Across the Charles. Harvard Square cafes, Inman Square's Oleana, Central Square's college rooms and Porter's ramen counters. Best Eastern Med cooking in the country.
Ana Sortun's Inman Square room has run an Eastern Mediterranean kitchen in Cambridge since 2001. Turkish, Syrian and Lebanese plates from Siena Farms produce.
Signature: Sultan's delight, Spiced chickpea fritters
Order: The sultan's delight: tamarind-glazed beef on smoky eggplant cream.
Tip: The garden patio in summer is one of Cambridge's best outdoor seats. Books out three weeks ahead in season.
Chris and Pam Willis run Pammy's as a New American-Italian trattoria between Central and Harvard Squares in Cambridge since 2017. Priced at $$$$.
Signature: Bolognese with house tagliatelle, Lumache cacio e pepe
Order: The tagliatelle bolognese with brown-butter aged parmesan.
Tip: Resy opens 30 days ahead and the room fills the same minute. Counter walk-ins from 17:30 weekdays.
The Helmand in East Cambridge has run an Afghan kitchen near the Cambridgeside Galleria since 1989. At 143 1st Street. Reservations advised.
Signature: Kaddo, Aushak
Order: Kaddo, pan-fried baby pumpkin with garlic-yogurt and meat sauce.
Tip: Reservations easy on weekdays. The kabuli pulao is the under-ordered dish; ask for it.
Brothers Kenshi and Seizi Imura run Cafe Sushi on Mass Ave near Harvard Square in Cambridge since 1984. Priced at $$$. Kitchen leans japanese.
Signature: Omakase nigiri, Hamachi sashimi
Order: The full omakase, $90 for 10 pieces and one cooked dish.
Tip: Twelve counter seats only; book on Tock 30 days ahead. Take-out bento boxes are the off-menu deal at lunch.
Ana Sortun's Inman Square room runs a tasting-menu Eastern Mediterranean kitchen in Cambridge since 2001. James Beard Best Chef Northeast 2005.
Chris and Pam Willis run Pammy's as a Michelin Bib Gourmand New American-Italian trattoria in Cambridge since 2017. 36 seats, four-course prix fixe and a la.
The Helmand in East Cambridge runs an Afghan kitchen near Cambridgeside Galleria in Cambridge since 1989. Wood-fired flatbread, charcoal-grilled lamb.
Signature: Kaddo, Aushak
Order: Kaddo, pan-fried baby pumpkin with garlic yogurt and meat sauce.
Tip: Weekday reservations easy. The kabuli pulao is the hidden order; ask for it.
Yume Wo Katare on Mass Ave has poured Jiro-style tonkotsu ramen in Porter Square Cambridge since 2012. Priced at $$. Kitchen leans japanese.
Signature: Jiro-style ramen, Buta ramen
Order: Buta ramen, extra-pork bowl, with fat and garlic.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday through Sunday from 16:30; no reservations, cash only, line forms 30 minutes before doors.
1369 Coffee House on Cambridge Street in Inman Square Cambridge has poured house-blend drip and pastry in Boston since 1993. At 1369 Cambridge St.
Signature drink: House blend drip coffee
Tip: Inman Square location is the classic; Mass Ave location is bigger. House blend, drip, no fuss; the menu is short on purpose.
Joanne Chang's Flour Bakery on Mass Ave near Central Square Cambridge has run a bakery-cafe in Boston since 2007. Order the coffee and sticky bun.
Signature drink: Coffee and sticky bun
Tip: The Cambridgeport location is the work-friendly Flour with the most seats. Sticky buns sell out by 14:00.
Ana Sortun and Maura Kilpatrick's Sofra on Belmont Street has run the Eastern Mediterranean cafe in Huron Village Cambridge since 2008. Turkish coffee.
Signature drink: Turkish coffee and morning bun
Tip: Park on a side street; the small car park fills by 09:00. Ginger morning bun is the under-ordered pastry.
Aaron Mason's Broadsheet on Kirkland Street has run a single-origin specialty-coffee bar and roastery in Cambridge since 2017. James Hoffmann recommendation.
Signature drink: Single-origin filter coffee
Tip: Pour-over filter coffee is the order; the espresso is excellent too. Closed earlier on Sundays at 16:00.
Igor and Ludmilla Ivanovic's Iggy's on Fawcett Street near Fresh Pond has baked hearth breads in Cambridge since 1994. Supplies most Boston-area restaurants.
Tip: The 5kg Francese miche is the showpiece bake; ask for a half-loaf cut. Pastry counter at the front, breads at the back.
Worth the queue: Francese sourdough miche
Ana Sortun and Maura Kilpatrick's Sofra on Belmont Street in Huron Village Cambridge has run an Eastern Mediterranean bakery and cafe in Boston since 2008.
Tip: Park on a side street; the bakery's car park fills by 09:00. Ginger morning bun and za'atar manaeesh are the two breakfast orders.
