12 best restaurants near Fenway Park

This Southie favorite recently opened up shop in the Fens and you’re going to want to add it to your hit list. Clocking in at 9,500 square feet, there’s plenty of room for the crew to grab a big table and enjoy two of the most shareable foods – tacos and oysters. The Fenway location has all your favorite Loco menu items, plus a few exclusive additions.  Special to Fenway is the Loco Hot Dog topped with guacamole, pico de gallo, mojo sauce and bacon bits, Steak Fries seasoned with Loco’s homemade chip seasoning, and a Smash Burger topped with cheddar cheese, fresno aioli, diced white onion. Loco Fenway also offers weekly specials such as $1 oysters on Mondays and Taco Tuesday specials.

Sweet Cheeks is award-winning chef Tiffani Faison’s first Boston restaurant, and has been the go-to spot for barbecue in Fenway since 2011. The heritage breed pulled pork, hot links and pulled chicken are all stand outs, as are sides like Church Basement Potato Salad and Mac ‘N’ Cheese Casserole. Don’t skip the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tenders with buttermilk ranch for dipping, you’ll be thinking about the crunch all week.

This modern neighborhood tavern combines an award winning bar and modern pub fare—think steak frites, sirloin burger, roast chicken and charcuterie—as well as a daily selection of local oysters, like Wellfleets and Island Creeks. More than 200 whiskeys are available alongside craft beer, cocktails and a notable selection of wines. The tavern is also known as the home of a family style whole pig roast which feeds 10 or more. 

Anchoring the Verb hotel is one of the most fun restaurants in the Hub – from the team behind the lauded o ya – sits this aptly self-described “rock and roll sushi tavern.”Hojoko’s creative maki rolls share menu space with ramen, robata (grilled skewers) and inspired dishes like the bacon-wrapped, jalapeno-stuffed Doggzilla hot dog. The drink menu, saucy in all meanings of the term, includes frozen tiki classics, 20 different sakes and large-format drinks that come “from the tank” (think lethal Caribbean punch in a scorpion bowl). There's a slick vinyl lounge as well. 

Fenway has a mix of international dining destinations, both high end and casual. On the casual end,  Saloniki adds traditional, casual Greek fare into the mix. Built around the concept of “filoxenia,” the ancient Greek value of hospitality, this fast-casual spot welcomes you to stop by and sit with a salad topped with zucchini fritters, share a plate of lamb meatballs or simply grab a pita to go. Authentic sides like moussaka, spanakopita and “Yia-Yia’s Soup” round out the meal. 

This “adult snack bar” from Tiffani Faison is heavier on the drinks than the snacks, but whatever is on the menu is what you should be eating. For a quick bite before a game, the standing room only bar – there is patio seating outside – is a favorite of in-the-know locals. The menu changes regularly, but the salumi and cheese is one of the better boards in the city, and the whipped ranch labneh with crispy veggies is a high-low snack you’ll be thinking about long after the game is over.

Loretta’s is known for keeping it downhome, both on the plate and the dance floor.  Live music and line dancing are a popular staple by night, while its Bluegrass Brunch shines during the day on weekends. Whether you’re dancing, drinking or devouring comfort classics like fried chicken or smoked brisket hash, you’re sure to leave Loretta’s feeling a little bit country. For a perfect post game treat, the best doughnuts on Martha’s Vineyard, Back Door Donuts, are available at Loretta’s daily from 7pm to 2am. 

If you’re a baseball fan, Bleacher Bar is a venue you must visit at least once in your life. Tucked beneath the bleachers of Fenway Park’s centerfield, this place presents diners with an oversized window that overlooks the game. Serving up stadium favorites like Fenway Franks and Boston Clam Chowder, you get all the charm of stadium seating without having to purchase a Sox ticket. Snag a reservation online early, or take your chances on game day. 

This Fenway mainstay gets packed with fans before Red Sox games, thanks to its quick, cheap and tasty Mexican eats. The interior is small and cheerful, while the patio offers communal picnic benches to take in the fanfare before the game even starts. With an assortment of tacos, burritos, tostadas and quesadillas, you may just want to order from every category and share with your game day crew for the ultimate experience.

With new oyster bars opening around the city seemingly every month, their popularity shows no signs of slowing down, and that’s a good thing. We’ll always head to the Fenway location of Eventide though, for the famed brown butter lobster roll. Savor the bao-like bun, which perfectly cradles sweet Maine lobster meat mixed with delicious brown butter. The rest of the menu—featuring crudo, tartare, clam chowder and of course, a daily selection of oysters—is equally impressive.

A familiar alternative to the busy bars and taverns right on top of Fenway Park, this neighborhood favorite offers an  extensive beer list alongside creative cocktails featuring house-made syrups and unlikely flavor combinations. There’s also an inventive food menu and a full taco menu every Tuesday that also includes chips and salsa and a variety of quesadillas. During the warmer months, there’s a heated bamboo patio out back that makes for a romantic night. 

The original location of this favorite local chain is in the Fenway, and it’s an easy stop for a quick bite before a game, or if you’re just in the area and in a hurry. If you’re a local, you know what you’re getting here: Solid well-crafted burgers, including turkey and veggie, for a reasonable price. Try a refreshing, house-made lime rickey, and a mini pie or a shake for dessert. Tasty Burger even has doggie treats for your canine friends, and there’s plenty of outdoor seating where they can join you.