So I only had seven hours to spend in the beautiful city of Boston, MA, which made it a very quick tour of Boston. Thanks to great suggestions from @adventurouskate and @theexplorateur, I hit up nearly every suggested place and had a great walking tour of Boston getting to sample the restaurants, Boston’s great brews, landmarks and historic places.
My quick around-the-city-of-Boston walking tour started at:
Boston Beer Works– in Fenway
Located across the street from the Fenway baseball park, Boston Beer Works’ a great place to go before or after the game, offering light and golden ales, pale and amber lagers and dark beers. I tried the daily special – watermelon beer – YUM! Served with a watermelon wedge, the beer is light and very tasty – but definitely more of a sipping beer.
Top of the Hub Restaurant – in the Prudential Center
After leaving Fenway we took a walk (about one mile) toward the Prudential Center. At the Top of the Hub Restaurant, you can see the entire city of Boston because it’s located at the highest point in the city. Other than the great views, the Top of the Hub Restaurant wasn’t my favorite place; the host staff was not overly friendly (New England stoic?), so we opted to have a drink at the bar. The view from the Top of the Hub Restaurant is absolutely breathtaking!
Rattlesnake Bar & Grill – in Back Bay, on Boylston Street
After all the walking, I was ready for something to eat; it had been a stressful travel day and I had a little bit of a late start on my Boston City tour. After a short half-mile walk, we were at Rattlesnake Bar & Grill. It was so pretty outside; we opted for the rooftop seating. The Rattlesnake Bar & Grill service wasn’t the best, but the food was great and the staff was friendly. Here I tried Sea Dog Blueberry – a fruit beer from Maine. Another great fruit beer! And for dinner I had the Quinoa-Crusted and Seared Salmon Salad. Both were excellent choices! And we were off to see more of the city.
Boston’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel
Another half mile down Boylston Street, we stopped at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for a quick walk through the function space and restaurant . What a great location! And both the doormen and front desk staff were very friendly and helpful; allowing me a quick walkthrough the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
Heading another mile down Boylston we crossed through the Boston Public Gardens, one of Boston’s great landmarks. It was so beautiful! I was surprised to not see more runners in the Boston Public Gardens; bikers are not allowed to make the cut through. Try the swan boats – they have been family owned and operated for 100 years. And for the kids, check out the frog pond and playground.
Located on historic Beacon and Park Street, we walked by the Massachusetts State House. The State House was built in 1798; it is hard to miss with its 23 karat gold dome, which was used to prevent leaks more than for its looks.
Louisburg Square in Beacon Hill
Heading seven minutes down the street, we walked through Louisburg Square. The cobblestone streets and beautifully manicured homes are breathtaking. I can see why Louisburg Square is one of the most expensive residential neighborhoods in the U.S.; I would love to live in one of those homes!
Drinks on the patio at The Liberty Hotel
A quick but picturesque walk (about 0.3 miles) down Charles Street, we made it to The Liberty Hotel. Be sure to stop at all the great shops and cafes along the way (if time permits). Once at The Liberty Hotel, we walked through the ground floor and into the Alibi, one of The Liberty Hotel’s bars. With the warm weather, Alibi’s outdoor patio is now open. Be sure to arrive early; it’s a local hot spot and fills up quickly!
A one mile walk and we were at Quincy Market – here you’ll find tons of shops and restaurants. Quincy Market was packed when we arrived at sunset!
Our last stop for the day was Mike’s Pastry, a great recommendation by some people we met at The Liberty Hotel. Mike’s Pastry is a standing-room-only kind of place. Be sure to try Mike’s famous cannoli; it is something I will crave for the rest of my life! There are so many great things to try!
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