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City in Massachusetts, United States
Photo: Terageorge, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Explore fine arts, history, and take in a show in Worcester, a medium sized city in Central Massachusetts about an hour's drive west of Boston. Worcester's seven hills and their valleys contain top notch museums, nine colleges and universities, beautiful parks, and food from all over the globe.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
The Worcester Art Museum (WAM) is one of the most under-rated attractions in New England. If it weren't for its proximity to the much better known Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, WAM might get more recognition. WAM is the second largest art museum in New England, covering four floors and every period from ancient Egypt to today. The museum acquired the collection of the defunct Higgins Armory museum, giving it the largest collection of arms and armor in the United States. While WAM does not have the space to display the whole collection, they do put on a series of rotating exhibits featuring pieces from the collection integrated with other related art.
Great zoo with a Polar bear and working, kid-sized diesel train and more. $10; Seniors, students ages 3-18 $8. Planetarium, train, tree walkway are extra.
Small museum in a beautiful old building that presents the city's history. Worcester Historical Museum features a rotating art exhibit and a section dedicated to the various manufacturing industries that built the city. Also has a room dedicated to the "smiley face," which was invented in Worcester.
Historic house museum that is part of the Worcester History Museum. Admission to the house is included in admission to the history museum, just keep your ticket and present it at the mansion. Former home of the Salisbury family, once the wealthiest in the city. The house is now the oldest structure in the city, having been built in the 18th century. The tour covers the history of the house and the family who built it, but also touches on aspects of life in the very early history of Worcester.
Art gallery displaying local contemporary works.
Dedicated in June 2002, the 4-acre location includes a pond, walking paths and the memorial. A place to provide a dignified, quiet, natural location for reflection and learning. The memorial is designed in three sections called places. These consist of the Place of Flags, Place of Words and Place of Names. The Place of Words shows text from letters written home by some of the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who died in Vietnam. The Place of Names proclaims in stone the name of each and every Massachusetts resident who died in combat or as a result of wounds received while in action in Vietnam.
A folly built to commemorate the achievements of George Bancroft by Worcester's richest man at the time, Stephen Salisbury. Bancroft Tower sort of looks like it belongs in an old castle. It is in a wooded park at the top of a hill. Usually the interior of the tower is closed to the public, but occasionally it is open and the view from the top looks out over all of Worcester.
Worcester, like many Massachusetts towns and cities, has an historic town common at its center. Worcester Common was created in 1669 with 20 acres (12 ha). The city's development has since shrunk that to 4.4 acres (1.8 ha). Worcester Common is undergoing a renovation to add newer and bigger sidewalks in addition to more seating areas.
Worcester City Hall is a sight to see. Built in 1898 at the height of Worcester's industrial prominence, City Hall was built in the Italianate style and has an imposing granite exterior.
Is known to locals as "Turtle-Boy". The fountain features a boy and a turtle engaged in what any reasonable observer would have to conclude is an obscene -- or at least nonconsensual -- act. Not many, if any, people know what it truly represents, so judge for yourself.
60-foot (18-m) monument built in 1874 in honor of Worcester's Civil War dead.
Century-old trees & 40 plant species share space at this campus woodland offering trails & a garden. Part of Clark University.
The grand old lady of Worcester parks. The land the park sits on was purchased by the city in 1854 making it one of the first purchases of land to be set aside for a public park in the U.S. The park is undergoing renovations, but the old iron bridge over the pond in the middle has been restored.
Part of Elm Park, but you must cross Park Ave to get to it. Newton Hill has a disc golf course and trails leading to the top. The view would be impressive if not for the trees.
Sweeping park overlooking Institute Pond, built on donated land in 1887. Holds many festivals and concerts throughout the summer.
This 480-acre (210-ha) park is by far the largest in the city. In fact, it's so large, you may forget that you're in the middle of a city at all. Green Hill Park is on top of a hill northeast of downtown and has walking trails, a lake, the Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and a public golf course complete with club house restaurant.
50-acre park in South Worcester that has easy hiking trails and some wildlife.
Worcester's oldest and prettiest institution of higher education. Explore the warren of old brick buildings perched on a hillside overlooking the city.
