Nightshade Noodle Bar
(Lynn)
- A Vietnamese-French tasting menu served in a 30-seat room in Lynn, a dozen-plus courses with inventive cocktails and wine flights. Michelin-recommended and worth the trip north of the city.
fine dining, vietnamese, french
Saigon Babylon
(Cambridge)
- Rooftop Vietnamese in Central Square with refined takes on bún chả, sticky rice, and black cod, plus a strong cocktail list.
vietnamese, cocktail
Pagu
(Cambridge)
- Innovative Japanese & Spanish small plates in homey dining room.
japanese, spanish
Fallow Kin
(Cambridge)
- Seasonal, vegetable-forward small plates near Central Square. The duck fat brioche and the custard churro are what people come back for.
Sumiao Hunan Kitchen
(Cambridge)
- Upscale Chinese recipes & Asian-inspired cocktails in an attractive modern art-filled room.
chinese, cocktail
Mooncusser
(Back Bay)
- Seasonal 4-course tasting menus with local seafood & globally inspired dishes in a chic restaurant.
fine dining, seafood, tasting menu
Mai
(Seaport)
- Tiny Seaport hand roll bar with French-Japanese touches like eel with foie gras and miso butter cod. About twenty seats, so book ahead.
japanese, sushi, french
Yankee Lobster
(Seaport)
- Bare-bones, counter-serve spot for fresh seafood & live lobsters; patio seats offer seaport views.
seafood
Nowon Seaport
(Seaport)
- Korean-American bar food with a Y2K soundtrack in the Seaport. The chopped cheese rice cakes and the cheeseburger are the calling cards.
korean
Thonglor
(Brighton)
- Neighborhood Thai in Brighton that draws lines for crispy duck curry and crying tiger steak. Spicy by default, generous, and fairly priced.
thai
Vinal General Store
(Somerville)
- Retro general store in Somerville turning out some of the area's best sandwiches, plus soft serve and beer. The Italian and the tuna are the standouts.
sandwich
No Relation
(South End)
- Advance tickets are required for this snug, unassuming sushi hideaway with 14-course tasting menus.
fine dining, japanese, sushi
Louis Corner
(South End)
- Friendly South End corner spot on Tremont with a patio, good cocktails, and an easygoing American menu.
cocktail
311 Omakase
(South End)
- Boston's first Michelin star: a ten-seat counter in a South End rowhouse where chef Wei Fa Chen serves cooked courses, then nigiri made largely with fish from Japan. Reservations go fast.
fine dining, japanese, sushi
Aquitaine
(South End)
- Elegant Parisian-style bistro offering traditional French cuisine, fixed-priced menus & brunch.
french
Desnuda cocina & bar
(South End)
- Latin and Asian small plates in the South End (ceviche, tiradito, tacos, bao) with a vinyl-DJ speakeasy downstairs.
latin, cocktail
Capri Italian Steakhouse
(South End)
- Two-level Italian steakhouse in the South End with a leafy courtyard patio. Start with the honey buns, then steak or pasta.
italian, steak
Darling
(Cambridge)
- Low-lit Central Square cocktail bar with Chinese-inspired plates. Come for the inventive drinks, stay for the ribs, wontons, and fish bao.
chinese, cocktail
Jahunger Cambridge
(Cambridge)
- Uyghur cooking from Xinjiang in Cambridge: hand-pulled noodles, cumin lamb, and honey cake. A Bib Gourmand pick that's still a great value.
noodles, chinese
Bánh Mì Ba Lẹ & Bakery
(Dorchester)
- Take-out standby for traditional Vietnamese sandwiches & desserts, plus bubble tea & coffee.
vietnamese, sandwich
Mahaniyom
(Brookline)
- Compact, brick-lined haunt with a chill vibe specializing in craft cocktails & Thai sharing plates.
thai, cocktail
Ganko Ittetsu Ramen
(Brookline)
- Three kinds of wok-cooked, Sapporo-style ramen soups make up the menu at this compact noodle shop.
japanese, noodles
Kungfu Kitchen
(Brookline)
- Coolidge Corner spot for soup dumplings, hand-cut noodles, and pan-fried pork buns. Busy, fast, and generous.
noodles, chinese
Lan Feast 宴蘭
(Brookline)
- Lanzhou-style hand-pulled beef noodles in Coolidge Corner. Pick your noodle width and taste the broth before reaching for the chili oil.
noodles, chinese
Kenzoku Mazesoba
(Fenway)
- Brothless mazesoba near Fenway, in yuzu shio and cheesy versions, plus a few sushi rolls. Portions are big.
japanese, noodles
Ssaanjh Indian
(Brookline)
- Modern Indian in Brookline with polished plating and the classics done well. The dal makhani and lamb shank are the picks.
