Guidebook for Somerville
Shopping
Privately owned bookstore with great staff and a lovely coffee shop.
144 locals recommend
Porter Square
Privately owned bookstore with great staff and a lovely coffee shop.
Nice place to buy some great local foods and handmade items. Has a great seafood shop as well as many vegetable shops, butchers and specialty shops. Right across from Haymarket.
70 locals recommend
Boston Public Market
100 Hanover StNice place to buy some great local foods and handmade items. Has a great seafood shop as well as many vegetable shops, butchers and specialty shops. Right across from Haymarket.
Great farmers market that is super cheap. Stuff will only be good for a little while, so have a plan for it when you buy it.
32 locals recommend
Haymarket station
136 Blackstone StreetGreat farmers market that is super cheap. Stuff will only be good for a little while, so have a plan for it when you buy it.
Magpie
416 Highland AveNice shop with handmade gifts as well as nice loose leaf teas and jewelry.
Another great gift shop in Davis. Mainly locally themed with stuff such as shirts themed about Boston & Somerville.
180 locals recommend
Davis Square
Another great gift shop in Davis. Mainly locally themed with stuff such as shirts themed about Boston & Somerville.
Nice place to find many factory stores from brands such as Le Creuset, Nike, Banana Republic and David's Tea.
269 locals recommend
Assembly Row
Assembly RowNice place to find many factory stores from brands such as Le Creuset, Nike, Banana Republic and David's Tea.
Cambridge Naturals
23 White StFun to browse if you enjoy natural/healthfood products.
Food Scene
Wonderful scones! And for lunch the vietnamese rolls are so tasty. Located in Porter Square Books.
6 locals recommend
Cafe Zing
25 White StWonderful scones! And for lunch the vietnamese rolls are so tasty. Located in Porter Square Books.
Redbones Barbecue
55 Chester StBest bar-b-que around. Fun atmosphere.
Pizza and candlepin bowling. Make reservations if you don’t want to wait a long time.
74 locals recommend
Flatbread Company
45 Day StPizza and candlepin bowling. Make reservations if you don’t want to wait a long time.
Great laid back atmosphere, great falafel, toppings and fries.
24 locals recommend
Amsterdam Falafelshop
Great laid back atmosphere, great falafel, toppings and fries.
Great authentic Mexican restaurant. Can get a bit pricey if you order a lot of food.
13 locals recommend
Tu Y Yo
858 BroadwayGreat authentic Mexican restaurant. Can get a bit pricey if you order a lot of food.
Eat delicious pork (buta) ramen here. Not at all like the stuff in packs, this ramen is thicker more textured, flavourful, and the atmosphere is great. Get here when they open or wait a long time.
34 locals recommend
Yume Wo Katare
1923 Massachusetts AveEat delicious pork (buta) ramen here. Not at all like the stuff in packs, this ramen is thicker more textured, flavourful, and the atmosphere is great. Get here when they open or wait a long time.
Great place to get a good drink and burger. Has brunch to with great belgian waffles.
24 locals recommend
Christopher's
1920 Massachusetts AveGreat place to get a good drink and burger. Has brunch to with great belgian waffles.
Great place to get dinner on the run. Very cheap burritos, top speed service and amazing taste.
124 locals recommend
Anna's Taqueria
242 Cambridge StGreat place to get dinner on the run. Very cheap burritos, top speed service and amazing taste.
Great place to get dinner on the run. Very cheap burritos, top speed service and amazing taste.
124 locals recommend
Anna's Taqueria
242 Cambridge StGreat place to get dinner on the run. Very cheap burritos, top speed service and amazing taste.
Great real Italian restaurant with a small menu for easy choice. Can be quite expensive.
22 locals recommend
Gran Gusto
90 Sherman StGreat real Italian restaurant with a small menu for easy choice. Can be quite expensive.
Great sushi for cheap prices. Nice hospitality and overall a great experience.
6 locals recommend
Yoshi's
132 College AveGreat sushi for cheap prices. Nice hospitality and overall a great experience.
Great Indian restaurant. Good prices and super authentic curries.
11 locals recommend
Diva Indian Bistro
246 Elm StreetGreat Indian restaurant. Good prices and super authentic curries.
Great place for some nice Persian food. Usually no wait so no reservation is needed (most of the time).
8 locals recommend
Kolbeh Cafe
65 Atlantic AvenueGreat place for some nice Persian food. Usually no wait so no reservation is needed (most of the time).
Great Davis square cafe with lots of great drinks, pastries and sandwiches. Locally owned too.
90 locals recommend
Diesel Cafe
257 Elm StGreat Davis square cafe with lots of great drinks, pastries and sandwiches. Locally owned too.
Great North End pastry shop. Super iconic with many great Italian baked goods.
