The Beantown A-List: A Guide to Boston’s Top Restaurants
In a city as steeped in history as Boston, figuring out the top restaurants is a serious task. The city’s food scene is a fascinating mix of foundational pillars that tell the story of America and modern masters who are collecting awards and pushing boundaries. This is your guide to the essential eats in Beantown, covering the top 10 restaurants in Boston from the oldest restaurant in the country to the undisputed champion of modern cuisine.
Whether you’re looking for the most romantic restaurants in Boston or simply the newest and hottest restaurants in Boston, this definitive guide has your next must-try experience covered.
| Restaurant | Neighborhood | Cuisine | Price Guide | Vibe / Perfect For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Oyster House | Downtown | Classic New England Seafood | $$$ | A Pilgrimage to America’s Oldest Restaurant |
| O Ya | Leather District | Japanese Omakase | $$$$ | The Apex of Culinary Artistry |
| Sarma | Somerville | Mediterranean / Middle Eastern Meze | $$$ | The People’s Champion of Modern Cuisine |
| Oleana | Cambridge | Turkish / Middle Eastern | $$$ | A Romantic Pioneer of Spice |
| Neptune Oyster | North End | Seafood / Raw Bar | $$$$ | The Definitive Boston Oyster Bar |
| Row 34 | Seaport | Seafood / Raw Bar | $$$ | The Modern Evolution of the Oyster Bar |
| Comfort Kitchen | Dorchester | Global African Diaspora | $$$ | The Acclaimed Voice of Boston’s Future |
| Bar Vlaha | Brookline | Rustic Greek | $$$ | The Master of Fire-Kissed Authenticity |
| Grill 23 & Bar | Back Bay | American Steakhouse | $$$$ | The Independent Steakhouse Institution |
| Toro | South End | Spanish Tapas | $$$ | The High-Energy Tapas Originator |
1. Union Oyster House
📹 Video Source: Mark Wiens
- 🍴Cuisine:Classic New England Seafood
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Downtown
- 💰Price:$$$
- ✨Vibe:A Pilgrimage to America’s Oldest Restaurant
- 📍Location:41 Union St, Boston, MA 02108
As the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the United States (est. 1826), it serves as the foundational anchor against which all of Boston dining is measured. It is a definitive must try restaurants spot for classic New England clam chowder and traditional boiled lobster.
Foodie Quote: “Diners should stick to the classics: freshly shucked oysters, steaming bowls of New England clam chowder, and traditional boiled lobster.”Why is it our top choice?
Its greatness lies not in its challenge to the modern palate but in its unwavering endurance as a cultural touchstone. Designated a National Historic Landmark, it serves as the foundational anchor against which all of Boston dining is measured.
2. O Ya
📹 Video Source: Eater
- 🍴Cuisine:Japanese Omakase
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Leather District
- 💰Price:$$$$
- ✨Vibe:The Apex of Culinary Artistry
- 📍Location:9 East St, Boston, MA 02111
In the quiet Leather District lies Boston’s undisputed temple of gastronomy: O Ya. This is not a casual bite; it is a transformative culinary event and one of the fanciest restaurants in the world. Its 20-course grand tasting menu established a new high-water mark for ambition and artistry, making it an undeniable choice among the best restaurants.
Foodie Quote: “Signature creations showcase luxurious ingredients and bold combinations, like the legendary foie gras nigiri with balsamic chocolate kabayaki and raisin cocoa pulp.”Why is it our top choice?
O Ya established a new high-water mark for ambition and artistry in the city. Its James Beard Award and a stunning declaration from the New York Times as the best new restaurant in the country proved Boston could produce a restaurant that belongs in the global conversation.
3. Sarma
📹 Video Source: GBH News
- 🍴Cuisine:Mediterranean / Middle Eastern Meze
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Somerville
- 💰Price:$$$
- ✨Vibe:The People’s Champion of Modern Cuisine
- 📍Location:249 Pearl St, Somerville, MA 02145
If O Ya is a serene temple, Sarma is a vibrant, bustling bazaar. Modeled after Turkish meyhanes, this James Beard Award-winning spot focuses on a sprawling menu of meze (small plates) that have made it one of the hottest restaurants in the Boston area, with reservations booked weeks in advance. It’s a definitively fun restaurants choice.
Foodie Quote: “Local wisdom dictates that if you see the elusive sesame-dusted Fried Chicken special circulating from the kitchen, ‘you grab it without hesitation.'”Why is it our top choice?
