Where to Eat Korean Fried Chicken Nuggets, Rohan Duck, and More in Boston
1/9Where to Eat Korean Fried Chicken Nuggets, Rohan Duck, and More in Boston
While there’s nothing wrong with walking the Freedom Trail to get down on some classic baked beans, “chowdah,” and local brews, there are fresh, new ways to entice and delight your palate in this historic town. Steeped in colonial charm, Boston has graduated from the usual seafood eateries and run-of-the-mills sports bars to a fresh class of young chefs, creative bartenders, and inspired restaurateurs. Even banks serve up a seriously strong java with your other banking needs. Consider this your guide to eating, drinking, and playing your way through Boston’s coolest neighborhoods.
2/9Tavitas
Don’t judge a resto by its cover—or location. Though located inside a train station, this Mexican joint is as legit as a hole-in-the-wall in Los Angeles. Inspired by the flavors and culture of East L.A., this tiny restaurant bursting with chilled margaritas and flavorful tacos Angelenos would approve makes train delays worth the wait. Order up a Lowrider Margarita and some chipotle agave wings and consider catching the later Acela Express.
Tavitas, 1 South Station.
3/9Ribelle
From Paul Revere to the Red Sox, Boston has a soft spot for rebellious hometown heroes, and hot new chef Tim Maslow is one of them. A Momofuku Ssam Bar alum, Maslow cemented his rep in NYC before returning home to transform his dad’s humble Watertown sandwich shop, Strip-T’s, into a cult fave. Now with this first solo venture, Ribelle, open in Brookline, he offers an Italian-inspired menu showcasing his far-reaching culinary musings like Hamachi crudo and Chatham mussels with stinging nettle, cacciatorini, and fennel.
Ribelle, 1665 Beacon St.
4/9Capital One Café
It shouldn't be a surprise that even the banks in the trendy nabe of Coolidge Corner come with free WiFi and a freshly brewed cup of joe. At the intersection of Beacon and Harvard streets sits Capital One’s re-envisioned bank called the Capital One Café. A few blocks away from Maslow’s Ribelle, this new location is one of four where you can take care of your banking needs with helpful associates in a cozy, stress-free environment.
Capital One Café, 1327 Beacon St.
5/9Bodega
This conceptual retail space nodding to sneaker culture, streetwear, and contemporary art is hidden behind an irreverent, unmarked convenience store façade on Clearway Street (word of mouth is the only advertising they do). Started by a crew of street artists, the hip athleisure vibe is a refuge for serious sneakerheads with hard-to-find Nikes and niche brands like Filling Pieces. Check out the colorful wall of sneaks and renegade clothing brands, including the house line of baseball caps and graphic T-shirts.
Bodega, 6 Clearway St.
6/9Highball Lounge
It’s back to the future at this vintage cocktail lounge that serves up a heavy dose of nostalgia along with your Manhattan. Time-travel back to a world before the Internet (otherwise known as your childhood suburban den) in this sentimental ode to vinyl records, electronics with cords, and Pac-Man. Play Hungry Hippos or Connect 4 and click through a retro red-plastic View-Master for the menu. For bites, try the Korean fried chicken nuggets with pickled daikon and the signature cocktails like the Zazara and #DuckieRosé—which might be the only hashtag you mention all night.
Highball Lounge, 90 Tremont St.
7/9Liquid Art House
Part art gallery, part restaurant, L.A.H. is a collaboration between former Wall Street investment banker-turned-entrepreneur Ruta Laukien and chef Rachel Klein. Browse up-and-coming artists, sip inventive cocktails, and sample signature dishes like the Artist (crispy tofu, carrot, coconut, green curry, and quinoa) or pre-book a family-style dinner, featuring whole roasted Rohan duck or suckling pig. Everything is for purchase from the furniture to the flatware to the artwork hanging on the wall.
Liquid Art House, 100 Arlington St.
8/9Yvonne’s
This modern supper club is housed in the legendary Locke-Ober space, which first opened in 1862 as a cellar café and later evolved into a hotspot renowned for its secrecy and wealthy financiers. The latest incarnation is named after the iconic nude portrait of Mademoiselle Yvonne, which still hangs in the entryway of the grand dining room that used to be draped in black whenever Harvard lost to Yale. Amid the dark mahogany and gilded wallpaper, move seamlessly from dinner to late-night revelry in the mysterious library bar.
Yvonne’s, 2 Winter Place.
9/9The Beehive
This indie, live music venue and eatery is considered underground just by its very location. Hidden under the historic Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts, this well-kept secret is hailed as one of the best jazz clubs in the world. Once you pass through the clutch of Victorian brownstones aboveground, you descend into the club’s eclectic space with exposed brick walls covered in local artwork and genre-spanning musicians playing on stage.
The Beehive, 541 Tremont St.
