THE HOW CONFERENCE QUICK GUIDE TO BOSTON
The best way to see Boston is to head out of your hotel and just start walking. If you prefer to wander with a destination in mind, check the guide below for restaurants, shops and must-see sights. Many of the locales on our list are within walking distance of the Hynes Convention Center, but if you want to venture farther afield, Boston's incredibly efficient public transportation will get you where you need to go.
There's a lot to do and see in Boston, and this guide is by no means meant to be comprehensive. But it's a good starting point for your exploration of Boston—and we encourage you to devote some time to discovering the city.
Food & Drink
Shopping
Culture & Pop Culture
Tourist Hot Spots (But Definitely Worth a Look)
Slightly Off the Beaten Path
Food & Drink
Barking Crab
A relaxed atmosphere, like an open-air seafood shack in the middle of the city. The focus is on fresh seafood, but there's something for everyone, from vegetarian to meat dishes (there's also a pretty nifty outdoor bar).
88 Sleeper Street, Boston MA 02210
(617) 426-2722
barkingcrab.com
The Beehive
Located at the Boston Center for the Arts, the Beehive features live music almost every night, as well as full brunch and dinner menus.
541 Tremont Street, Boston MA 02116
(617) 423-0069
beehiveboston.com
Betty's Wok & Noodle
A hip and casual place, next to Symphony Hall; features "Asian/Latino-inspired noodle- and rice-based dishes" plus beer, wine and sake.
250 Huntington Avenue, Boston MA 02115
(617) 424-1950
bettyswokandnoodle.com
Church of Boston
Church's motto—music, food, booze—says it all. The menu's packed with comfort food, while the music venue features a variety of entertainments.
69 Kilmarnock Street, Boston MA 02215
(617) 236-7600
Fizz Bar
Toast your new Conference pals with a glass of champagne at the Westin Copley (one of the Conference hotels). Located in the lobby, Fizz Bar features several champagnes by the glass, as well as snacks and desserts.
Westin Copley Place, 10 Huntington Avenue
(617) 262-9600
Middlesex Lounge
If you head to Cambridge, check out Middlesex Lounge for lunch or a little dancing—there's a different DJ every evening. Check the website for schedules and cover info.
315 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA 02139
(617) 868-6739
middlesexlounge.com
Modern Pastry
An award-winning bakery in the heart of the North End, featuring a wide range of Italian desserts.
257 Hanover Street, Boston MA 02113
Pizzeria Regina
Arguably the best pizza in Boston. Enough said.
11-1/2 Thatcher Street, Boston MA 02136
(617) 227-0765
(also located in the Prudential Center food court)
Sel de la Terre
It's on the pricier side, but locals in the know say that Sel de la Terre's eclectic menu is worth every penny.
255 State Street, Boston MA 02109
(617) 720-1300
seldelaterre.com
TheOtherSide Café
Quick, cheap, good food and a rotating list of specialty beers. Grab a seat on the front deck and watch the hordes of fashionistas shopping on Newbury Street.
407 Newbury Street, Boston MA 02115
(617) 536-8437
Veggie Planet
Located in Cambridge, Veggie Planet is a restaurant by day and folk lounge by night. The menu is completely composed of vegetarian meals, from pizzas and rice dishes to soups and salads.
47 Palmer Street, Cambridge MA 02138
(617) 661-1513
veggieplanet.com
Vlora Restaurant
A relatively new subterranean restaurant in Back Bay; the menu combines southern Italian, Greek and Albanian influences.
545 Boylston Street, Boston MA 02116
(617) 638-9699
vloraboston.com
Shopping
Black Ink
Perfect for unusual gifts, Black Ink features eclectic goods (sushi candles, travel books, Zen candlesticks) at reasonable prices.
101 Charles Street, Boston MA 02114
(617) 723-3883
Buckaroo Mercantile
That Elvis toilet seat cover you've been looking for? Buckaroo Mercantile's got it, along with loads of other goodies you don't really need.
1297 Cambridge Street, Cambridge MA 02139
(617) 492-4792
buckmerc.com
Copley Place
Indirectly connected to the Hynes (though the Prudential Center and the Marriott), Copley Place features high-end stores, from Tiffany & Co. to Gucci and Louis Vuitton.
simon.com/mall
Garment District
Find new everyday wearables, the perfect costume or club clothes at the Garment District. Almost everything's cheap and many items are pay-per-pound.
200 Broadway, Cambridge MA 02139
(617) 876-9795
Newbury Comics
A New England music chain devoted to "music, movies and pop culture goods at wicked good prices."
332 Newbury Street, Boston MA 02115
(617) 236-4930
newburycomics.com
Newbury Street
One of the most famous shopping districts in town is just a few blocks over from the Hynes. Shop to your heart's content (Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Juicy Couture), then refuel at one of the many restaurants or pubs.
newbury-st.com
The Prudential Center
You'll likely walk through the Prudential Center mall on your way to the Hynes (it's connected to the Hynes, Marriott and Sheraton, and indirectly to the Westin). Full of specialty shops, it's an easy (but pricey) place to pick up a souvenir.
prudentialcenter.com
Whittard of Chelsea
You're in Boston and you have an inexplicable craving for tea. Visit Whittard of Chelsea, the UK's most well-known tea retailer, for loose and bagged tea, as well as all the accoutrements. There's even a blend-your-own tea bar!
170 Newbury Street, Boston MA 02115
(617) 536-5200
Culture and Pop Culture
Bodega
A real, functioning corner store in front, Bodega's main space is the artfully hidden shop in back—stocked with limited-edition sneakers, European spray paint and other premium goods. The space is a must-see for any visiting designer.
