20 Best Places to Eat in Boston for the Perfect Taste of the City
Updated: May 08, 2024
AAA Travel Editor, Patricia Miller
Beantown is steeped in historical experiences, from the crack of the bat at Fenway Park to the spirit of the Boston Marathon. Yet, its culinary landscape is equally renowned with a multitude of famous food options. With a storied past, the food in Boston has an array of flavors and influences, ranging from the iconic Boston Cream pie to a fresh pint of Guinness.
No matter when you visit Boston, you can always rely on having a great culinary experience in the city. Below are some of the best places to eat in Boston, ranging from excellent restaurants to quintessential pubs and delightful bakeries.
Best Restaurants in Boston
Boston's culinary landscape offers a diverse array of restaurants spanning various cuisines and dining experiences, making curating our list a challenging task. However, we've carefully selected some fun restaurants in Boston that are must-tries for anyone seeking to explore different cuisines, indulge in an elevated dining experience or savor traditional Bostonian dishes.
1. Toro
Address: 1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118
Approximate price per person: $50-$100
Toro in the city's South End is a must-visit spot if you're visiting Boston with friends and looking for a flavorful culinary adventure. Known for its authentic Spanish tapas with modern twists, Toro offers a delightful array of small plates perfect for sharing.
Don't miss out on their crispy patatas bravas, succulent jamón ibérico and grilled corn with aioli. Complement your tapas with Toro's extensive beverage program, featuring carefully curated wines and classic cocktails to enhance your dining experience.
2. Celeste
Address: 21 Bow St., Somerville, MA 02143
Approximate price per person: $50-$100
Boston’s culinary scene offers cuisines that stretch across the globe, and it is perfectly exemplified at Celeste—a Peruvian restaurant located in Somerville’s Union Square, a fifteen-minute drive northwest from downtown Boston.
At Celeste, you’ll enjoy Peruvian staple dishes such as fresh ceviche, slow-cooked stews and popular meat dishes like lomo saltado (sirloin stir fry). Celeste prides itself on using only fresh ingredients in its dishes and is committed to preparing both new and traditional dishes on their menu daily.
Enhance your dining experience by pairing your meal with recommended libations; choose between the classic Pisco or locally crafted beers.
3. Mooncusser
Address: 304 Stuart St, Boston, MA 02116
Approximate price per person: $100+
For those in search of a refined dining experience during their stay in Boston, look no further than Mooncusser, a high-end restaurant celebrated for its mastery of local seafood.
Any Boston travel guide will recommend indulging in some seafood while on your trip, and Mooncusser is an ideal destination for just that. Despite its culinary excellence, Mooncusser offers a relaxed and comfortable environment.
Mooncusser distinguishes itself with a seasonal "prix fixe" tasting menu curated by Chef Carl Dooley, sparing you the stress of decision-making and allowing you to simply enjoy the local flavors. While dining at Mooncusser comes with a higher price tag, it's worth splurging for the deliciously prepared dishes and refined dining experience.
4. Barra
Address: 23a Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143
Approximate price per person: $50
Barra offers a contemporary take on Mexican cuisine, infusing Boston with the vibrant flavors of Mexico City. Using authentic ingredients such as corn and chiles, Barra elevates traditional dishes, including its renowned hand-pressed blue-corn tortillas.
With an extensive cocktail menu highlighting Mexican spirits like mezcal and nixta, Barra ensures a flavorful experience. The lively atmosphere is complete, with an open patio for dining on warm summer days. For those seeking exceptional Mexican cuisine during their Boston stay, Barra stands out as a top choice.
5. Spoke Wine Bar
Address: 89 Holland St, Somerville, MA 02144
Approximate price per person: $50-$100
For over a decade, Spoke Wine Bar has been the go-to spot for happy hour, offering small plates and quality wines. Whether you opt for nibbles like charcuterie boards or one of its unique palate-pleasing dishes, you're sure to find something to enjoy while perusing Spoke's wide array of wines. The seasonal dishes feature local ingredients, reflecting Spoke's commitment to developing strong relationships with farmers, winemakers and brewers.
6. Kava Neo-Taverna
Address: 315 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118
Approximate price per person: $50-$100
Kava Neo-Taverna in Boston's South End offers a delightful taste of Greece. This intimate restaurant prides itself on recreating traditional Mediterranean dishes with fresh, high-quality ingredients like imported feta cheese and seafood. Featuring small plates meant for sharing, Kava's menu allows you to experience a variety of flavors.
