Boston Dining

Eat your way through a collection of cuisines that reflect the different neighborhoods, demographics, parts of history and culinary trends. There is so much to discover when dining in Boston, that you’ll be able to try a different Boston neighborhood, type of cuisine, and price range for every meal that you eat—as long as your stomach can handle that much good food!

Boston Dining Overview

Boston’s dining scene includes both budget and upscale offerings and diners can experience the best of local eating for as little as five dollars. As a popular travel destination, Boston feeds its inhabitants and guests well, making use of local ingredients combined with global tastes and culinary techniques. You may have heard of famous foods that originated or developed in Boston such as New England clam chowder and Boston crème pie, but these dishes are just the introduction to a full palette of taste, texture, and ambiance in Boston.

Over the years, innovative concepts in dining such as farm to table eating have landed Boston on the foodie landscape as a leader with a following of loyal eaters. Restaurants have become local fixtures and represent a long line of different trends and influences.

Boston’s Recognition for Food

Boston has received much distinguished culinary recognition, including awards saluting talented and innovative chefs and restaurants from prestigious organizations such as the James Beard Foundation. Boston Dining is also noted as a lead environmental friendliness with many restaurants awarded top certification for water conservation, sustainable food use and pollution reduction.

Types of Cuisine in Boston

Like in many other American cosmopolitan centers--think San Francisco, Atlanta or New York City—this city has witnessed a fusion of cultures from around the world, making it easy to find just about any type of cuisine in Boston. Whether you crave traditional African or Colombian food, American fare including burgers and hotdogs, Thai or Turkish, simply pick what you please and let your budget and mood guide you around the city. Though the international offerings are endless, Boston is especially famous for Italian and Irish food, with entire neighborhoods like North End and Charlestown deeply rooted in and dedicated to these cuisines.

Boston Dining Hot Spots

Restaurants are often clustered in different neighborhoods, allowing visitors an opportunity to explore a variety of foods in every price range all within a day of shopping and eating. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite at lunch or a leisurely dinner, downtown Boston offers an array of restaurants.

These eateries, including both casual and upscale options, are close to several historical and cultural sites with some restaurants holding dinner specials for the pre-theater crowd. In the Fanheuil Hall Marketplace, over a dozen restaurants and pubs offer ambience melded with food and drink. Eat under a glass canopy or sit outside in the sun and people-watch, weather permitting. Newberry Street is also a good one-stop place to check out an array of eateries, allowing you to choose between the likes of traditional American grills, Italian cafes, and Asian cuisine.

Boston Foodie Events

If a great dining experience is at the top of your list for a visit to Boston, then keep an eye out for some annual events that revolve around food and drink. While eating in Boston is arguably a feat easily accomplished year-round, the visitor coming to Boston in the fall will luck out with foodie events set against a colorful and vibrant autumn. Great fall food events include a vegetarian food fair, a wine festival, and Boston Magazine’s premiere food event showcasing tasty bites from some of the most popular restaurants in the city.