This theater shows a selection of Oscar-nominated and blockbuster movies once a week during the semester for free. Open to the general public. In fact, most of the audience is usually non-students.
Campus art gallery showing both historical and contemporary works for the benefit of the community.
Clark University maintains a scenic campus in the heart of Worcester's Main South Neighborhood.
The older parts of this campus are perched on a ridge line between Highland Avenue and Institute Park.
September, Park Avenue. Huge street festival featuring over 200 local vendors and artists, food, and live music and performance art. StART also holds StART in the Park (spring) and StART at the Station (Christmas time).
Apr-Sept. The Worcester Red Sox, the Triple-A Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, play at Polar Park.
Apr-mid Dec. 18 hole, 6487 yds, Par 72, CR-70.4, S-122. Public.
This state park has a public beach, sailing center, fishing spots, and a picnic area, right in the city.
Grab a tee time at this public golf course that is also the launch site for Robert Goddard's first rocket.
Central Massachusetts' largest indoor rock climbing gym with around 14,000 square feet of climbing area, and climbing walls from 15 to over 40 feet. Though many hardcore climbers frequent the gym, the terrain difficulty ranges from beginner to expert, and there is a separate beginners area and a wall just for kids also. Don't worry if you've never climbed before, this place is super welcoming and the staff is great! A small retail shop near the main desk sells climbing accessories and clothing. Upstairs there is a lounge area complete with free Wi-Fi, and a yoga room that can be used for stretching when yoga classes are not practicing. Waiver forms are needed for anyone who wants to climb, and minors need a parental signature.
Mini golf, batting cages, homemade ice cream.
Hike the well-marked trails in the largest urban wildlife refuge in New England.
Explore the history of the Blackstone Canal and Worcester's transformation from an agricultural village into an industrial powerhouse. Tours leave from Kelley Square on Thursday evenings in July and August.
The Worcester Ice Center is a multi-use dual rink facility located in the Canal District. Home of the Worcester Railers. Public skate is usually open on weekend afternoons. Attached (hipster) cafe.
Presenter of the Worcester Music Festival (the oldest music festival in the United States), the International Artist Series and the Mass Jazz Festival.
Restored downtown theatre staging professional touring productions and national comedians and musical acts.
Organization which promotes art programs and exhibitions throughout the city. Schedule available.
Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra's annual activities include the admission-free Summer Concert Series in Worcester's Institute Park as well as symphonic and 'pops' performances in Worcester's Tuckerman and Mechanics Halls before audiences numbering in the thousands.
A community orchestra affiliated with the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, has concerts occasionally throughout the year.
Over 14,000-seat arena. Convention facilities, concerts, trade shows, sporting events. Most major acts passing through the area will perform at the DCU Center.
2300-seat theater. The Hanover was built in 1904 as Franklin Square Theater and hosted Burlesque acts and travelling Broadway shows. It was soon converted to a movie theater and stayed in business until 1998. After a lengthy fundraising campaign, it reopened in 2008 and was named after a local insurance company which provided seed funding. Today it has returned to its roots as a space for live performances, hosting prominent speakers and Broadway shows.
Pre-Civil War era concert hall. Grand Hall seating 1,600. Concerts (classical, jazz, popular music), lectures, business meetings. Mechanics Hall was built in 1857 by the workers of Worcester for educational and cultural activities. In 1864, the Hook Organ was installed and it is now the oldest unaltered four keyboard organ in the Western Hemisphere. The hall fell into disrepair in the 20th century and was almost torn down during a wave of urban renewal. It was saved and restored in the late 1970s.
Neo-classically-designed, triangular-shaped building, next to the Worcester Art Museum, contains a breathtaking 550-seat main hall adorned with magnificent plaster detail and ornate gold leaf. A pristine circular auditorium seating 200 and six fireplaced turret suites, each with a different architectural motif including Colonial, Dutch, Moorish, and Renaissance revival styles.
Built in 1928 as the Plymouth Theater, this popular venue holds about 2500 for concerts. The Palladium holds a variety of acts, but the majority are metal/rock.
Open W-M (best hot dogs, best sign) If you go to Coney Island, make sure you go into the bar. The bartender will get you your hot dogs and beer, letting you skip the line.