203 locals recommend
Mike's Pastry
300 Hanover StGreat North End pastry shop. Super iconic with many great Italian baked goods.
Great place to get coffee in a wonderful setting, very small, so it may be hard to get seating but not as difficult as in other places like the Diesel cafe in Davis Sq.
133 locals recommend
1369 Coffee House
1369 Cambridge StGreat place to get coffee in a wonderful setting, very small, so it may be hard to get seating but not as difficult as in other places like the Diesel cafe in Davis Sq.
Second location of the 1369 cafe. Great coffee in a very small shop.
133 locals recommend
1369 Coffee House
1369 Cambridge StSecond location of the 1369 cafe. Great coffee in a very small shop.
Best tapas for miles around. The owners used to be architects (we know them) and the place has a super cool design. Expect small portions with strong flavours.
32 locals recommend
Casa B Tapas and Cocktail & Rum Bar
253 Washington StBest tapas for miles around. The owners used to be architects (we know them) and the place has a super cool design. Expect small portions with strong flavours.
OGinger
263 Elm StGreat super cheap hotpot place, I've never tried the sushi here but I know they serve it.
Best bagels for miles around. Very long lines as this bagel shop is most definitely the most popular in Somerville/Cambridge.
42 locals recommend
Bagelsaurus
1796 Massachusetts AveBest bagels for miles around. Very long lines as this bagel shop is most definitely the most popular in Somerville/Cambridge.
Pini's Pizzeria
336 BroadwayBest pizza in Somerville, great for delivery and take out.
Awesome pie shop and cafe. Huge selection of pies, any flavour and size can be ordered with 48 hour notice as well as other baked goods. You can get free pie for reciting pi every year on March 14.
64 locals recommend
Petsi Pies
31 Putnam AveAwesome pie shop and cafe. Huge selection of pies, any flavour and size can be ordered with 48 hour notice as well as other baked goods. You can get free pie for reciting pi every year on March 14.
Everything Else
Great for biking, walking, people watching. Goes all the way out to Lexington/Concord, MA
26 locals recommend
Somerville Community Path
Somerville Community PathGreat for biking, walking, people watching. Goes all the way out to Lexington/Concord, MA
Closest Red Line T stop - easy way into Boston, with Harvard and MIT along the way. Commuter Rail also.
55 locals recommend
Porter station
1899 Massachusetts AveClosest Red Line T stop - easy way into Boston, with Harvard and MIT along the way. Commuter Rail also.
Another close subway station to the apartment. ~7 minute walk, lots of restaurants, bars and a nice plaza in Davis Square.
43 locals recommend
Davis station
Elm StreetAnother close subway station to the apartment. ~7 minute walk, lots of restaurants, bars and a nice plaza in Davis Square.
Boston Common
139 Boylston StLarge park in Boston. Great for a leisurely stroll.
Large aquarium with lots of sea life such as penguins and exotic fish.
399 locals recommend
New England Aquarium
1 Central WharfLarge aquarium with lots of sea life such as penguins and exotic fish.
Nice place to get a boat to take out on the Charles. Great views of the skyline from a different perspective.
83 locals recommend
Charles River Canoe & Kayak Cambridge at Kendall Square
15 Broad Canal WayNice place to get a boat to take out on the Charles. Great views of the skyline from a different perspective.
Awesome old US Navy ship. Lots of history about the old way of running things and a great place to see a good condition, very old, large sail ship. There will be security so bring an ID of some sort
118 locals recommend
USS Constitution Museum
Awesome old US Navy ship. Lots of history about the old way of running things and a great place to see a good condition, very old, large sail ship. There will be security so bring an ID of some sort
The place to see Bruins and Celtics games. Can get very crowded during gametime, but the seats go more up than out so you can always see the court/rink.
243 locals recommend
TD Garden
100 Legends WyThe place to see Bruins and Celtics games. Can get very crowded during gametime, but the seats go more up than out so you can always see the court/rink.
The pier where the ferries to Spectacle Island and Georges Island leave from. Visiting the islands is very fun and is highly recommended. Go to Spectacle Island if you want to swim.
59 locals recommend
Boston Harborwalk
Boston Wharf RoadThe pier where the ferries to Spectacle Island and Georges Island leave from. Visiting the islands is very fun and is highly recommended. Go to Spectacle Island if you want to swim.
Long park spanning the banks of the Charles. Great for a leisurely walk and for views of boats on the river.
279 locals recommend
Charles River Esplanade
Charles River EsplanadesLong park spanning the banks of the Charles. Great for a leisurely walk and for views of boats on the river.
The observatory at the top of the prudential building. Very expensive, but great views of the whole city and surrounding areas.
