Food Scene
Journeyman
9 Sanborn CourtHidden high-end gourmet restaurant.
Dunkin'
1631 Tremont StCheap mass produced coffee and donuts. Regional institution.
Big, delicious, American breakfast. Patio chairs and a line on weekends. Nothing fancy about it. Just solid fare.
77 locals recommend
Flora Restaurant
190 Massachusetts AveBig, delicious, American breakfast. Patio chairs and a line on weekends. Nothing fancy about it. Just solid fare.
Brazilian Coffeehouse. Good breakfast! They specialize in omelets. Worth the 5 minute walk.
17 locals recommend
Bom Cafe
1093 Cambridge StBrazilian Coffeehouse. Good breakfast! They specialize in omelets. Worth the 5 minute walk.
A 10 minute walk, but, if you're going in the Harvard Square direction, I personally prefer this coffeehouse to either of the ones in Union Square.
48 locals recommend
The Biscuit
256 Marginal StreetA 10 minute walk, but, if you're going in the Harvard Square direction, I personally prefer this coffeehouse to either of the ones in Union Square.
Coffeehouse in what used to be a bank. Really interesting renovation that incorporated the vaults and safety deposit boxes.
91 locals recommend
Bloc Cafe
11 Bow StCoffeehouse in what used to be a bank. Really interesting renovation that incorporated the vaults and safety deposit boxes.
Fortissimo Coffeehouse
75 Bow StBrazilian Coffeehouse
Excellent Tapas and cocktails. Worth every penny. The basement dining room is super cozy on a cold day. This is a favorite place of ours.
32 locals recommend
Casa B Tapas and Cocktail & Rum Bar
253 Washington StExcellent Tapas and cocktails. Worth every penny. The basement dining room is super cozy on a cold day. This is a favorite place of ours.
Authentic Korean specifically serving the local Korean community.
8 locals recommend
Buk Kyung Korean Restaurant
9a Union SquareAuthentic Korean specifically serving the local Korean community.
Ebi sushi
290 Somerville AveGood sushi.
Delicious and inexpensive. Specializes in roasted chicken. We eat here weekly.
20 locals recommend
Machu Chicken
25 Union SquareDelicious and inexpensive. Specializes in roasted chicken. We eat here weekly.
Gourmet Donuts. Fantastically delicious and very sweet. On weekends they have a line out the door and sell out of donuts by 2p. People travel from across the river to find this place. (In Boston, crossing the Charles River is a big. No one who lives here bothers if they don't have to.)
124 locals recommend
Union Square Donuts
20 Bow StGourmet Donuts. Fantastically delicious and very sweet. On weekends they have a line out the door and sell out of donuts by 2p. People travel from across the river to find this place. (In Boston, crossing the Charles River is a big. No one who lives here bothers if they don't have to.)
Drinks & Nightlife
Bar with good bar food. Good for late night drinks, or evening dinner.
44 locals recommend
Brass Union
70 Union SquareBar with good bar food. Good for late night drinks, or evening dinner.
Bar and restaurant separated. One of the most popular establishments in the square.
60 locals recommend
The Independent
75 Union SquareBar and restaurant separated. One of the most popular establishments in the square.
This is the best bar in the square for cocktails and "bar food." This tiny bar is a hidden gem. Separated from the restaurant, this is the bar side of Journeyman. It's a great place to sample some of the flavors of Journeyman on a budget.
The bar, itself, is literally hidden. It's down an alley, through a nondescript back door, at the end of a poorly lit utilitarian hallway. Enough people have discovered it for the small place to hit capacity on Friday and Saturday nights, but if you can catch it on a quieter night it is perfect for a couple sophisticated cocktails and bacon caramel popcorn. My favorite drink, the Laphroaig Project.
89 locals recommend
Backbar
7 Sanborn CtThis is the best bar in the square for cocktails and "bar food." This tiny bar is a hidden gem. Separated from the restaurant, this is the bar side of Journeyman. It's a great place to sample some of the flavors of Journeyman on a budget.
The bar, itself, is literally hidden. It's down an alley, through a nondescript back door, at the end of a poorly lit utilitarian hallway. Enough people have discovered it for the small place to hit capacity on Friday and Saturday nights, but if you can catch it on a quieter night it is perfect for a couple sophisticated cocktails and bacon caramel popcorn. My favorite drink, the Laphroaig Project.
Cozy Irish tavern with solid food and drink, and live music most nights.
31 locals recommend
Bull McCabe's
366 Somerville AveCozy Irish tavern with solid food and drink, and live music most nights.
Sightseeing
Central Square
The Middle East concert venue, restaurants, bars
Harvard University
3 Oxford StreetLiterally, down the street.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
77 Massachusetts AveWalk or bus away.
Davis Square
Restaurants, bars, shops, and Tufts University
Parks & Nature
Revolutionary War historic sight, and playground. It's a small park at the top of a hill with great views of Boston and Cambridge. It's the neighborhood spot to go for Fourth of July fireworks over the Charles River.
19 locals recommend
Prospect Hill
Revolutionary War historic sight, and playground. It's a small park at the top of a hill with great views of Boston and Cambridge. It's the neighborhood spot to go for Fourth of July fireworks over the Charles River.
Walnut Street Park
16 Walnut StLocal playground perfectly sized for toddles and small children.
Shopping
Local Supply
86 Joy StLocal gift store. Bring home a present.
If you want to go to the mall just hop on the 87 bus. Or, if it's a nice day and you're adventurous, it's only a walk away.
178 locals recommend
CambridgeSide
100 Cambridgeside PlIf you want to go to the mall just hop on the 87 bus. Or, if it's a nice day and you're adventurous, it's only a walk away.
Essentials
Inman Oasis
243 Hampshire StThe community hot tub, $12 for 30 minutes, is lovely.
Your local Crossfit gym doesn't get any closer. Drop into a class if you want to catch a workout while in town. They are the only actively trans-friendly gyms in the Greater Boston Area. While you're there check out their urban agriculture project. In addition to vegetable gardens, they have chickens, and bees.
CrossFit Somerville
35 Prospect StYour local Crossfit gym doesn't get any closer. Drop into a class if you want to catch a workout while in town. They are the only actively trans-friendly gyms in the Greater Boston Area. While you're there check out their urban agriculture project. In addition to vegetable gardens, they have chickens, and bees.
Jerry's Liquor Mart
329 Somerville AveThis is the local liquor store.
This is your local Japanese and Korean grocery store. They also sell sake.
24 locals recommend
Reliable Market
45 Union SquareThis is your local Japanese and Korean grocery store. They also sell sake.
This is a large grocery store that will meet most of your grocery or healthcare product needs. It gets crowded on weekends and during rush hour. The 12 items or less lane is the fastest way to get out.
236 locals recommend
Market Basket
400 Somerville AveThis is a large grocery store that will meet most of your grocery or healthcare product needs. It gets crowded on weekends and during rush hour. The 12 items or less lane is the fastest way to get out.
Somerville Cleaners
21 Union SquareLocal dry cleaning.
Getting Around
Union Square
Union SquareYou're bus hub and bike rental is right in the center of the square.