Guidebook for Cambridge
Our Favorite Restaurants and Cafes
There are so many restaurants and cafes to chose from! Here are some of our favorites - places we keep going back to. Hope you enjoy them too!
Excellent Indian food (well, for a non-Indian like me anyway:)
16 locals recommend
The Kebab Factory - An Indian Bistro
414 Washington StExcellent Indian food (well, for a non-Indian like me anyway:)
Very good and very reasonable Indian 'hole in the wall' restaurant, for take out or eating in at the plastic tables while watching Bollywood videos. Our go-tos are chicken tikka masala and good vegetarian options (Malay kofta, chickpeas and lentils Dahl Punjabi)
74 locals recommend
Punjabi Dhaba
225 Hampshire StVery good and very reasonable Indian 'hole in the wall' restaurant, for take out or eating in at the plastic tables while watching Bollywood videos. Our go-tos are chicken tikka masala and good vegetarian options (Malay kofta, chickpeas and lentils Dahl Punjabi)
Good food, nice minimalist modern vibe. Not the cheapest but a good spot
56 locals recommend
Puritan & Company
1166 Cambridge StGood food, nice minimalist modern vibe. Not the cheapest but a good spot
Olé
11 Springfield StGreat Mexican food in a casual setting in Inman Square
Excellent tapas and sangria in an eclectic atmosphere. Our "go-to" place for dinner out. Good for friends or a date night.
55 locals recommend
Dali
415 Washington StExcellent tapas and sangria in an eclectic atmosphere. Our "go-to" place for dinner out. Good for friends or a date night.
Cool cafe with excellent coffee and all-organic food, owned by a local Cambridge coffee aficionado.
8 locals recommend
Broadsheet Coffee Roasters
100 Kirkland StCool cafe with excellent coffee and all-organic food, owned by a local Cambridge coffee aficionado.
Excellent Italian restaurant with an extensive menu with something for every taste. Upscale but well worth the money. We sometimes take people visiting for business here, or if we have a group of people who want different things to eat.
56 locals recommend
Toscano
47 Charles StExcellent Italian restaurant with an extensive menu with something for every taste. Upscale but well worth the money. We sometimes take people visiting for business here, or if we have a group of people who want different things to eat.
The hidden courtyard is a gem in the spring and summer! Venezuelan restaurant with very good mixed grill plate.
11 locals recommend
Orinoco Harvard Square
56 John F. Kennedy StThe hidden courtyard is a gem in the spring and summer! Venezuelan restaurant with very good mixed grill plate.
Yum! Excellent baked goods and sandwiches in Harvard Square. Perfect for breakfast / brunch, or a little pick-me-up after touring Harvard.
212 locals recommend
Tatte Bakery & Café
70 Charles StYum! Excellent baked goods and sandwiches in Harvard Square. Perfect for breakfast / brunch, or a little pick-me-up after touring Harvard.
Best outdoor dining experience in Boston's North End. In the Pandemic, they set up tables in North Square, between Paul Revere's House and a church. It's like being in a mix of Boston and Italy. Outside tables book up fast; if full, try Ciao Roma, who also has outside seating on the square. Both have excellent food.
24 locals recommend
Mamma Maria
3 N SquareBest outdoor dining experience in Boston's North End. In the Pandemic, they set up tables in North Square, between Paul Revere's House and a church. It's like being in a mix of Boston and Italy. Outside tables book up fast; if full, try Ciao Roma, who also has outside seating on the square. Both have excellent food.
Good Irish pub with great pub fare, good beer, and sometimes live music and trivia nights. In Inman Square, 5 min walk.
85 locals recommend
The Druid
1357 Cambridge StGood Irish pub with great pub fare, good beer, and sometimes live music and trivia nights. In Inman Square, 5 min walk.
Best Mexican in Harvard Square and our teens' absolute favorite restaurant. Quick and reasonable but very good quality - much better than the chain restaurants. Family-owned and authentic, with character. Rooftop terrace. I haven't tried the rooftop terrace myself because they don't allow kids up there, and it's our kids who always want to go to Felipe's. We often get take out and eat outside listening to the buskers - or in the Sunken Garden Park for a quiet meal away from the bustle of Harvard Square.