6 Clearway Street, Boston MA 02115
bdgastore.com
Boston Public Library
The library—an impressive building on its own—is home to the collections of renowned type designer D.A. Dwiggens, including more than 400 books designed by Dwiggens, original drawings of his typefaces and many of his hand-crafted marionettes.
Copley Square, Boston MA
bpl.org
Christian Science Center
Visit the Mapparium to wander through a giant globe made entirely of stained glass. Then head over to the Hall of Ideas, a celebration of "the great ideas that have inspired individuals and transformed society."
175 Huntington Avenue, Boston MA 02115
www.marybakereddylibary.org
International Poster Gallery
Opened by a collector and private dealer, the International Poster Gallery features an impressive display of posters from around the world.
205 Newbury Street, Boston MA 02116
internationalposter.com
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Housed in a Venetian-style palazzo on The Fenway, the Gardner Museum boasts one of the finest collections of art on public display in this country. See everything from Titian to John Singer Sargent in a setting literally designed around the art.
280 The Fenway, Boston MA 02115
(617) 566-1401
gardnermuseum.org
Museum of Bad Art
MOBA is, according to their website, "a community-based, private institution dedicated to the collection, preservation, exhibition and celebration of bad art in all its forms and in all its glory." We can't vouch for it, but it sounds interesting. (Located about eight miles south of downtown Boston.)
580 High Street, Dedham MA 02026
(781) 444-6757
www.museumofbadart.org
Museum of Fine Arts
One of the five largest art museums in the U.S., the MFA features everything from ancient Egyptian art to American silver (yes, we mean Paul Revere). The West Wing was added in 1981 by I.M. Pei.
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston MA 02115
(617) 267-9300
mfa.org
Trinity Church
Go for the architecture (dubbed "Richardsonian Romanesque") and stay for the amazing murals and stained glass. A few dollars will get you the materials you need for a self-guided tour.
Copley Square, Boston MA
(617) 536-0944
trinitychurchboston.com
Tourist Hot Spots (But Definitely Worth a Look)
Boston Common and Public Garden
Take in a little green space in the middle of the city or ride a Swan Boat, a Garden feature since 1877.
North of the Hynes Convention Center.
Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market
Nicknamed the "Cradle of Liberty", Faneuil Hall has been a public market and town meeting place since 1742. The Market now houses fast food restaurants, boutiques and pubs.
Between Chatham and Clinton Streets, Boston MA
faneuilhall.com
Freedom Trail
A 2.5-mile trail linking some of Boston's most famous historical sites. Marked by a red line on the sidewalk, the Trail starts in Boston Common and heads all the way to Bunker Hill.
thefreedomtrail.org
Georges Island
A 39-acre island in Boston Harbor, with a gravel beach, picnic grounds and paved trails, plus guided tours of historic Fort Warren.
bostonislands.org
Hoods Milk Bottle
If you've never seen a 40-foot-tall wooden milk bottle, here's your chance. A Boston institution since 1930, the bottom floor is a functional walkup concession stand. (Located outside the Children's Museum.)
300 Congress Street, Boston MA 02210
Old Granary Burying Ground
The final resting place of many revolutionaries, including John Hancock and Samuel Adams; the Burying Ground dates from 1660.
Tremont Street, Boston MA
Old North Church
This is the "one if by land, two if by sea" church, whose bell-tower lanterns launched Paul Revere's famous ride. Episcopal services are still held here for an active congregation.
193 Salem Street, Boston MA 02113
oldnorth.com
Old State House
The perfect example of Boston's melding of old and new, the Old State House sits just underneath the towering skyscrapers of the financial district.
Washington and State Streets, Boston MA 02108
Paul Revere House
Not only did Paul Revere live here from 1770 to 1800, this is also Boston's oldest surviving clapboard frame house. Admission is only $3.
19 North Square, Boston MA 02113
paulreverehouse.org
Samuel Adams Brewery
If you're a beer drinker, you can't leave town without touring the Samuel Adams brewery. Follow the brewing process from start to finish, munch some malts and sample a specialty beer or two. Best of all, the tour is free.
30 Germania Street, Boston MA 02130
(617) 368-5080
samueladams.com
Whale Watching
Devote an afternoon to whale watching, or just take a cruise around the harbor.
bostonharborcruises.com
Slightly Off the Beaten Path
Abodeon
An eclectic collection of home goods, ranging from vintage to current modern design (think old-school rotary phones, vintage cocktails glasses and artful office supplies).
1731 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA 02138
Museum of Useful Things
This Harvard Square shop sells retro-minded items and gadgets, as well as offbeat gifts and trinkets, for the home and office.
49 Brattle Street Suite B, Cambridge MA 02138
The Recycle Shop
Inside the Children's Museum, the Recycle Shop is a crafter's heaven. Grab a bag and stuff it full of reusable fabrics, plastics, papers and string for your next project.
300 Congress Street, Boston MA 02210
bostonchildrensmuseum.org
Stony Brook Reservation
An unexpected 500-acre reserve in the middle of Boston. Includes 10 miles of hiking and biking paths, fishing, ball fields, tennis courts and picnic areas.
Turtle Pond Parkway, West Roxbury, Hyde Park
mass.gov/dcr/parks/metroboston/stony
Tea Room
Get your palm read at Regina Russell's Tea Room. Or choose from tea leaves, tarot cards, crystal balls, or fire, sand and water readings.
40 Franklin Street, Quincy MA 02169
(617) 472-9606
rrtearoom.com
|
