VIEW OUR

MORE OF BOSTON & BEYOND

SCROLL TO DISCOVER

A Gift For Those Who Joined My Tour

Thank you so much for taking part in one of my food tours and supporting my business! As a parting gift, I want to share with you some of my favorite places to go, things to do, and food & drink to enjoy while you're in the Boston area. Anything that's underlined has a hyperlink attached to it so you can check out the place's website/social media page and learn a little bit more.


This website page will be constantly changing as more places and events get added, so please come back and check periodically if you're ever looking for more recommendations!

Essential Boston – A Checklist for First-timers

Beacon Hill – Quintessential Boston charm

 

Boston Common – America’s oldest public park

  • If you're taking the T, it's accessible by the Park St and Boylston stops

 

Boston Public Garden – Oldest public botanical garden in the US

 

Back Bay – Boston’s most affluent neighborhood

 

North End – Boston’s oldest residential community

“It’s not "Little Italy,” it’s the North End” - Mason Lafferty, Assistant General Manager of Depasquale Ventures

 

South End – One of Boston’s historic districts

 

Fenway Park – Oldest ballpark in the US

 

TD Garden - Home of the Bruins and Celtics

 

Book Sarma a month out and order everything on the menu

 

Museums


Off the Beaten Path Neighborhoods

Union Square – My home and one of the great culinary scenes in the area

  • Himalayan Kitchen - Awesome Nepalese food and my most frequently visited restaurant in Union Square
  • Barra - Mexico City-inspired plates
  • Juliet - An excellent bistro with a worthwhile brunch menu as well
  • In their old location next door is a wine bar with some seriously cool bottles to try
  • Celeste - Peruvian food for a more intimate setting
  • Machu Picchu - More great Peruvian food, but for a more casual environment
  • Masala Square - Very good, well-priced Indian food
  • Ebi Sushi - A great neighborhood spot for all occasions
  • The Neighborhood Restaurant - Very good breakfast food spot. Just be prepared for a wait on weekends. Força Portugal! 
  • Vinal Bakery - Terrific BEC on an English muffin
  • Union Square Donuts - How can you not?
  • Bronwyn - Das Bier ist gut, ja?
  • The Independent - Casual American eats
  • The Jungle - For rocking out
  • Field & Vine - Small plates right next to backbar
  • Bow Market in Union Square - One of the more unique hangout spots in Boston/Somerville/Cambridge with over 30 vendors
  • Rebel Rebel - One of the great wine bars in the area packed into less than 200 square feet
  • Saus - Vegan poutine is better than it sounds
  • Buenas - A variety of empanadas to eat as you bop around the market
  • Nibble Kitchen - A rotating kitchen by the members of Somerville's wonderful immigrant community
  • Maca - Very cute macarons


East Boston – My home for 2 years. A multicultural hub with the best views of Boston

  • Taqueria Jalisco – My favorite Mexican food spot in Boston. Todos los Birria tacos y tostados de camarones
  • The Quiet Few - Excellent sandwiches and picklebacks
  • Rincon Limeno - Peruvian food by the Wood Island stop. I love the tacu tacu
  • El Peñol – Hearty Colombian food. Great for budget travelers. Multiple locations
  • Santarpios - Favorite pizza in Boston. Get the grilled meats as well
  • La Hacienda - Shrimp tacos and a very lively environment. You'll see lots of families here
  • La Reina – No-frills sopa mondongo y pupusas
  • Rino’s - As seen on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Their lobster ravioli is a notable dish. Enormous portions
  • Mi Pueblito - Righteous seafood soup and rather good pupusas on Border St
  • Perro Paisas – Diesel Colombian hot dogs by Wood Island
  • Renegade’s – Cheap burgers and cold beers by Orient Heights. Very much a neighborhood spot
  • Tawakal Halal Cafe - Terrific Somali food
  • El Rinconcito Colombiano - You can’t resist empanadas
  • La Chiva – For after a very late night out
  • Tall Ship – It's a turf field with expensive drinks, but it can be a lot of fun with groups. Go early on weekends or prepare for a very long line

 

Central Square – Cambridge neighborhood on the MBTA red line with tons of art and culture