Worth the queue: Ginger morning bun and Turkish coffee
Rene Becker's Hi-Rise on Concord Avenue in Huron Village Cambridge has baked hand-mixed levain bread in Boston since 1996. Sandwiches at the counter.
Tip: The country sourdough sells out by 13:00 most days; pies are the under-ordered savoury order.
Worth the queue: Country sourdough boule
George Howell's Acton roastery has supplied Boston-area cafes since 2004. Located in Cambridge. Open mon-fri 09:00-16:00. Booking recommended.
Tip: Acton roastery is 45 minutes from downtown. The Boston Public Market cafe pours the same beans without the drive.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Kenya
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
Jaime van Schyndel's Barismo on Broadway in Mid Cambridge has roasted single-origin specialty coffee in Boston since 2007. Open daily 07:00-18:00.
Tip: Pour-over is the menu. The Arlington origin location pours the same beans without the Mid Cambridge tourists.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Brazil, Burundi, El Salvador
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Pour over, Whole bean retail
Aaron Mason's Broadsheet on Kirkland Street has run a single-origin specialty-coffee bar and roastery in Cambridge near Harvard Square since 2017.
Tip: James Hoffmann list pick. The whole-bean retail shelf is the under-shopped source for home brewing.
Sources from: Colombia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Burundi
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Pour over, Whole bean retail
Lamplighter on Broadway Cambridge has run a craft brewery and in-house coffee shop in Boston since 2016. At 284 Broadway. Booking recommended.
Tip: The coffee bar inside the brewery is the city's only beer-and-pour-over counter. Pet-friendly; food trucks rotate Friday and Saturday nights.
Cambridge School of Culinary Arts on Mass Ave near Porter Square has run recreational cooking classes in Cambridge since 1974. Three-hour evening classes.
Tip: Three-hour evening classes start at 18:30 weekdays. Closed-toe shoes required; the kitchens are professional working spaces.
Yume Wo Katare on Mass Ave in Porter Square Cambridge has poured Jiro-style ramen in Boston since 2012. At 1923 Massachusetts Ave. Booking recommended.
Try: Jiro-style ramen
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday through Sunday from 16:30; line forms 30 minutes before doors.
Life Alive Organic Cafe in Harvard Square is a plant-forward, counter-service kitchen. Warm grain bowls and salads made fresh keep it budget-friendly.
Try: Plant-based grain bowl
Tip: The build-your-own bowl is the best value; the Goddess dressing is the one to add.
Ana Sortun's Sofra on Belmont Street has run an Eastern Mediterranean breakfast in Huron Village Cambridge since 2008. Ginger morning bun, za'atar manaeesh.
Order: Ginger morning bun and Turkish coffee.
Tip: Park on a side street; the small car park fills by 09:00. The eggs on flatbread is the under-ordered savoury order.
Yume Wo Katare on Mass Ave in Porter Square Cambridge serves Jiro-style ramen as the late-night ramen pick in Boston since 2012. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Try: Jiro-style buta ramen
Tip: Closes 22:30. Last order around 22:00. Buta with extra fat and garlic is the late-night order.
The Sinclair on Church Street in Harvard Square is the 525-capacity Crossroads Presents room with a balcony rail, an attached restaurant called 52 Church.
Tip: Dinner at 52 Church before the show gets you priority entry. Doors usually open between 18:00 and 21:30 depending on the headliner.
The Middle East complex on Mass Ave in Central Square has booked punk, hardcore and indie since the 1970s. Four rooms: Upstairs, Downstairs.
Tip: Downstairs is the marquee stage; Upstairs takes 200, ZuZu books DJ nights. Restaurant kitchen runs to 1am most nights.
The Cantab Lounge in Central Square has run live music seven nights a week since 1938. Two floors: a folk-and-jazz street-level lounge and the Cantab.
Tip: Bluegrass Tuesdays from 20:00, started 1993, $6 cover. Sundays bring a Boston Poetry Slam in the Underground.
State Park in Kendall Square is the Big Dipper Hospitality basement bar with shuffleboard, a deep jukebox and vinyl-only DJ sets three weekends a month.
Tip: Soulelujah DJ night is the marquee Saturday. Brunch Saturday and Sunday from 10:00; bar runs to 02:00 Friday and Saturday.
Charlie's Kitchen on Eliot Street has run a Harvard Square dive since 1951. Diner-counter cheeseburgers downstairs, college bar upstairs and a beer garden.
Tip: Double cheeseburger and a tall PBR is the order. Upstairs bar runs late; the beer garden opens spring through autumn.
Miracle of Science on Mass Ave has run a science-themed neighbourhood bar in Central Square since 1991. Periodic-table chalkboard menu, the Ronie burger.
Tip: Order from the chalkboard, not a paper menu. The patio opens in spring; the bar closes 01:00 every night.