Lisa’s Guidebook
My favorite local restaurants in Cambidge
If you'd like any other recommendations, please ask!
Extremely popular, delicious organic vegetarian restaurant. If you eat there, sit downstairs in the basement to check out the mural and atmosphere. This is also a good place to get work done if you don’t mind some background noise. In nice weather, a popular option is to order food to go and take it across the street to sit on the grass in front of Cambridge City Hall. You’ll see many people doing this when the weather is nice.
240 yerel halk öneriyor
Life Alive Organic Cafe
765 Massachusetts AveExtremely popular, delicious organic vegetarian restaurant. If you eat there, sit downstairs in the basement to check out the mural and atmosphere. This is also a good place to get work done if you don’t mind some background noise. In nice weather, a popular option is to order food to go and take it across the street to sit on the grass in front of Cambridge City Hall. You’ll see many people doing this when the weather is nice.
Known for arguably the best dumplings, especially soup dumplings, in the Boston area.
Gets very crowded and somewhat noisy at peak times on Friday and Saturday evenings. The food other than dumplings is good too.
46 yerel halk öneriyor
Dumpling House
950 Massachusetts AveKnown for arguably the best dumplings, especially soup dumplings, in the Boston area.
Gets very crowded and somewhat noisy at peak times on Friday and Saturday evenings. The food other than dumplings is good too.
Easily the best baked goods, cookies, and cakes in Boston. The sandwiches are equally delicious, and so is the coffee and other drinks. Extremely popular. Started by Harvard graduate Joanne Chang, who has won a James Beard Award baking award, among others. Everything is delicious. There are two additional Flour locations in Cambridge that are only slightly further (.9 mi) from my home, in Cambridgeport and on the other side of Central Square, as well as locations in the Back Bay and Seaport District in Boston.
180 yerel halk öneriyor
Flour Bakery
1595 Washington StEasily the best baked goods, cookies, and cakes in Boston. The sandwiches are equally delicious, and so is the coffee and other drinks. Extremely popular. Started by Harvard graduate Joanne Chang, who has won a James Beard Award baking award, among others. Everything is delicious. There are two additional Flour locations in Cambridge that are only slightly further (.9 mi) from my home, in Cambridgeport and on the other side of Central Square, as well as locations in the Back Bay and Seaport District in Boston.
Just gut renovated and reopened in Sep. 2018, this is a beautiful modern, environmentally friendly space (check out the moss walls) that is a central meeting spot for Harvard students and faculty, and is open to the public, with a number of delicious fast casual food and beverage options and plenty of seating. All of the food and coffee vendors were selected because they have other local locations that are extremely popular. This is also a great place to do work and to people-watch, and occasionally catch a public performance or lecture.
Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center
1350 Massachusetts AveJust gut renovated and reopened in Sep. 2018, this is a beautiful modern, environmentally friendly space (check out the moss walls) that is a central meeting spot for Harvard students and faculty, and is open to the public, with a number of delicious fast casual food and beverage options and plenty of seating. All of the food and coffee vendors were selected because they have other local locations that are extremely popular. This is also a great place to do work and to people-watch, and occasionally catch a public performance or lecture.
Great, quick sandwiches and breakfast sandwiches and very good coffee, as well delicious baked goods. This is a popular meeting and working spot.
53 yerel halk öneriyor
Darwin's Ltd - Cambridge St.
1629 Cambridge StGreat, quick sandwiches and breakfast sandwiches and very good coffee, as well delicious baked goods. This is a popular meeting and working spot.
Very large selection of delicious teas (including bubble tea), as well as healthy sandwiches and other Asian-themed dishes. The seating area in the back of the café can be a good place to work.
9 yerel halk öneriyor
Dado Tea
955 Massachusetts AveVery large selection of delicious teas (including bubble tea), as well as healthy sandwiches and other Asian-themed dishes. The seating area in the back of the café can be a good place to work.
Famous for its delicious chocolate, especially its hot chocolate. People often say it’s the best hot chocolate they’ve ever had.
64 yerel halk öneriyor
L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates
52 Brattle StFamous for its delicious chocolate, especially its hot chocolate. People often say it’s the best hot chocolate they’ve ever had.
Boston is not known for its Mexican food, so keep that in mind – I’m not saying this is outstanding compared to what you get in the West Coast or south – but by our standards, this is an extremely popular Mexican fast-casual place that also has cocktails. It’s very popular with Harvard students and professionals, and is quick and the best bang-for-your-buck that you’ll get in Cambridge in terms of quantity and quality of food. It’s also open very late.