47 locals recommend
Felipe's Taqueria
21 Brattle StBest Mexican in Harvard Square and our teens' absolute favorite restaurant. Quick and reasonable but very good quality - much better than the chain restaurants. Family-owned and authentic, with character. Rooftop terrace. I haven't tried the rooftop terrace myself because they don't allow kids up there, and it's our kids who always want to go to Felipe's. We often get take out and eat outside listening to the buskers - or in the Sunken Garden Park for a quiet meal away from the bustle of Harvard Square.
A gem in warm weather! Delicious, no-nonsense, traditional American breakfasts served outside under the grapevine. Very casual vibe, and comfort food. The patio fills up fast and they don't take reservations. Best to get there before 9 AM on nice week ends and sign your name on the waitlist. After 9 AM there is usually a wait. If you have kids, come early, and stop by the playground around the corner - or have one adults take the kids there while you wait for a table / the food and call the kids to come when the food is ready. (We did that when our kids were little. Great way to meet friends, let kids play and not cook breakfast:)
But this place is also very popular with the local millennials and hipsters.
78 locals recommend
Flora Restaurant
190 Massachusetts AveA gem in warm weather! Delicious, no-nonsense, traditional American breakfasts served outside under the grapevine. Very casual vibe, and comfort food. The patio fills up fast and they don't take reservations. Best to get there before 9 AM on nice week ends and sign your name on the waitlist. After 9 AM there is usually a wait. If you have kids, come early, and stop by the playground around the corner - or have one adults take the kids there while you wait for a table / the food and call the kids to come when the food is ready. (We did that when our kids were little. Great way to meet friends, let kids play and not cook breakfast:)
But this place is also very popular with the local millennials and hipsters.
Excellent Indian food in Harvard Square. Formal with white table cloths. Most guests are Indians, a good sign:)
The Maharaja
57 John F. Kennedy StExcellent Indian food in Harvard Square. Formal with white table cloths. Most guests are Indians, a good sign:)
Exquisite chocolatier! The perfect indulgence of ultra-rich hot chocolate and pastries - and chocolate gifts. A Harvard Square Classic. Pricey but well worth it.
64 locals recommend
L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates
52 Brattle StExquisite chocolatier! The perfect indulgence of ultra-rich hot chocolate and pastries - and chocolate gifts. A Harvard Square Classic. Pricey but well worth it.
Excellent middle Eastern food in Inman Square. The chicken tagine and chicken kebobs are amazing, as is the falafel. Small, can be hard to get a table but you can eat at the bar too.
8 locals recommend
Moona
243 Hampshire StExcellent middle Eastern food in Inman Square. The chicken tagine and chicken kebobs are amazing, as is the falafel. Small, can be hard to get a table but you can eat at the bar too.
Other Neighborhood Favorites
These places make our neighborhood special:)
My favorite neighborhood store and THE place to get goodies for an evening in. Knowledgeable staff, excellent wine selection, cheeses from all over the world as well as local farms - and proper charcuterie. And yes: the 18 month and 36 month old prosciutto are worth the splurge!:)
41 locals recommend
Wine & Cheese Cask
407 Washington StMy favorite neighborhood store and THE place to get goodies for an evening in. Knowledgeable staff, excellent wine selection, cheeses from all over the world as well as local farms - and proper charcuterie. And yes: the 18 month and 36 month old prosciutto are worth the splurge!:)
Phenomenal butchers. Savenor's was the butcher of choice for TV chef/cooking teacher Julia Child back in the day. I'm an immigrant so I never watched her show - but I can tell you that the meat at Savenor's is exceptional!
54 locals recommend
Savenor's Market
160 Charles StPhenomenal butchers. Savenor's was the butcher of choice for TV chef/cooking teacher Julia Child back in the day. I'm an immigrant so I never watched her show - but I can tell you that the meat at Savenor's is exceptional!
Excellent home-made ice cream in Inman Square, 5 in walk away. Yum!
Good place to get dessert in the summer after having dinner in Inman Square.
68 locals recommend
Christina's Homemade Ice Cream
1255 Cambridge StExcellent home-made ice cream in Inman Square, 5 in walk away. Yum!
Good place to get dessert in the summer after having dinner in Inman Square.
