We are so grateful for everyone coming to Boston to celebrate our wedding with us!
To help you make the most of your time here, we've created a list of some of our favorite spots, as well as a few places that have a special meaning in our story together.
Whether you're here for the first time, or you've been here before, we hope you enjoy discovering these gems around the city.
North End
Bova's Bakery - Italian bakery. Better than both Mikes and Modern bakeries. $
Ernesto's Pizza - Simple takeaway pizza takeaway. One of the best in the city $
Panza - Boston - Cozy Italian restaurant. Site of some of Valen and Brandon’s first dates $$
Monica’s Mercato - Super delicious subs!
The Daily Catch - Southern Italian Seafood. $$$
Mama Maria - High end delicious locally sourced Italian Food $$$
La Famiglia Giorgio's - Brandon’s family frequented this restaurant in the 1990’s $$
Neptune Oyster - Regarded as Boston’s best oyster bar. There is always a line. $$$
Tenoch - Mexican takeaway restaurant. Quick and delicious bites. $
Faneuil Hall & Quincy Market
Quincy Market, a historic marketplace in the heart of Boston, has been a center of commerce since 1826. Famous for its vibrant food hall and street performances, it showcases the city’s rich history alongside its dynamic, contemporary culture. Within Quincy market you will find dozens of options of take away foods including pizza, sandwiches, and baked goods.
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Durty Nelly's - - Very old school Boston Pub. Early date night spot $
The Fisherman’s Net | Faneuil Hall Marketplace - Best seafood in Faneuil Hall $
Union Oyster House - Iconic and historic restaurant with cool Raw Bar
Sam Adams Taproom - Brewery with great second floor view of Faneuil Hall. $
Boston Common/Downtown Crossing
Temple Records - Cool Japanese cocktail bar and small plates
JM Curley - good new American food. $$
George Howell Coffee - Locally roasted coffee chain $$
Back Bay
Parish Cafe - ]New American food. Incredible sandwiches. $$
Life Alive - Health forward restaurant with vegan options $$
Eataly Boston - Italian market and restaurant $$$
The Salty Pig - Pork Focused Bistro $$
Krasi - Fun and stylish take on Greek cuisine. (Make reservation 1 month prior) $$$
Abe & Louie's - American steakhouse with seafood options $$$$
Atlantic Fish Company - New England Seafood establishment $$$$
The Banks - High end exception seafood. Close to AKA Hotel $$$$
Amar - Beautiful Portuguese restaurant on the top floor of the Raffles Boston (Make reservation 2 months prior) $$$$$
La Padrona - #1 Best New Restaurant in Boston in 2024. Incredible food and attention to detail (Make reservation 2-3 weeks prior) $$$$$
Chinatown
TORA Japanese Restaurant - Great Sushi and Ramen. Always worth it. $$
Pho Pasteur - Vietnamese food - $$
Taiwan Cafe - Traditional Taiwanese. Very basic. Brandon’s go to spot $$
5 Spices House - Traditional Chinese $
(YUMMY EATS)
BREAKFAST
South End
Barcelona Wine Bar - High end Spanish Tapas - we love this place!!! $$
The Delux Cafe - Elvis/Dolly Parton-esque bar with good food $$
Anchovies - Classic Boston dive bar with very good food $$
Banyan Bar + Refuge - Asian Gastropub $$
Kava Neo-Taverna - Contemporary Greek food. (Make reservation 1 month prior) $$$
Harvard Square
Shays Pub & Wine Bar - Laid back pub with nice patio. Frequented by locals and tourists $
Grafton Street - Mix of Irish Pub and modern restaurant with New American food $$
The Red House - High-end New England seafood $$$
Pinocchio's Pizza - Old school pizza place with Sicilian pizza. Brandon’s parents used to go on dates here in the 1970’s
Felipe's Taqueria - Simple Tex-Mex with roof deck. Good margaritas and burritos! $
Sea Port
Yankee Lobster Company - Old school no frills New England seafood $
Barking Crab - Great lobster in an energetic restaurant $$
Lolita - Trendy Mexican inspired restaurant and Tequila Bar $$$
Strega Italiano Seaport - Italian restaurant and steakhouse. $$$
Legal Seafood - Iconic Boston institution with great views of Boston Harbor. There are multiple locations around Boston. $$$
Allston-Brighton
Boston’s BEST neighborhood!
Also- where we live!