  • Graffiti Alley – Enjoy the ever-changing artwork
  • Brookline Lunch – My favorite breakfast in the area. The family is from Jordan. Go on a weekday or prepare for an hour-long wait on weekends. Cash-only
  • Cicada Coffee – My favorite coffee shop in the area. They’re from Vietnam
  • They also own The Eaves in Bow Market
  • Pammy’s – One of the great restaurants in the area. Go with a group of friends and order everything, especially the Bolognese
  • Brick & Mortar – A terrific cocktail bar on Mass Ave
  • 1369 Coffee – More good coffee on Mass Ave
  • Phoenix Landing – A cozy sports pub. The Liverpool FC bar of the Boston area
  • The Middle East – Live music galore
  • Babylon Saigon - A new rooftop bar and restaurant from the owners of Cicada
  • Havana Club – For those who want to get their dance on
  • La Fabrica – Upbeat Latin American nightclub and restaurant
  • Viale – Underrated Italian on Mass Ave. They also have some very good brunch dishes

 

Davis Square – Somerville neighborhood on the MBTA red line. My old stomping grounds

  • Dave’s Fresh Pasta – Excellent sandwiches, along with the opportunity to buy wine and homemade pasta
  • Saloon – The term “speakeasy” has been exhausted and overused, but this spot has that feel. Huge whiskey selection and some really solid bites
  • Spoke Wine Bar – Casual yet intimate spot for great wine and small bites
  • Diesel Cafe – Hip, local coffee shop with recent renovations. Owned by the same people who own Bloc Cafe in Union Square
  • Tsurumen – Terrific, no-thrills ramen spot
  • Life Alive – Vibrant and colorful vegetarian spot. Multiple locations
  • Tenoch – Excellent tortas and a variety of tacos. Multiple locations
  • When Pigs Fly - Really good bakery on Elm St
  • Where Reddit was built

 

Revere Beach - Oldest public beach in the US

 

Brookline – Lovely town nestled between 6 Boston neighborhoods


Boston Area Food & Drink

North End

  • Giacomo’s – No-thrills, cash-only, be prepared for a line
  • Carmelina’s – Sicilian comfort food with a twist. Loved the seafood pasta
  • Tresca - Super underrated. Great meatball and red sauce
  • Terramia - Terrific food and a very cozy spot on Salem St. If you like scallops, their Capesante appetizer is legitimately fantastic
  • The Daily Catch - Delicious seafood pasta on Hanover St, with another spot a 5-minute walk away on Atlantic Ave, and a third in Brookline
  • Lucca - Spacious yet intimate restaurant on Hanover St
  • Trattoria Il Panino - The casual dining spot from Depasquale Ventures
  • Bricco – Also from Depasquale Ventures. Less casual and more indulgent than Panino
  • Mamma Maria – Excellent, more refined restaurant. Think anniversary, graduation, promotion, the company is paying for the meal, etc.
  • Monica’s - The Italian sub is electric, but TikTok has gotten hold of it. Lines can get egregious at peak lunch hours on weekends
  • Dino’s – Enormous hot sandwiches and great-value pasta dishes across from Monica’s
  • Table Mercato - I heard the owner's insane, but the sandwiches are really good. Next door is their actual sit-down restaurant
  • Bricco Salumeria – For your meat and cheese needs
  • Bricco Panetteria – Some of the best smells in the North End. Love their almond tart
  • Mare – For your seafood needs. Also from Depasquale Ventures
  • Modern Pastry – My favorite North End pastry shop. Get the chocolate ganache. There’s also a bar in the basement
  • Bova’s – 24/7 spot for all kinds of sweet and savory treats. I love the Florentine cannoli. The savory treats are mostly drunk food
  • Mike’s Pastry - Huge variety of cannoli and other pastries. I love the lobster tail and the espresso cannoli
  • Dolce - Variety is the spice of life, and they have 33 different kinds of tiramisu
  • Ernesto’s - Boston pizza is extremely whatever, but if you need a giant slice for relatively cheap
  • Parziale’s – Bakery in the North End since 1907
  • Caffe Paradiso - Espresso/pistachio martinis, coffee, and a variety of sweets. Right next to Modern Pastry. My spot to relax
  • Caffe Vittoria – A bustling café right next to Mike’s Pastry. Where I like to bring friends
  • Parla – Terrific cocktail bar. Roll the dice if you’re adventurous
  • Neptune Oyster – Many people’s seafood pilgrimage. The wait in line is a rite of passage
  • Theo’s Cozy Corner – Appropriately named Brazilian-inspired breakfast on Salem St
  • Sunny Girl - A proper neighborhood breakfast sandwich spot on Commercial St. Think of it as the Mike & Patty's of the North End
  • Stanza – Wood and leather-accented basement cigar bar on Hanover St

 

