18 best restaurants in the Boston Seaport

The fine dining jewel in Barbara Lynch’s collection of restaurants, Menton takes its name from the Côte d’Azur town near the Italian border. The contemporary, French- and Italian-inspired cuisine, offered in both a la carte and a "chef's whim" tasting menu, features luxurious ingredients such as sea urchin and black truffle. Plush details—from French linens to Austrian crystal—and attentive service ensures guests feel utterly pampered. For a unique special occasion option, Menton offers a private chef’s table with a glass wall providing views of the impressive kitchen.

Woods Hill Pier 4 brings farm-to-table dining to the Seaport, on the site where the iconic Anthony’s Pier 4 restaurant once sat. Kristin Canty and the team behind The Farm at Woods Hill create modern, seasonal dishes using ingredients that are organic, non-GMO, and come from local area purveyors. All meat comes from The Farm at Woods Hill and other local farms that raise animals ethically and feed from an organic grass-based diet.

The seasonal menu at this Seaport hot spot—named after the Massachusetts state bird—is Mediterranean-influenced, but features ingredients from local farms, markets and producers. The lunch menu focuses on pitas, while dinner offers more to explore. Pasta dishes are a highlight, with combinations like squid and sopressata, and finocchiona and fresh chickpeas. Innovative cocktails incorporate fresh ingredients, too—snap peas, roasted red peppers and jasmine, to name a few.

Established on the island of Nantucket, this Asian-inspired seafood hot spot brings its menu to the mainland at Pier 4. Whether you’re kitchenside, waterside or at the bar, Nautilus is sure to impress with small-plate tried and true “old favs” like steamed pork buns and Indonesian chicken drumettes (you can also find these bites at its original ACK location), as well as what the restaurant refers to as your “new favs,” including spoon tuna chips and dips, and chilled octopus salad. It’s the perfect spot to stop for a craft cocktail and a nibble, or for an entire feast (the whole roasted Peking duck here is legendary)—either way, you can’t go wrong.

The casual answer to Menton, Chef Barbara Lynch's sleek iteration of the classic diner offers up supremely tasty trattoria-inspired Italian cuisine. Sit at the large communal counter that showcases the action in the kitchen, or grab a bite to-go from the bakery counter's rotating selection of pastries, soups and sandwiches and find a bench along the channel for a waterside picnic.

If you’re seeking out seafood, Row 34 is your solution. The restaurant’s industrial-style decor is warmed with an open shucking counter, as well as a long bar framed by a rotating beer menu so vast that it creates a kind of ever-changing wallpaper. Order up oysters on the half shell, a lobster roll and a pint of local or international brew—from brunch until dinner.

The Seaport’s go-to Greek restaurant plays with Mediterranean spices and techniques to produce a contemporary meze menu (think artichoke moussaka, fried smelts, and salt-roasted beets, to name a few). The after-work crowd descends nightly to enjoy creative cocktails and wines from Greece and Lebanon. The weekend brunch is a singular surprise; nowhere else in town can you pair a breakfast gyro with champagne tray service. One of the neighborhood’s largest patios proves popular when the sun's out.

Lolita offers tasty Mexican-inspired cuisine—with a side of nightlife and waterfront views. On the inside, this Fort Point spot is a dimly lit, macabre masterpiece—and on the outside, it’s a bright and airy waterfront paradise. The patio of this cocina and tequila cantina runs right alongside the channel, giving guests a front row seat to the Seaport as they pound queso and sip margaritas. Other menu highlights include Maine lobster-topped guacamole, spicy artichoke empanadas, Mexican fried rice and street corn cauliflower tacos. 

Taiyaki NYC’s almost too-cute-to-eat ice cream cones have made their way up the coast and into Boston’s Seaport District. The most popular treat on the menu is their signature soft serve in a fish-shaped cone, but they also have other unique options, such as the Unicorn Float, which is served in a unicorn inflatable tube. Expect a line because although there are plenty of fish in the sea, Taiyaki NYC’s might be the sweetest.

