Boston Mini Guide

Welcome to my next city guide! I take pride in discovering the best things to do in every city I visit—from amazing restaurants and hidden local vintage shops to unique spots you might not find on the typical "Things to Do" lists. This full guide includes all of my favorite things I've done while visiting Boston! These mini guides are always free on my website, but if you’re looking for the full guide with 40+ recommendations per city, I’d love for you to join as a subscriber. Hope you enjoy it!

I've been three times now, and even though I'm no local, I've found some spots that I love. Boston pride is real, there's something so fun about a city filled with people who LOVE their city.

Before getting into the recommendations, I wanted to share a quick tip on how to easily save the spots you want to try on a Google list, so they’re accessible on the map while you’re there. I always use Google Maps for public transportation while traveling and have never had any issues, so I highly recommend this method:

1. Download Google Maps and log in to your Google account.
2. Click on the name of each location from the guide, which should open in Google Maps.
3. Select “Save” on the Google listing, then create a new list with the city’s name.
4. Add each location to your city list. It's also fun to add a cute little emoji for the list so they pop up different than other pins!

When you’re in the city, you’ll be able to open your custom map and view all the saved locations in relation to where you are and how close they are to each other.

Disclaimer:

I don't include some of the more traditional things to do, because I'm assuming those are already on your list. This adds in fun unique elements that you can hit along the way. I also don't want this list to come across as me being an expert on all the fun things to do, just my recommendations after doing research and visiting some spots.

Restaurants

Blue Ribbon Sushi

This is my fiance's favorite sushi spot! A little bit pricey but worth it! Crispy rice OMG

James Hook & Co

I've tried a few lobster rolls in the city, and this is one of my favorites. You might wait in a little bit of a line, but it's worth it to me! I got the cold lobster roll.

Mike & Patty's Bay Village

Holy these breakfast sandwiches will change your life

Shopping

Giving shopping (not vintage) recommendations for cities in America is a bit tricky I'm realizing, because these stores are ones everyone knows. Hopefully it's still helpful to see which ones I loved, but there won't be as many as on the out of country guides because it just depends on your style!

Posman Books

Another book store, but great for other reasons. They sell smiskis which I personally collect, so I love it there! They also have an amazing book selection and tons of knick knacks.

25 Willow Boutique

They have adorable sweaters and tote bags that you can get custom embroidery on!

Madeleine's Candy Shop

Swedish candy and chocolates!

Vintage

I love vintage shopping in new cities! It's so fun and I always have the best time just listening to good music and browsing vintage/thrift stores that I haven't been to before.

I didn’t include any Goodwills, Savers, or Salvation Army stores because those are always a given in any American city. I do think they’re fun to shop at if you have more time, but they take a lot more effort to find good pieces. Since you're on a trip, I included more curated shops so you don’t have to sort through every rack to find the best items.

Friends + Family

Their hours are a little tricky, so make sure to check that before going!

Cambridge Antique Market

I will say there is for sure more home goods here than clothing, but they still did have an good enough amount to check it out!

The Garment District

Costume vibes but also you can find some gems

Things To Do

There are obviously tons of historical things to do in Boston (which I HIGHLY recommend), but I wanted to add some different ideas of things you might not already consider to do!

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

This is one of the most beautiful museums ever! It's super beautiful at any time of year. Also, make sure you check out the gift shop.

Wallys Jazz Bar

Going to a jazz bar is a must in Boston! This is one of the oldest and it can get a bit crowded, but the vibes are amazing. I can't speak to the drinks because I don't drink!

Harvard Square

This is a bit of an obvious one, but walking around harvard square was so cool! Stop by the friendly toast first for some brunch as well.

As a reminder, the full guide has over 40+ recs - make sure to check it out and receive access to all of my other paid posts. Thank you for the support

Thank you for checking out my Boston guide! Let me know if you have any questions, and I'm so excited to see you on the next one. Hint: miffy land lol

Xoxo,

Lex