Finally had time to update this page after WAY too long! From restaurants to shopping, having friends come to town is my favorite because I get to see it through their eyes and experience the city that I love so much over and over again! Below is a list of favorites I have in each category that is a great start for anything from a weekend in the city to a few days spent exploring!
EAT//
For a girl’s night here are some fun places to try!
- Mariel
- Yvonne’s
- Barcelona Wine Bar
- Citrus & Salt
- Lolita
- Lookout Roofdeck at the Envoy Hotel
- Buttermilk & Bourbon
Figs// Some of the most creative pizza you will ever eat and if you go, you MUST get the Asparagus Frittes – they are out of this world delicious!
Max Brenner// I’m not sure what it is about this place that has me in love, but it has a little something to do with their waffle fries!
Sonsie// Hamburger pizza…enough said!
Legal Seafood// A New England staple!! If you go and I hope you do, try Legal Harborside which is a spin off to Legal Seafood
James Hook & Co.// If you’re visiting anytime aside from the winter and love lobster, you have to try their lobster roll…100% amazing!
Eastern Standard//Fun spot to go to for brunch and their cocktails are very good
SIP Wine Bar + Kitchen// I love the food at SIP. I’ve had almost everything on the menu and it’s all delicious! The mini kobe meatballs do not disappoint!
Douzo// A little pricey for sushi, but you go for the experience just as much as you go for the food!
South End Buttery// Fun, eclectic vibe and really good food!
ANYWHERE in the North End!! Seriously you can’t go wrong with Italian food in the north end so I can’t even pick a favorite, but don’t be afraid to try some of the places that aren’t on Hanover Street, those are usually the best!
COFFEE SPOTS
- Tatte
- Greystone
- South end butter
- La Colombe
- Blue Bottle Coffee
DRINK//
- Mariel
- Yvonne’s
- Estella
- Lookout Roofdeck at the Envoy Hotel
- Raffle’s – Long Bar & Terrace
- Liberty Hotel
- City Bar
City Bar//Located in the Lenox Hotel, this is hands down my favorite little swanky spot in Boston! I love coming here to start my night with a delicious bellini!
Boston isn’t really a “club” city…it’s more of a grab a drink in a lounge kind of city. There are a few places that play music while you’re enjoying your night out, but anyone over the age of 23 knows that any place that charges cover is not worth your time!
Brahmin//Definitely a scene so if you go, go on the earlier side so you don’t get stuck in the “fake line” they like to keep up for appearances! But it is fun!
Precinct Kitchen + Bar//You definitely go here for the outside patio and their drinks! Another great spot to get your night started.
Liberty Hotel// I’ve expressed my love for this hotel a number of times and that’s because it has so much to offer! You can go to the main lobby, yes where guests check in and enjoy your drinks while lounging. You can also head downstairs to the entrance where you can enjoy a “club-like” atmosphere at Alibi.
Seaport Area// This part of Boston has really exploded in the past few years and any restaurant you go into has a great bar scene that you can enjoy! My favorites are Legal Harborside – their outside deck is stellar and Temazcal which is also a great Mexican restaurant!
Oak Long Bar + Kitchen// Located inside of the Fairmont Copley hotel – Oak Long bar is my favorite little spot after they underwent a great renovation a few years ago! It’s really swanky and understated at the same time.
SHOP//
Boston is a great shopping city!! Not only do we have Newbury Street, which is our version of 5th Avenue, just a bit shorter, but we also have a great mall in the heart of the city!
Newbury Street + Boylston Street// Luxe designers and great little bistros line both sides of the street. On Boylston you can find larger stores like Lord + Taylor and Marshalls.
Copley Place + The Shops at Prudential Center// It’s a mall…lots of shopping to do here!
Faneuil Hall// More touristy shopping than anything else, but it does have the only Origins store in the city! For a list of stores you can visit here.
Downtown Crossing//This part of Boston is changing and changing fast!! We have a Primark that is slated to open sometime in 2015 and a huge TJ Maxx, Macy’s H&M and DSW all steps away from one another!
What to do//
You definitely will not run out of things to do and see in Boston! Some stuff is really touristy, but when you are in one of the oldest cities in the United States and home to some of the richest history in America, you sort of have to soak it all in!
Charles Street//Hands down my favorite street in Boston!! It’s reminiscent of London with little shops and restaurants lining the street, including my beloved Figs!!
Public Garden & Boston Common Parks// You can’t and wont be able to miss our two most famous parks! I personally love the Public Garden in the Spring and Summer because all the flowers are in bloom and you can even take a little tour around the pond in a swan boat…yes it’s a tourist trap!
Freedom Trail// If you’re a history buff, you can’t miss out on the freedom trail walk – you can also do it yourself without a guide, but then you’ll have to figure out the history on your own!
Tour of Fenway Park// Even if you aren’t a Red Sox fan, touring one of the oldest baseball fields in the United States is beyond cool!! If you have the chance to watch a game, do it and don’t forget to get a hot dog because they are specially made for Fenway Park!!
Boston Duck Tours// This is hands down the best way to see the entire city and learn a little history as well. It’s touristy, but I’ve done it at least three times with people that have visited and I always have a great time! You even get a ride in the Charles River!
City Wine Tours//I just recently did the Back Bay wine tour and would absolutely recommend it to anyone visiting. Not only do you get to go to three area restaurants, but you get a mini walking tour of the neighborhood!
Harpoon Brewery Tour// Personally I’d skip the Sam Adams Brewery tour and instead do the Harpoon one! It’s a lot fun and you get more beer’s to taste test!!
New England Aquarium// We have a pretty phenomenal Aquarium that is a fun place to take kids since they offer a lot of different exhibits!! It’s also home to the IMAX theater so you can catch a show there!
Museums// Being a metropolitan city, there are a lot of museums to visit in Boston if that is something you like to do! My personal favorite is the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. There is an incredible courtyard that you could spend an entire day enjoying!
Cambridge + Harvard// I suggest skipping the formal tours and walking around the grounds of Harvard yourself! It’s a public campus and you can walk around as you’d like! The area around Harvard is really cute and there are a few nice restaurants and shops to enjoy!
STAY//
There are obviously tons of hotels in Boston to stay at, but these are some of my favorite that have a little history and are centrally located to the T and walking distance to everything else!
If you have any questions or are planning a visit to Boston let me know and I’m happy to help!!
