Boston offers a vibrant restaurant scene that reflects its rich cultural heritage and diverse culinary influences. From historic eateries serving traditional New England fare to trendy dining spots featuring innovative cuisine, there's something for every palate in Boston. Here's a highlights:
Seafood: Given Boston's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, seafood is a highlight. You can enjoy fresh lobster, clam chowder, oysters, and other seafood delicacies at iconic spots like Legal Sea Foods or Neptune Oyster.
North End Italian: The North End neighborhood is famous for its Italian cuisine. You can savor delicious pasta dishes, authentic pizzas, and cannoli from family-owned restaurants like Giacomo's or Regina Pizzeria.
Historic Charm: Many restaurants in Boston are housed in historic buildings, adding to their charm. Places like Union Oyster House, established in 1826, claim to be America's oldest continuously operating restaurant.
Ethnic Diversity: Boston's diverse population is reflected in its dining options. You can explore cuisines from around the world, including Chinese in Chinatown, Indian in Cambridge's Central Square, and Ethiopian in the South End.
Farm-to-Table: Boston embraces the farm-to-table movement, with many restaurants sourcing ingredients locally. Places like Craigie on Main and Puritan & Company highlight seasonal, locally sourced produce on their menus.
La Pizza & La Pasta - Eataly Boston Italian Back Bay $$ Awesome
Maggiano's - Boston Italian Theater District $$ Exceptional
Josephine Italian Somerville $$ Awesome
TreMonte Restaurant - North End Italian North End $$ Very Good
Antonio's Cucina Italiana Italian Beacon Hill $$ Exceptional
Vinoteca di Monica Italian North End $$ Exceptional
Serafina Seaport Italian Seaport $$ Awesome
MIDA - South End Italian South End $$ Exceptional
Lucia Ristorante Italian North End $$ Awesome
Massiminos Cucina Italiana Italian North End $$ Awesome
Joia Italian Financial District $$$ Awesome
Riccardo's Italian North End $$$ Awesome
Amelia's Trattoria Italian Cambridge $$$ Exceptional
Posto Italian Somerville $$$ Awesome
Libertine Italian North End $$$ Awesome
Serafina - Boston Back Bay Italian Back Bay $$$ Awesome
Porto Italian Back Bay $$$ Exceptional
Contessa - Boston Italian Back Bay $$$ Exceptional
MIDA - Fenway Italian Fenway–Kenmore $$$ Awesome
Bar 'Cino Brookline Italian Brookline $$$ Exceptional
Bacco Ristorante & Bar Italian North End $$$ Awesome
Sulmona Restaurant | Bar Italian Cambridge $$$ Awesome
Villa Francesca Italian North End $$$ Awesome
Matria Italian Waterfront $$$ Awesome
Tuscan Kitchen - Seaport Italian Seaport $$$ Exceptional
Geppetto Italian Cambridge $$$ Exceptional
Lucca North End Italian North End $$$ Awesome
Standard Italian Contemporary Italian Fenway–Kenmore $$$ Exceptional
BASILE - Fine Italian Kitchen Italian Back Bay $$$$ Awesome
Faccia a Faccia Italian Back Bay $$$$ Exceptional
Umbria Italian North End $$$$ Exceptional
Shy Bird - Kendall Square | Contemporary American | Cambridge | $$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Monument Restaurant & Tavern | American | Charlestown | $$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
South End Buttery | Contemporary American | South End | $$ | Awesome | ![]() |
75 Chestnut | Contemporary American | Beacon Hill | $$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Carrie Nation | Contemporary American | Beacon Hill | $$ | Awesome | ![]() |
Alden and Harlow | American | Cambridge | $$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Black Lamb | American | South End | $$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Back Deck | American | Downtown Crossing | $$ | Awesome | ![]() |
Lincoln Tavern and Restaurant | American | South Boston | $$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Shy Bird - South Boston | American | South Boston | $$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Shy Bird - Fenway | American | Fenway–Kenmore | $$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
ArtBar | American | Cambridge | $$ | Awesome | ![]() |
The Merchant | Contemporary American | Downtown Crossing | $$ | Awesome | ![]() |
West End Johnnie's | Contemporary American | Faneuil Hall | $$ | Awesome | ![]() |
Bambara Kitchen & Bar | American | Cambridge | $$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Lily's Bar - Pizza - Patio | American | Financial District | $$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Moxies - Boston Seaport | American | Seaport | $$ | Awesome | ![]() |
La Fabrica Central | Latin American | Cambridge | $$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Moonshine 152 | American | South Boston | $$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
The Bosworth | American | Downtown Crossing | $$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Margaritaville - Boston | American | Faneuil Hall | $$ | Awesome | ![]() |