Drinks & Nightlife
Thirsty Scholar Pub
70 Beacon StIrish Pub with good beer selection and pub fare
Essentials
Great selection of prepared foods plus all of Wholefoods' organic produce and grocery items if you want to cook at home
1155 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
413 Centre StGreat selection of prepared foods plus all of Wholefoods' organic produce and grocery items if you want to cook at home
For your "essential" cheese, prosciutto, and wine this is the place. Everything in this store is excellent. Fantastic cheese selection, good sandwiches, excellent wine selection and knowledgeable staff. An absolute favorite:)
41 locals recommend
Wine & Cheese Cask
407 Washington StFor your "essential" cheese, prosciutto, and wine this is the place. Everything in this store is excellent. Fantastic cheese selection, good sandwiches, excellent wine selection and knowledgeable staff. An absolute favorite:)
Pharmacy and convenience store - for everything from toothbrushes to your prescription medication to birthday cards and more.
71 locals recommend
Walgreens
1603 Washington StPharmacy and convenience store - for everything from toothbrushes to your prescription medication to birthday cards and more.
Basic grocery store, more reasonable than Wholefood. Produce section can be hit or miss but has all the other basics.
595 locals recommend
Star Market
370 Western AveBasic grocery store, more reasonable than Wholefood. Produce section can be hit or miss but has all the other basics.
Arts & Culture
A short walk away is Harvard's new art museum. Excellent collection - check out their Web site and go visit
205 locals recommend
Harvard Art Museums
32 Quincy StA short walk away is Harvard's new art museum. Excellent collection - check out their Web site and go visit
The glass flower exhibit is impressive. The animal exhibits are a bit like a museum to museums - it hasn't changed in decades. Good for families (we used to take our kids all the time)
151 locals recommend
Harvard Museum of Natural History
26 Oxford StThe glass flower exhibit is impressive. The animal exhibits are a bit like a museum to museums - it hasn't changed in decades. Good for families (we used to take our kids all the time)
Interesting exhibits, we go to the MesoAmerica one every Day of the Dead and enjoy it.
20 locals recommend
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology
11 Divinity AveInteresting exhibits, we go to the MesoAmerica one every Day of the Dead and enjoy it.
It's the ART! Leading edge theater, a lot of avant-garde shows. Books up weeks or month in advance though...
65 locals recommend
A.R.T. - American Repertory Theater
64 Brattle StIt's the ART! Leading edge theater, a lot of avant-garde shows. Books up weeks or month in advance though...
This unique museum is one of my favorites: Isabella Stewart Gartner built this villa and incorporated her art collection in the building.
500 locals recommend
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
25 Evans WayThis unique museum is one of my favorites: Isabella Stewart Gartner built this villa and incorporated her art collection in the building.
The Mapparium is a huge stained glass globe that you can go inside - and see the World's geopolitical map from 1931-32, when it was built. They advertise the stained glass, but what is striking to me is how much the world has changed in under 100 years; inside this glob you really see the reach of the British and French empires. Worth an hour side trip if you're in the Back Bay / Fenway Area. The Mary Baker library is OK, but I like the Mapparium best.
The Mary Baker Eddy Library
210 Massachusetts AvenueThe Mapparium is a huge stained glass globe that you can go inside - and see the World's geopolitical map from 1931-32, when it was built. They advertise the stained glass, but what is striking to me is how much the world has changed in under 100 years; inside this glob you really see the reach of the British and French empires. Worth an hour side trip if you're in the Back Bay / Fenway Area. The Mary Baker library is OK, but I like the Mapparium best.
Sightseeing
Harvard University
3 Oxford StreetHarvard Yard is on most people's list of "must-see" when in Cambridge. But for us locals it's also a nice place to sit under the trees and take a break from the bustle of Harvard Square"
71 locals recommend
Harvard Yard
2 Kirkland StHarvard Yard is on most people's list of "must-see" when in Cambridge. But for us locals it's also a nice place to sit under the trees and take a break from the bustle of Harvard Square"
Harvard Art Museums
32 Quincy StExcellent museum - visit if you have time!
Getting Around
The T (subway / metro). Trains to Boston take 10 mins and leave every few minutes during the day.
114 locals recommend
Harvard station
1 Brattle StThe T (subway / metro). Trains to Boston take 10 mins and leave every few minutes during the day.
Hertz
646 Somerville AveEnterprise Rent-A-Car
37 Mystic Ave