Asian Food

  • Gene’s Flatbread Cafe - Terrific hand-pulled noodles for lunch right next to Chinatown. A very casual spot
  • Taiwan Cafe – Lovely pan-fried dumplings, spicy fish, and other sharable dishes in Chinatown
  • Ba Le – Fantastic banh mi in Dorchester. One of the great sandwiches in the area, and almost certainly the best deal
  • Winsor Dim Sum Cafe - Bring the homies and share everything
  • Yume Wo Katare – Indulgent, Jiro-style ramen in Porter Square. Be ready to share your dreams
  • Tora Ramen - Black garlic tonkotsu ramen and fried squid in Chinatown
  • Tora Japanese - Sashimi bowls in Chinatown
  • Super88 Market - Allston staple
  • Menya Jiro Ramen – While in Harvard Square
  • Oppa Sushi – Very good, cozy sushi spot in Allston
  • Ebi Sushi – Union Square’s friendly neighborhood sushi restaurant
  • Santouka Ramen – Multiple ramen locations in the area
  • Futago Udon - Handmade udon around the corner from Fenway Park
  • Avana Sushi – For a very casual bite and well-priced lunch deal in Chinatown
  • Egg Puff Lady – For a sweet treat after your lunch deal from Avana Sushi
  • Genki Ya – More casual sushi in Chinatown and Davis Square
  • Pho Hoa - Merged with Anh Hong. Crazy good curry chicken dish
  • Pho Le - Fields Corner, Dorchester is the spot for Vietnamese cuisine
  • Momosan - Spicy tan-tan in the Hub Hall by the TD Garden
  • Tasty Mo:Mo - Under-appreciated dumplings in Somerville
  • Love Art Sushi – Chipotle but for sushi bowls
  • Ho Yuen Bakery – Custard buns and other cheap treats in Chinatown
  • Corner Cafe Bakery – Perfect for grab-and-go pastries in Chinatown
  • Crying Thaiger – Rustic-industrial Thai food in Malden
  • District Kitchen - Sleek, Chinese-fusion restaurant in Malden
  • Pho Pasteur - Generous portions of pho, Bún bò Huế, and other Vietnamese classics in Chinatown
  • Rice Passions - Thai food in Revere that's perfect for those weekend nights of Uber Eats and sinking into the couch
  • Tea-Do - For your Chinatown bubble tea needs

Mexican

  • Chilacates - Filling tortas and tacos. Originally founded in Jamaica Plain, there are now locations all over Boston
  • Lone Star - A hip, laidback cantina. Locations in Cambridge and Allston
  • Felipe’s - Great cheap margaritas and super burritos in Harvard Square. It has a roof deck, but go early on weekends to avoid a line
  • El Pelon - If you’re by Fenway Park. I don't love it, but a lot of people do
  • Taco Party - Terrific vegan tacos by the Ball Square stop

 

Breakfast

  • Comfort Kitchen – A renowned Black-owned, immigrant-owned, and women-owned spot in Dorchester. Haven’t had dinner there yet, but I loved the breakfast, especially their breakfast sandwich and yogurt parfait
  • Kelly’s - Classic Somerville greasy diner food set inside a 1950s dining car
  • Sound Bites - The Broadway Bowl and other breakfast classics in Somerville
  • Mike & Patty’s - The Fancy on a Sunday. Multiple locations
  • Archie’s New York Deli - The Yahoo with peppers and onions. Located right downtown. Open Monday-Friday
  • Johnny Boy - Excellent Filipino sandwiches. Quickly becoming one of the essential sandwich spots in the area. They were in Union Square but are now a pop-up looking for a new home
  • Vinal Bakery – Terrific English muffin breakfast sandwiches in Somerville
  • Local 149 - Southie Sunday isn’t so bad after all. $5 Bloody Marys/mimosas on weekends
  • The Broadway - A very solid neighborhood spot if you're a Southie local
  • Lulu’s - American comfort food in Allston
  • Cafe Luna - Very fun brunch by the Kendall/MIT stop
  • The Friendly Toast – Trendy but casual brunch. Multiple locations
  • Tatte – A couple dozen locations in the area, thanks to being acquired by Panera. I really like the lamb hash, the shakshuka, and the breakfast sandwich
  • Bluestone Lane - A chain of NYC coffee shops, but if you need a quick coffee while in Harvard Square
  • Monument Tavern - One of my favorite brunch spots. Shoutout to the Charlestown locals
  • Publico – For a livelier brunch in Southie
  • Milkweed – A cozy breakfast spot in Roxbury
  • Cafe Sauvage – While in Back Bay. Un croque madame, s'il vous plait et merci!
  • Donut Villa Diner - No thrills, all throwbacks diner in Central Square. Their sweet dishes are much better than their savory ones