Accompanying the delicious food is a curated selection of Greek wines and liquors, inviting you to explore the tastes of the Aegean. The bright, airy interior with whitewashed walls creates a relaxed and inviting atmosphere, perfect for a cozy meal with your partner, solo dining or gathering with friends. Due to limited seating, we recommend booking a reservation in advance of your stay.
7. Sarma
Address: 249 Pearl St, Somerville, MA 02145
Approximate price per person: $50-$100
Inspired by Turkey's meyhanes, Sarma specializes in Eastern Mediterranean meze, perfect for sharing among friends. Pair these small plates with selected cocktails, wines and craft beers for a complete dining experience. Popular dishes at Sarma include manti (Turkish dumplings), seven-layer hummus and lamb kofte. While reservations are recommended for dinner, walk-ins are welcome at the high tables and bar on a first-come, first-served basis.
8. Puritan & Company
Address: 1166 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139
Approximate price per person: $50-$100
Puritan & Company offers Modern American cuisine infused with New England flavors, showcasing locally sourced ingredients. Chef-owner Will Gilson and his team craft traditional yet innovative dishes. The inviting and comfortable environment of the restaurant makes you feel right at home while enjoying a meal.
Additionally, Puritan features an oyster bar, perfect for sampling a variety of oysters alongside smaller dishes. Popular menu items include Parker House rolls, fried clam bellies and various crudos.
9. Giulia
Address: 1682 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138
Approximate price per person: $50-$100
Located in Cambridge, Giulia is an Italian restaurant that embodies the true spirit and cuisine of Northern Italy. Its dishes are simple yet classic, crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients, including pizzas, pastas and other traditional meals.
The highlight is undoubtedly the house-made pasta, guaranteed to transport you to the rolling hills of Italy with every bite. Complement your meal with a carefully selected Italian wine, and don't miss the opportunity to conclude your culinary journey with a delectable after-dinner affogato.
Best Pubs in Boston
A stop at a local pub is one of the best things to do in Boston. Boston's rich history with pubs, or taverns, traces back to colonial times when these establishments served as social hubs in the development of the early United States.
Boston's sizable Irish population has contributed significantly to the city's numerous excellent Irish pubs and drinkeries. If you’re seeking a traditional pub experience, be sure to visit one of the following pubs in Boston.
10. The Black Rose
Address: 160 State St, Boston, MA 02109
Approximate price per person: $25-$50
The Black Rose is as authentic an Irish pub as you can get without buying a plane ticket to Dublin. Spirited crowds down Guinness at the bar, musicians play popular Irish tunes nightly and good vibes fill the air. If you crave classic Gaelic eats, you’ll find savory favorites on the menu like fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, sausage rolls and bangers and mash as well as burgers and sandwiches.
11. Ned Devine's Irish Pub
Address: 1 N Market St, Boston, MA 02109
Approximate price per person: $25-$50
Ned Devine’s blends contemporary renditions of classic pub grub and Irish standards. Egg rolls stuffed with corned beef and cabbage are a tasty way to start your meal, and Jameson bread pudding splashed with Irish whiskey is an awesome way to end it.
Chow down on a lobster grilled cheese sandwich paired with what is reputedly the best clam chowder in Boston. On weekends, part of the restaurant transforms into a nightclub that stays open into the wee hours of the morning.
12. Mr. Dooley's
Address: 77 Broad St, Boston, MA 02109
Approximate price per person: $25-$30
Mr. Dooley’s Boston Tavern, located in the Financial District, stands out as one of the most beloved Irish pubs in the city. However, it aims to distinguish itself from the typical "Irish-themed" bars found in Boston, positioning itself as a welcoming space for patrons to enjoy a "pint and a chat."
Providing a selection of both Irish and local beers, Mr. Dooley’s offers classic Irish fare such as fish and chips, shepherd’s pie and even Kerry mac and cheese. While there, guests can enjoy live entertainment from talented Boston bands and musicians.
13. The Burren
Address: 247 Elm St, Somerville, MA 02144
Approximate price per person: $25-$30
Nestled in Somerville, The Burren takes its name from the rugged region in Southwest Ireland, famous for the iconic Cliffs of Moher. A quintessential Irish Pub in every sense, The Burren offers live entertainment, traditional Irish pub food and beloved drink staples.
Renowned for showcasing authentic Irish music and even Irish step dancing, The Burren feels like a journey to the heart of Ireland.
14. J.J. Foley's Cafe
Address: 117 E Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02118
Approximate price per person: $25-$30
J.J. Foley’s Cafe, a cherished family-owned establishment since 1909, is nestled in Boston’s South End. The pub exudes a warm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for visitors and locals to savor a pint or two. Indulge in classic American bar cuisine, including mouthwatering burgers and sandwiches.
