Food is one of the things I look forward to most when traveling, so I’m excited to share this (unofficial) Boston food tour! I recently spent 48 hours in Boston on a solo weekend trip, and I had a great time exploring and eating my way through the city. With incredible restaurants and mouthwatering bites around every corner, Boston is a dream for foodies. Without further ado, here’s a guide to everything I ate in Boston!
Boston Food Tour: Everything I Ate in Boston, MA
Breakfast
The Berkeley – since I earned a $100 credit at Hotel AKA Back Bay for booking through my American Express Platinum Card, I splurged on room service one morning. The hotel’s on-site restaurant is called The Berkeley, so I, of course, had to try the namesake breakfast!
The platter includes two eggs, breakfast potatoes, toast, and your choice of bacon, sausage, or sautéed spinach (I opted for sausage). I also got a glass of grapefruit juice, and everything was fresh and flavorful. Not the most extravagant or unique breakfast, but a solid start to the day nonetheless.
Dunkin’ Donuts – you can’t go to Boston without visiting Dunkin’ Donuts, right? I grabbed a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel from the one at Boston Logan International Airport before my flight home. It hit the spot but didn’t blow me away.
Lunch
Boston Sail Loft – this spot emerged as a top contender while researching where to get clam chowder in Boston, and I completely understand why. The chowder was thick and creamy with big chunks of potato and clam, and loads of dill. I highly recommend ordering a cup!
Union Oyster House – I love seafood and wanted to enjoy as much as possible in Boston, so I grabbed 1/2 dozen raw oysters from Union Oyster House, America’s oldest restaurant. They were briny, buttery, and slightly sweet—hands down some of the best oysters I’ve ever had. You also get a few pieces of cornbread as a free starter, which was a nice treat.
James Hook & Co – for lunch on my second day in Boston, I swung by James Hook & Co to try a butter lobster roll. My expectations were high, but I ended up being a little disappointed by the quality and amount of lobster, given the steep $36 price tag. The flavor itself was good, but the lobster was slightly chewy, and the bun was nothing to write home about. I’ll definitely get a mayo lobster roll next time I’m in Boston.
Dinner
Monica’s Mercato & Salumeria – I had the best Italian sub of my life from Monica’s Mercato! It came with prosciutto, mortadella, salami, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, oil, balsamic, hots, and pickles. All the ingredients tasted high-quality, and everything complemented each other deliciously. While the sub wasn’t cheap at $20, it was such a hearty sandwich that I think the price was justified.
SRV – another benefit of the Amex Platinum Card is you’re eligible for a $100 Resy credit every quarter, which I used to book a dinner reservation at SRV. This intimate Italian eatery specializes in small bites, freshly made pasta and risotto, and innovative cocktails. The vibes here are cozy and romantic—perfect for a dinner date (or a solo date, in my case). I started with a Delizia Turka cocktail made with rose gin, chamomile grappa, almond, and lemon, and it was really unique and refreshing.
For appetizers, I went with the baccala mantecato (salt cod on black bread) and mozzarella in carozza (fried mozzarella with red pepper aioli). The salt cod was flavorful and melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the mozzarella was rich and savory. My server also offered me a complimentary order of bread and polpette (meatballs) since the kitchen was running behind. The bread was good but nothing special, though it was excellent dipped in the red sauce that the meatballs came in.
I settled on the pea risotto for my entree, which featured guanciale, lemon, and pecorino. This risotto was seriously life-changing! The combination of salty guanciale and cheesy risotto with the subtle pops of sweetness from the peas was simply divine.
Of course, I made sure to save room for dessert. I opted for the affogato (espresso poured over ice cream), which was delightful, though I wish the ice cream had a stronger vanilla bean flavor. Overall, this meal was exceptional!
Drinks
Tatte Bakery – the black sesame latte from Tatte Bakery was just the fuel I needed for a fun-filled day of exploring Boston. I was hesitant to visit Tatte because of its popularity on social media, but the clerk at Hotel AKA Back Bay recommended it upon check-in, and I’m glad I tried it. The black sesame added a nice nuttiness to the latte without overpowering it.
Blank Street – Blank Street is another coffee chain I saw all over social media, and it definitely impressed me. I got the strawberry shortcake matcha, a delicious blend of oat milk, matcha, and strawberry jam. It literally tasted like I was drinking a slice of cake because it was so sweet, but I loved it!
Samuel Adams Boston Brewery – if you’re a beer lover planning a trip to Boston, I highly recommend taking a tour of the original Samuel Adams Brewery. We sampled three brews throughout the tour while learning about beer and the history of Sam Adams. Unfortunately, I only remember two of the beers (the Cold Snap White Ale and the Oregon Trail, which is exclusive to that brewery location), but I enjoyed all three and the tour experience as a whole.
The Berkeley – in addition to my room service breakfast, I also got a free drink at The Berkeley with my $100 hotel credit. The La Mer cocktail is made with vodka, elderflower, blackberry, lemon, and Prosecco, and it was amazing! I loved the sweetness and tartness paired with the bright citrus notes.
Dessert
Red Apple Farm – apple cider donuts are my favorite fall treat, so I had to try one from Red Apple Farm in Boston Public Market. The mini donut was perfectly bite-sized, and I was a big fan. Between the cinnamon sugar coating, genuine apple flavor, and cake-like texture, what’s not to love?
Parziale’s Bakery – I was on a mission to try some of the iconic Italian pastries Boston is known for during my trip, and Parziale’s was stop number one. This bakery has been serving up treats for over 100 years, so they know their stuff. I got a pound of assorted cookies and was obsessed with every single one. I’m not even exactly sure what kind I tried—just that they were insanely tasty!
Bova’s Bakery – to continue my cookie tour of Boston, I picked up a pound of assorted cookies from Bova’s to bring home and share with my husband. Somehow, I liked these even better than the ones from Parziale’s. I found the assortment to have a little more variety, and they tasted a tad fresher. Both bakeries really wowed me, though, so you can’t go wrong with either.
Boston’s food scene truly blew me away—I cannot wait to return and try even more delicious spots! Let me know where I should eat on my next trip so I can try all your favorite Boston bites.
Check out my other food guides:
Should You Book a Reykjavík Food Tour? Iceland Food Tour Review
Wandering the Gap 