Cheryl Fenton

Since Coastal New England is home to some of the finest oyster beds, our city is absolutely brimming with raw bars that serve these briney delicacies in style. And thankfully that doesn’t always translate to a huge price tag. While you can enjoy these succulent treats any time at Boston’s best oyster bars and best seafood restaurants, these beloved bivalves taste even sweeter when the price is lower. To enjoy buck-a-shuck nights and BOGO happy hours, here are the city’s best and most popular deals. For even more wallet-friendly fare, check out our list of Boston’s best food happy hours and the best cheap eats in Boston. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in Boston

Our city is fortunate enough to have an ever-growing roster of Black-owned eateries shining within our local dining scene, and we want to celebrate them. With menus that showcase cuisines spanning the globe⁠—from African and Caribbean, to Southern soul and French⁠—we’ve gathered up the best Black-owned restaurants in Boston for you to support. Once you’ve had your fill of spectacular food from these spots, also be sure to support other cultural communities by frequenting establishments like the best Chinese and best Mexican restaurants around.

Just because winter is upon us that doesn't mean your love of outdoor dining is forced into hibernation. Thanks to unique heaters, cozy private igloos, chalet vibes, firepits and cozy blankets, you can eat, drink and snuggle outside even in the dead of winter. We’ve gathered together some of the best restaurants in Boston with outdoor heaters for al fresco dining. So take a seat, grab a cocktail and a hearty meal, and let Mother Nature know you aren’t going anywhere. Need a little more help warming up, check out the best hot cocktails, best hot chocolate or best coffee in Boston. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in Boston

Taking the simple taco to flavorful heights, Boston’s taquerias cover these classics with both traditional and non-traditional festive flair. Whether you're into a classic al pastor with flavorful meat, a crisp fried fish taco, or an innovative vegetarian version, these places have the concept wrapped up in the perfect package. The best tacos in Boston feature fresh ingredients and innovative twists; a few even give global flavors a whirl (peep the Greek-inspired taco at Loco). For more tasty handheld treats, check out the best burgers in Boston and the best sandwiches in Boston. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in Boston

The comedy club scene is no laughing matter around town. There are several places to achieve full-on side stitch status with jokes from funny men and women at Boston area comedy clubs. Some of America’s most beloved comedians of today (think Conan O’Brien, Denis Leary, Amy Poehler, Lenny Clarke) launched their smile-inducing careers here, so despite our rough exterior, we’re clearly a city quick to laugh. Whether it’s go-with-the-flow improv or rehearsed routines, venues of all sizes cater to big senses of humor. Get ready for the giggles with drinks at the best rooftop bars in Boston or set the mood with dinner at one of the most romantic restaurants in Boston. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Boston

We all love living in Boston, but sometimes we all could use a moment to unwind mind, body and soul and what better place to do so than at the best spas in town? With luxurious facials, therapeutic massages and indulgent spaces, these local spas will put the spring back in your step. After a much-needed treatment, take a walk in one of Boston’s best parks, chill over afternoon tea or indulge in some of the best hot chocolate in Boston and you'll feel brand new. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Boston

With pumpkins galore, crisp breezes, and leaf peeping, New England clearly settles into its own beauty in the fall. But as it’s also the season of spook, we’ll happily put down our PSLs for a good jump scare this time of year. No matter where you look, there are plenty of places around Boston for hair-raising Halloween thrills and chills. But these haunted houses, estates, and terror factories aren’t for the faint of heart. They ramp up the terror with extreme special effects, elaborate costumes, gory makeup, eerie fog, and spine-chilling sounds. If Hocus Pocus is more your speed, swap out the seasonal scares for the best Halloween events in Boston, or stay close to home decorating gourds from the best places to go pumpkin picking. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Boston

When your desire to go out far outweighs your budget, nightlife can be tough in a city known for expensive living and swanky cocktail lounges with $200 tabs. But holding court as a true college town (we’re home to 35 colleges and universities and about 152,000 students), there are a number of joints around Boston that cater to the 20-something set. Whether your goal is affordable drinks or late night clubbing (budget be damned), here are the best college bars in Boston. For more college-friendly spots, check out the best cheap eats in Boston and Boston’s best late night dining options. Looking for something more refined? The best cocktail bars in Boston will do the trick. RECOMMENDED: See the full list of the best bars in Boston

