10 Things To Do And See In South End, Boston

After first arriving at the South End, it should become apparent that the neighborhood is one of the most beautiful in the city. With its characteristic connected brick row town houses and tree-lined brick sidewalks, this neighborhood is one of the most pedestrian-friendly areas in Boston. Tremont Street and Washington Street are great places to begin a journey around the neighborhood on food, although its side streets and alleyways could be just as intriguing.

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The South End is a great place to find boutique shops. The district is home to some of the most eclectic shopping options in the city, like Diseño, a shop specializing in South American furniture. With the neighborhood’s easily accessible layout, all the South End’s shopping is within reach for the walker too. Why not combine this with a bus tour of the surrounding areas to cover more ground and take in more of the local splendour?

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Inside the Boston Center for the Arts rests the historic Cyclorama, a breath taking space perfect for a theater performance, speaking event or trade show. The building dates all the way back to 1884, and its copper skylight dome represents a triumph of the industrial style of the time. Come here to start an excursion into the South End and get a taste for its history. From here take a cycle tour of the area and check out the local treats.

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Running every May through October, the South End Open Market @ SoWa is also a great place to check out for food trucks and hand-made goods straight from local sellers. With about 20 different food trucks, a farmer’s market and an arts market in the same vicinity, this market offers the best products in the city, and is quite popular and lively on Saturday mornings.

Come to The Butcher Shop to satisfy your meat cravings. This shop is exceptional in the fact that it is a full-service wine bar, as well as a meat clearing house for the discerning carnivore. Their in-house sausage, hot dogs, foie gras and marbled cuts of local beef are enough to tantalize the taste buds of any meat eater. Stop by for a butchery lesson on a variety of topics; to learn the ancient art of cutting meat.

The Mills Gallery at the Boston Center for the Arts presents contemporary art and media by both up-and-coming and established artists and curators. With six exhibitions per season, it is a great place to see and reflect on painting, sculpture, mixed media and performance art in the South End, and a neighbor to all the other fun activities found inside the Boston Center for the Arts.

Located inside the Boston Center for the Arts, The Beehive is the must visit eatery and music venue on the South End. The brunch at this place is often overlooked, due to its hopping scene at night. Specializing in regional comfort food, and with its bohemian cabaret seating, The Beehive offers the most optimal brunch in town. With its steady flow of live jazz, Bloody Marys and maple syrup, few restaurants in the South End can compare.

For an intimate museum experience with no lines, few tourists and above all else, no stress, visit the Griffin Museum on Clarendon Street. This gallery has only one exhibition at a time, so don’t plan on dragging any heels here. And with a very reasonable admission fee, entrance is about as casual as picking up a coffee down the block.

J.J. Foley’s is a place you want to drink! This family owned bar has been operating since 1909 at its Berkeley Street location, a commendable feat for any service establishment. Offering classic Irish-American fare, and with a full service bar until 2am daily, this bar is a living and breathing piece of Boston history, and a fun one at that. The authenticity here is hard to find elsewhere, so be sure to stop in for a pint before leaving the neighborhood.

The Inn at St. Botolph makes its home amidst the South End’s characteristic brick row house district. Inside, luxury and comfort are immediate upon entering, while the peace and quiet are indeniable. This hotel has garnered quite a following with corporate travelers and couples on weekend getaways, being loaded with the finest of 21st century amenities.