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Jamaica Plain

Jamaica Plain is a suburb nestled inside the metropolis of Boston. Far away from the large corporate hotels and restaurants of some of Boston’s other neighborhoods, the independent businesses of Jamaica Plain are smaller and more intimate than their big name competitors.

History

Jamaica Plain is one of Boston’s many historic neighborhoods. The Jamaica Plain Historical Society dates the history of the area back to the seventeenth century when the neighborhood was a part of near by Roxbury. In 1851, Jamaica Plain seceded from Roxbury to become part of West Roxbury; however, this was short lived as in 1873 West Roxbury became part of Boston, leaving Jamaica Plain as an independent suburb of Boston.

Restaurants

Looking for a great place to eat? Centre Street, the neighborhood’s main thoroughfare, is the home to a number of eclectic restaurant choices in the Jamaica Plain area.

Visitors to Jamaica Plain should check out Ula Cafe. The bakery is located just north of the intersection of Armory Street and Minton Street, and boasts plenty of off-street parking and bike racks. Ula is open seven days a week with its Monday through Friday, hours being 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. The bakery and coffee shop has a varied menu with plenty of sandwich options, including a number of vegetarian and vegan choices. They also carry a variety of popular pastries and coffees. A visitor review touts Ula Cafe as one of the best independent coffee shops in the Boston area.

Boasting a strong selection of American cuisine, The Dogwood Cafe is located at 3172 Washington Street in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood. The restaurant, which serves brunch, lunch, and dinner, features a various menu, serving something for everyone. One of the Dogwood Cafe’s main staples is pizza, with their brick oven varieties named after the different trees in the near by Arnold Arboretum.

Hotels

Hotels in Jamaica Plain are few and far between, with many located in Boston’s more northern neighborhoods. Visitors to Jamaica Plain should book reservations to the Taylor House Bed and Breakfast, located in the heart of the neighborhood. The well-reviewed and historic Taylor House was built in 1853 for international merchant George W. Taylor. Located in “Pondside”, the area boasts some of the finest architecture in Jamaica Plain. The rates for the Taylor House Bed and Breakfast are reasonable. There are also family options available. The Taylor House is located on Burroughs Street, between Jamaica Way and Centre Street.

Famous Attractions

Jamaica Plain is the home to Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum. Established in 1872, the Arnold Arboretum is billed as the oldest public arboretum in the United States. Located on 265 acres, the Arboretum boasts a collection of 1.3 million living herbaria specimens. The Arnold Arboretum is open for guided and self-guided tours. The guided tours are free and the general tour season runs between April 9th and November 13th. Tours are given Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and select Fridays during the season. A variety of theme tours as well as youth and academic options are also available.

Visitors to Jamaica Plain should also plan a visit to the Footlight Club. Housed in the historic Eliot Hall since 1889, the Footlight Club is billed as the oldest community theater in the United States, holding a variety of shows each year ranging from dramas to musicals.

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Jamaica Plain