The center of the resistance to the British and settled by the Pilgrims in 1620, Massachusetts is one of the six New England states. Explore Boston, its capital, and you’ll discover a food lovers dream come true!
If you love food, then you must add Boston to your bucket list of places to travel. Whether you’re interested in discovering some of the best fine dining in the city (one of my favorites is No. 9 Park), are looking for the oldest restaurant (Union Oyster House), or just want to check out the neighborhoods that make up Boston, it’s one of the best cities to travel to.
And any New England food tour needs to start with clam chowder, the quintessential appetizer. If you’re looking for history, the Union Oyster House like I mention above. It’s the oldest continuous restaurant in America and the perfect spot for clam chowder. Interestingly enough, their chowder is served with a slab of cornbread, which is not traditional but still delicious.
Another great spot for chowder is the Summer Shack by Jasper White. Chef Jasper White is known as the most influential chef of New England cuisine and when you visit this restaurants, you can feel the rich history in his dishes. Like this clam chowder, served with house made, Old Bay tossed oyster crackers. We typically stay at the Sheraton Boston Hotel and Summer Shack is across the street, ideal for when you’re craving chowder. Looking for another hotel option? The Liberty Hotel on Charles Street is a great idea!
Next stop on this foodie guide to Boston is Faneuil Hall Marketplace. It has been a marketplace since 1743 – home to several speeches by Samuel Adams, James Otis and others. Part of the Boston National Historical Park as well as a stop on the Freedom Trail, it’s known as “the Cradle of Liberty”.
Part of a large marketplace, this is just the spot to score a delicious lobster roll packed with sweet lobster meat. Or maybe some shrimp cocktail? Both delicious options!
While in Boston, you’ll see these Duck Tours all over – they are these fun looking W.W.II style amphibious landing vehicles! You’ll cruise by places like: the State House to Bunker Hill and the TD Banknorth Garden, Boston Common and Copley Square to the Big Dig, Government Center to fashionable Newbury Street, Quincy Market to the Prudential Tower, and more. These tours are a fun and relaxing way to discover the city without exhausting yourself walking around too much. Check out this post on Duck Tours in San Francisco!
It’s not a visit to Boston without some sort of sporting event! As you might know, Boston is home not only to the best baseball team in America (Go Red Sox!) but home to the Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, and the New England Patriots. One fun outing is a tour of Fenway Park, “America’s Most Beloved Ballpark”. And they don’t discriminate if you’re a Yankee fan, I just recommend not wearing a Yankees hat in Boston.
If you’re lucky enough to visiting during a Friday or Saturday and are staying in an AirBnB or the sort, the outdoor Haymarket is just the place to store inexpensive seafood, produce, and more. We recently discovered it and fell in love, almost taking oven 20 pounds of items home that weekend! Right next to it is the newly opened Boston Public Market, which houses hundreds of locally made products to New England. “The Boston Public Market is the only locally sourced market of its kind in the United States. Everything sold at the Market is produced or originates in New England.”
Stop in for lunch or dinner at the Sheraton Boston on Dalton Street and discover their new Paired menu. We recently discovered this and loved the combination of small bites with locally crafted New England beers (and wines from around the world). Like this BBQ Pork Rib paired beautifully with a BBC Steel Rail Ale. The small plates range from $3-$5 – an affordable yet luxurious experience!
End your Boston foodie tour at J.P. Licks, one of the best homemade ice cream cafes I’ve ever tasted! The ice cream is so smooth and creamy, you’ll want to take a couple of pints home! They’ve also been awarded best hot chocolate in Boston, so if you’re visiting during the fall and winter, it’s a must sip drink!
Looking for more recommendations on what to eat and do in Boston? Click on the links below:
SPORTELLO (BOSTON, MA)
BRUNCH IN BOSTON: Tremont 647
Boston Foodie Tours – best walking tour in the city
Two Places to Visit in Boston With Kids
This post is written by Marnely Murray, food blogger at Cooking with Books and lover of all things Boston.