The Envoy Hotel boasts a snazzy rooftop bar with great views of the Seaport. It’s a hip spot for cocktails and conversation. And when it’s time for dinner, there’s Outlook Kitchen downstairs. Executive Chef Tatiana Rosana uses her Cuban background to influence her progressive American cuisine. The stylish menu varies seasonally, featuring the freshest ingredients available. Starters include grilled Spanish octopus and a variety of flatbreads. Salads—e.g. watermelon with stracciatella and charred lime vinaigrette—are fresh and colorful. A warm-weather pappardelle comes with puffed quinoa, while Maine chicken is paired with forbidden rice, jicama, and ancho chile. Don’t miss the cocktails, which feature fresh mixers and small batch spirits.

This Seaport stalwart hosts celebratory groups and corporate types for festive cocktails and a crowd-pleasing, pan-Asian menu filled with favorites. Specialty nigiri and signature maki tantalize with interesting ingredients like marinated Chinese celery, wild Sockeye salmon and yellow pepper sauce. A highlight for sushi-lovers is the unlimited sushi menu available on Mondays starting at 5pm, when you can feast upon some of the most popular rolls, plus some smaller bites from the regular menu.

Set right on Boston Harbor, this red-shingled seafood shack and open-air tent is party central all summer long for locals and tourists alike. Join the crowds at the picnic tables, beneath the glow of Christmas light-strung lobster traps. Traditional boils and fried fare help keep the beer-fueled festivities going. Summer is peak season, but The Barking Crab draws fans year-round to the Seaport with its stellar seafood and laidback vibes in the heart of the city.

Fueling the creative minds that work in Seaport’s District Hall is Gather, an eatery focused on innovative, New American cuisine. Using local ingredients whenever possible, the kitchen turns out dishes like fried charred octopus, clam chowder (it’s award-winning!), the “big dill” flatbread and classic lobster roll. Creative cocktails and an extensive beer and wine list—not to mention the large patio with water views—make Gather a great place to meet for happy hour and beyond. Head there on Waffle Sunday to deck out your own waffle with everything from Oreos and Fluff, to pretzels and cheddar cheese.

Tuscan Kitchen’s Seaport location offers a rustic Italian dining experience with handmade pastas and ravioli, freshly baked breads and house-made salumi. The open kitchen offers a glimpse of the action—sit at the kitchen bar for the best view. For real enthusiasts, grab a seat by the in-house aged salumi or hand-stretched mozzarella stations to ogle the artistry before you eat it. The extensive wine list makes for perfect pairings, and gelato made onsite offers a sweet end to a meal. 

Situated on Liberty Wharf, Del Frisco’s offers one of the most visually striking locations in the Seaport. The lengthy, varied menu is packed with USDA Prime beef and fresh seafood. The impressive wine list boasts over 1,500 selections from around the world, or if you’re in the mood for something stronger, their dirty martinis with blue cheese-stuffed olives are made to perfection. The 14,000-square-foot, 400-seat restaurant has a 40-seat circular bar and lounge area, 70-seat outdoor veranda and three distinctive private dining rooms. In other words, it’s huge.

With a prime location on the waterfront, Morton’s Seaport location is the place for steak and sights. The stylish interior offers panoramic views of the harbor from the bar, and a seasonal patio allows you to enjoy the salty breeze. With prime aged beef, signature steakhouse sides, an excellent wine list and elegant desserts, Morton’s has the classic steakhouse experience down pat.

Ocean Prime offers some of the city’s best seafood and steak, all within one of Boston’s hottest spaces. Amidst the raw bar and sushi offerings are top-notch, dry-aged steaks—from a bone-in filet to a 16-ounce ribeye—all seared at 1,200 degrees. Steaks come with “accessories” like black truffle butter or blue cheese crust, along with traditional sides like creamed spinach and asparagus with hollandaise. Add in a glam interior and impeccable service, and Ocean Prime goes toe to toe with the city’s more traditional steakhouses. Don’t forget the impressive cocktail list curated from seasonal ingredients.