Whether it’s a simple plate of enchiladas and rice or tortillas wrapped around marinated Yucateca-style pork with a side of sweet plantains, there are plenty of eateries around Boston with true south-of-the-border flare. Restaurants are as varied as Mexican fare itself, with everything from traditional hearty entreés to the best tacos in Boston (spoiler alert: you don’t have to wait until Tuesday). Whatever you’re craving, the city’s best Mexican options are happy to welcome you. Wash it all down with a tequila drink as strong or frosty as you please. And if you start your feast by diving head first into a basket of chips and salsa, who are we to judge? These are the 20 best Mexican restaurants in Boston.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in Boston

Whether you’re touring a brewery, tasting your way through a taproom, or enjoying the city’s seasonal beer gardens, one thing’s for sure: Boston’s thriving beer culture really raises the bar. With traditional European styles, experimental American styles, and every pour in between, there's something for everyone. For the sud savvy, there are unique opportunities to dive deep into new brews and clever crafts, or you can keep it simple with a classic frosty IPA. Beer not your beverage of choice? Explore more top-notch drinking options at the best cocktail bars in Boston or try one of the best craft ciders in Massachusetts.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best bars in Boston

With seafood aptly front and center in Boston’s dining scene, there’s no such thing as too fresh in this city. And when you’re gazing lovingly at a glistening bed of ice covered in oysters, that freshness hits different. As coastal New England is home to some of the finest oyster beds, the area is absolutely brimming with raw bars that serve these briney delicacies in style (thankfully not always with a hefty price tag). We’ve gathered the best oyster bars in Boston for slurping down Wellfleets, Blue Points, Island Creeks and more. For more ocean-inspired dining options, check out the best seafood restaurants in Boston. Or chase your bivalves with bubbles at one of the best wine bars in Boston. Whatever you choose, the world is your oyster. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in Boston

Whether you’re a purist who prefers bare bones tasting rooms or you like your brew pubs with a scratch kitchen menu, the best beer bars in Boston have you covered. From microbreweries to innovative taprooms with collaborations on draft, these suds-centric hot spots deserve a place on your beer tour of Boston. You can also go straight to the source and check out the city’s highly rated craft breweries or, If beer isn't your thing, hit up the best wine bars and best cocktails bars in Boston. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best bars in Boston

Consider this Seaport staple (and its new Burlington location) an "elevated fiesta.” Paying homage to their traditional roots, Rosa Mexicano delivers all the spice while incorporating regional accents into every dish through classic preparation, grilling, and seasoning. Even tableside guac gets an upgrade – the founder’s decades-old recipe topped with grilled pineapple, bacon, or lump crab. The house-made mole is crafted over three days using 26 ingredients; and authentic dishes include tacos, huarache, enchiladas, quesadillas, and a Parrilladas Mexican-style mixed grill heaped on a sizzling platter for sharing.

Chef Brian Poe takes a walk on the wild side, as he taps into the exotic delicacy department at his Tip Tap Room in Boston Back Bay. With a revolving board of the tips du jour (think elk and yak), the yin to the yang of the menu is the complementing immense selection of beers on tap. Their beverage program is heavily rooted in craft bourbons and 36 selections of beers on tap (a mix of local, domestic and international imports).

Part of Pasha Entertainment (of Venu and ICON fame), Hava delivers high-energy nightlife within the settings of a sultry lounge where you can sit back with beautiful people and sip tempting cocktails. Originally designed to be the ladies lounge and orchestra area to the Wilbur Theatre, this uniquely beautiful space is for weekends-only fun.

Nestled in the courtyard in Roslindale Village, Sophia's Grotto is like a trattoria located within a quaint little Italian town. Its warm glowing decor inside is nicely complemented by its shared brick patio outfitted with heat lamps (weather dictated, of course), greenery and twinkling lights. The wood-fired pizza is a hit, as well as the other delectable Mediterranean classics at this family-owned spot that has been around for ages.

While known for Beef Wellington (yes, it’s also on the menu), Michelin-starred Chef Gordon Ramsay’s newest venture gives a proper nod to seafood. Set in the Mandarin Oriental, Boston, the recently opened Ramsay's Kitchen celebrates the chef’s most talked about and favorite dishes, many of which with a local twist like the Lobster and Clam Bouillabaisse. The use of blue marble is a nod to Boston Harbor’s waters, and the menu is rich with the ocean’s bounty—jumbo lump crab cakes, Boston lager-steamed mussels, crispy skin salmon and fish and chips. While the fight continues over whether the lobster roll should be served cold or warm, Ramsay appeases all by offering both versions.

