20 best clam chowders in Boston

It’s no surprise that clam chowder is one of the most popular items on the menu at this Back Bay gem. Made with Berkshire pork belly and topped with chive oil, it comes with a house-made dinner roll that’s perfect for dipping. But their unique flatbread is also a popular pick for chowder lovers. Called The Chowda, it’s a mashup of creme fraiche, smoked bacon, claims, potatoes and oyster crackers. You can even get rowdy and add caviar if you’re willing to splurge for the luxe $30 addition.

While you’re waiting for your epic lobster roll, dip a spoon into some chowder at one of the North End’s best seafood restaurants. It’s made with cherrystones from Wellfleet and is thinner than a classic chowder (but not as thin as Rhode Island-style). Salt pork, clam stock and béchamel round out the flavor profile of this comforting dish.

One of the oldest and most famous restaurants in town, this historic spot has been serving clam chowder since its beginnings in the 1850s. Featuring fresh clams and plenty of history, a bowl of this stuff is rich and creamy, and it’s as unchanging as our favorite place to take family from out of town. (The cornbread for dipping doesn’t hurt either.) The restaurant’s new outdoor patio is a fun addition.

ith locations in Fort Point, Burlington and even Portsmouth, NH, Row 34 dishes out exceptionally-fresh seafood alongside rare and celebrated beers. Start your meal with a cozy cup of their chowder that has a lighter broth, red potatoes (with skin on), bacon and a light, crumbly, house-made cracker. Here’s another boost: Their new Cambridge location is set to open in March.

The New England Clam Chowder at this Newbury Street staple has a creamy texture and flavor, an abundance of clams, perfectly cooked potatoes, and a complexity from subtle spices. Enjoy it with one of their signature burgers for an unexpected, yet perfect pairing on a cold day.

Served up since 1950, the clam chowder at Legal Sea Foods is a Massachusetts staple. In fact, the restaurant claims  it was chosen to represent the Bay State on the menu at the presidential inauguration of Ronald Reagan in 1981, and has been served at every presidential inauguration since. Thick and creamy, it’s made with fresh clams from Cape Cod. While it’s a must at any of Legal’s restaurant locations, the views at the local chain’s Harborside spot make it even better.

Tucked inside Boston’s High Street Place food hall, Dive Bar’s influences come from chef Tiffani Faison’s time living in New Orleans. But don’t be mistaken– Faison knows how to do New England cuisine right. Appropriately named “New England Clam Chowdah,” Faison’s version features quahogs, littlenecks, house-smoked whitefish, and bacon in a creamy broth. It comes in both 8 oz or 16 oz versions, in case you need to bring some home for later.

Right behind Fenway Park, Citizen’s fish chowder is a unique take on a tavern classic. Filled with local flaky white fish, bacon, potatoes, parsnips, thyme and bay leaves, it’s served with garlicky grilled bread. They also have a selection of more than 400 whiskeys, if a stiff drink with hot chowder strikes your fancy. 

You’ll find two versions of clam chowder at this Back Bay hotspot, which is known for reeling in celebs whenever they’re in town. (Everyone from Emily Ratajkowski to Gwyneth Paltrow has been spotted there.) The first is the small bowl, which is filled with potatoes, celery, bacon and fried clams. But if you really want to get wild, order the deluxe bowl, which features salsify and whole clams. Snag a seat at the bar and bask in the glory.

We love a bread bowl for clam chowder, and Atlantic Fish Company’s beloved chowder is the perfect filling for the carb vessel. Their super-fresh preparation features regionally sourced clams and is creamy and flavorful every day.

One of the best outdoor seafood shacks in Boston, this spot reliably draws crowds for buckets of seafood, drinks and good times under its open air tent. The scratch-made chowder features local quahogs poached in white wine and boasts smokey bacon and lots of cream. It draws in hungry diners in the cold months, who curl up by the dining room’s cozy fireplace. 

Cozy and often buzzy, the Sail Loft not only has some of the best water views in the city, but also some of the best chowder. They’ve been serving their dill-heavy version in overflowing mugs for decades, and you’ll know why as soon as you eat your first spoonful. If you can’t get there in person, they now ship it on Goldbelly.

It’s not summer in Boston without spending a lazy evening (or afternoon) drinking and dining out on the patio at Rowes Wharf Sea Grille. Dig into the restaurant's coastal chowder, which is packed with clams from Provincetown and marbled mashed potatoes. While it’s definitely a destination in the warmer months, we’ve gotta say that those harbor views and cups of chowder aren’t bad in the winter either.

The Charlestown staple, known for its craft beer collection, has the perfect bowl of chowder to pair with your brew. Made with local clams, potatoes, celery, carrots and North Country smoked bacon, it’s the classic creamy chowder that’s perfect for your favorite neighborhood spot.  

With locations in Boston, Cambridge and even Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun casino, Summer Shack serves up a classic chowder that shines with Yukon Gold potatoes and fresh thyme. After you try their classic clam chowder packed with cherrystones and sprinkled with chives, dive into the Bermuda fish and crab chowder—it’s memorable.

Located at The Ritz-Carlton, Boston, Artisan Bistro’s elevated version of the classic dish features jumbo sea clams, pecan-smoked bacon, Yukon potatoes, oyster crackers and just a hint of tabasco. The smokey bacon adds a complex salty flavor, making it New England-style chowder at its finest. Enjoy a cup before you head to a Boston Ballet performance right around the corner.

They don’t just do lobsters (and amazing lobster rolls) at James Hook. The two-time Boston Chowder Fest champs make a classic clam chowder with fresh whole clams, cream, broth, potatoes and a solid roux. If you’re just visiting, or are homesick for good chowder, you can order it shipped to you from their website.

There’s no better place to enjoy your clam chowder than in one of Boston’s most gilded locations. Tucked inside the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, Oak Long Bar & Kitchen’s version of the classic New England meal comes with bacon, chili oil and oyster crackers. After your meal, head to the hotel lobby to say hello to Cori Copley, their beloved canine ambassador. 

Skip down the stairs to this subterranean South End eatery from Barbara Lynch and load up on creamy clam chowder, oysters and a perfect wine list. B&G’s chowder is thick with bacon lardons and is topped with spicy homemade croutons.

Taking out-of-towners around the tourist hot spots? You can do far, far worse than grabbing a chowder lunch in tourist-filled Quincy Market. Ned Devine’s has been crowned Chowderfest champ multiple times. Their creamy chowder features chopped fresh clams, potato, celery, cream, thyme and a good dose of pepper.