Ward 8 | American | West End | $$ | Awesome | ![]() |
Russell House Tavern | American | Cambridge | $$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
State Street Provisions | American | Financial District | $$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Estella | American | Downtown Crossing | $$$ | Awesome | ![]() |
Alcove | American | West End | $$$ | Excellent | ![]() |
Eastern Standard | American | Fenway–Kenmore | $$$ | Awesome | ![]() |
Earls Kitchen + Bar - Boston - Prudential Center | American | Back Bay | $$$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Locke Bar & Restaurant | American | Cambridge | $$$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Waverly Kitchen and Bar | American | Charlestown | $$$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Earls Kitchen + Bar - Assembly Row | American | Somerville | $$$ | Awesome | ![]() |
Metropolis Cafe | American | South End | $$$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Ghost Light Tavern | American | Downtown | $$$ | Awesome | ![]() |
The Broadway | American | South Boston | $$$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Artisan Bistro | Contemporary American | Theater District | $$$ | Awesome | ![]() |
Dovetail - Charlestown | American | Charlestown | $$$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Harvest | Contemporary American | Cambridge | $$$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Banners Kitchen & Tap | American | Downtown Crossing | $$$ | Awesome | ![]() |
The Lexington | American | Cambridge | $$$ | Awesome | ![]() |
Beehive | American | South End | $$$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Ramsays Kitchen - Boston | American | Back Bay | $$$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Blu | Contemporary American | Theater District | $$$ | Awesome | ![]() |
Joe’s Waterfront | American | North End | $$$ | Awesome | ![]() |
Bostonia Public House | Contemporary American | Financial District | $$$ | Exceptional | ![]() |
Waypoint Seafood Cambridge $$ Exceptional
Oceanaire Seafood Room - Boston Seafood Financial District $$$ Exceptional
Row 34 - Cambridge Seafood Cambridge $$$ Exceptional
Row 34 - Kenmore Square | Boston Seafood Fenway–Kenmore $$$ Exceptional
Legal Sea Foods - Park Square Seafood Back Bay $$$ Excellent
Legal Sea Foods - Copley Place Seafood Back Bay $$$ Excellent
The Banks Seafood and Steak Seafood Back Bay $$$ Awesome
Legal C Bar- Somerville, on the Mystic Seafood Somerville $$$ Awesome
Legal Sea Foods – Downtown Crossing Seafood Downtown Crossing $$$ Awesome
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill Seafood Chestnut Hill $$$ Awesome
Ostra Seafood Back Bay $$$ Exceptional
Atlantic Fish Seafood Back Bay $$$$ Exceptional
Medium Rare - Boston Steakhouse Watertown $$ Awesome
Alma Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse Seaport $$ Exceptional
Boston Chops - South End Steakhouse South End $$$ Awesome
Ocean Prime - Boston Seaport Steak Seaport $$$ Exceptional
STK - Boston Steakhouse Back Bay $$$$ Awesome
Smith & Wollensky Boston – Atlantic Wharf Steakhouse Seaport $$$$ Awesome
The Capital Grille - Boston Steakhouse Back Bay $$$$ Exceptional
Eddie Merlot's Prime Aged Beef & Seafood - Boston Steakhouse Seaport $$$$ Awesome
Abe & Louie’s - Boston Steakhouse Back Bay $$$$ Exceptional
Smith & Wollensky - Burlington Steakhouse Burlington $$$$ Awesome
Smith & Wollensky - Wellesley Steakhouse Wellesley $$$$ Exceptional
Shojo - Cambridge Asian Cambridge $$ Awesome
Hobgoblin Asian Downtown Crossing $$ Exceptional
Shojo - Boston Asian Chinatown $$ Awesome
wagamama, prudential center, boston Asian Back Bay $$$ Excellent
wagamama, faneuil hall, boston Asian Faneuil Hall $$$ Awesome
Uni Contemporary Asian Back Bay $$$$ Exceptional
The Nautilus - Boston Pier 4 Pan-Asian Seaport $$$$ Exceptional
Casa Romero Mexican Back Bay $$ Exceptional
Cosmica Mexican South End $$ Awesome
Burro Bar South End Mexican South End $$ Awesome
Yellow Door Taqueria - South End Mexican South End $$ Awesome
Citrus & Salt Contemporary Mexican Seaport $$ Exceptional
Tulum Mexican Cuisine Mexican Somerville $$ Awesome
Mex Taqueria & Bar Mexican Cambridge $$ Awesome
The Painted Burro - Brookline Mexican Brookline $$$ Awesome
Fogo de Chão - Boston Brazilian Back Bay $$ Excellent
Alma Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse Seaport $$ Exceptional
Fuji at Kendall Japanese Cambridge $$ Exceptional
Douzo Modern Japanese Restaurant Japanese Back Bay $$$ Exceptional
Aquitaine - Boston French South End $$ Awesome
Frenchie French South End $$ Awesome
Ma Maison French Beacon Hill $$ Exceptional
Batifol French Cambridge $$$ Awesome
La Voile French Back Bay $$$ Exceptional
Mistral - Boston French Back Bay $$$ Exceptional