53 locals recommend
Skywalk Observatory
800 Boylston StThe observatory at the top of the prudential building. Very expensive, but great views of the whole city and surrounding areas.
Very fun questing place, but going at a non peak time is crucial, otherwise you will have to wait in lines to try each quest again when you fail.
40 locals recommend
Boda Borg
90 Pleasant StVery fun questing place, but going at a non peak time is crucial, otherwise you will have to wait in lines to try each quest again when you fail.
Beautiful university, great place to take a stroll around and see some nice old architecture.
574 locals recommend
Harvard University
3 Oxford StreetBeautiful university, great place to take a stroll around and see some nice old architecture.
Great to take a stroll around and see the university campus. Just don’t try to park your car there! ;)
71 locals recommend
Harvard Yard
2 Kirkland StGreat to take a stroll around and see the university campus. Just don’t try to park your car there! ;)
Tufts University
419 Boston AveA close university on a tall hill.
The most tech oriented university in the world. Lots of innovation and invention, and very close to the property.
330 locals recommend
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
77 Massachusetts AveThe most tech oriented university in the world. Lots of innovation and invention, and very close to the property.
Awesome museum with many inventions and innovative designs on common items, as well as a mechanical spin on art.
105 locals recommend
MIT Museum
314 Massachusetts AveAwesome museum with many inventions and innovative designs on common items, as well as a mechanical spin on art.
Entertainment & Activities
Amazing museum. Has hands on things and is great for kids. Has duck tours here for sightseeing.
560 locals recommend
Museum of Science
1 Museum Of Science DrivewayAmazing museum. Has hands on things and is great for kids. Has duck tours here for sightseeing.
Great fun place for kids with a real whole traditional Japanese house in it.
162 locals recommend
Boston Children's Museum
308 Congress StGreat fun place for kids with a real whole traditional Japanese house in it.
Arts & Culture
Great museum full to the brim of masterpieces and artifacts. Be sure to see the mummies and other ancient artifacts as well as the travelling exhibit.
1042 locals recommend
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington AveGreat museum full to the brim of masterpieces and artifacts. Be sure to see the mummies and other ancient artifacts as well as the travelling exhibit.
Candlepin bowling, great fun for a cold or rainy day! Plus, great pizza under the same roof!!
Reserve your lane before going.
42 locals recommend
Sacco's Bowl Haven
45 Day StCandlepin bowling, great fun for a cold or rainy day! Plus, great pizza under the same roof!!
Reserve your lane before going.
Sightseeing
The Mary Baker Eddy Library
210 Massachusetts AveGiant glass globe from 1940s that you can go in.
Long trail to walk with lots of Boston and United States history and historic places, as Boston was a major centre for the American independence.
470 locals recommend
Freedom Trail
139 Tremont StLong trail to walk with lots of Boston and United States history and historic places, as Boston was a major centre for the American independence.
The old state house building boasts lots of elegance, with its marble masonry and dome gilded in gold.
118 locals recommend
Massachusetts State House
24 Beacon StreetThe old state house building boasts lots of elegance, with its marble masonry and dome gilded in gold.
Essentials
Closest grocery store to the apartment. Prices are mid-range but leaning towards more expensive. Good quality food.
595 locals recommend
Star Market
370 Western AveClosest grocery store to the apartment. Prices are mid-range but leaning towards more expensive. Good quality food.
Cheapest groceries around. Super high volume and always crowded. Mostly store brand items.
237 locals recommend
Market Basket
400 Somerville AveCheapest groceries around. Super high volume and always crowded. Mostly store brand items.
Closest trader joes to the house. Very high quality items at good prices because most of it is store brand.
409 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
748 Memorial DrClosest trader joes to the house. Very high quality items at good prices because most of it is store brand.
Expensive, best quality groceries. Has ratings on the items to show the environmental impact.
1155 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
413 Centre StExpensive, best quality groceries. Has ratings on the items to show the environmental impact.
Hmart Cambridge
581 Massachusetts AveLarge asian grocery store with a good selection of items.
Small-ish asian grocery store with mostly import snacks and dry goods as well as sushi grade fish.
24 locals recommend
Reliable Market
45 Union SquareSmall-ish asian grocery store with mostly import snacks and dry goods as well as sushi grade fish.
Bfresh is the best grocery store around. It is a short walk from our house, located in the center of Davis Square. The prices are insanely cheap, the cheapest around, but there is no compromise on quality. Most everything is organic, and the store brand products are top of the line.
21 locals recommend
bfresh
240 Elm StBfresh is the best grocery store around. It is a short walk from our house, located in the center of Davis Square. The prices are insanely cheap, the cheapest around, but there is no compromise on quality. Most everything is organic, and the store brand products are top of the line.