Sarma is the people’s champion. It has achieved “all-time” status not just by being technically excellent, but by becoming the restaurant that Bostonians themselves are most passionate about, making it a definitive voice in the city’s modern culinary zeitgeist.
4. Oleana
📹 Video Source: Playbook Productions
- 🍴Cuisine:Turkish / Middle Eastern
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Cambridge
- 💰Price:$$$
- ✨Vibe:A Romantic Pioneer of Spice
- 📍Location:134 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139
Tucked away in Cambridge, Oleana is the intimate, romantic, and foundational predecessor to Sarma. With its cozy, fireplace-lit dining room and famously beautiful patio garden, it’s one of the most romantic restaurants in Boston and a true pioneer of sophisticated Turkish cuisine.
Foodie Quote: “A meal at Oleana is considered incomplete without trying the legendary Baked Alaska—a mountain of meringue over a chewy macaroon base with coconut ice cream and passion-fruit caramel.”Why is it our top choice?
Oleana is a trailblazer that fundamentally expanded the city’s palate. It laid the groundwork for a new wave of Mediterranean dining and remains an elegant, foundational matriarch that continues to operate at the highest level.
5. Neptune Oyster
📹 Video Source: phantomgourmet
- 🍴Cuisine:Seafood / Raw Bar
- 🏙️Neighborhood:North End
- 💰Price:$$$$
- ✨Vibe:The Definitive Boston Oyster Bar
- 📍Location:63 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113
This intimate, high-energy oyster bar is the undisputed benchmark for a chef-driven seafood experience and one of the best casual restaurants of its type. It set the standard for quality and consistency in seafood, making it a modern icon among the best restaurants.
Foodie Quote: “Beyond the icons, creative dishes like the Neptune Johnnycake, topped with honey butter, smoked bluefish, and sturgeon caviar, showcase the kitchen’s creative flair.”Why is it our top choice?
For nearly two decades, Neptune Oyster has set the standard for quality, consistency, and execution in seafood. Its reputation is built on a foundation of flawless product, making it a modern icon.
6. Row 34
📹 Video Source: phantomgourmet
- 🍴Cuisine:Seafood / Raw Bar
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Seaport
- 💰Price:$$$
- ✨Vibe:The Modern Evolution of the Oyster Bar
- 📍Location:383 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210
If Neptune is the classic North End gem, Row 34 is its modern, expansive, and beer-savvy counterpart. Billed as a “workingman’s oyster bar,” its direct connection to the Island Creek Oyster farm gives it an unparalleled story of freshness. It excels with its pristine raw bar and a nationally recognized beer program. Like Neptune, it’s famous for its lobster rolls, particularly the warm buttered “Connecticut-style” version.
Foodie Quote: “While Neptune is lauded for intimacy, Row 34 is praised for its ‘more comfortable and less cramped dining room, the ability to make reservations, and its superior beer list.'”Why is it our top choice?
It represents the modern evolution of the classic Boston oyster bar. By combining impeccable seafood with a sophisticated beer culture, it has carved out its own legacy and earned its place as an all-time great.
7. Comfort Kitchen
📹 Video Source: Playbook Productions
- 🍴Cuisine:Global African Diaspora
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Dorchester
- 💰Price:$$$
- ✨Vibe:The Acclaimed Voice of Boston’s Future
- 📍Location:611 Columbia Rd, Dorchester, MA 02125
Achieving “all-time” status in its first year, Comfort Kitchen is a rare and profoundly important voice. Its mission is to tell the story of the global African diaspora through “global comfort food”. Its meteoric critical success, including a James Beard finalist nomination for Best New Restaurant, cements its place among Boston’s coolest restaurants.
Foodie Quote: “The cooking is polished and purposeful, demonstrating a high level of technique applied to a rich tapestry of cultural traditions.”Why is it our top choice?
Its immediate and meteoric critical success is staggering. Within its first year, it was a James Beard finalist for Best New Restaurant and named to the New York Times’ list of the 50 Best Restaurants in the United States, making it a landmark that represents the vibrant future of Boston dining.
