Insider Tips From a Boston Local
Boston is a *personal* favorite city of mine, that also happens to be the one I lived in. So needless to say, I have A LOT of recommendations, but I’ll try to keep this short and sweet and really give you the best of the best, and some you wouldn’t find in a Google search. Although these are what I consider the best based on my personality - if you are interested in my recommendations for you, send us a message (shameless plug).
WHERE TO EAT:
Lolita
Trattoria Il Panino
Fox & The Knife
WHERE TO GO OUT:
Lucky's Lounge
The Lincoln
The Black Rose
WHAT TO SEE:
Freedom Trail
Harvard University/Cambridge
Red Sox Game
BEST PLACES FOR AN INSTAGRAM PHOTO:
Acorn Street
Fan Pier Park
Newbury Street
WHERE TO STAY:
I won’t lie, hotels in Boston are expensive. While I have never stayed at one, friends and family that come to visit have told me just how expensive they can be. Where to stay REALLY depends on the things you want to do. Although Boston is extremely easy to get around (via walking and public transport), where you stay can make a huge difference. In saying that, I can’t pick one hotel to recommend here. I would say check out the Seaport area, it’s new and upcoming (very flashy) and will have fairly priced hotels with a lot of restaurants around.
I have heard a few places NOT to stay - message us if you want to hear more about that.
Lolita: Lolita is a Mexican restaurant based in the Seaport/Fort Point neighborhood of Boston. Famous for delicious margaritas and tacos, they also have incredible decor and vibe indoors. Think Day of the Dead meets underground Speakeasy…during the summer they have outdoor seating on the water. And if I haven’t convinced you yet - at the end of each meal they bring out complementary cotton candy with the bill. If you want a dining ~experience~ this is the place to be.
Trattoria Il Panino - they are based in the infamous “North End” or the “Little Italy'' of Boston. Offering all the homemade pasta and wine you could dream of, this is the place to dine (skip Giaccomos, they don’t take reservations and you’ll probably wait an hour to sit in a crowded restaurant with decent food but they’ll rush you in and out). Also skip Mike’s pastry after and head to Bova’s. Shorter line and similar (or better in my opinion) pastries.
Fox & The Knife - Another Italian recommendation, but has won awards and has been featured in Conde Nast Traveler. They’re best known for homemade pasta and modern cocktails. This spot definitely needs reservations (weeks in advance), but if you can score one, it’s a hit. Please get the focaccia, and thank me later.
Lucky’s Lounge - Seaport - This is a rowdy, infamous late night spot. One of the only “dive bars” in the flashy Seaport area. My understanding is you want to be properly…inebriated before you enter. But everyone has a great story about a night at Lucky’s and apparently their food is actually decent. Also a late night spot...open until 2am when all other bars close at 1am.
The Lincoln - South Boston - This bar is a purely local bar packed with 20-somethings from 8pm Friday-7pm Sunday. All day and all night. South Boston is notoriously known for “yuppies”, which are the kids in their mid-twenties who have graduated college, moved here and work in the city (myself included). And they LOVE to party. Honestly, any bar in South Boston you’ll find the same scene all weekend long. Need I say much more?
The Black Rose - Hesitant on recommending this, but as far as Irish Pubs go, this one hits the nail on the head. There is usually some kind of live Irish music happening, plus if you get tired of it, there are about a million other bars in that area to pop into. Be warned - there will be a lot of college kids here/around here. Plus, quite a few tourists.
Freedom Trail - this is baseline, as touristy as it gets. BUT I take everyone who visits me on it, or at least part of it. If you’re not super into the history, I get it, but it’s the BEST way to see a majority of the city. And you can add a few pub stops along the way to keep things interesting.
Harvard University/Cambridge - People that come to Boston seem to be obsessed with going to see Harvard...it is worth a quick look around, grab lunch at one of the restaurants in Harvard Square or head down for a walk along the Charles (great view of the city from there).
Red Sox Game (or Red Sox Stadium Tour) - A classic Boston staple, if you can catch a game here, do it for the atmosphere even if you don’t love baseball. There’s a lot of history, drinking and good food to be had around the stadium in Fenway. And if you’re visiting off of baseball season, they still offer year round tours for $21.
Acorn Street - Beacon Hill - “The Most Photographed Street in the Country” I wouldn’t recommend it if it wasn’t actually worth it. Plus, strolling around Beacon Hill is dreamy. The cobblestoned road does gain quite an audience, so be prepared to wait in line for a photo or have people in the background; unless you’re really dedicated and get there early in the morning.
Fan Pier Park - Seaport - This spot gives you a fantastic view of the other side of Boston, plus the water and boats coming in and out of the harbor. This spot at evening/night time is even more magical when the city lights come on. Even if you don’t get a photo, it’s worth checking out.
Newbury Street - Back Bay - Ah Newbury Street. I remember when I first moved here I wanted to live near it. Now I can’t tell you the last time I was there. Newbury street is basically shopping and eating, all seemingly overpriced. But you can find the classic Brownstone homes in this area, and if you go one or two blocks back to Commonwealth Ave, you’ll find where all the rich people live; but another great photo op.
That concludes our Boston recommendations! Let us know if you have tried any of these before or are adding them to your list for your next Boston trip!
xx,
The Itinerary Girls