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Back Bay
The Back Bay area in Boston is considered one of the most well-preserved neighborhoods in the United States today. From brownstones built by master bricklayers, to hand-forged metal gas-lamp street lights, this place oozes with charm and curb appeal. Not to mention the wicked awesome shopping!
Back Bay Brownstones
With the downtown Boston skyline and Charles River as a backdrop, the Back Bay neighborhood is a little pocket of protected 19th century architecture. These residential tree-lined streets are known for their magnificent brownstones with handcrafted curved bay windows and intricate architectural details, brick sidewalks, and antique wrought iron gas street lamps. Adding to the charm, many of the brownstones have small and meticulous gardens, window flower boxes, and carefully placed greenery.
One of the most noteworthy tidbits about the brownstones is that they run continuously along five streets in a row.
Copley Square
Since the late 19th century, Copley Square has been home to several of Boston’s prestigious colleges, including MIT, Boston University, Emerson College, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The square is also home to two major Boston churches, including the Old South Church and Trinity Church. The Boston Public Library – one of the country’s first municipal libraries – also calls Copley Square home.
The European-style courtyard of Copley Square hosts a major farmer’s market through the spring, summer, and autumn months. Several high-end designers such as Coach, Chanel, and Bvlgari have outlets on the square.
Newbury Street
The shops of Newbury Street are located within the basements and multiple floors of many of the neighborhood’s 19th century brownstones within the commercial district. The long and winding path of Newbury Street offers a wide range in shopping, from novelty shops that offer unique gifts, to some of the most upscale, most expensive designer retail outlets in the world.
The vibrant area offers more than just shopping – cafes, confectionaries, and bakeries serve their treats at sidewalk tables, and art galleries showcase some of Boston’s emerging talent. The street offers such a large variety that it’s worthwhile to check out even if just for the people-watching alone.
Charles River Esplanade
A major portion of the Charles River Esplanade runs through the Back Bay neighborhood. The manmade area was designed to give the city of Boston a piece of natural landscape along the Charles River Basin. The esplanade offers a large amount of outdoor recreation, including waterfront walking and biking trails, water sport, canoeing, sailing, and ice-skating. There are also playgrounds, picnic areas, and open areas where you can catch an occasional live music performance. The esplanade also acts as a small nature preserve, giving a home to animal and plant species native to the city of Boston.
Dining in Back Bay
The majority of the restaurants in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood are concentrated in the Newbury Street and Copley Square areas. There are a variety restaurants to choose from, including Japanese sushi bars, French brasseries, Italian bistros, Middle-Eastern tapas, and American pub-fare.
The local specialty is the fresh-catch seafood from the bay. You’ll find it all in Back Bay: lobster, clam chowder, fried clams, crab cakes, raw oysters. Legal Seafood has been offering its locally-famous fare for over 50 years.
Where to Stay in Back Bay
The Back Bay has a lot of choices for lodging. Choose between inns located in the brownstones, adorned with antiques or cosmopolitan full-service hotels located right in the heart of the most active areas of the neighborhood.
Several luxury hotels surround Copley Square. Here, you’ll find the trendy metropolitan hotels with full concierge, chef-led cuisine restaurants, and excellent amenities. Closer to the waterfront, you’ll find room lodging that offer great views of the Charles River Esplanade, the Charles River, and of the residential areas. One way to combine the best of both options is to stay in the bed and breakfast options in the Newbury Street area.
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