Boston has a ton of famous neighborhoods. From Fenway to Brookline, we were hard pressed to find the 5 best neighborhoods in the city. We focused on nightlife, restaurants, and potential for growth in real estate values when determining our list. Let us know in the comments if we overlooked something or if you want to recommend a certain restaurant.
Bay Village
The historic streets of Bay Village are paved with brick and lighted with gas lamps at night. It’s the smallest neighborhood in Boston, and the area is quiet, friendly, and charming. Bay Village is the birthplace of famous author Edgar Allan Poe.
The neighborhood has many restaurants and nightclubs, and given its proximity to the Theater District, attracts many theater-goers for dinner. Popular choices include Pigalle, a well-known French restaurant, contemporary, organic Italian fare at Erbaluce, and Smith and Wollensky, a steak and seafood restaurant housed in a distinctive brick and stone building known as “the Castle.”
Chinatown
Boston’s Chinatown remains a vibrant center of the local Asian American community, with many Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants and stores. Numerous festivals are held each year, such as the August Moon festival, a street fair full of vendors and performances of music, martial arts, and dance.
Popular restaurants include the China Pearl and the Imperial Seafood House, both of which serve dim sum (a lavish Chinese brunch) as well as other delicacies. There’s also an enormous Chinese market, Kam Man Foods, which sells all kinds of groceries, cookware, and health and beauty products.
Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill is one of the most desirable areas in Boston; it contains the Massachusetts State House, meaning the name “Beacon Hill” is synonymous with the Massachusetts government. Rich with history, it is a neighborhood filled with Federal-style townhouses and brick sidewalks, lit by gas lamps at night. It’s also home to Suffolk University and the Bull and Finch Bar, which inspired the show “Cheers.”
The neighborhood is filled with great bars and restaurants. These include Italian favorites, Grotto and The Toscano Restaurant, award-winning American restaurants such as the Paramount, Scollay Square, and Chestnut, and bars such as the cozy and dark 21st Amendment.
Downtown Crossing
Downtown Crossing is a popular shopping district with a strong residential community. As well as large retailers and street vendors, there are many restaurants. The community is very walkable, with some streets allowing foot traffic only.
JM Curley is a popular restaurant and bar with neighborhood residents; it features perfectly prepared mussels and burgers, craft beer, and great ambiance.
North End
North End is Boston’s oldest residential neighborhood, settled in 1630. It’s also known as Boston’s “Little Italy” for its strong Italian community and abundance of Italian restaurants. There’s a summer festival celebrating the patron saints of Italy with a parade, food vendors and live music. A variety of public art works, from mosaics and sculptures, add even more interest to this cultural center.
There are many small markets, coffee shops, and acclaimed restaurants throughout the area. Perhaps the most popular and representative of the neighborhood is perpetual favorite, Giacomo’s Ristorante, which provides authentic Italian fare.
