The Ultimate Guide to Beantown

The city of Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States and is thriving with rich history and beauty. Boston offers a perfect combination of colonial history with cutting edge innovation and is a true American treasure. 

Bustling with diverse neighbourhoods, art, culture and education, the city features something for everyone. From local culinary delicacies to nostalgic underground bars, sporting events, natural gardens and more, ‘Beantown’ might just be the perfect place for your next holiday destination or weekend away. 

Check out Rad’s Ultimate Guide to Boston, Massachusetts. 

What to Eat 

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Baked Beans

Simple yet wholesome, you cannot visit “Beantown” without trying the baked beans. The traditional dish consists of beans, slow-baked in molasses and served in a small crock with brown bread.

Rad Recommends: Bukowski Tavern. You can find an amazing modern take on Boston baked beans at Bukowski Tavern. Layers of beans, bacon and brown sugar fill the pot, which is basked for four hours to create the ‘Frank ’N Beans special”.

Clam Chowder

 A true New England speciality, clam chowder is a popular cream-based mixture of shellfish, bacon, potatoes and of course, oyster crackers.

Rad Recommends: Legal Sea Foods. This Boston seafood giant is renowned for its celebrated clam chowder recipe. Rich cream, clams and the shop’s speciality: salt pork and cracklings, make this concoction to die for!

Boston Cream Pie 

Boston’s gift to the culinary world. Despite the name, Boston’s cream pie is, in fact, a cake. It is made up of vanilla cake with layers of fresh pastry cream and coated in a chocolate ganache glaze.

Rad Recommends: Omni Parker House. Believed to be the birthplace of the iconic dessert, Omni Parker House in Downtown Boston is known to have quite possibly the best Boston Cream Pie in the entire city!

Where to Drink 

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Drink: Voted at the top of the list of must-see bars in Boston, ‘Drink’ is a bar dedicated entirely to the craft of cocktails. Blending together time-honoured techniques and classic cocktails, this is the bar that throws a cocktail party every single night!

Bleacher Bar: Built in a literal hole in the wall under the center field seats of Fenway Park, this bar has been voted one of the best places to eat and drink in the entire neighbourhood. Offering affordable drinks and efficient service, the bar features a giant window overlooking the park; so you don’t miss a second of the baseball action.

A4cade: Drink, play and nerd out. This bar offers a unique retro gaming experience with a killer cocktail program to top it off. You can find everything from Tetris and Pac Man old school Mario Kart and more at this nostalgia-filled venue; all while sipping a carefully curated cocktail out of R2D2 or Tina Belcher’s head!

Where to Stay 

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Back Bay: Perhaps the most popular neighbourhood among visitors, Back Bay is located in the heart of the city. Home to some of the most stunning real estate in town and the best shopping Boston has to offer, you can find everything you need and more in Back Bay. You can find all the main attractions at your doorstep in Back Bay. You can also find some of the best outdoor dining options throughout the neighbourhood as well.

The North End: A perfect home for history lovers, The North End is exploding with history and culture. Here, you can find The Freedom Trail; one of America’s best historic trails, which takes you from Boston Common all the way to the Charleston Navy Yard; while stopping at numerous places and attractions along the way.

The South End: An absolute hit for the foodies, The South End is where you want to be for all things food. Just south of Back Bay, this neighbourhood is home to the best restaurants in the city; as well as stunning buildings, boutique hotels, unique shops and more. It also features a thriving LGBT community and offers a truly local feel for anyone who steps foot within its borders.

Things to do in Boston 

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Boston Public Garden: One of the largest green spaces in the city, the Boston Public Garden can be found adjacent to the BostonCommon. It features paved paths, statues, picnic areas, blooming flowers, lakes with boat rentals and more.

Freedom Trail: A fun and affordable way to see the city and learn about Boston’s history is to walk the Freedom Trail. The red brick path takes you from the Boston Common through to the North End and Charleston; stopping at 16 historical sights along the way.

Top Of The Hub: Offering 360-degree views of the Boston city skyline, the Top of the Hub soars 52 floors above Back Bay. Located at the top of Prudential Tower, the Top of the Hub offers an award-winning restaurant, as well as panoramic views over the city.

Boston Events and Festivals

Boston Calling Music Festival

Boston Marathon

Mad Decent Block Party Festival

Featured image credit: BostonUSA