
Delux Cafe
Daily Catch


Fresh fish
 323 Hanover Street
Boston, MA 02113
+1 617 523 8567
http://www.dailycatch.com/
Daily Catch
Chez Henri


French-Cuban twist
 1 Shephard Street
Harvard Square
Boston, MA 02138
+1 617 354 8980
http://chezhenri.com/
Chez Henri
Casablanca


Bogart revisited
 40 Brattle Street
Harvard Square
Boston, MA 02138
+1 617 876 0999
http://www.casablanca-restaurant.com
Casablanca
Chau Chow City


Dining in the heart of Chinatown
 83 Essex Street
Boston, MA 02111-2110
+1 617 338 8158
Chau Chow City
Other Side Cosmic Cafe


Affordable dining on Newbury Street
 407 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02115
+1 617 536 8437
Other Side Cosmic Cafe
Newbury Street


Upscale shopping and people watching
 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116
+1 800 7 3326 7866 (Tourist Information / Toll Free)
http://www.newbury-st.com
Newbury Street
Caffe Vittoria


North End cafe
 290-296 Hanover Street
Boston, MA 02113
+1 617 227 7606
http://www.vittoriacaffe.com/
Caffe Vittoria
Hungry I


Intimate French hideaway
 71-1/2 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114
+1 617 227 3524
http://www.hungryiboston.com/
Hungry I
East Ocean City Restaurant


Chinese seafood delights
 25-29 Beach Street
Boston, MA 02111
+1 617 542 2504
East Ocean City Restaurant
Black Rose


An Irish pub
 160 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
+1 617 742 2286
http://www.irishconnection.com/index.php?id=41
Black Rose
Pomodoro


Casual dining
 319 Hanover Street
Boston, MA 02113-1820
+1 617 367 4348
Pomodoro
Mike's Pastry


Freshest pastries
 300 Hanover Street
Boston, MA 02113
+1 617 742 3050
http://www.mikespastry.com/
Mike's Pastry
Top of the Hub


Top restaurant, literally
 800 Boylston Street
(Prudential Center)
Boston, MA 02199
+1 617 536 1775
http://www.topofthehub.net
Top of the Hub
Chinatown


Boston's Asian epicenter
 Centered on Beach Street
Downtown Boston
Boston, MA 02113
+1 800 7 3326 7866 (Tourist Information-Toll free)
Chinatown
Beacon Hill


Historic elegance
 Between Beacon Street and Cambridge Street
Boston, MA 02114
+1 617 523 9490
http://www.beaconhillonline.com/
Beacon Hill
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