DK Travel : Boston : Back Bay

The easily navigated grid of streets in Back Bay bear little resemblance to the labyrinthine lanes around Downtown and the North End. In the mid- 1800s Back Bay was filled in to accommodate Boston’s mushrooming population and by the late-1800s, the area had become a vibrant, upscale neighborhood. Home to many of Boston’s wealthiest families, the area was characterized by lavish houses, grand churches, and bustling commercial zones. Many of the original buildings stand intact, providing an exquisite 19th-century backdrop for today’s pulsing nightlife, world-class shopping, and sumptuous dining.

For information on the origins of Back Bay (see Around Newbury Street) For information on Boston Common (see Boston Common & Public Garden) Note: Cross streets in Back Bay run alphabetically, beginning with Arlington in the east and ending at Hereford Street in the west Note: For those tight on time, the Prudential Center’s glorified food hall, Marché Movenpick, makes perfect sense

Page
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Copley Society of Boston

With a commitment to exhibiting works by promising New England artists, this non-profit organization boasts a 120-year history of providing young artists with that crucial first break.
Daisy Buchanan’s

Professional athletes, models, and local professionals are drawn to Daisy’s for its friendly, casual vibe.
Davio’s

With a versatile menu of robust Italian specialties, design-your-own pizzas, and a spacious sidewalk café, Davio’s is sure to please.
Deluca’s Back Bay Market

This old world-style corner market stocks fabulous produce, chilled beer, ready-made sandwiches, and imported delights of all kinds.
Ermenegildo Zegna

For the successful business-man whose daydreams feature a vintage Ferrari and the Sardinian coast, Zegna fits like a glove. Classic Italian suits and ties that are unrivaled for style and quality.
Gallery NAGA

Representing some of New England’s most regarded printmakers and painters, NAGA is possibly Newbury’s best contemporary art gallery.
Gibson House Museum

One of the first private residences to be built in Back Bay (c.1859), Gibson House remains beautifully intact. The house has been preserved as a monument to the era, thanks largely to the efforts of its final resident (the grandson of the well-to-do woman who built the house). So frozen in time does this house appear that you might feel like you’re intruding on someone’s inner sanctum, and an earlier age. Highlights of the tour include some elegant porcelain dinnerware, 18th-century heirloom jewelry, and exquisite black walnut woodwork throughout the house.
Grill 23

Grill 23 harkens back to the days of exclusive, Prohibition-era supper clubs. Prime aged beef with an inventive spin is served in a sumptuously classic interior.
Gyuhama

This mainstay Japanese restaurant slings some of the city’s freshest sushi.
Hard Rock Café

Boston’s outpost of the hegemonic rock ’n’ roll café has all the memorabilia you would expect, along with a hopping after-work bar scene. Thursdays bring local rock bands.

Jump to top

Restaurant price categories

For a three course meal for one with half a bottle of wine (or equivalent meal), taxes, and extra charges.
- under $30
- $30–$45
- $45–$60
- $60–$75
- over $75