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Neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts
Photo: NewtonCourt, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Honor. Tradition. Loyalty. If you're familiar with South Boston as presented on the silver screen, these values might spring foremost to your mind. You wouldn't be wrong, but a lot has changed since mob boss Whitey Bulger controlled his criminal underworld from here during the 1970s. The identity of "Southie", as it's known to locals, is being reshaped.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Look for the iconic milk bottle out front. The Children's Museum is the best place in the city to go with kids ranging from newborn to about 9. Featuring many interactive exhibits designed for kids, as well as the Kyoto House—a real traditional Japanese home moved from Japan to Boston. Kids love the three story climbing structure, it allows them to move around without using the boring elevator or stairs. The museum also supports fitness and environmental sustainability programs, and they even have a green roof! Definitely worthwhile if you're bringing the kids with you to Boston.
The history of firefighting in Boston on display. Mostly artifacts from the 20th century, but a few items are much older. Only open on Saturdays, this museum is often overlooked, so you're likely to receive more of a personal tour from the staff. They're not burned out from saying the same thing over and over.
This is the spot from where George Washington and Henry Knox aimed their guns at the British ships occupying Boston harbor, forcing them to leave and breaking the siege. Today you will find a quiet park space with some signage, a little tower, and locals walking their dogs.
A star fort built around 1850 to provide defenses for Boston harbor. Today, the guns are long gone, and it's a great place to go exploring. Fantastic views are rewarded to those who scale its granite walls. Even if the fort is closed, the grounds are always open. It's a great place to see families picnicking, going for a stroll around Pleasure Bay, or out flying kites in the brisk wind blowing in from the water. Kids love seeing (and hearing!) the planes up close, as they make their final approach to Logan Airport.
ICA
Formerly located in a cramped and tiny building next to a firehouse in the Back Bay, the ICA moved to its new home in 2006. The modernist building is the first new art museum to be built in Boston in over 100 years, and allowed the ICA to launch its first permanent collection. The permanent collection is small, but there are always temporary exhibitions taking place with works from up-and-coming artists. The Water Cafe in the building features food by Wolfgang Puck Catering.
The acoustics aren't perfect at this live event venue that seats 5000, but the location more than makes up for it. Feel the cool breeze rolling in off the ocean and smell the salt air while the band plays on. Speaking of cool breezes, avoid this place during the colder months, it's a big glorified tent after all.
Fantastically enormous indoor space holding showcases, expos, and other conventions all year long. Hosts everything from mega productions like PAX East, Boston Tattoo Convention, and Anime Boston. To smaller, quirkier events like Berklee Jazz Festival and the Harvard Model UN opening ceremonies.
Listen to colonial music while you climb aboard 18th-century ships afloat in Boston Harbor. Once aboard historical re-enactors teach you about the original tea party, and let you "toss the tea into the sea". These interactive participatory tours last about an hour. Be prepared to wait to get into this very popular and widely regarded tourist attraction.
A fun outdoor space with food trucks, adult beverages, musicians and other performances. It was dreamed up as a temporary event spot to "build community" while awaiting the necessary permitting to build another luxury condo. The Lawn on D has proven popular enough that it has become a permanent fixture in the neighborhood.
One of the last remaining old school places for candlepin bowling in the city. Original wooden ball returns function through the magic of gravity. No fancy TV to display your scores, just write it down on the paper provided. No food either, but they do have what's important, beer.
L Street Bathouse/Curley Community Center
Take the "plunge" with the L Street Brownies and 1000 of your closest friends. Splash around in the freezing cold harbor around 8AM January 1st. You could also just jump in a block down the street if you don't feel like dealing with the news crews. It kind of goes without saying, but make sure you have a way to get warm after. A towel will not be sufficient.
