Boston is home to the Red Sox, Harvard University and Mark Wahlberg. For an authentic Boston experience, forgo well-traveled tourist trails like the Freedom Trail and trust in our hand-picked selection of lesser-known hidden gems the city has to offer.
Bodega
You may have heard of hidden bars and secret restaurants before, but have you ever visited a hidden shop? At the back of a messy, mundane venue on the corner of Clearway Street, an old machine is nothing more than a secret door through which crafty shoppers find themselves in one of Boston’s coolest clothing and sneakers stores, Bodega.
Caffe Vittoria
Boston is home to a large Italian American community and Caffe Vittoria was the first Italian café founded in the city in 1929. Inside, the shelves are filled with vintage coffee machines and the walls are covered with coffee mugs and posters. It’s nice and comfortable, and technically stopping here for an Espresso Martini counts as a cultural experience. A cappuccino and a big slice of history, please!
Brattle Book Shop
This is no ordinary bookstore, this is one of the oldest and largest used book stores in America. Here, Boston’s history mixes with modern day life. The Brattle Book Shop offers volumes of all types and genres, ranging from shoddy poolside reading and thrillers to large old atlases and historic leather-bound books. You can buy anything from used books priced at $ 1 to ancient and rare tomes worth hundreds or thousands of dollars, and find offers on their outdoor space. When you’re done, they’ll buy your used books too!
SoWa Open Market
Home to around 200 producers, artists and artisans, the SoWa Open Market has earned a reputation as a place you can’t miss on Sundays. Every week in the summer months, this market is on your doorstep to amaze you with its collections from art shops and galleries, handmade jewelry and pottery, food trucks selling local craft beers, sweets and products from local farms and vintage clothing sales.
Kelleher Rose Garden
Tucked behind the Back Bay Fens, when the 200 varieties of roses in the Kelleher Rose Garden are in bloom it’s hard to believe this isn’t one of Boston’s most famous gardens. Here the manicured and beautiful lawns, immaculate classrooms and elegant rose bushes make this garden a peaceful and wonderful place to flee momentarily from the frenetic pace of the city. And it’s not bad to post on Instagram either …
Harvard Film Archive
You don’t have to be a Harvard student to take advantage of the Harvard Library, especially if you are a movie buff. Harvard Film Archive (HFA) boasts a collection of more than 36,000 films of any genre, including classic and historical titles from around the world. Tickets are available for screenings at this state-of-the-art cinema Friday through Monday – there’s no better way to watch a movie in Boston.
Wind & Nod
This speakeasy bar and restaurant is strictly a favorite of locals who know where to find it. Not only are the seasonal cocktails really great, but the dinner menu changes dramatically every two months. The typical rotating scheme of a pop-up restaurant allows talented but not yet established local chefs to demonstrate their skills and creativity by experimenting with new dishes.
Blackbird Donuts
To satisfy your sweet palate, head to Blackbird Donuts to test some of the amazing artisan desserts. Freshly baked, these donuts are lovingly rendered edible circular artwork. You have the choice between classic flavors and more experimental creations such as pink lemonade or spicy hot chocolate. There are two shops in town and you have no excuse not to visit at least one of them.
Corey Hill Outlook Park
There are a lot of buildings in the city where you can pay to enjoy the view from the rooftop terraces, but there is a slightly less crowded place where you can admire the city skyline, absolutely free. As the name suggests, Corey Hill Outlook Park is located quite high on a hill giving the opportunity to enjoy fascinating views over Boston. With its grassy lawns and shady trees, it is also a fabulous place for a picnic.