Great roast beef; however, their hours are more limited than many of Worcester's dining options. Supposedly, the roast beef sandwich was invented in Massachusetts. This may be an urban legend, but roast beef sandwiches are a local specialty and New England Roast Beef is the standard setter for the region. They have a pretty extensive menu, but the reason to come here is the beef. Get the biggest sandwich you think you can finish.
While it has a different name and website, Major League Roast Beef has the exact same menu (and probably same owner) as New England Roast Beef. If on the south end of the city and craving roast beef, you can come here instead of driving through Worcester.
One of Worcester's most consistently loved restaurants. Don't let the seemingly sketchy location scare you away. If anything happens, the hospital is just down the street.
Barebones authentic Mexican cuisine. Very simple menu, but well executed. Also has a lime green tin ceiling
Tiny Italian deli serving cheap, but high quality subs in a quiet residential neighborhood. There's only a handful of tables and it is cash only, but certainly one of the better options for a cheap lunch.
Super cheap falafel and shawarma restaurant. You can just get a sandwich, or order a full meal with sides. Either way, nothing on the menu is more than $10.
Auto-themed bar and grill in an old auto repair shop near the top of Shrewbury St. Vintage Grille has an over-the-top spin on your typical bar food, with burgers and sandwiches piled with more toppings than might seem sensible. The restaurant isn't very big, but in the summer the garage doors retract making the entire space open air and an outdoor seating area pops up. The wall are decorated with old license plates and other car paraphernalia and you can enjoy your gigantic meal with a small selection of beer. It's not the best selection, but you can get local brews from Wormtown for less than they cost at the brewery down the street. Cocktails should be avoided as they are mostly pre-made mixes.
Napoli is a small deli on the east shore of Lake Quinsigamond that serves mostly Italian food. Think Italian subs, foccaccia sandwiches, eggplant parm, and arancini. The prices are very low and the portions are big. The interior is pretty simple, but has some tables where you can enjoy your food. They also serve breakfast.
Gibby's
Ice cream stand owned by a local dairy farm. The ice cream is made with their own milk and there are plenty of flavors to choose from. Portion sizes are on the large side. Gibby's also carries soft serve. Cash only.
Cheap Middle Eastern food, especially on the lunch menu. El Basha is a full service sit-down restaurant, but their lunch menu prices are often lower than many simple takeout places. The portion size for the sandwiches (actually pita wraps) are ridiculous, you could easily share one. There is a nice selection of salads and other appetizers to choose from.
Small Italian deli and market serving a variety of sandwiches on home made bread.
Huge bakery in the Crompton Loomworks above Crompton Collective. Birch Tree proudly features their bread, available for sale as either whole loaves or featured in a variety of lunch sandwiches and breakfast toasts. The sandwiches feature locally procured ingredients as do their salads. Their menu also includes a breakfast sandwich of egg, sharp cheddar, and smoked ham from BT's Smokehouse in Sturbrdge all served on a fresh croissant. It is only available before 11AM or on Sundays. The coffee is from Acoustic Java, a local roaster. The bakery and seating area are huge, easily accommodating the crowds. There are a variety of seating options scattered around the factory floor, from booths to small tables to couches.
A small bakery owned by the same people as Worcester's famous Armsby Abbey. Limited, but well crafted selection. They do offer coffee to go, but no espresso drinks.
Small bakery in Tatnuck Square on the Westside.
A famous DeRaffelle diner.
Well-known local diner. Also has a bar.
It is popular for breakfast.
A favorite among college students, open 24 hours.
Popular hangout near the WPI campus. The Boynton has a massive menu focused on typical pub food like burgers and wings, but they have Italian and seafood dishes as well. The beer list is one of the main attractions here, with over 40 mostly craft beers on tap. They have a dedicated tap for Maine Beer Co and a range of local and national craft brews.
Huge Irish pub on the outskirts of the city.
Worcester's flagship farm-to-table restaurant is frequently chosen as the best restaurant in the city. The menu changes with the seasons and much of the meat and produce is sourced from New England. The interior is filled with dark wood and a large bar. The bar itself is a reason to come here as it has one of Worcester's best curated selections of beer and a respected cocktail selection.
