Guidebook for Somerville
Food Scene
Originally founded by Felicia Foster, her memory and passion for food and drink lives on in this nationally acclaimed award-winning wine bar. Go and drink wine, get an amazing cocktail, and don't forget the small bites menu!
40 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Spoke Wine Bar
89 Holland StOriginally founded by Felicia Foster, her memory and passion for food and drink lives on in this nationally acclaimed award-winning wine bar. Go and drink wine, get an amazing cocktail, and don't forget the small bites menu!
Katie and Andy have a assembled a team of amazing staff to create one of my favorite cafes in Boston (and maybe anywhere). They are gluten-free and vegan-friendly - if that is a concern of yours... or you can shove your face into a gluten-filled non-vegan biscuit or cake! Their coffee... killer. Their sandwiches... awesome. Andy and the team... LOVE THEM.
Their stuff is so good that I brought 6 pieces of their sweet potato cake with me to Europe when I left for a year-long trip.
Tip... lines can be long, but they move along quickly. Seating can be a challenge. Late morning or super early on weekdays is best. Weekends are always busy. Well worth the visit!
74 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
3 Little Figs
278 Highland AveKatie and Andy have a assembled a team of amazing staff to create one of my favorite cafes in Boston (and maybe anywhere). They are gluten-free and vegan-friendly - if that is a concern of yours... or you can shove your face into a gluten-filled non-vegan biscuit or cake! Their coffee... killer. Their sandwiches... awesome. Andy and the team... LOVE THEM.
Their stuff is so good that I brought 6 pieces of their sweet potato cake with me to Europe when I left for a year-long trip.
Tip... lines can be long, but they move along quickly. Seating can be a challenge. Late morning or super early on weekdays is best. Weekends are always busy. Well worth the visit!
Oh SOBA. The duck soba?! SO incredible!! The pork and egg soba.... it is a poached egg in a steaming bowl of pork soba...of course it is amazing! They aren't just soba though! The yakitori and the hamachi kama are equally worth ordering. I love it here and HIGHLY recommend it!
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sugidama Soba & Izakaya
234 Elm StOh SOBA. The duck soba?! SO incredible!! The pork and egg soba.... it is a poached egg in a steaming bowl of pork soba...of course it is amazing! They aren't just soba though! The yakitori and the hamachi kama are equally worth ordering. I love it here and HIGHLY recommend it!
The sweetest servers from Mexico, Spain, and Bulgaria, this place has my heart. In the summer, the back courtyard is the perfect place for a quiet lunch, brunch, or dinner. Tucked away, this is a hidden hard to find treasure in a bustling Harvard Square. Go for the sangria, arepas, bacon wrapped dates, lamb, and whatever their specials are. On a weekend? Try the sweet corn pancake. OMG. And... like hot stuff? ALWAYS ask for their house-made hot sauce!
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Orinoco Harvard Square
56 John F. Kennedy StThe sweetest servers from Mexico, Spain, and Bulgaria, this place has my heart. In the summer, the back courtyard is the perfect place for a quiet lunch, brunch, or dinner. Tucked away, this is a hidden hard to find treasure in a bustling Harvard Square. Go for the sangria, arepas, bacon wrapped dates, lamb, and whatever their specials are. On a weekend? Try the sweet corn pancake. OMG. And... like hot stuff? ALWAYS ask for their house-made hot sauce!
Old school diner with diner food. Don't look for glamour here... you are going to Kelly's for the ambiance and reliable diner food, aka pancakes, biscuits, eggs, bacon, OJ, and big mugs of diner coffee served from a glass carafe.
Fun fact - the diner itself is a 1953 Jerry O'Mahoney two-piece dining car. It measures 55 feet long and is one of the largest diners ever manufactured in the 1950's. They are only open for breakfast and lunch and there can sometimes be a line to get in.
23 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Kelly's Diner
674 BroadwayOld school diner with diner food. Don't look for glamour here... you are going to Kelly's for the ambiance and reliable diner food, aka pancakes, biscuits, eggs, bacon, OJ, and big mugs of diner coffee served from a glass carafe.
Fun fact - the diner itself is a 1953 Jerry O'Mahoney two-piece dining car. It measures 55 feet long and is one of the largest diners ever manufactured in the 1950's. They are only open for breakfast and lunch and there can sometimes be a line to get in.
Arts & Culture
Quite literally a Museum of Bad Art! Located within the basement of the Somerville Theatre, this is a fun visit while staying in Davis Square.
24 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Museum Of Bad Art
1250 Davis SquareQuite literally a Museum of Bad Art! Located within the basement of the Somerville Theatre, this is a fun visit while staying in Davis Square.
Fossils, skeletons, taxidermy, and glass replicas... oh my. I love natural history museums and this one doesn't disappoint.
151 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Museo de Historia Natural de Harvard
26 Oxford StFossils, skeletons, taxidermy, and glass replicas... oh my. I love natural history museums and this one doesn't disappoint.
Drinks & Nightlife
Not JUST a bar, but their cocktail program is SO good that I'm listing it here. Owned by local chef Mike Scelfo, Alden&Harlow, along with its sister restaurant Waypoint Harvard, is an artisanal craft cocktail-driven restaurant with a menu focused on seasonally sourced small bites. Get the pork belly, the kale salad, the secret burger, fritters, and the chicken thigh. OMG. So good.