The St. Patrick's Day parade in Southie is a longstanding Bostonian tradition. First celebrated in 1737, its current incarnation has been running every year since 1901. Held on the Sunday closest to Evacuation Day, or March 17th, the parade celebrates Irish history, veterans, and the expulsion of the British from the city of Boston in 1776. Attendance at the parade is very high due to so many Bostonians claiming Irish ancestry, combined with the fact that it's an official city holiday. Often, close to one million people will all cram into Southie to attend the event. Check ahead for the starting time, and plan to arrive hours in advance if you want to stake out a spot. Parking is a nightmare: taking the T is strongly recommended. From 1990 to 2018, there was controversy around the inclusion of LGBTQ groups in the parade, and attendance suffered, but they are now allowed in the parade. In America "St. Patrick's Day" is synonymous with "Legal Public Drinking". Expect to encounter incapacitated revelers not only along the route but throughout the city as well. This goes double if it's a nice day. The organizers plead with people to take it easy, and police try to keep order, but your best bet is to keep your wits about you. Remember to wear green and enjoy the spectacle, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day!
Longtime freestanding neighborhood doughnut shop offering a variety of basic morning pastries. Classic. They also sell sandwiches and pizza, but why would you get those? Offers a little glimpse into Southie's past, before the money rolled in.
Found on the ground floor of a newly developed block of condos, this acclaimed spot serves homemade ice cream in both scooped and sandwich formats. Also serving fresh coffee, cannoli and breakfast starters, with small sandwiches on offer as well.
One of four locations, this small Boston chain focuses on French style pastries and sweets. But they also sell a wide assortment of lunch staples like quiche, pizza, and stuffed breads.
Everybody loves Shake Shack. Modern fast casual burger joint taking the world by storm. Expect lines.
A traditional American diner endures. Go here for breakfast, because that's when it's open! Anthony Bourdain liked the corned beef hash with eggs.
Not to be missed South Boston dining experience. No frills beachside shack in business since the 1950s. No indoor seating. Lines are long during summer hours, but they move fast. If the weather is bad, you'll have the place to yourself.
Traditional Japanese Teppanyaki cooking, fresh Sushi, and bubble Tea.
Quite possibly the only Polish restaurant in Boston, but one of the better restaurants by any standard. Authentic Polish food at very reasonable prices, although it may be too authentic for some (e.g. the lard with bacon bits that's provided as a spread for bread). The place is very small, so reservations are recommended.
Interesting spot in a gigantic converted warehouse with an industrial vibe. Two indoor food trucks serve everything from breakfast to late night munchies. Drinks furnished from a renovated vintage Airstream trailer on the roof deck. Occasionally closed for private events. Kid friendly.
Extensive menu of traditional fare with a gourmet twist, offering brunch, lunch, and dinner, as well as homemade desserts and specialty cocktails. The menus feature fresh seafood, meat, pizza and pasta dishes. Housed in a renovated old mill with an outdoor patio.
New American gastropub. One of the first restaurants on this stretch trying to cater to the burgeoning number of young professionals in the area.
Mexican inspired fare with a New England twist. Fun, lively, and sometimes crowded environment.
Upscale Italian food and great pizza.
Welcoming atmosphere, delicious American and Italian dishes, served on the oldest hand-carved bar in America.
Excellent seafood and American cuisine. Outdoor dining in a clam shack atmosphere, overlooks Boston Harbor and view of downtown. Kid friendly. Live music daily.
Known for their beer and oysters, but offer a wide assortment of oceanic dishes. Dramatic raw bar. Gets pretty spendy at suppertime, but there are some affordable options offered earlier in the day.
For fans of horse racing in upstate New York, this spot is can't miss. A refined seasonal menu is supported by a selection of over 40 draught beers and 100 whiskeys to choose from. A cosy environment in which to suffer from the paradox of choice.
Waterfront dining experience at the flagship location of a Boston seafood institution. Each of the three floors has a different menu and is styled after a different concept. Informal on the first floor, formal on the second. Fireside drinks and small plates on the third floor, an enclosable roof deck.
Modern fine dining by chef Barbara Lynch. Yeah it's expensive, but the French/Italian fusion cuisine served at Menton has won almost every food award, nomination, or accolade there is to give. Barbara has been here since 2010, and oversees 6 other fine dining restaurants in Boston.
Get in line to be served one of the most renowned cocktails in the city. You won't find a menu inside, so have a drink in mind to order. If it's not busy let the mixologist know your preferences and they will come up with a delightfully boozy idea on the spot. Try to get here before 9 to avoid the crowds.
Take a distillery tour or sample some of the wares on premises.
Massive beer hall with all major Harpoon varieties on tap, plus several styles only available at this location. No real food, but soft pub pretzels with dipping sauces are available to help sop up the alcohol. $5 tours available on the hour.