Worcester's biggest and probably fanciest Italian restaurant. Very close to Union Station.
Italian restaurant on a residential side street that is rapidly gaining a following. The bar area is the first thing that greets you makes it seem like a nightclub. Don't worry, just continue past into the simple dining room. There is a nice range of entrees, depending upon how much money you'd like to spend.
Brew City is a sports bar with slightly better food and 40 beers on tap. This is not really a fine dining experience or even a gastropub, but you can find reliable bar food at a reasonable price and wash it down with something other than Budweiser. The beer selection isn't particularly well curated, but with 40 options you should be able to find something to please everyone. The place can get pretty loud when its busy, but they are one of the few restaurants on Shrewsbury Street that has its own parking lot.
Upmarket Mexican restaurant occupying the first floor of a downtown parking garage. Mezcal is a huge and undeniably popular restaurant, but it is a bit divisive. Some people love it while others would say it's not exactly authentic and a little too pricey. If what you want is a $10-15 burrito and a cocktail served in a classier than your typical cantina environment, Mezcal won't disappoint.
Big Neapolitan pizza place in an old Buick dealership. Volturno can get a little spendy for pizza, but they also offer 2-for-1 pizzas on Monday and Tuesday. There is a nice patio and a decent selection of beer, wine, and cocktails.
Worcester's fanciest steakhouse. If you want to blow your budget, eat here.
Much better than the name suggests.
Large and popular seafood restaurant, one of the city's fine dining standbys
One of the city's most popular sushi spots. More expensive than most, but also very highly rated.
Tapas and wine bar in a restored mill building. Bocado has an enormous, some might say overwhelming menu of mostly Spanish inspired options. In addition to tapas, you can get Paella to share with several people. Although Bocado is in a historic building, the interior is fairly modern and doesn't display much except for some exposed brick. This is a recurring issue in Worcester restaurants. Calling this a splurge is a bit deceiving since it's tapas. You can get a meal here for a completely reasonable amount of money, or break the bank.
Upscale Italian restaurant. Sometimes has a piano player in the lounge.
Where else can you get meatball subs and $2 Gansetts served by shirt and tie wearing bar staff? Vincent's has only been around since 1997, but it certainly feels much older. The inside is dark and dingy and the walls are covered with taxidermy. They usually have live music at night and it's always free. The beer selection is pretty terrible, but they have strong cocktails and fussing about the drinks quality is missing the point. Vincent's does serve food. Your options consist of a meatball or sausage sandwich, ziti with meatball or sausage, wachusett potato chips, or a "cheese plate" which consists of a sleeve of saltines and a bunch of cheddar. In the summer, take advantage of the back yard which includes a wooden shack with a porch to sit on, a covered patio, and a fairly well manicured lawn. Vincent's is in a residential area across the street from a large and possibly abandoned warehouse so although it might seem like you've gotten lost, you have actually found one of Worcester's hidden treasures.
Not actually a dive bar, despite the name and appearance from the outside and lack of signage. Inside you will find a dark, intimate atmosphere with a well curated selection of mostly American craft beer. The narrow, dingy interior is partially a relic of its previous incarnation as a dive bar, but is decorated with diving paraphernalia (get it?) There is an enormous back porch lined with hop trellises/drink shelves to enjoy in the warmer months. From the porch, you can enjoy the huge mural decorating the back of the building and a view of downtown Worcester's skyline peeking out from behind the elevated railroad tracks. Cash only, does not serve food, but there's usually a food cart parked out front.
Frequently wins the award for Worcester's best bar. Big and always changing selection of craft beer from all over the world. Armsby Abbey and its sister bar Dive Bar are the only places to regularly carry Hill Farmstead beers on tap in the entire state. That, combined with Armsby's ever-changing line up of American craft beers and Belgian ales make it a destination for beer lovers. Armsby also has a large cocktail program with a frequently changing lineup and very knowledgeable bar tenders. It is decidedly not cheap, but is a bargain for visitors from larger cities.
