Boston

Lisa Ritchie, editor of the Time Out ’Boston Guide‘ and native of the city, reveals the delights of bargain-hunting in this historic US destination

Low air fares combined with a weak dollar make now a great time for bargain-hunting across the Atlantic. If the Big Apple seems too big a mouthful for a weekend shopping spree, Beantown is conveniently bite-sized. It’s also cheaper: Massachusetts’ sales tax is lower than New York’s, and there’s none on clothing under $175.

Best known for its starring role in the American Revolution, refined red-brick architecture and high culture, Boston has cast off its somewhat stuffy image after decades of regeneration. New draws include an architecturally daring Institute of Contemporary Art (www.icaboston.org) by the harbour, a revitalised restaurant scene, an influx of indie boutiques – even an outpost of Barneys.

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For an easily strollable concentration of shops, head for the Back Bay, west of the city’s central green space, Boston Common and its English-style adjunct, the Public Garden. The main retail drag, Newbury Street, has everything from global chains to contemporary galleries behind its genteel townhouse façades.

Institute of Contemporary Art (© Elan Fleisher)

The centrepiece, occupying a detached mansion, is one-off department store Louis Boston (234 Berkeley Street, at Newbury Street; 001-800 225 5135/www.louisboston.com) which sells everything from vintage handbags to CDs in its market-style ground floor. Other highlights on the strip include warehousey boutique Stel’s (334 Newbury Street; 001-617 262 3348/www.stelsinc.com), stocked with understatedly cool brands such as Nom de Guerre and Gary Graham, and Johnny Cupcakes (279 Newbury Street; 001-617 375 0100/www.johnnycupcakes.com) for sweetly subversive slogan T-shirts displayed in mocked-up chill cabinets.

From Newbury, head south down Massachusetts Avenue for the most talked-about shop in town, Bodega (6 Clearway Street; no phone/www.bdgastore.com). At first glance, it looks like an ordinary convenience store, but stand on the loose tile in front of the drinks machine and a hidden door slides open to reveal a deluxe sneaker shop. Around the corner on Boylston Street, the Prudential Centre mall links to the more upmarket Copley Place via a glassed-in bridge. A boon in arctic temperatures, they contain a wealth of mid-range and designer shops between them, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York, cult apothecary CO Bigelow and Tiffany. From Copley Place, carry on south down Dartmouth Street to Boston’s hippest ’hood. The once-derelict Victorian row houses and London-style squares of the South End have been beautifully restored since the area was colonised by stylish gay pioneers in the 1980s. Now the city’s top dining destination, it’s also sprinkled with small boutiques and design stores. Check out tiny gift shop Motley (623 Tremont Street; 001-617 247 6969/www.shopmotley.com) for quirky T-shirts, art books and gadgets, and Parlor (1248 Washington Street; 001-617 521 9005/www.shopparlor.com) for locally made jewellery.

Shoes at Bodega (© Elan Fleisher)

The area south of Washington has even been given a New York-style acronym: SoWa. Here, fabulous vintage emporium Bobby from Boston (19 Thayer Street, at Harrison Avenue; 001-617 423 9299) sits alongside a warehouse containing an assemblage of contemporary galleries. For dinner, sleek minimalist sushi joint Oishii (1166 Washington Street; 001-617 482 8868/www.oishiiboston.com) can compete with New York’s finest on both interior design and cuisine, or, if you prefer something more casual, chef du jour Barbara Lynch’s wine bar, the Butcher Shop (552 Tremont Street; 001-617 423 4800), is a favourite local meeting spot.

Local knowledge
Oliver Mak, co-owner of Bodega
‘We frequent the Otherside Café (407 Newbury Street; 001-617 536 8437) around the corner from the shop for the good beer selection. It’s run by our friends, who are mostly vagrant artist types, and it’s beyond funky – not safe for families.’

Get packing
Getting there
Virgin Atlantic (08705 747747/www.virginatlantic.com) flies direct from London Heathrow to Boston daily, from £371 return including taxes.

Stay
The new Liberty Hotel (215 Charles Street, 001-617 224 4000, www.libertyhotel.com), a luxury conversion of the notorious jail overlooking the Charles River, is offering a 15 per cent discount to Time Out readers who stay three or more nights. Quote TIMEOUT when booking online or by calling 866-507-5245.

Money
£1 = approximately $2.

Boston guidebook Time Out Boston covers the latest shopping and eating hotspots, dazzling new arts spaces and a slice of New England coast and country. [Buy Now ] Availiable in bookshops and direct from timeout.com/shop