Our favorite coffee/breakfast spots
Our favorite coffee shop in Davis Square. Excellent coffee, egg sandwiches and pastries. They also have a good variety of lunch offerings.
This is a large space and a great location if you're looking to camp out and work. They also have a couple of pool tables. Variety of seating options from high tops to booths to small tables to large, shared work tables.
90 locals recommend
Diesel Cafe
257 Elm StOur favorite coffee shop in Davis Square. Excellent coffee, egg sandwiches and pastries. They also have a good variety of lunch offerings.
This is a large space and a great location if you're looking to camp out and work. They also have a couple of pool tables. Variety of seating options from high tops to booths to small tables to large, shared work tables.
Super chill coffee shop with excellent pastries and egg sandwiches. They also have a lunch menu with a handful of sandwich and salad offerings.
Short walk from the Airbnb.
22 locals recommend
True Grounds
717 Broadway Ball SquareSuper chill coffee shop with excellent pastries and egg sandwiches. They also have a lunch menu with a handful of sandwich and salad offerings.
Short walk from the Airbnb.
Hip coffee shop with unique breakfast and lunch offerings.
Short walk from the Airbnb.
74 locals recommend
3 Little Figs
278 Highland AveHip coffee shop with unique breakfast and lunch offerings.
Short walk from the Airbnb.
If you want good bagels or donuts in Davis Square, this is the place to go. They've got some interesting donut creations, as well as the standards you would expect. Bagels are also pretty good stuff. Not quite on the level of NY/NJ bagels, but the best you'll find around here.
Davis Square Hand Crafted Donuts & Bagels
377 Summer StIf you want good bagels or donuts in Davis Square, this is the place to go. They've got some interesting donut creations, as well as the standards you would expect. Bagels are also pretty good stuff. Not quite on the level of NY/NJ bagels, but the best you'll find around here.
If classic diner fare is what you're looking for, look no further. You can easily walk here. It's just a few blocks away.
23 locals recommend
Kelly's Diner
674 BroadwayIf classic diner fare is what you're looking for, look no further. You can easily walk here. It's just a few blocks away.
Traditional breakfast fare plus some unique interpretations. Service is minimum but food is solid.
Helpful tip: Drinks are self-serve, so feel free to grab some coffee, water or something from the cooler as soon as you're seated.
Very much walk-able from the Airbnb.
61 locals recommend
Sound Bites
704 Broadway Ball SquareTraditional breakfast fare plus some unique interpretations. Service is minimum but food is solid.
Helpful tip: Drinks are self-serve, so feel free to grab some coffee, water or something from the cooler as soon as you're seated.
Very much walk-able from the Airbnb.
Haven't been here as often as Sound Bites but the food looks really good and there's always a line on weekends, which is typically a good sign. It's right next to Sound Bites, so if one is too full, you can always try the other. And Kelly's Diner is just a block away too. They also serve lunch.
63 locals recommend
Ball Square Cafe & Breakfast
708 BroadwayHaven't been here as often as Sound Bites but the food looks really good and there's always a line on weekends, which is typically a good sign. It's right next to Sound Bites, so if one is too full, you can always try the other. And Kelly's Diner is just a block away too. They also serve lunch.
Our favorite dinner spots
They've got an excellent bar and food menu. Not a huge dinner menu but we've enjoyed everything we've ever had. Offerings tend more toward the decadent side than light/healthy fare. If buffalo style brussel sprouts (one of our favorite items) sounds like something you'd like, take a look at their menu. The space gets crowded, so if you want to sit quickly go early. It also can get pretty loud, so if you're looking for a quiet dining experience, you might want to look elsewhere.
96 locals recommend
Highland Kitchen
150 Highland AveThey've got an excellent bar and food menu. Not a huge dinner menu but we've enjoyed everything we've ever had. Offerings tend more toward the decadent side than light/healthy fare. If buffalo style brussel sprouts (one of our favorite items) sounds like something you'd like, take a look at their menu. The space gets crowded, so if you want to sit quickly go early. It also can get pretty loud, so if you're looking for a quiet dining experience, you might want to look elsewhere.
Tapas-style dining in Union Square. This place is not readily walkable from our Airbnb, but it's one of our favorite spots. Friendly staff, excellent cocktails and great food.
32 locals recommend
Casa B Tapas and Cocktail & Rum Bar
253 Washington StTapas-style dining in Union Square. This place is not readily walkable from our Airbnb, but it's one of our favorite spots. Friendly staff, excellent cocktails and great food.
This place fills up pretty quickly so you might want to make a reservation. Or you can wait or dine at the bar if there's space. We often end up dining at the bar. They offer a variety of Italian dishes, including wood-fired pizzas.
https://www.postoboston.com/davis-square-menus/
64 locals recommend
Posto
187 Elm StThis place fills up pretty quickly so you might want to make a reservation. Or you can wait or dine at the bar if there's space. We often end up dining at the bar. They offer a variety of Italian dishes, including wood-fired pizzas.
https://www.postoboston.com/davis-square-menus/
If you want a place that everyone in the family will like, Flatbread is a pretty good choice. They also have a handful of candlepin bowling (look it up if you don't know. It's a New England thing) lanes, which is great for group or family outings. You can have food at the lanes, but you pay by the hour. Also, the lanes fill up quickly so call first and get a reservation if possible.