 

Rooftop bars

 

Cocktails

  • Backbar - Acclaimed spot in Union Square with an ever-changing menu
  • Nook – Eclectic cocktail bar in Bow Market, Union Square
  • Equal Measure - A brilliant cocktail bar by Fenway Park
  • Carrie Nation - A sprawling, 1920s-style spot in Beacon Hill with both a restaurant area and a separate lounge
  • Yvonne’s - That’s a French ass name. You will see lots of birthday dinners here
  • The same management group also owns Lolita, Mariel, Coquette, and Ruka if you like these kinds of places
  • But I would recommend you skip the food and enjoy the drinks
  • CLINK. @ Liberty Hotel - Stupid expensive but fun décor in a former jail cell. Go for a fancy date or a people-watching solo mission
  • Roxanne’s - All she wanna do is party all night
  • OFFSUIT. - Tries a bit too hard to be hip and mysterious, but if that’s your speed
  • Next Door - Way too pretentious for East Boston, but if you must see for yourself
  • 1928 Beacon Hill – Nautical Yvonne’s in Beacon Hill
  • Wink & Nod - A bit overpriced, but a pretty cool and laidback atmosphere for a late-night cocktail
  • The Blind Eye - A gin bar above Durty Nelly's, open Friday and Saturday after 9:00 pm. If you Google the name, you will not find it; that's the point. This is my secret to you, let's keep it that way

 

Beer

  • Trillium – IPA’s, ales, and sours galore. Multiple locations
  • Sam Adams Boston Brewery – Where it all began. Go for trivia and live music
  • Sam Adams Boston Tap Room – If you want to try different Sam Adams, but don’t want to commute to Jamaica Plain
  • Harpoon – Huge beer hall with plenty of beers and pretzels. Harpoonfest is also fun if you’re in town at that time
  • Downeast - Cider warehouse in East Boston. Make a quick visit then go hang out at Piers Park
  • Aeronaut - Super fun brewery in Somerville
  • Remnant Brewery - Located in Union Square's Bow Market. They also do coffee during the day
  • Lamplighter - A very hip neighborhood brewery on Broadway in Cambridge. Oktoberfest here is quite fun. It's also a cafe by day
  • Their secondary location in Cambridge Crossing is a very laidback spot as well

 

More Coffee Shops

  • Bloc Cafe – Set in an old bank in Union Square, Somerville
  • Curio Coffee - A quaint and laidback coffee shop in Inman Square, Cambridge. Also known for their waffles
  • Broadsheet Coffee Roasters -A sleek, bustling cafe between Harvard Square and Union Square
  • Kismet - You might have heard of it as the "viral nameless cafe." Most "viral" spots are a shameless marketing ploy, but this place is so cool
  • Apparently they get their coffee from SEY, my favorite NYC coffee shop
  • Vester – Very cool spot by Kendall Square in Cambridge. An additional location in Southie
  • Tilde - A relaxing cafe by day and hip wine bar by night north of Porter Square in Cambridge
  • Phinista – Contemporary Vietnamese coffee shop by Fenway Park. I enjoyed the breakfast banh mi and the ube latte
  • George Howell – High-quality coffee by the Downtown Crossing stop. There's an additional grab-and-go location in the Boston Public Market
  • Tradesman – A laidback, stylish lounge by the Aquarium stop. Cocktail bar in the coffee shop is open Monday–Thursday from 3:00 – 8:00 pm. Additional location in Charlestown
  • Gracenote - Impressively tiny but high-quality shop by South Station
  • Ogawa – Japanese coffee chain’s first international branch, located in the Financial District
  • Yego - Rwanadan coffee for the Somerville locals
  • Brothers & Sisters Co. - An incredibly cozy spot in Brookline
  • bōm dough - A laidback, largely Brazilian-inspired spot in Inman Square, Cambridge
  • Sip of Joy - A lovely Turkish-inspired hangout spot in the South End. The owner was a blast to talk to

 