8. Bar Vlaha
📹 Video Source: Playbook Productions
- 🍴Cuisine:Rustic Greek
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Brookline
- 💰Price:$$$
- ✨Vibe:The Master of Fire-Kissed Authenticity
- 📍Location:1653 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02445
Bar Vlaha offers a transportive experience, taking diners to the rugged mountains of Central and Northern Greece. This isn’t your typical Greek island fare; it’s a deep dive into the rustic, soulful, and fire-kissed cooking of the Vlachs, nomadic shepherds who are pioneers of Hellenic cuisine. The open kitchen is dominated by live-fire cooking, and dishes like the slow spit-roasted lamb leg showcase the kitchen’s mastery.
Foodie Quote: “Reddit threads are filled with effusive praise, with users calling it ‘insanely good’ and their ‘fav restaurant at the moment.'”Why is it our top choice?
It has tapped into a desire for food that is both rustic and refined. Its rapid ascent and glowing reviews, including being named Best Greek Restaurant by Boston Magazine, prove it has quickly established itself as a beloved institution.
9. Grill 23 & Bar
📹 Video Source: Playbook Productions
- 🍴Cuisine:American Steakhouse
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Back Bay
- 💰Price:$$$$
- ✨Vibe:The Independent Steakhouse Institution
- 📍Location:161 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116
For over four decades, this proudly independent establishment has been the city’s premier destination for prime, dry-aged steaks. Its stately, clubby atmosphere makes it the definitive choice for power dinners and is certainly a fanciest restaurants experience.
Foodie Quote: “Elevating the entire experience is the restaurant’s celebrated wine program, which holds the prestigious Wine Spectator Grand Award—an honor granted to fewer than 100 restaurants in the world.”Why is it our top choice?
Its fierce independence, unwavering commitment to quality, and world-class wine program have allowed it to define the premier steakhouse experience in Boston for over 40 years, making it an indispensable pillar of the city’s all-time best.
10. Toro
📹 Video Source: Live Like a Local Tours Boston
- 🍴Cuisine:Spanish Tapas
- 🏙️Neighborhood:South End
- 💰Price:$$$
- ✨Vibe:The High-Energy Tapas Originator
- 📍Location:1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118
Dark, loud, and perpetually buzzing with energy, Toro is the South End institution that remains one of the most exciting and consistently delicious top restaurants in Boston. Its vibrant atmosphere makes it a fun restaurants destination.
Foodie Quote: “Perennial favorites include the Hamburguesas (miniature burger sliders), Pulpo a la Plantxa (perfectly tender grilled octopus), and Dátiles con Jamón (dates stuffed with almonds and blue cheese, wrapped in serrano ham).”Why is it our top choice?
Toro didn’t just open as a great restaurant; it introduced an entire genre of dining to the city and has remained the undisputed leader in that category for nearly 20 years. Its immense influence and sustained excellence make it an all-time Boston great.
People Also Ask: Finding Your Next Boston Meal
O Ya is the undisputed temple of gastronomy and highest-rated fine dining experience, earning global recognition for its ambitious and artistic 20-course Japanese omakase menu.
For a modern, chef-driven, yet casual vibe, Neptune Oyster or Row 34 offer world-class seafood in a non-stuffy setting. Both are modern icons of the Boston oyster bar scene.
Union Oyster House is not just Boston’s most historic spot; it is a National Historic Landmark and the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the United States, established in 1826.
Grill 23 & Bar is the definitive independent steakhouse institution in Boston. For over 40 years, it has been the city’s premier destination for prime, dry-aged steaks and a world-class wine list.
Both Sarma and Toro are excellent for a fun, high-energy experience. Sarma offers a vibrant bazaar-like atmosphere with Mediterranean meze, while Toro is the city’s iconic, buzzing destination for Spanish tapas.
Comfort Kitchen, with its focus on the global African diaspora, achieved immediate national acclaim. Its James Beard nomination for Best New Restaurant marks it as a landmark that represents the vibrant and diverse future of Boston dining.
While none of the top 10 specialize in a full city skyline view, for a fancy restaurant with a view experience, places along the Seaport (like Row 34) offer a modern, waterfront vibe near the harbor.
Oleana is the foundational pioneer. It fundamentally expanded the city’s palate with its sophisticated and romantic take on Turkish and Middle Eastern cuisine, paving the way for other modern legends like Sarma.
All of the restaurants on this list are rated $$$ or $$$$. For a truly affordable but iconic experience, Boston’s North End offers legendary spots like Pizzeria Regina, a cherished, historical pizza joint.
Yes, for almost all of them. Hotspots like Sarma, Neptune Oyster, and O Ya can be booked weeks or even months in advance. It is highly recommended to plan ahead, as walk-in availability is extremely rare.