A fixture in the neighborhood from a different era, this old school watering hole has charm for days. Famous today after being featured in "Good Will Hunting", it has undergone renovations so don't expect it to look the same.
Join the crowd of office workers and locals knocking back an after work drink in this basement lounge. Atmosphere, decorations, drinks and music all inspired by the 1950s and Frank Sinatra.
Laid back tavern serving up craft beers in an intimate space. Located in a less visited part of the neighborhood, this is a great place to catch up with friends or watch the game on TV.
Grab a cup from this consistently top rated company. One of only two locations. Barrington sells beans that have been roasted in their factory located in the Berkshires.
District Hall
More than just fresh brewed coffee is available in this modern and innovative space. They also serve salads, sandwiches, and even have a few beers on tap.
Delectable European style pastries sold alongside lighter local fare. Top notch coffee and tea offered in a casual environment.
Old school establishment for fresh brewed coffee, order by the cup or by the "bucket". Serves raspberry lime rickeys too if you haven't found one yet. One other location in Dorchester.
Artisanal coffee and other caffeinated beverages. Nitro cold brews with Vietnamese inspired condensed milk sweeteners. Several varieties of tea and boba.
Owned by the same company as Element next door, with a similar aesthetic. The lobby sells food & booze, and it's also located directly in front of Lawn on D, so expect more of a social atmosphere downstairs. Dog friendly, "keyless" access, free Wi-Fi and fitness center.
Contemporary, apartment-esque design, many with full kitchens. Built with a "green" or environmentally friendly feel. Fast Wi-Fi, fitness center, and bikes available for borrowing.
Marriott
New in 2015, this sleek, tech friendly hotel offers some stunning city views from some of its rooms. Stocked with fancy toiletries, and also free cookies on the way in! If you don't want to pay for the view, the same sights are always available from the roof deck.
It's a chain without feeling like one. This hotel sits in an extensively repurposed old warehouse building in Southie's Fort Point district. All rooms come with a fully equipped kitchen, free breakfast, and are pet friendly.
Perfectly located if arriving by air, and you want to hit up a brewery! Everything is accessible, and they also have an indoor lap pool and a jacuzzi to complement the free Wi-Fi. Some rooms overlook the harbor.
This AAA Four Diamond-rated hotel is located in Boston’s new waterfront district and is connected to the largest convention center in New England, the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. The Westin Boston Waterfront also features 80,000 square feet of meeting space on-property and 793 guest rooms and 31 suites over looking Boston Harbor.
One of the new deluxe hotels that's sprung up around the South Boston waterfront area in the past couple years.
Farm to table grocer, selling only very high quality ingredients. Local and handcrafted preferred. Known for their cheese, meat and charcuterie plates. They also stock a wide selection of beer and wine for pairings.
Freshly baked goods, smoked meats, and a variety of imported items for sale. Patrons from around the metro area shop here to find extremely authentic Polish and eastern European delicacies. Owned by the same family that runs Cafe Polonia across the street. The very same pierogies can be found for sale here, sealed in hand labeled freezer bags. Gets a bit crowded on Sundays after church.
Boston Design Center
The Boston Design Center is at the center of Boston's glossy new Innovation District. Similar to Merchandise Mart in Chicago, picture a variety of cavernous showrooms focused on every imaginable design discipline. For visitors, make sure to check out the Market Stalls area on the second floor. This eclectic 10,000 square foot marketplace features furniture, lighting, and art from the 17th to 20th centuries. Plan a little extra time for your visit, as there may be an event going on featuring prominent architects, chefs, interior or furniture designers.
The lines are out the door at this tiny brewery, considered one of Boston's best. In 2017, RateBeer listed them as the #3 brewer (out of 22,500) in the world. Growler fills, bombers and six packs to go. They offer a range of beers, but seem to prefer higher alcohol content IPAs. Many are unfiltered/unpasteurized and could be called New England IPAs if you believe in that. Absolutely no samples! It's a Puritan thing.
By boat
There are actually quite a few services available along the waterfront in Southie. One of the most popular and frequent are Water Taxis.
By car
Many parking lots have been replaced by luxury condos, so think before you drive, especially in the seaport.
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