indian
Uni
(Fenway)
- Chic bilevel hotel eatery with dark wood accents serving sashimi, sushi & unique Asian street food.
japanese, sushi
Matsunori Handroll Bar
(Fenway)
- Walk-in-only hand roll counter near Kenmore using wagyu, uni, and toro. Expect a wait at peak times.
japanese, sushi
Asta
(Back Bay)
- Upscale New American fixed-price tasting-menu dinners served amid exposed brick in a simple setting.
tasting menu
Figaro’s Boston
(Chinatown)
- Family-run Italian deli turning out elevated sandwiches, wraps, soups & breakfast items.
italian, sandwich
Little Sage
(North End)
- Small North End Italian that stands apart from the red-sauce strip, with octopus, casarecce, and a standout chicken.
italian
Table Mercato
(North End)
- North End market and sandwich counter known for enormous focaccia sandwiches, especially the spicy vodka chicken parm. One easily feeds two.
italian, sandwich
Somaek Korean
(Downtown Crossing)
- Home-style Korean cooking and a deep soju and makgeolli list in Downtown Crossing, with excellent banchan.
korean
Fox & The Knife
(South Boston)
- A menu focused on rustic Italian fare & modern cocktails in a lively setting with bar seating.
italian, cocktail
Lenox Sophia
(South Boston)
- Chef-driven BYOB tasting menu in South Boston, seasonal and local, with a vegetarian option. Michelin-recommended, and it feels like dinner in the chef's living room.
fine dining, tasting menu, byob
Bar Volpe
(South Boston)
- Karen Akunowicz's southern Italian spot in South Boston, built around house-made pasta like spaghetti al limone with Jonah crab. One of the city's six Bib Gourmands.
italian
The Shop at Dovetail
(Charlestown)
- Sandwich shop and prepared-foods counter in the Charlestown Navy Yard, with lots of gluten-free options. Good for lunch near the USS Constitution.
sandwich
Sarma Restaurant
(Somerville)
- A modern Mediterranean menu, featuring meze & Middle Eastern favorites, offered in colorful digs.
middle eastern
Yume Ga Arukara
(Seaport)
- Tiny udon counter in the Seaport known for chewy noodles and the spicy cold niku udon. Expect a line.
japanese, noodles
Brassica Kitchen + Cafe
(Jamaica Plain)
- Hip, buzzy cafe with gourmet java & pastries by day & Euro-style meals, plus cocktails, by night.
french, bakery, cocktail
Cafes in Boston
Phin Coffee House
(Financial District)
- Relaxed Vietnamese cafe offering banh mi, sandwiches, and baked goods, plus specialty coffee.
vietnamese, sandwich, coffee
PRB Boulangerie
(Cambridge)
- French-style bakery in Kendall Square for flaky croissants, flan, and inventive seasonal lattes.
french, bakery, coffee
Greystone Cafe, Bakery, and Provisions
(South End)
- Straightforward restaurant offering omelets & egg sandwiches, plus homemade pastries.
sandwich, bakery
Cannonball Cafe
(South Boston)
- Busy South Boston cafe for creative lattes, breakfast sandwiches, and pastries, with plenty of gluten-free options.
sandwich, bakery, coffee
Madhouse Cafe
(Roxbury)
- Coffee shop and motorcycle repair garage in one, near Nubian Square in Roxbury. Get the sweet tahini latte.
coffee
Gracenote Coffee Boston
(Leather District)
- Tiny gourmet espresso bar from a local coffee roaster serving nitrogen cold brews & more.
coffee
Sofra Bakery & Cafe
(Cambridge)
- Compact, modest bakery for Middle Eastern sweets & savory bites, plus a small patio.
middle eastern, bakery
Third Cliff Bakery
(Jamaica Plain)
- Jamaica Plain bakery with playful croissants like kimchi and cheese or guava and cream. There's usually a line, and the orange latte is worth it.
bakery, coffee
Attractions in Boston
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
(Fenway)
- Evocative of a 15th-century Venetian palace, this museum houses a world-class art collection.
The Harvard Museum of Natural History
(Cambridge)
- Extensive natural-science collections, including animals, minerals & the famous Glass Flowers.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
(Fenway)
- Neoclassical & modern wings house a vast collection from ancient Egyptian to contemporary American.
Fenway Park
(Fenway)
- Historic, small-capacity ballpark, home of the Red Sox & occasional big-name concert venue.
Old North Church
(North End)
- Hallowed 18th-century church & launch point for Paul Revere's revolutionary ride, with tours & more.
Faneuil Hall Marketplace
(Downtown)
- Shopping center with many stores & restaurants comprising 3 historic market buildings & a promenade.
Stores in Boston
Dave's Fresh Pasta
(Somerville)
- Cozy destination for handmade pasta & other gourmet groceries, plus wine & sandwiches.