By Julia Bischoff By Julia Bischoff | August 19, 2022 | Culture, Food & Drink, Guide,
Where To Eat
569 Tremont St., aquitaineboston.com
Inspired by the intimate bistros of Paris, this French restaurant has been serving the South End neighborhood for 25 years with some of the best bites around. Owner and chef Seth Woods’ authentic dishes are sure to have your mouth-watering—we recommend the Moules Frites, made with thyme and truffle aioli, or the Escargot Bourguignon.
550 Tremont St., bandgoysters.com
The neighborhood classic B&G Oysters brings everything lovely about the New England coast to your table in the South End. And, by everything lovely, we mean fresh, flavorful seafood. Kick off the night with a dozen oysters before indulging in the decadent lobster roll—you won’t regret it.
783 Tremont St., ilonasouthend.com
From the pristine coast of the Black Sea to the eastern Mediterranean comes the concept for Ilona, which serves innovative, tangy dishes alongside a friendly neighborhood atmosphere. Settle down with friends for shareable, bite size dishes, varying from dips to a variety of breads, Peynirli and Manakish to dunk in the sauces.
315 Shawmut Ave., kavaneotaverna.com
Homey but elevated, this Greek restaurant is the South End’s own piece of the Mediterranean right at home. Dazzling small plates with combinations of tzatziki dip, feta, fresh vegetables, grilled octopus and more are perfect to snack on before savoring the full grilled Mediterranean sea bass. Pair with a bottle from their selection of Greek wines or a crisp cocktail to round out a perfect meal.
Where To Stay
198 W Brookline St., clarendonsquare.com
Small, but mighty, this boutique hotel wows with luxurious, spacious rooms and a deep history. The Clarendon Square Bed and Breakfast has been around since 1867 when it was constructed by a distinguished provider of stationary, bank notes and more, Silas Merrill. Since then, the area and the bed and breakfast have undergone a great deal of changes. Nowadays, visitors can relax at the rooftop hot tub and take in the panoramic city views.
40 Berkley St., therevolutionhotel.com
With vibrant art in every nook and cranny, like the 65-foot mural by local artist Tristan Eaton in the foyer, the Revolution offers a lively, up-scale retreat in the South End. When you’re finally ready to leave the comfort of their plush beds, the hotel offers bikes to assist in your exploration of the area. Just be sure you make it back for dinner at the on-site Mexican restaurant Cosmica—pitcher sangrias and scrumptious tacos are sure to delight.
Where To Relax
641A Tremont St., us.skoah.com
At skoah, facialists specialize in you, starting each session with a deep consultation on the status of your skin to find what facial treatments are best—relax into the knowledge that you are in safe hands as they clean, exfoliate and moisturize your face. For a deep clean, schedule the Facialiscious Facial for 75 minutes cleansing, extractions and exfoliating, topped off with a custom mask that addresses your skin’s specific needs.
524 Tremont St., etant.com
Étant has had Bostonians looking and feeling their best for over 23 years. Trust us, a trip to the spa's private, calming treatment rooms is a must. Get out the sorest kinks in your muscles with a deep tissue massage or treat yourself to one of a soothing full body treatment like the lavender and rosemary scrub, where clients are cleansed from head to toe.
Where To Shop
681 Tremont St. sophiehughes.com
Bringing both sophistication and sustainable practices to the South End retail scene, Sophie Hughes\Ore specializes in creating absolutely breathtaking jewelry pieces. Using only ethically sourced silver, gold and gems, the designer puts together graceful pieces for any occasion—not like we need an occasion to splurge on stunning jewelry.
1317 Washington St., artefacthome.com
Located in a revamped car dealership from the 1930’s, Artefact houses pieces just as unique as its location. Shop a host of home decor, from plush designer sofas to statement chandeliers, as well as pieces to complete the desired ambience of your home garden like detailed Cecily Pennoyer castings.
577 Tremont St., saultne.com
For just over 10 years, SAULT has been working to give men more self-confidence one meticulously curated outfit at a time. A representation of full New England style, the store not only has a wide array of ready-to-wear closet staples, but the store also holds unique vintage finds and a full men’s apothecary. Refresh your wardrobe with pieces from Brooks Brothers fall’22 line, launching any day.
For Pre-Dinner Drinks
560 Tremont St., frenchieboston.com
Meet up for a pre-night out get together at the quaint Frenchie Wine Bistro. While they certainly have their selection of scrumptious cocktails, the real star of the show here is the extensive wine menu. The extensive list features everything from rich reds, like the 2019 Château Pertignas, to fruity whites, like the 2018 Inmich Batterieberg.
Where To Hit The Town:
541 Tremont St., beehiveboston.com
Draped in red, this cozy bar and eatery is sure to spice up any evening with live jazz music every Thursday through Sunday. Cheers with one of their creative cocktails, like the Queen Bee—a mix of vodka, elderflower, grapefruit and sparkling wine—while swaying to the music.
Cultural Experiences
530 Harrison Ave., sowaboston.com
Every Sunday from May to October, the SoWa Open Market hosts hundreds of vendors, artists and visitors in addition to live performances and scrumptious food trucks. Essentially serving as a neighborhood block party, the event gathers South End locals and beyond to support local businesses and creators. Find knitted bags, tasty recipes, cultural flavors, handcrafted jewelry and so much more among the rows of vendors.
539 Tremont St., bostonarts.org
Created specifically to house a panoramic painting of the Battle of Gettysburg by Paul Dominique Philippoteaux in 1884, the space has since evolved into an arena for some of the most unique events in Boston. The grand copper and bright skylight serve as a backdrop to exhibitions and performances that take place below like full Broadway-level productions, as well as events from brands like Louis Vuitton and Hermès.
Hidden Gem
90 Traveler St., undergroundinkblock.com
A gorgeous eight acres of land at a renovated South End underpass have been transformed into a combination park and mural landscape. Explore the area that used to be chopped up by highway lines through its winding pedestrian boardwalk and even bring a furry friend along to check out the dog walk. Colorful, vibrant works of art creep up previously blank, gray concrete walls and pillars, telling the story of different local artists.
Photography by: Tim Bechervaise
