DK Travel : Boston : Beacon Hill

With its elegant, 200 year-old row houses, quaint grocers, pricey antique shops, and hidden gardens, Beacon Hill screams “old money” like no other area in Boston. That some of the city’s most exorbitant apartment rentals can still be found here suggests it will remain an enclave of exclusivity for years to come. Yet throughout the 19th century and well into the 20th, this inimitably charming neighborhood was a veritable checkerboard of ethnicities and earning groups – segregated though they were. Little of Beacon Hill’s diversity has survived its relatively recent gentrification, but visitors can still experience the neighborhood’s myriad pasts inside its opulent mansions and humble schoolhouses, and along its enchanting cobblestone streets.

Black Heritage Trail

By and large the Paul Reveres and John Adam’s of this world have monopolized Bostonians’ collective understanding of their city’s history. As a refreshing counterpoint, the Black Heritage Trail posits that black Bostonians, through their long-marginalized histories, have played an indispensable role in the city’s development. The trail illustrates this point at every turn, taking visitors past the homes, businesses, and schools of some of Boston’s most influential black Americans. Tours leave from the Shaw Memorial at 10am, noon and 2pm (Memorial Day to Labor Day).

Note: Massachusetts State House is situated on the Freedom Trail (see Massachusetts State House)

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Boston Center for Jewish Heritage

This synagogue testifies to the area’s former vibrancy as Boston’s first predominantly Jewish quarter. The congregation was founded in 1903 by immigrants from Vilna, Lithuania. While services are no longer held here, there are plans to rededicate the synagogue as a Jewish cultural center.
Elegant Findings

This intimate shop specializes in museum-quality, hand-painted 19th-century porcelain from all over Europe. You’ll also find marble statuary, exquisite linens, and period furniture.
Figs

A popular spot where local celeb-chef Todd English turns his deft hand to pizza with toppings like artichoke, caramelized leeks, goat’s cheese, and basil oil.
Gallagher-Christopher

Exquisite, predominantly 18th- and 19th-century English furniture and lighting distinguish this shop. Browse Biedermeyer lamp tables, opaline vases, and fine accessories.
George Middleton House

The oldest remaining private residence on Beacon Hill built by African-Americans is a highlight of the Black Heritage Trail. George Middleton, a white revolutionary war veteran, commissioned the house’s construction shortly after the war. Legend has it that Middleton commanded an all-black company dubbed the “Bucks of America.”
Harrison Gray Otis House

One of the principal developers of Beacon Hill, Harrison Gray Otis (see Harrison Gray Otis (1765–1848))served in the Massachusetts legislature and gained a reputation for living la dolce vita in this 1796 Bulfinch-designed manse. Like a post-Revolutionary Gatsby, Otis ensured his parties were the social events of the year. After falling into disrepair, the property was acquired in 1916 by the historical preservation society and meticulously restored to its original grandeur.
Judith Dowling Asian Art

More of a gallery than an antique shop, Judith Dowling carries superlative Asian pieces, ranging from 17th-century Japanese Buddhist figurines to exquisite ceramics.
King & I

No surprises here, just savory, well-priced Thai staples.
Lala Rokh

Authentic Persian cuisine is served in this casual spot. Citrus-based glazes and relishes give meats amazing piquant flavor.
Louisburg Square

Cobblestone streets, a genteel little gated park, and a hefty dose of Boston Brahmin cachet make this tight block of townhouses the city’s most exclusive patch of real estate. Modeled after the traditional residential squares of London in 1826, the square was named in remembrance of the 1745 Battle of Louisburg in modern-day Quebec.

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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