The best food halls in Boston

The BPM features more than 30 New England-based artisans and food producers. Locals shop for fresh produce, meats, fish, and more. Lots of prepared foods are available, great for an easy meal. Pastrami sandwiches, savory crepes, banh mi, popovers, and noodles are just a few of the dining options in the market. Finish up with apple cider donuts or gelato, and pick up some fresh produce on your way out.

Harvard’s Smith Campus Center is an oasis of comfy chairs, coffee, and good food for students. Fortunately it’s also open to the public. While there are just a handful of vendors, the options and seating areas (as well as the calming, plant-filled “living walls”) make this one of the best fast-casual options in all of Cambridge. Choose from banh mi from Bon Me, healthy veggie bowls from Whole Heart Provisions, or casual Greek fare from Saloniki. Blackbird donuts and Pavement coffee complete the offerings.

Head to Union Square for a selection of unique, independent food vendors from the area. You’ll find everything from North Shore-style roast beef sandwiches to handmade gourmet perogies and empanadas. Also on offer: smoked fish, bibimbap, and of course sweets, like delicate macarons. Grab a fresh beer from Remnant Brewing (or a glass of wine from Rebel Rebel), and take a seat in the central courtyard.

Eataly is heaven for fans of artisanal Italian products. You can shop for ingredients to cook at home, or choose from the many purveyors and small restaurants within the hall. There is plenty of seating for a do-it-yourself meal: pick a cheese and some fresh bread for a quick snack, or grab a sandwich and a gelato. You can also dine at one of the higher-end restaurants offering fresh Italian favorites. Finish up with a coffee at the street-level Caffé Lavazza.

While Quincy Market is certainly a tourist-heavy area, there are some gems among the fast food joints in the Food Colonnade. This long, central corridor offers the opportunity to try lobster rolls, chowder, Boston baked beans, and Boston cream pie all at once. There’s an outpost of Regina Pizzeria, a Starbucks, New York’s famed Magnolia Bakery, and plenty of seating that’s especially welcome in the dead of winter.