Boston restaurants offer up memorable food as varied as the city's rich history.
Looking for lobster dinners and fresh seafood? The best Italian cuisine outside of Italy? Historic taverns where the Sons of Liberty plotted the American Revolution? Fun sports bars?
You can find all of that and a lot more in Boston. With about 3,000 restaurants, including many small chef-owned bistros you won't find anywhere else, you'll find lots to love here: fresh local and New England ingredients, flavors from around the world, and warm welcomes.
Featuring the best local and New England ingredients and a mix of flavors from around the world, our talented chefs serve up something for every taste and budget.
So where should you dine and drink, especially if you're a visitor to Boston and not familiar with all the options?
Every neighborhood offers fantastic choices, from casual to swanky, affordable to break-the-bank - with so many choices, figuring out what's on offer and where to go can be tough.
To make deciding where to go easier, we've put together this guide to Boston's lively dining and drinking scene, with choices organized by location, by cuisine, and experiences such as historic taverns, outdoor dining, sports bars, wine bars, and cheap eats.
We hope you'll love the huge variety of Boston's lively dining and drinking scene as much as we do!
Top photo: Outdoor dining along Newbury Street in the Back Bay neighborhood, (c) Boston Discovery Guide
Boston Discovery Guide is a reader-supported publication. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost for you. Learn more
Boston Neighborhood Restaurant Guides
You'll love the Boston Harbor views and wonderful food at these lively Seaport restaurants
Find the top chef-owned restaurants in this trendy art-filled neighborhood
5 Chinatown restaurants where you'll love the food as well as the fun ambiance
Indulge in Irish cuisine, Guinness, and cheer in these corners of Ireland in Boston, with Irish football on the big screens and maybe a live trad session
Enjoy big screens, a bit of Ireland, live music, and plenty of fun at these bars near Fenway Park . . . More
Our top picks for rollicking sports bars, dance clubs, & Irish pubs near the Garden
Want to try traditional Boston and New England cuisine? The Food Hall at Quincy Market offers traditional fare (plus modern faves)
Want information about Boston neighborhoods and districts where these restaurants are located? Check out our Boston Neighborhood Guide.
Fun Boston Tours
Where to Eat & Drink in Boston by Cuisine
Whether you crave a lobster roll, Chinese dim sum, or just turkey (or not) for Thanksgiving, these articles will help you find the best in Boston!
The Barking Crab is as close as you'll get to a clam shack or lobster shack in Boston - and it's a fun place to go
Love Boston's lobster rolls? Here's how to make your own (it's easy!) and enjoy this seafood favorite at home
Follow in the footsteps of history when you raise your glass in these favorite Revolutionary War-era watering holes
Indulge in Irish cuisine, Guinness, and cheer in these corners of Ireland in Boston, with Irish football on the big screens and maybe a live trad session
More about Dining in Boston
- Dine Out Boston - Winter Event - Find dates and participating restaurants for Restaurant Week in March
- Dine Out Boston - Summer Event - Find dates and participating restaurants for Restaurant Week in August
- Tips & Strategies for Scoring Restaurant Week Reservations - Want to snag Dine Out reservations at the city's top restaurants? Find out how
- Union Oyster House - What to enjoy and experience at this historical seafood restaurant
- How to Steam a Lobster - In case you want to dine on lobster at home
- How to Boil a Lobster - Another way to prepare this popular treat at home
- Cookbooks by Top Boston Chefs - Find out how to prepare a taste of Boston at home
Photo credits: stock.adobe.com/Olga Lyubkin (lobster roll); iStock.com/grafvision (lobster); iStock.com/AlexRaths (turkey)
More Articles about Dining Destinations in Boston
- Experience a taste of Ireland in Boston's favorite Irish pubs
- Check out Boston's hottest chef-owned restaurants in Fort Point
- Find Boston's best wine bars, wine tasting festivals, and wine shops offering free wine tastings
- Get the best dining deals around during Boston Restaurant Week
- Get a glimpse of Boston history when you visit our historic taverns
Need a Boston Hotel or Apartment?
Use this handy map from Booking.com to find the perfect place to stay. Just enter your dates to find what's available, see the best rates, and make your reservations.
Booking.com