47 yerel halk öneriyor
Felipe's Taqueria
21 Brattle StBoston is not known for its Mexican food, so keep that in mind – I’m not saying this is outstanding compared to what you get in the West Coast or south – but by our standards, this is an extremely popular Mexican fast-casual place that also has cocktails. It’s very popular with Harvard students and professionals, and is quick and the best bang-for-your-buck that you’ll get in Cambridge in terms of quantity and quality of food. It’s also open very late.
Pricey, but fabulous. One of the best restaurants and bars in the Boston area. I strongly recommend making a reservation if possible, though it is usually possible to sit at the bar without a reservation and order from the regular menu. Cocktails are unique and delicious. If you don’t go for a full meal, I recommend ordering the donuts for dessert, if you like good donuts – they are made to order and amazing.
12 yerel halk öneriyor
Waypoint
1030 Massachusetts AvePricey, but fabulous. One of the best restaurants and bars in the Boston area. I strongly recommend making a reservation if possible, though it is usually possible to sit at the bar without a reservation and order from the regular menu. Cocktails are unique and delicious. If you don’t go for a full meal, I recommend ordering the donuts for dessert, if you like good donuts – they are made to order and amazing.
Things to do in Cambridge
Things to do in Cambridge, without crossing the river to Boston. These are all within about one mile of my apartment, and most are much closer.
Official Harvard Tour:
The official Harvard tour, led by a current student, is free and departs from the Harvard Information Center inside the Smith Campus Center. The tour lasts for approximately one hour. Tours generally depart every hour, but please check the current calendar, which you can access by googling “official Harvard tour” and then clicking on calendar. In lieu of a live tour, there is also a free, self-guided official audio tour of Harvard that you can find by googling “Harvard audio tour.”
Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center
1350 Massachusetts AveOfficial Harvard Tour:
The official Harvard tour, led by a current student, is free and departs from the Harvard Information Center inside the Smith Campus Center. The tour lasts for approximately one hour. Tours generally depart every hour, but please check the current calendar, which you can access by googling “official Harvard tour” and then clicking on calendar. In lieu of a live tour, there is also a free, self-guided official audio tour of Harvard that you can find by googling “Harvard audio tour.”
The Harvard Art Museum is not the size of the Museum of Fine Arts or Gardner Museum in Boston (both of which are amazing), but has a very impressive collection, is housed in a gorgeous, recently gut-renovated building, and is large enough that you undoubtedly will be unable to see the whole thing in one visit. There is also currently (through July 28) a special exhibit called The Bauhaus and Harvard that is quite good and showcases the University’s Bauhaus collection, which is the largest in the world outside of Germany.
205 yerel halk öneriyor
Harvard Sanat Müzeleri
32 Quincy StThe Harvard Art Museum is not the size of the Museum of Fine Arts or Gardner Museum in Boston (both of which are amazing), but has a very impressive collection, is housed in a gorgeous, recently gut-renovated building, and is large enough that you undoubtedly will be unable to see the whole thing in one visit. There is also currently (through July 28) a special exhibit called The Bauhaus and Harvard that is quite good and showcases the University’s Bauhaus collection, which is the largest in the world outside of Germany.
Harvard-run theater led by Diane Paulus (Tony-winning director who has sent multiple shows that she originated at the A.R.T. to Broadway). I frequently go to plays here, and the quality is always outstanding. Ticket prices are quite affordable including $25 tickets to every show (if not sold out), and it is a small venue so there are no bad seats. Sometimes you can also get last minute standing-room tickets for $20 if you aren’t able to snag a ticket otherwise. Ask me and I can give you more tips on how to do this.
65 yerel halk öneriyor
A.R.T. - American Repertory Theater
64 Brattle StHarvard-run theater led by Diane Paulus (Tony-winning director who has sent multiple shows that she originated at the A.R.T. to Broadway). I frequently go to plays here, and the quality is always outstanding. Ticket prices are quite affordable including $25 tickets to every show (if not sold out), and it is a small venue so there are no bad seats. Sometimes you can also get last minute standing-room tickets for $20 if you aren’t able to snag a ticket otherwise. Ask me and I can give you more tips on how to do this.
This is also a pretty good restaurant, but it’s mainly known for having great live music acts.
69 yerel halk öneriyor
The Sinclair
52 Church StThis is also a pretty good restaurant, but it’s mainly known for having great live music acts.
Visitors who are not prospective students are allowed to join student-led, free MIT campus tours if space permits. Contact the MIT Admissions office or stop by at approximately 10:30 am or 3:00 pm to check on availability (though please check the website, as these times are subject to change). Alternatively, there is also a free audio tour complete with maps and text that you can access by googling MIT audio tour.