Legendary rock nightclub. Entertainment every night. It is on an unpaved drive behind an old factory building north of downtown. Look for the big neon "Ralph's" sign. There is actually a diner car here. Inside you can get a burger, hot dog, or chili. Emphatically not a craft beer bar. $2 Gansett drafts are the mainstay here. The main bar area is filled with ridiculous decorations, including a coffin.
Kelly Square. $1 drafts (Gansett, Bush, Pabst), pool, darts. A backroom decorated to look like the inside of a ship (the Ship Room). It is beneath a "rooms by the week" hotel. Had a speakeasy in the basement during the Prohibition, still partially intact. Hotel Vernon is considered by some to be a dive bar, but is also one of the most eclectic places to have a drink in the city. The bar attracts college students, townies, aging hipsters, white collar office workers, and people from the rural areas surrounding the city.
Comfortable neighborhood pub with a small food menu and a few beers on tap. The crowd is mostly regulars, but it's a welcoming place. Drinks are cheap and strong. This is a good place to sit with friends and contemplate the Schlitz-holding leprechaun painted on the ceiling.
2014 Grand National Champion at the U.S. Open Beer Championship. Wormtown just moved to a bigger space with a dedicated taproom on Worcester's restaurant row. They don't serve food, but there are dozens of restaurants right up the street, including two in the same building. The tap room is bright an airy and the back wall is lined with huge windows so you can see into the brewery. Samples, full pours, and growlers are available. There is also an outdoor seating area with tables and a few couches for the warmer months. Wormtown is known for their aggressively hoppy IPAs, especially their flagship Be Hoppy and the over 8% alcohol Hopulence Double IPA.
Craft brewery focused on brewing imperial strength beers (8% ABV and above) that is known for its IPAs. Pulp and Pulp Daddy are the most famous varieties. The taproom also serves a small food menu.
Worcester outpost of Central Massachusetts' original craft brewery. This location is primarily a taproom with outdoor seating spilling onto the sidewalk in warmer months, but they do have a pilot brewing system on site. Almost always has beers that aren't sold anywhere other than at one of Wachusett's locations. Does not serve food, but you can bring your own from any of the multiple vendors in the public market.
Craft brewery conveniently located inside a hockey rink. They have ample indoor seating and a food menu.
Lombardi Bakery Service
Worcester's most popular coffee shop on bustling Highland St. Very close to WPI's campus. Also a good spot for baked goods.
Large cafe with tons of coffee and smoothie options down the street from Worcester State University. Also serves a few draft beers and wine. There is a light food menu (salads, sandwiches) as well. NU hosts a series of monthly science lectures and occasional live music.
2 miles from downtown, near all major business centers and universities. Worcester's fanciest hotel.
Business hotel in Gateway Park near WPI.
Downtown hotel near the DCU Center.
In a pinch? $100/week, bar downstairs.
Shopping and eating, includes stores including Macys, Forever 21, Sears, and Filenes Express. Ice skating: indoor rink
If you have any interest in comic books, sci-fi, horror, fantasy, roleplaying, etc., check this out.
Sells whole, frozen durian.
Mediterranean grocery store carrying everything you can't get at the supermarket. Obscure (for North America) spices and other ingredients can be found here as well as many other items such as tahini that can be found in supermarkets, but are significantly cheaper at Bahnan's. There is also a bulk feta section where you can choose your cheese by origin and ask for a specific amount. Prices for the cheaper options are about half what you would pay elsewhere in the region. Bahnan's also has a small cafe in case all this shopping makes you hungry.
Hip new and used clothing boutique on trendy Shrewsbury St.
If you need a fancier version of something from Bahnan's, head a few doors down to Ed Hyder's, another fully stocked Mediterranean market that also sells wine.
Unique home decor shop in the Canal District
Huge and eclectic consignment shop in the basement of the old Crompton Loom Works. Crompton Collective carries everything from vintage furniture and statuary to souvenirs made by local artists. You don't have to spend any money to make this worth a visit, just browsing the alcoves is a good time on its own.
By bus
Worcester does have a bus system, but it can be infrequent and confusing to navigate.
Taxi
On foot
Worcester is surprisingly hard to navigate on foot.
By car
The most efficient, if not the most enjoyable way to get around the city. Driving in Worcester is not for the timid.
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Worcester · Regional · ORH
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