Newbury Street brownstones, Boylston shopping and the hotel-bar dining row. Krasi's Greek list and Saltie Girl's seafood counter live here.
Kathy Sidell's Back Bay seafood room on Dartmouth Street has run the tinned-fish-and-crudo agenda in Boston since 2016. At 279 Dartmouth St.
Signature: Tinned fish board, Lobster roll
Order: Tinned fish board with anchovies, mussels, sardines and butter on toast.
Tip: The window counter is the easier walk-in seat at 17:30. Brunch books two weeks out on weekends.
Demetri Tsolakis's Krasi on Gloucester Street has poured the country's largest all-Greek wine list in Boston's Back Bay since 2020. Priced at $$$.
Signature: Spanakopita, Whole grilled fish
Order: The taramosalata with house pita and a glass of Assyrtiko.
Tip: Reservations open four weeks out on OpenTable. The bar serves the full menu for solo diners.
Ken Oringer's UNI inside the Eliot Hotel on Commonwealth Avenue has run the city's contemporary izakaya programme in Boston since 2002, expanded 2016.
Signature: Hamachi sashimi, Wagyu nigiri
Order: The omakase nigiri flight and the spicy tuna roll with toasted sesame.
Tip: Late-night ramen menu kicks in at 22:00; the room is at its best after the dinner rush clears.
Ken Oringer's UNI inside the Eliot Hotel runs a contemporary Japanese izakaya and omakase counter in Boston's Back Bay since 2002, expanded in 2016.
Demetri Tsolakis's Krasi on Gloucester Street has run a regional Greek tasting room in Boston's Back Bay since 2020. Country's largest all-Greek wine list.
Kathy Sidell's Saltie Girl on Dartmouth Street runs tinned fish, crudo and lobster rolls in Boston's Back Bay since 2016. Kitchen leans seafood.
Signature: Tinned fish board, Lobster roll
Order: The tinned fish board: anchovies, mussels and sardines on warm butter toast.
Tip: The window counter is the walk-in seat. Brunch books two weeks out on Saturdays.
Thinking Cup on Newbury Street pours Stumptown coffee in Boston's Back Bay since 2010. Order the stumptown hairbender espresso. At 85 Newbury St.
Signature drink: Stumptown Hairbender espresso
Tip: Counter pours Stumptown Hairbender espresso. Avoid the 10:30-13:00 lunch rush if you need a laptop seat.
Pavement on Newbury Street has run a local Boston roaster and cafe in Back Bay since 2008. Bagels boiled in-house, cortados the house drink.
Signature drink: House blend cortado and bagel
Tip: Bagels until 14:00, then pastry only. The Newbury location is the largest sit-down room in the small chain.
Blue Bottle's Back Bay cafe on Newbury Street is the Oakland-founded specialty roaster's Boston flagship. At 163 Newbury St. Booking recommended.
Signature drink: New Orleans iced coffee, pour-over from beans roasted within 48 hours
Tip: Order the New Orleans iced coffee in summer or a single-origin pour-over year-round. Mornings before 09:00 are the only window the seats stay free.
Pavement Coffeehouse is Boston's small-batch roaster across seven cafes since 2008. Located in Back Bay. Open daily 07:00-19:00. At 286 Newbury St.
Tip: The Newbury Street store is the largest sit-down; the Symphony location is the work-friendly room with the most outlets.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
Blue Bottle's Newbury Street cafe is the Oakland-founded specialty roaster's Back Bay flagship. Single-origin pour-overs use beans roasted within 48 hours.
Tip: Pour-over bar runs single-origin rotations week to week; the New Orleans iced order is the summer staple. Whole-bean retail in 12 oz bags at the till.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Kenya, Colombia, Guatemala
How they serve: Espresso, Pour-over, New Orleans iced, Whole bean retail
Demetri Tsolakis's Krasi on Gloucester Street holds the country's largest all-Greek wine list in Boston's Back Bay since 2020. 300 Greek bottles.
Signature pour: Assyrtiko from Santorini by the glass
Wine focus: All-Greek wine list
Food: Greek meze and small plates
Tip: The bar serves the full menu for solo diners. Wines by the glass rotate weekly; ask for the Limnio.
Copley Square Farmers Market on St James Avenue runs Boston's downtown seasonal greenmarket from mid-May to late November every Tuesday and Friday. 30.
Tip: Tuesday is the calmer day; Friday at lunch is the busy office crowd.
Dine Out Boston runs the city's twice-yearly restaurant week in Boston since 2001. 140 restaurants offer multi-course prix fixe; winter edition February.
Tip: Lunch $27-$36, Dinner $38-$55. Book three weeks ahead on Resy or OpenTable. The marquee restaurants book out fastest.
Eataly Boston's La Scuola cooking school runs inside the three-floor Italian market in the Prudential Center since 2016. Hands-on pasta and pizza sessions.
Tip: Book the hands-on fresh pasta class for the full kitchen tour; demo-only sessions move faster but you do not roll dough. Group rates for parties of six.
Kathy Sidell's Saltie Girl on Dartmouth Street runs a seafood brunch in Boston's Back Bay since 2016. Order the lobster benedict with hollandaise on the side.
Order: Lobster benedict with hollandaise on the side.
Tip: Brunch books two weeks out on Resy. Saturday at 11:00 is the walk-in seat at the bar.
Ken Oringer's UNI inside the Eliot Hotel runs a late-night ramen menu in Boston's Back Bay since 2002. Late-night kitchen kicks in at 22:00.
Try: Late-night ramen menu
Tip: Late-night kitchen from 22:00. The Hokkaido miso ramen is the under-ordered bowl; the spicy tantanmen is the cult order.
Contessa on the 17th floor of The Newbury Boston runs a glass-roof conservatory with retractable panels above the Public Garden. Italian small plates.
Tip: Aperitivo Hour Sunday to Wednesday 17:00-18:00 runs discount Negronis and bar snacks. Resy is essential for dinner.
Hecate is the 24-seat underground bar tucked beneath Krasi on Gloucester Street, accessed through a Public Alley door. Tarot-inspired cocktail menu.
Tip: No reservations, no phone, email only. Arrive by 17:00 on weekends for a chance at a seat; the wait list runs from a side door.
Dani's Queer Bar on Boylston Street opened 2024 and took Boston Magazine's Best New Nightlife Venue 2025. Drag brunch, no-cover karaoke, weekly Drag Race.
Tip: Thursday karaoke from 22:00 is free entry. Drag brunch Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 books out a week ahead on Resy.