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Cambridge’s Central Square is just that—right at the center of all the action.
Perfectly positioned in between Harvard and MIT’s campuses, this bustling hub boasts a lively blend of opposites: undergrads and intellectuals, techies and creatives, expats and townies. And as Greater Boston’s little slice of bohemia, it’s easy to see how Central Square landed on Time Out’s list of the coolest neighborhoods in the world.
With new, hip additions, such as Blue Owl Rooftop and Artifact Cider Project, as well as recent departures of some classics, like The Field Pub and Central Kitchen, this area has been the site of significant change over the years. However, this stretch of Mass Ave has managed to maintain plenty of its eclectically eccentric identity, thanks in part to several iconic spots that have long persisted there, in spite of surrounding gentrification.
We’re shedding a light on these celebrated Central Square mainstays, which have survived and thrived for decades within this dynamic neighborhood. They’ve helped keep the area’s artsy spirit and raw edge alive—before it was even cool.
Cheapo Records: Since 1954, Cheapo Records has been serving Central Square and certainly living up to its name. Situated right on Mass Ave, this store is crammed with music mediums of yore (well, maybe not when it first opened, but at least by today’s standards). Chat with its quirky, knowledgeable staff and leaf through stacks of vinyl, CDs, cassettes and box sets—all adequately priced, just as advertised. With its funky Cambridge vibe, it’s honestly no surprise that this spot has held up for 65+ years.
Asmara: Named after the capital of Eritrea, Asmara has been serving authentic North African fare in Central Square since 1986. Over the last 25 or so years, the family-owned joint has been a popular spot amongst locals looking for a traditional, Eritrean dining experience and deliciously vibrant food. Plates are served on customary woven tables called mesob, and guests use their fingers filled with injera to scoop slow-cooked, spiced morsels into their mouths. Even after all of these years in operation, it’s still a Cambridge mainstay for groups of friends and family looking to spend time together and share a meal.
Mary Chung: A beloved institution for locals, nearby MIT students and tech-savvy office workers alike, Mary Chung has been a pillar of Central Square since the ’80s. Tucked amongst some of the flashier establishments that now grace Mass Ave, this unassuming, cash-only haunt is a no-frills delight. Slide into a squeaky, red vinyl booth and feast upon some of its most cherished Szechuan specialties. Longtime favorites include its dun dun noodles and its show-stopping suan la chow show (tender, steamed wontons stuffed with savory meaty goodness and swimming in a spicy sauce). Dim sum service on the weekends is also a must.
The Middle East: Visual standouts within the Mass Ave landscape, thanks to the bright purple and yellow facades, The Middle East has become tightly woven into the cultural fabric of Central Square over the past several decades. The eatery and club has transformed alongside the neighborhood, starting simply as a Lebanese restaurant when it first opened in the ’70s before becoming a bustling live music complex that also happens to serve some killer food in the mid-1980s. There are seemingly endless rooms hosting musicians, bands and DJs—there’s the Downstairs, Upstairs, Corner stage, Sonia and Zuzu—making it a keystone within Boston’s nightlife scene. And they do an amazing meze brunch on the weekends, to boot.
Pandemonium Books and Games: For more than 30 years, Pandemonium Books and Games has been a Central Square staple, catering to science fiction fans and serious gamers throughout the Boston area. On the ground level, folks can find an extensive selection of sci-fi, horror and fantasy literature in the form of both new and used books. Meanwhile, the downstairs is reserved for gaming paraphernalia—whether it be magic cards, 20-sided dice or role-playing books. Beyond serving as a store, Pandemonium has also cultivated its own kind of community within Cambridge, hosting tournaments and gaming events nearly every night of the week.
The Tootsie Roll Factory: A candy factory since the 1920s, Cambridge Brands (owned by Tootsie Roll Industries) has long held its place on Main Street just outside Central Square. The bleak industrial building—which is nondescript, save for some brown, white and red signage mimicking the famous chocolatey taffy’s label—is relatively shrouded in mystery; there are no tours, as one might expect, and the windows are entirely frosted so that no one can sneak a peek of the confection-making magic occurring inside. However, its longtime presence can still be sensed to most passers-by, as a distinctly cocoa smell occasionally wafts through the surrounding Cambridge air—a result of the continued mass production of sweets like Junior Mints.
The Cantab Lounge: We came dangerously close to losing The Cantab forever, after it shut its doors for more than a year during the pandemic. However, thanks to a new owner stepping in, this 50+ old institution plans to reopen around Thanksgiving 2021, allowing it to continue its Central Square legacy. A dive bar with cheap drinks and a steady stream of musicians taking the stage, it’s not shocking that folks have piled into The Cantab Lounge to listen to live music and down a few beers any day of the week for decades on end.
Graffiti Alley: One of the few places throughout the Boston area where spray painting is legal, Modica Way (aka Graffiti Alley) is an ever-changing mural showcasing street artists from near and far. Located between Hilton’s Tent City and Brick and Mortar, this place connecting Starlight Square and Mass Ave has displayed a colorful, 80-foot stretch of artwork since 2007. Artist Geoff Hargadon and restaurateur Gary Strack (he owns Brick and Mortar) are behind this popular public gallery, which has become a canvas for both art and activism.