Lone Star Taco Bar - Tex-Mex restaurant specializing in Tacos and Mezcal. Our favorite restaurant in Boston. Get a Barbacoa taco!!! $
Laughing Monk - Great authentic Thai food. $$
Szechuan Mountain House - Highly trendy New York restaurant with upscale traditional Sichuan cuisine $$$
American Flatbread Pizza - Good woodfire pizza - Candlepin Bowling alley $$
Stockyard - Old school American Steakhouse - $$$
Carlos Cucina Italiana - Our go-to local Italian restaurant. Large portions! $$
Fenway
Tasty Burger - Regional Burger Chain $
Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar - local high end gastropub - good oyster service $$$
Eventide Fenway - Great seafood, with local oysters service - seafood $$$
Bleacher Bar - Bar & Grill with a view into outfield of Fenway park
Mighty Squirrel Brewery & Taproom - Good beer and food. Plenty of space for large groups.
More to Eat, Drink
& Visit!
Lobster Rolls
In Boston, Lobster rolls are served either cold with mayonnaise or hot with butter. They will most likely ask you how you would like it served.
Pizza Places
Coffee Shops
Tour
Free Things To Do
Museums
Indoor Activities
Music Venues
Barking Crab - Great lobster in an energetic restaurant $$
James Hook Company - Tourist mainstay and regarded as one of Boston’s best $$
The Sail Loft - Small waterfront restaurant with a view of Boston Harbor. $$
Luke’s Lobster - Local lobster roll chain. $$
Ernesto's Pizza - Simple pizza takeaway. One of the best in the city (North End- Salem Street)
Pinocchios Pizza - Old school pizza place with Sicilian pizza. Brandon’s parents used to go on dates here in the 1970’s (Harvard Square)
La Befana Pizzeria - Our go-to neighborhood pizza. (Allston)
Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria - Chain of New Haven style Pizza (Watertown)
Regina’s Pizzeria - Valentina’s favorite pizza spot. Regarded as one of Boston’s best pizzeria’s
Tatte Bakery & Cafe - Elegant comfort food, pastries, and coffee - Very nice - $$
George Howell Coffee - Locally roasted coffee chain $$
Flour Bakery - Local chain of bakery and coffee shop with delicious desserts and baked goods $$
Dunkin' Boston locations - They are all over the place - 70 in the city - 1,100+ in Massachusetts. Fun Fact: Ordering a coffee “regular” means getting a coffee with 3 creams and 3 sugars $
JP Licks - Ice Cream & Coffee - Locations throughout the City $
Oak Leaf Bakery & Coffee Shop - Independently owned coffee shop and bakery. $$
Caffe Nero - European chain coffee shop with simple baked goods - nice - $$
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Boston Duck Tours - Fun and entertaining guided tour on an amphibious vehicle that goes around Bostons landmarks, then ends in the Charles River
TheTrikeHub - Pedicab Tours- Bike-powered tours all over Boston. Rates are $100 - $150 per hour. Brandon used to give Pedicab Tours. Mention that you're friends with Brandon Bowser.
Boston Haunted Tours — Ghosts & Gravestones - Spooky night time tour of haunted Boston sites.
Charles Riverboat Tours - This short cruise will take you up and down the Charles River.
Boston by Foot - Nonprofit walking tour company
Boston Common - Represents colonial Boston (1635)
Boston's Public Garden - Represents Victorian Boston (1835)
Walk along the Esplanade and Charles River
The Freedom Trail - Make sure to go to the end and climb the Bunker Hill memorial! There are also free and paid walking tours available
Cambridge Common - Harvard T stop - George Washington staged his troops in the siege of Boston
Boston has one of the most beautiful streets in the world, according to Architectural Digest - - Acorn street is incredible
Boston Public Library - Central Library in Copley Square
Harvard Museum of Natural History - Incredible collections of taxidermied animals (some now extinct), glass botany, Geology, Minerology, and fossils.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum - Private collection of art - site of famous art heist in 1990.
Institute of Contemporary Arts - Great contemporary art collection
Museum of Fine Arts Boston - Incredible collection of art and history
Museum of Science - Children's focused museum
Boston Children's Museum - Children’s museum - right next to the big Hood Milk jug
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Boston Brewery Tours | Samuel Adams - Off the Stoneybrook Orange Line stop in Jamaica Plain
Lucky Strike- Fenway - Bowling Alley & Arcade across from Fenway Park
Kings - Bowling & Dining - Back Bay Bowling Alley
AMC Boston Common 19 - Movie Theater by Boston Common
Club Passim - Harvard Square - High quality local and national talent. Small room.
Wally's Cafe - South End - Mass Ave - Iconic Old School Jazz Club - Full of international talent
Scullers Jazz Club - Penthouse level Jazz club that attracts International talent.