While baked beans and chowder remain must-eats in Massachusetts’ historic capital, there’s so much more to devour beyond the basics.

By Patricia Harrison

When you think about Boston, it’s no surprise if things such as the Red Sox, Boston Tea Party and Harvard University come to mind. While the city’s culinary scene isn’t as famous as those in New York City, Charleston and other East Coast metropolises, insiders know that Boston has far more to offer than clam “chowdah,” baked beans and cream pies (though those are all delicious, too). Here are three reasons Beantown’s food scene deserves as much attention as its historic attractions, educational institutions and baseball team.

Fort Point Channel and View of the Boston Skyline

The Seafood

Whether you’re a lobster roll or sushi connoisseur, seafood fanatics will find plenty of reasons to love Boston. Book a table at O Ya in the Leather District, which offers a splurge-worthy, seasonal 20-course tasting menu of nigiri, sashimi and cooked specialties. Or go to Row 34 in Fort Point to enjoy upscale preparations of oysters, fish and other fruits of the sea (try the house-smoked salmon).

For less fancy, yet equally tasty fare, pop into the 1780s-era Warren Tavern in Bunker Hill for New England clam chowder, crab cakes and fresh oysters (pro tip: they’re only $1 Monday through Friday, 3–6 p.m.). Or feast on shrimp cocktail, hot crab dip and lobster rolls under a heated yellow- and red-striped tent at The Barking Crab near Boston Harbor.

The International Cuisines

Boston is a great place to sample food from countries around the world, reflecting the city’s diverse population. Chinatown is a must-stop for everything from Mongolian-style hot pot to Cantonese dim sum. Join the locals cracking garlic-sauce-slicked crab at Peach Farm or pick up egg tarts and pork buns at Great Taste Bakery & Restaurant.

Craving Italian? Venture to the North End, aka Boston’s Little Italy. There, options include Carmelina’s, which slings red-sauce favorites like Bolognese and chicken parm; Regina Pizzeria, a go-to for brick-oven-fired pies since 1926; and Modern Pastry Shop, a hot stop for American and Italian cakes, cookies and cannoli.

Cambridge—the city across the river from Boston where the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard are located—has many restaurants cooking dishes influenced by countries across the globe. Savor Afghani specialties such as qabelee (rice studded with lamb, raises and carrots) and mantwo (pastry shells filled with onions and beef) at The Helmand; or order the spicy beef noodle and quail soup at Silk Road, which serves the cuisine of Uyghur (an ethnic group of central Asia).

Quincy Market | dbvirago - stock.adobe.com

The Markets

To sample a variety of bites and cuisines, consider adding one of Boston’s many food markets to your itinerary. Quincy Market is a historic destination with 18 restaurants and more than two dozen food vendors selling everything from Korean corn dogs to Boston baked beans with brown bread (visit on a weekday to avoid crowds of tourists). A Korean American bakery, Southern-inspired sandwich joint and a raw bar and seafood market are among the plethora of locally owned dining concepts inside trendy Bow Market in Somerville. Or pair a porchetta sandwich with a craft beverage at High Street Place, a modern food hall in downtown Boston with 20 food and beverage vendors, including a taproom, wine bar and cocktail spot.

Where to Stay

Hyatt Place Boston/Seaport District
Convenient amenities draw leisure and business travelers to this waterfront property near Boston Harbor, including a complimentary daily breakfast bar (waffles, anyone?), spacious rooms with kitchenettes and sleeper sofas and a rooftop terrace with cozy fire pits.

Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport
Options for guests to satisfy their appetites abound at the Omni Boston in the Seaport District. The hotel’s seven dining concepts include an award-winning restaurant and raw bar serving coastal Mediterranean cuisine, French-style boulangerie and a sports bar.

The Newbury Boston
Masterpieces by contemporary artists are displayed throughout this stylish hotel in Boston’s Back Bay area, which doubles as an art gallery. Look for original works by veteran illustrator Veronica Lawlor in the guestrooms, which also have Nespresso Vertuo espresso makers, Byredo bath products and other swanky features.

Sonder 907 Main
The Sonder brand, which has 9,000 rooms in more than 40 cities worldwide, allows you to use an app to navigate their stay from start to finish. At the 907 Main location, guests can reside in one of five minimally decorated rooms in Cambridge and use their phones to check in and request amenities.

Raffles Boston
This stunning property opened in September 2023, bringing the Raffles brand’s luxury accommodations and polished service to Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. Guests enjoy perks such as a “wellbeing sanctuary” with an indoor pool and fitness center, butler service, in-room dining and personal shopping options.

Book these hotels, and more, using the TSA rate code in the GDS. Non-GDS users can book these hotels using tripXpress.

Banner photo: Boston, Massachusetts

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