Spending every summer on Cape Cod since I can remember gave me a chance to experience the best of New England. I’ve always loved Boston (maybe not as much in the winter) because the food is hearty, the weather is warm, and the people are beyond friendly. Some of my favorite childhood memories are in Boston: going to Red Sox games, having my first lobster roll, and taking a family boat ride down the Charles River.
Here are some of my favorite places to eat, see, and do while you’re in Beantown. Although you can’t ever go wrong with the tourist attractions, we’ve added some local secrets to keep you entertained.
Thursday:
1:00pm- Check-in to the XV Beacon, arguably the coolest hotel in Boston, XV Beacon combines 1903 Beaux Arts architecture with a modern design in the heart of downtown Boston. It is my favorite place to stay in this grand old city and I’m sure it’ll be yours too.
For a more classic elegance, check-in to the Mandarin Oriental, located in the fashionable Back Bay neighborhood of Boston.
2:00pm- Have a quick lunch at Neptune Oyster Bar. There are long lines at dinner so the best time to go is during the off hours.
3:00pm- Take a stroll around the Boston Commons, a beautiful public park in downtown Boston. The park is confined by some of Boston’s most famous streets such as Beacon Street, Tremont Street, and Park Street.
8:00pm- Dinner at my favorite Italian restaurant, Sorellina. Located in Boston’s historic Copley Square, Sorellina creates a modern twist on classic Italian dishes. Insider Tip: The Spaghetti tastes like it was cooked in the Mediterranean, then brought to Boston.
10:00pm- Drinks at Brick & Mortar. Head up the not-s-special stairs to find a cool, exposed-brick type bar with some of the best cocktails in town. Must-try: The shooters.
Friday:
10:00am- Breakfast at Mooo, in XV Beacon hotel. Swanky, yet unpretentious, their Belgian Waffles are legendary.
11:30am- I know it’s a little early in the day, but take in a Sam Adams Brewery tour while in Boston.
If beer is not your thing, take in a wine-tasting tour at Central Bottle, the wine tastings are free!
1:00pm- Have a well-deserved lunch at Island Creek Oyster Bar. Don’t miss out on the amazing mussels and classic New-England lobster rolls.
2:00pm- Kayak on the Charles River with Paddle Boston. In the summer, this cool activity will keep you refreshed and give you a chance to see Boston in a different way.
Not into physical activity? Rent a boat and take a sunset cruise down the Charles River with family and friends. The tour passes by Harvard and many other tourist attractions.
8:00pm– Dinner at Menton, the best restaurant in town. It is high-end and on the expensive side, but you won’t find a more delicious restaurant in town. Head-chef and owner is the famous Bostonian chef Barbara Lynch.
10:00pm- Dance your dinner off at The Estate, a nightclub that feels fit for a king or queen with baroque-accented mirrors, chandeliers, fireplaces, and marble throughout this expansive two-story club.
Saturday:
10:00am- One of the best-kept brunch secrets is Masa, in the South End of Boston, offers the best brunch special imaginable. Their “Brunch Fiesta” costs about $10 (AFTER tip) for limitless coffee and two courses of delicious brunch with complimentary corn bread to boot.
1:00pm- A trip to Boston would not be complete without taking in a Red Sox game. Baseball season started April 13th, and Bostonians are all DIE-HARD sox fans, so be sure to book your tickets in advance.
3:00pm- Head to B&G Oyster, also owned and operated by Barbara Lynch.
4:00pm- After a hearty lunch, experience springtime’s SoWa Art Walk, where local artists open their workshops to the public.
8:00pm- For some spectacular Japanese food, head to O Ya, the best sushi place in the city.
If you’re in the mood for French food, head to Salts, locate din Cambridge, for some spectacularly prepared dining.
10:00pm- For after-dinner drinks in a trendy new bar, head to Brass Union. You can choose drinks ranging from “Beginner” to “Advanced”, but opt for the Green Line Extension.
Sunday:
10:00am- Brunch at The Gallows, rated as the “Best Brunch” by Boston Magazine.
11:00am- Visit the Museum of Fine Arts. Their current exhibitions feature Renoir, Manet and Alex Katz prints.
2:00pm- Lunch at the New American Café inside the museum has to be my favorite Sunday affair. The food is spectacular and the location is breathtaking.
If you decided to skip the museum, have lunch at Sams’ at Louis, located above Louis of Boston in the Seaport. * Insiders tip: Order the black peppercorn burger with Vermont cheese or the herb baked chicken breast with quinoa, grapefruit and feta.