Whether you're seeking a casual dining experience with friends or prefer to stand at the bar and catch a football game while enjoying a pint of Guinness, J.J. Foley’s caters to all tastes and occasions.
Best Bakeries in Boston
Boston has solidified its reputation as a hub for excellent bakers, thanks to its longstanding bakeries and the rich history of immigrants from nations with deep roots in baking and pastry creation. It’s even been recognized as one of the top cities with the best bakeries in the U.S. Below are some of the most popular bakeries in Boston to visit for delectable treats and breads.
15. Mike's Pastry
Address: 300 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
Approximate price per person: $10-$20
At Mike’s Pastry, the atmosphere can be frenetic, even outside of the morning rush; to call it lively would be an understatement. Maybe it’s all that sugar? Don’t be shy; join the throngs of dessert enthusiasts loudly voicing their orders over glass display cases brimming with scrumptious baked goodies like biscotti, cream puffs and giant cookies.
The real challenge? Choosing from their 18 mouthwatering cannoli flavors, the bakery's claim to fame since 1946.
16. Modern Pastry
Address: 257 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
Approximate price per person: $20-$40
Frequently compared to Mike’s Pastry but by no means second best, Modern Pastry has a calmer vibe than its competition. Sweet-as-pie shop girls pipe sweetened cream into large pastry shells called lobster tails (the house specialty) right when you order them and do the same with cannoli.
Try some melt-in-your-mouth butter cookies, cupcakes, tarts or tiramisu, too. Challenge yourself to a taste test between the two shops, but don’t be surprised if there’s a tie.
17. Flour Bakery + Cafe
Address: 209 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114
Approximate price per person: $10-$15
You might stumble upon a Flour Bakery + Cafe near your hotel, as the bakery has nine locations throughout Boston and Cambridge. Owned by Joanne Chang, a James Beard Award-winning pastry chef, you can expect top-tier pastries.
Indulge in an array of pastries, cakes, cookies and other delectable desserts, along with a menu featuring delicious sandwiches paired with salads and soups. Flour Bakery + Cafe is renowned for its sticky buns, banana bread and French pastries such as croissants and pain au raisin.
18. Clear Flour Bread
Address: 178 Thorndike St, Brookline, MA 02446
Approximate price per person: $10-$20
Established in 1982, Clear Flour Bread has dedicated years to perfecting authentically delicious bread and pastries originating from France, Germany and Italy. Notably, Clear Flour Bread exclusively utilizes locally sourced and stone-ground flour, paired with simple ingredients, to create long-fermented doughs for stone hearth baking.
The bakery is renowned for its daily and weekly bread selections, featuring favorites such as sourdough, focaccia and baguettes. With a commitment to freshness, Clear Flour Bread replenishes its pastries and bread daily, so it's advisable to arrive early to ensure you don't miss out on your favorites.
19. Bova's Bakery
Address: 134 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113
Approximate price per person: $10-$20
Operating since 1926, Bova’s Bakery has been a long-standing staple in the North End, a top shopping spot in Boston, for over eighty years. What sets Bova’s Bakery apart is its round-the-clock operation, catering to late-night cravings or mid-afternoon pick-me-ups. Whether you need Italian cookies, pastries, or pizza slices, Bova’s Bakery has you covered.
Ideal for a quick lunch or grabbing a whole pizza to go, Bova’s also offers traditional cannolis and award-winning tiramisu alongside its array of treats. However, due to its immense popularity, be prepared for a bit of a wait before sinking your teeth into these delectable Italian treats.
20. Iggy's Bread
Address: 130 Fawcett St, Cambridge, MA 02138
Approximate price per person: $10-$20
Looking for high-quality breads for sandwiches or simply to enjoy on their own? Iggy’s Bread has you covered. At Iggy’s, their bakers prepare old-fashioned, naturally leavened bread baked daily in a hearth oven.
Iggy’s motto, “Bread of the World,” means bread for everyone, so they offer their basic bread, like country sourdough and francese, at lower prices to ensure accessibility to good and nutritious bread for all. When you stop by, you can purchase the bread whole or opt for a freshly prepared sandwich from their unique daily menus. Additionally, if you or someone you know lives in the area, Iggy’s offers bread deliveries so you can always enjoy fresh bread at home.
Eat Your Way Through Boston With AAA Travel
AAA Travel ensures peace of mind throughout your journey—before, during and after your vacation to Beantown! Members enjoy exclusive benefits, including map routing to the best places to eat in Boston, savings through the AAA Discounts & Rewards® program, and recommendations for AAA Diamond-designated hotels and where to eat in Boston.