Only caveat, pizza and salads (and some desserts) are the only offerings. They have some pretty tasty creations, but if there's someone in your group looking for other options, you'll have to look elsewhere.
73 locals recommend
Flatbread Company
45 Day StIf you want a place that everyone in the family will like, Flatbread is a pretty good choice. They also have a handful of candlepin bowling (look it up if you don't know. It's a New England thing) lanes, which is great for group or family outings. You can have food at the lanes, but you pay by the hour. Also, the lanes fill up quickly so call first and get a reservation if possible.
Only caveat, pizza and salads (and some desserts) are the only offerings. They have some pretty tasty creations, but if there's someone in your group looking for other options, you'll have to look elsewhere.
Cozy spot with excellent food and cocktails. Food is eclectic and served tapas style. They do some interesting flavor combinations that will surprise and delight you.
40 locals recommend
Spoke Wine Bar
89 Holland StCozy spot with excellent food and cocktails. Food is eclectic and served tapas style. They do some interesting flavor combinations that will surprise and delight you.
Faster dining experiences for lunch or dinner
Excellent pizza with interesting toppings. Not your typical slice. Better, as long as you're not looking for a typical slice ;)
Dragon Pizza
233 Elm StreetExcellent pizza with interesting toppings. Not your typical slice. Better, as long as you're not looking for a typical slice ;)
Pizza, burgers, subs, salads, pasta... you name it. If you want variety and a low key dining experience, this is the place to go. Great if you've got kids and not everyone wants the same thing. They also have a full bar for the adults. Only head's up - this place will attract a college crowd, so it can get busy on "going out" nights. We're too old to know exactly which nights those are anymore!
13 locals recommend
Mike's Food & Spirits
9 Davis SquarePizza, burgers, subs, salads, pasta... you name it. If you want variety and a low key dining experience, this is the place to go. Great if you've got kids and not everyone wants the same thing. They also have a full bar for the adults. Only head's up - this place will attract a college crowd, so it can get busy on "going out" nights. We're too old to know exactly which nights those are anymore!
Anna's Taqueria
242 Cambridge StBurritos, Quesadillas and the like. Good stuff.
Authentic, excellent tortas, burritos and more. Small place so there might be a line, but well worth the wait.
16 locals recommend
Tenóch Mexican
382 Highland AveAuthentic, excellent tortas, burritos and more. Small place so there might be a line, but well worth the wait.
Here you can get great panini-style sandwiches as well as fresh pasta and more. They have a small gourmet-style grocery, which carries the basics as well as some fun items from around the world. They also have a wine shop, with occasional wine/beer tastings.
58 locals recommend
Dave's Fresh Pasta
81 Holland StHere you can get great panini-style sandwiches as well as fresh pasta and more. They have a small gourmet-style grocery, which carries the basics as well as some fun items from around the world. They also have a wine shop, with occasional wine/beer tastings.
Looking for something on the lighter/healthier side, you can find it here. The place place is pretty new (Fall of 2019) but so far so good!
Grainmaker
248 Elm StLooking for something on the lighter/healthier side, you can find it here. The place place is pretty new (Fall of 2019) but so far so good!
Groceries
Gourmet grocer with lots of interesting stuff. They also sell fresh pasta (as the name indicates) and delicious, hearty sandwiches
58 locals recommend
Dave's Fresh Pasta
81 Holland StGourmet grocer with lots of interesting stuff. They also sell fresh pasta (as the name indicates) and delicious, hearty sandwiches
Star Market
370 Western AveTraditional super market
Smaller version of a traditional super market. Right in Davis Square. They have mostly anything you would need from a super market and some good pre-made meals.
21 locals recommend
bfresh
240 Elm StSmaller version of a traditional super market. Right in Davis Square. They have mostly anything you would need from a super market and some good pre-made meals.
Closest, walk-able convenience store. If you need a couple of items in a pinch. They also sell beer & wine... and Italian ice if you're in the mood :)
7 locals recommend
Y-Not Variety
140 Willow AveClosest, walk-able convenience store. If you need a couple of items in a pinch. They also sell beer & wine... and Italian ice if you're in the mood :)
Liquor Stores
Excellent selection of beer, wine and spirits. If you're looking for a fun shopping/browsing experience in the neighborhood, this is the place to go. They also have a small grocery section, which is great if you're looking for some stuff to go with your beer and wine. Things like nice breads, cheese, olives, etc. They do wine and beer tastings regularly as well. Easy walk from the Airbnb.
63 locals recommend
Ball Square Cafe & Breakfast
708 BroadwayExcellent selection of beer, wine and spirits. If you're looking for a fun shopping/browsing experience in the neighborhood, this is the place to go. They also have a small grocery section, which is great if you're looking for some stuff to go with your beer and wine. Things like nice breads, cheese, olives, etc. They do wine and beer tastings regularly as well. Easy walk from the Airbnb.
This is the traditional Boston "package store." Local and easily walk-able from the Airbnb. They sell beer, wine spirits.
Crowley's Liquors
152 Boston AveThis is the traditional Boston "package store." Local and easily walk-able from the Airbnb. They sell beer, wine spirits.
This is not technically a liquor store, but they have a decent selection of beer and wine, if you need something while also picking up a few grocery items. Very close to the Airbnb.
7 locals recommend
Y-Not Variety
140 Willow AveThis is not technically a liquor store, but they have a decent selection of beer and wine, if you need something while also picking up a few grocery items. Very close to the Airbnb.