Female-owned and operated, Deja Brew is a place where New Southie and Old Southie unite. Long-time regulars still enjoy a hot regular, while the younger set flock for an oatmeal chocolate chip-flavored iced coffee with oat milk. Brewing Downeast Coffee Roasters (cheers to another family-owned business), they also serve breakfast and lunch all day (aka until its 2pm closing time). Dig into their popular Bubba Biscuit, an egg, cheddar, bacon, garlic aioli and arugula sandwich named after life-long Southie resident and retired firefighter Bubba Cahill.

Curio Coffee & Wine is the best of both worlds: an independent specialty coffee shop by day, natural wine bar by night (on Thursdays and Fridays, anyway). Just a few steps away from Lechmere Station, hot coffee is batch-brewed, while the iced selections are made from fellow Cambridge-based business Broadsheet Coffee Roasters’ well-loved Bulletin Blend. Espresso drinks keep you going, while their award-winning Liège waffles (famous Belgian street waffles with pearl sugar) are made to order on a griddle imported from Belgium.

Proudly owning its place as Cambridge’s first (and only) specialty coffee roastery, Broadsheet Coffee Roasters takes its spot behind Harvard Yard and serves up conscientiously-sourced coffees from a rotating selection of sweet and complex beans roasted on-site twice weekly. There are also take-out bags of whole beans for DIY drips, along with online tutorials to help you learn about options for brewing at home. Need a little lift? Grab one of their bulk jugs of 32 ounces of coffee.

This Salem haunt for tealovers offers a High Tea on Wednesdays through Sundays. Your European-inspired experience begins with a glass of iced hibiscus tea while you peruse the extensive loose leaf tea menu. A three-tiered presentation of tea sandwiches, including cucumber, smoked salmon, and ham and brie, accompanies a steaming personal pot of your selection, along with lemon scones, French macarons, and madeleines. Want a more intimate tea party? Book the private Salon Room for four to six guests. 

More athletic resort than gym, the newly built Life Time Fitness Northshore is the first of its kind in the Greater Boston area. A 120,000-square-foot, three-story mecca of good health, each level welcomes you to the next stage of your wellness journey, including: 400 pieces of cardio and resistance equipment; yoga, pilates, and spin rooms; two basketball courts; LifeCafe and LifeSpa. Water enthusiasts enjoy hot tubs, cold water plunges, lap pools and an expansive seasonal outdoor aquatic center, complete with a leisure pool, water slides, cabanas and a bistro. For parents, the onsite Kids Academy is a dream.

Need to get a handle on your workout? With Stages bikes and QSC sound, the energy at The Handle Bar is high and the bass is bumping. Look for monthly twists to their signature Cycle ride, like past classes that have included HEAT with live DJs and a mega heated room or Rise & Rave, a coffee-driven glow stick adventure. Go the extra mile with Handle with Care, their non-profit that raises mental illness awareness. Joining their four other sites of this female-owned and operated business is the new Prudential location.

Founded originally by George Foreman III, EverybodyFights is more than just about rings and bags. Modeled after a real boxer’s training camp, the authentic, boxing-inspired group fitness brand offers circuit training, ROAD treadmill classes, MITTS technique classes, weights and more. The recovery room is all about mindfulness, and trainers explain the why behind the work. The gym has three Boston area locations and opens at 5am, so no more fighting a busy day to get in a workout.

Boston is a paradox. Our weather is a rollercoaster. Our driving is aggressive (we prefer to call it proactive, thank you). Our accents can be questionable at times. And our sense of community is seemingly so niche, it’s tough to break into—but once you’re there, you’re in it forever (at least in your neighborhood). If you understand our ways and embrace Boston’s nature, you’ll understand why it is often ranked one of the top places to live. Whether you're a newcomer or a longtime resident looking to make sure you’re still up to snuff, follow these 25 rules to life in Boston whenever you are in town.  When it comes to pledging your allegiance to your favorite cannoli, you must pick a side: Modern Pastry or Mike’s Pastry. Although these two bakeries are down the street from each other in the North End, you can only be faithful to one. See a beach chair or milk crate in a shoveled-out parking spot after a snowstorm? Leave it. Those are space savers, and you don’t want a territory fight. (Except in the South End, they banned them.) We only drink iced coffee from Dunks—all year round. Luckily, there are 120 Dunkins in Boston. Also we call it Dunks or Dunkies, no one actually says Dunkin’ out loud. Don’t expect to get around the city easily on September 1. In true college town form, this is student season. Known as “Allston Christmas,” this is the day many have to move apartments, leaving behind furniture and home goods to decorate the curbside. Take the T everywhere. It’s the co