More Terrific Bakeries

  • Yafa – Brilliant Palestinian bakery midway between Union Square and Porter Square
  • Collette - Wonderful French pastries in Medford by Tufts. Their calling the croissant I bought "almond cho-Colette" makes it worth the visit
  • Additional location in the South End
  • Clear Flour - Even more terrific French and Italian bakeries around the corner from BU. Their bread is no joke, either
  • Third Cliff Bakery - Some of the best and most creative croissants in Boston, located in Jamaica Plain
  • Lyndell’s – The oldest scratch bakery in New England. By the Ball Square stop. I love the espresso bar
  • Michette – Artisanal French bakery on Broadway in Somerville. One of the great new food spots
  • La Saison – Fantastic French bakery northwest of Harvard. If they have the pistachio croissant available, get it
  • Update: They now have a Charlestown location. Monument Tavern for brunch, then here for pastries would be a hell of a Saturday/Sunday morning
  • cafe Beatrice - Home of acclaimed pastry chef Brian Mercury's baked goods by the Lechmere stop in Cambridge
  • Verveine Cafe & Bakery - Delicious mix of sweet and savory pastries and breakfast treats, about equidistant between Central Square and MIT
  • Sofra - Part of the Sarma and Oleana family. Very, very good Middle Eastern pastries west of Harvard University
  • Bakey - Kosher bakery right next to the Boston Common. Their chocolate babka is one of my favorite treats. Additional locations in Newton, Brookline, and Cambridge by the Kendall/MIT stop
  • Maprang – Adorable Vietnamese bakery in Union Square. I love the opera cake and the chocolate almond croissant
  • Kane’s Donuts - The crème brûlée donut is one of my favorite sweet treats in the city, but all the donuts are awesome
  • Blackbird Donuts - More rather good donuts. Multiple locations
  • Levain Bakery - The Boston location of the legendary New York City bakery. Painfully indulgent cookies, but certainly worthwhile
  • Bao Bao Bakery - A wide array of buns, cakes, and egg tarts in Chinatown

 

Ice cream

  • Toscanini’s - Favorite ice cream in the city. Multiple locations in Cambridge
  • New City - Great ice cream in Central Square
  • Honeycomb Creamery - Cambridge seems to be the place for ice cream. Creative, small-batch ice cream between Porter and Harvard
  • JP Licks - Old reliable ice cream with locations all over the city
  • Third Time Ice cream - Incredibly creative and very good ice cream from a Sofra and Oleana alum. Started in Bow Market but moving right next to Michette on Broadway
  • Christina’s – More very good ice cream in Inman Square, Cambridge
  • Crescent Ridge – Out of Sharon, MA, they have a spot in the Boston Public Market
  • The Scoop N Scootery - Obnoxiously indulgent ice cream with outrageous portions. Delivery until 2:00 am most days of the week. Locations in Allston, Brighton, Cambridge, and Arlington
  • Jamie's - A very cute spot right by Broadsheet Coffee Roasters

 

Downtown

  • Jamaican Me Hungry - Favorite food truck. Restaurant in Jamaica Plain
  • Bostonia Public House – For a power lunch if you’re visiting for work
  • The Barking Crab – Touristy, but can be a lively spot to hang out for a bit
  • Smith & Wollensky - *insert Tim Dillon Corporate Steakhouse rant here*
  • Row 34 – Excellent raw bar, monkfish, and Syrah. Additional location in Cambridge
  • haley.henry - An intimate wine bar by Downtown Crossing. Think of it as downtown Boston's version of Rebel Rebel

 

Miscellaneous

  • New Deal Fruit - In a bit of no man's land transit-wise, this Revere institution is a legitimate pilgrimage spot for sandwich lovers. Their special Italian is truly excellent
  • Highland Kitchen – Awesome fried chicken sandwiches and inventive Southern-inspired cuisine in Somerville
  • Manoa Poke Shop - Delicious poke in Somerville
  • Celeste - Acclaimed contemporary Peruvian small restaurant in Union Square
  • The Helmand – Very underrated Afghan restaurant in Cambridge
  • Singh’s Roti Shop - Great Caribbean food by the JFK/UMass stop
  • Dalí - Excellent tapas in Somerville
  • Casa Portugal - Portuguese food in Inman Square
  • Puritan & Co – Modern American cuisine in Inman Square. Worthwhile brunch in addition to their dinner
  • LA Burdick – Decadent hot chocolate and chocolate treats. Locations in Harvard Square and Back Bay


Food Halls

Boston Public Market


Hub Hall

  • For before a Bruins or Celtics game


Time Out Market

  • Industrial-chic food hall not too far from Fenway Park


High Street Place

  • Fancy cafeteria by day, surprisingly electric hangout spot by night 


Eataly

  • While shopping in Back Bay


$20 Dates