MIT Admissions Welcome Center
292 Main StVisitors who are not prospective students are allowed to join student-led, free MIT campus tours if space permits. Contact the MIT Admissions office or stop by at approximately 10:30 am or 3:00 pm to check on availability (though please check the website, as these times are subject to change). Alternatively, there is also a free audio tour complete with maps and text that you can access by googling MIT audio tour.
Rent a canoe, kayak, or standup paddleboard and get some exercise while taking in beautiful views of Boston and Cambridge. Extremely popular in the summer. Reopens for the season on 5/4/19. Counterintuitively, go to the Boston location to be closer to views of Cambridge/Harvard, and to the Cambridge location to be closer to views of downtown Boston.
33 yerel halk öneriyor
Charles River Canoe & Kayak : Allston Brighton
1071 Soldiers Field RdRent a canoe, kayak, or standup paddleboard and get some exercise while taking in beautiful views of Boston and Cambridge. Extremely popular in the summer. Reopens for the season on 5/4/19. Counterintuitively, go to the Boston location to be closer to views of Cambridge/Harvard, and to the Cambridge location to be closer to views of downtown Boston.
My top recommendations for Boston
There are countless options in Boston - here are a few of my top recommendations!
The Freedom Trail is a historic 2.5-mile famous walking tour of Boston that takes you by many of the historic museums, churches, meeting houses, burial grounds, etc., while also giving you a chance to tour areas of Boston that are busy and beautiful today. You can, of course, choose to do any portion of it. There is a self-guided tour that I have heard good things about, as well as guided tours that people tend to really enjoy. Here’s an additional hint: the Freedom Trail takes you to the State House, and I also recommend you go inside it and look around on the second and third floors: it’s gorgeous and unique. It is easy to get to the Freedom Trail by taking the Red Line T (subway) to Park Street (though tours start from other locations in Boston as well).
470 yerel halk öneriyor
Özgürlük Yolu
139 Tremont StThe Freedom Trail is a historic 2.5-mile famous walking tour of Boston that takes you by many of the historic museums, churches, meeting houses, burial grounds, etc., while also giving you a chance to tour areas of Boston that are busy and beautiful today. You can, of course, choose to do any portion of it. There is a self-guided tour that I have heard good things about, as well as guided tours that people tend to really enjoy. Here’s an additional hint: the Freedom Trail takes you to the State House, and I also recommend you go inside it and look around on the second and third floors: it’s gorgeous and unique. It is easy to get to the Freedom Trail by taking the Red Line T (subway) to Park Street (though tours start from other locations in Boston as well).
Newbury Caddesi
Newbury Streetgorgeous spot for a walk and/or shopping
The North End - historic Italian neighborhood, great for a walk, and pick up something at Modern Pastry
Prince Street
Prince StreetThe North End - historic Italian neighborhood, great for a walk, and pick up something at Modern Pastry
Near the North End, an indoor marketplace with many local vendors, next door to the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy (that’s JFK’s mom) Greenway that was a highway and is now a park.
70 yerel halk öneriyor
Boston Halk Pazarı
100 Hanover StNear the North End, an indoor marketplace with many local vendors, next door to the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy (that’s JFK’s mom) Greenway that was a highway and is now a park.
Fenway Park
4 Jersey StCatch a game!
Incredible museum with huge and diverse collections.
1042 yerel halk öneriyor
Boston Güzel Sanatlar Müzesi
465 Huntington AveIncredible museum with huge and diverse collections.
Another one of Boston's gems with a world renowned collection. It was subject to the largest art heist in American history, which has made it even more famous.
500 yerel halk öneriyor
Isabella Stewart Gardner Müzesi
25 Evans WayAnother one of Boston's gems with a world renowned collection. It was subject to the largest art heist in American history, which has made it even more famous.
Boston Çağdaş Sanat Enstitüsü
25 Harbor Shore DrAlways free on Thursdays from 5-9 pm
Another gorgeous walk, right near the Freedom Trail, State House, and Boston Common, and within slightly further walking distance of Newbury St.
125 yerel halk öneriyor
Beacon Hill
Another gorgeous walk, right near the Freedom Trail, State House, and Boston Common, and within slightly further walking distance of Newbury St.
Boston Halk Bahçesi
John F. Kennedy Başkanlık Müzesi ve Kütüphanesi
Columbia Point