They also have a killer brunch.
101 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Alden & Harlow
40 Brattle StNot JUST a bar, but their cocktail program is SO good that I'm listing it here. Owned by local chef Mike Scelfo, Alden&Harlow, along with its sister restaurant Waypoint Harvard, is an artisanal craft cocktail-driven restaurant with a menu focused on seasonally sourced small bites. Get the pork belly, the kale salad, the secret burger, fritters, and the chicken thigh. OMG. So good.
They also have a killer brunch.
Not JUST a bar, but their cocktail program is SO good that I'm listing it here. Owned by local chef Mike Scelfo, Waypoint, along with its sister restaurant Alden&Harlow, is an artisanal craft cocktail-driven restaurant with a menu focused on seasonally sourced small bites.
While A&H is more meat-focused, Waypoint is all about the seafood. The whole roasted branzino?! Just get this, ok?!
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Waypoint
1030 Massachusetts AveNot JUST a bar, but their cocktail program is SO good that I'm listing it here. Owned by local chef Mike Scelfo, Waypoint, along with its sister restaurant Alden&Harlow, is an artisanal craft cocktail-driven restaurant with a menu focused on seasonally sourced small bites.
While A&H is more meat-focused, Waypoint is all about the seafood. The whole roasted branzino?! Just get this, ok?!
Owner JJ Gonson and her team of culinary misfits set out to create a locavore catering company and in looking for a commercial kitchen, found themselves with an unused event space. Jump ahead four years and you have one of the best venues in Boston. JJ is able to attract an eclectic assortment of world-renowned musical acts and unique events such as the Moth Story Hour and a Buffy the Vampire Slayer sing-a-long.
The venue will be closed from August 1 until early autumn as they recover from a recent burglary.
ONCE Ballroom
0 Windsor PlaceOwner JJ Gonson and her team of culinary misfits set out to create a locavore catering company and in looking for a commercial kitchen, found themselves with an unused event space. Jump ahead four years and you have one of the best venues in Boston. JJ is able to attract an eclectic assortment of world-renowned musical acts and unique events such as the Moth Story Hour and a Buffy the Vampire Slayer sing-a-long.
The venue will be closed from August 1 until early autumn as they recover from a recent burglary.
Shopping
Magpie focuses on small-scale artisan makers - artists, crafters, producers, etc. From jewelry to food items and everything in between for every man, woman, child, and pet in your life... Magpie is the place for unique gifts and the cards that go with them!
20 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Magpie
416 Highland AveMagpie focuses on small-scale artisan makers - artists, crafters, producers, etc. From jewelry to food items and everything in between for every man, woman, child, and pet in your life... Magpie is the place for unique gifts and the cards that go with them!
Essentials
Like the name says, Dave's sells fresh pasta... but so much more. A specialty grocer with a great selection of cheese, tinned fish, pasta, local produce, local meat & poultry, charcuterie, as well as prepared goods like cookies, sandwiches, and pick and choose mains and sides for an easy to assemble heat and serve dinner. There's also a wine shop connected and tables for enjoying a sandwich outside!
58 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Dave's Fresh Pasta
81 Holland StLike the name says, Dave's sells fresh pasta... but so much more. A specialty grocer with a great selection of cheese, tinned fish, pasta, local produce, local meat & poultry, charcuterie, as well as prepared goods like cookies, sandwiches, and pick and choose mains and sides for an easy to assemble heat and serve dinner. There's also a wine shop connected and tables for enjoying a sandwich outside!
A smaller urban grocery store, this place covers all of your basics (and then some) in a compact setting. Whether you are a veggie, vegan, paleo carnivore, celiac, lactose intolerant, or nut free... they have things to keep you or anyone happy! They also sell my favorite tins of Italian espresso beans and the German sparkling water I prefer (in glass bottles!) If you need extensive body care items ... go elsewhere. There are a CVS and a Rite-Aid equidistance away.
21 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
bfresh
240 Elm StA smaller urban grocery store, this place covers all of your basics (and then some) in a compact setting. Whether you are a veggie, vegan, paleo carnivore, celiac, lactose intolerant, or nut free... they have things to keep you or anyone happy! They also sell my favorite tins of Italian espresso beans and the German sparkling water I prefer (in glass bottles!) If you need extensive body care items ... go elsewhere. There are a CVS and a Rite-Aid equidistance away.
Need some wine, beer, or spirits? Looking for some gourmet cheese or snacks and don't want to walk all the way into the square? Go here. They are super helpful and have great selections of all of the above! They are also super dog-friendly and have biscuits behind the counter.
63 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Ball Square Cafe & Breakfast
708 BroadwayNeed some wine, beer, or spirits? Looking for some gourmet cheese or snacks and don't want to walk all the way into the square? Go here. They are super helpful and have great selections of all of the above! They are also super dog-friendly and have biscuits behind the counter.
Entertainment & Activities
Candlepin bowling, organic pizza, and good craft beer. Anything else you need to know?
42 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sacco's Bowl Haven
45 Day StCandlepin bowling, organic pizza, and good craft beer. Anything else you need to know?