Brownstone Boston at table. Tremont Street runs Toro, Coppa and Myers and Chang inside ten blocks; Washington Street fills with brunch lines on Sundays.
Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette's Spanish tapas room on Washington Street has run the South End's small-plate template in Boston since 2005.
OrderGrilled corn with aioli, lime and queso fresco.
TipWalk-in only for dinner. Get to the bar at 17:00 to skip the 90-minute wait that builds by 19:00.
Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette's Italian enoteca on Shawmut Avenue runs house-made charcuterie and Roman pastas in Boston's South End since 2009.
OrderThe charcuterie board, all five cuts, with the bagna cauda.
TipThe marble counter is the better solo seat. Walk in at 17:00 for the easy table.
Joanne Chang and Christopher Myers run Myers and Chang on Washington Street as a pan-Asian diner in Boston's South End since 2007. Priced at $$.
OrderThe dan dan noodles with house-ground Sichuan peppercorn.
TipCheap Date Mondays runs a fixed $50 menu for two. The bar pours an excellent gin cocktail list.
Tim and Nancy Cushman's O Ya on East Street in the Leather District runs a 20-seat contemporary Japanese omakase in Boston since 2007. Located in South End.
Book4 weeks ahead
Joanne Chang and Christopher Myers run Myers and Chang on Washington Street since 2007 as a pan-Asian diner in Boston's South End. Priced at $$.
OrderThe dan dan noodles with house-ground Sichuan peppercorn.
TipCheap Date Mondays runs a fixed $50 for two. The bar pours an excellent gin list.
Irene Li's Mei Mei Dumplings runs the dumpling factory and cafe in South Boston since 2012. Order the lemongrass pork dumplings, the signature filling.
OrderLemongrass pork dumplings, the signature filling.
TipDumpling-making classes run on weekends from the storefront kitchen. Book on the website.
South End Buttery on Shawmut Avenue has run the South End's all-day cafe-and-bistro in Boston since 2005. Priced at $$. Kitchen leans american.
OrderButtermilk pancakes with maple syrup and crispy bacon.
TipBrunch books on Resy; walk-in line moves in 30 minutes. The bakery counter at the front is the easy take-away seat.
Gracenote on Lincoln Street near South Station pours its own roasted single-origin espresso in Boston's Leather District since 2015. 12-seat counter.
DrinkSingle-origin espresso
TipClosed earlier than most cafes; 16:00 weekdays, 15:00 weekends. The single-origin espresso list rotates weekly.
Joanne Chang opened Flour on Washington Street in Boston's South End in 2000; the city's pastry empire grew to 10 locations across Boston and Cambridge.
Worth the queueSticky bun with pecans and caramel
TipSticky buns sell out by 14:00 weekends. Order ahead online; the South End original is the calmest of the 10 locations on weekdays.
South End Buttery on Shawmut Avenue has run a bakery counter and cafe in Boston's South End since 2005. Open daily 07:00-21:00. At 314 Shawmut Ave.
Worth the queueSea salt brownie
TipThe bakery counter at the front is the fast take-away; the bistro at the back is the brunch room. Sea salt brownies sell out by 15:00.
Gracenote Coffee Roasters on Lincoln Street in Boston's Leather District has roasted small-batch single-origin coffee since 2009. Located in South End.
BeansEthiopia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras
BrewsEspresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
TipThe single-origin espresso list rotates weekly. Whole-bean retail at the counter for home brewing.
Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette's Coppa Enoteca on Shawmut Avenue has run an Italian wine bar in Boston's South End since 2009. Open daily 17:00-23:00.
PourEtna Rosso from Sicily
WineItalian regionals, natural-wine-leaning
FoodHouse charcuterie and Roman pastas
TipThe marble counter is the better solo seat. Walk-in at 17:00 for the easy table.
Julio de Haro's Estragon on Harrison Avenue has poured Spanish gin-tonics and tapas in Boston's South End since 2008. Boston Magazine Best of Boston 2023.
DrinkSpanish gin and tonic with juniper
FoodSpanish tapas
TipHappy hour 17:00-19:00 weekdays runs half-price tapas. The lounge is the walk-in seat; book the dining room for parties.
Irene Li's Mei Mei Dumplings runs the South Boston dumpling factory and cafe in Boston since 2012. Open mon-fri 11:00-20:00, sat-sun 10:00-21:00.
TryLemongrass pork dumplings
TipOrder at the counter; dumpling-making classes book on the website. The five-spice tofu mushroom is the under-ordered vegan dumpling.
Irene Li's Mei Mei runs dumpling-making classes at the South Boston dumpling factory since 2023. Two-hour hands-on session, you fold and steam your own.
TipBottomless Dumplings nights add a tasting after the class. Book on the website three weeks ahead; weekend classes fill first.
South End Buttery on Shawmut Avenue runs the South End's all-day brunch room in Boston since 2005. Order the buttermilk pancakes with maple and crispy bacon.
OrderButtermilk pancakes with maple and crispy bacon.
TipBrunch books on Resy; walk-in line moves in 30 minutes. The bistro at the back is the brunch room.
Joanne Chang and Christopher Myers's Myers + Chang on Washington Street runs an Asian-inspired weekend brunch in Boston's South End since 2007.
OrderSteamed pork bao with sweet hoisin.
TipThe weekend brunch jianbing crepe is the under-ordered breakfast. Sunday at 10:30 walks in easily.
Joanne Chang's Flour on Washington Street runs the South End's pastry-driven brunch in Boston since 2000. Open mon-fri 07:00-19:00, sat-sun 08:00-18:00.
OrderSticky bun with pecans and caramel and a flat white.
TipSticky buns sell out by 14:00. The Washington Street original is calmest on weekday mornings.
The Beehive on Tremont Street books live jazz, blues, soul, cabaret and burlesque seven nights a week inside the Boston Center for the Arts complex.
TipWeekend brunch from 10:00 with live jazz is the calmer entry. Reserve via OpenTable for a table close to the stage.
Club Café on Columbus Avenue has anchored Boston's LGBTQ community since 1983 with drag bingo, Napoleon Room cabaret and a monthly Definitive Drag Brunch.
TipDrag Brunch sells out a month ahead. Walk-in for the front bar; Sunday tea dance is the long-running afternoon party.
Trophy Room on Chandler Street is the South End queer cocktail lounge and kitchen, open for dinner, late-night drinks and weekend breakfast.
TipSaturday breakfast from 08:00 is the easier walk-in slot. Kitchen runs to 22:00 most nights; bar carries past midnight on weekends.
Cathedral Station on Washington Street is the South End queer sports bar and neighborhood pub with TVs on every wall, a patio out back, pool.
TipSunday brunch is the unofficial gathering for South End queer sports leagues. Patio season runs May through October.
Jacque's Cabaret on Broadway has run drag and cabaret seven nights a week since 1938, the oldest continuously operating LGBTQ venue in Boston.
TipSaturday 22:00 show is the marquee slot. Arrive 30 minutes early for a seat; the back of the room fills first.
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Sample Boston's most iconic seafood dishes on a guided walking tour. Enjoy fresh, local favorites and learn about local history during your adventure.
