Summer in MA
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is notoriously hard in the legal field, and I definitely struggled with it last summer. I think that was largely due to COVID and teleworking, and the distinct feeling that work days never really ended…but I had similar problems in my previous job so I can’t totally blame coronavirus.
That said, I’ve worked hard to embrace and enjoy my off-time over the last few months. This is kinda my only “Fun Summer” in Boston; last year was dominated by COVID, of course, and next year is dedicated to bar prep. So I have to make the most of it!! I’ve been to a TON of awesome spots in the past few months with friends, hubs, and family, and it feels like a good time to recap some of my favorites.
And you guys know I LOVE a good top 10 list so…here you are. The Best of Boston Summer ‘21 - to date!
TREEHOUSE BREWING COMPANY
Charlton, MA
This is probably my favorite brewery of all time, ever. Treehouse Brewing Co. is an absolute gem tucked away in Charlton, Massachusetts - it’s about an hour and a half drive from Cambridge, but we’ve been there twice in two months. It’s THAT good.
You can drink on location (but only two drinks per person because the alcohol content is pretty high in some of these bad boys) and order Treehouse beer in advance. People literally brought dollies to wheel out their goods!! And the whole place is absolutely overrun with people, kids, and dogs, making it more of a full-blown “experience” than simply a brewery. In my opinion, it’s a must-see for anyone in Massachusetts with a little time to kill.
2. BOSTON SAIL LOFT
Seaport, MA
I cannot emphasize how obsessed I am with this little place. It’s a family-owned, family-run restaurant right on the Boston Harbor, and it has THE BEST clam chowder in all of America. The secret ingredient (not so secret, honestly - but definitely the key) is dill! The Sail Loft cups of chowder are absolutely overflowing and so freakin’ delicious, I’ve slurped mine down every time.
Ben and I have dragged two sets of out-of-town guests to this place so - you know it’s legit.
3. BLU
Boston, MA
This guy is in the heart of downtown, very close to the beautiful Boston Common Park. When you first walk in, it kinda looks like you’re headed to an Equinox - even when we reached the fourth floor, half of me wondered if we’d be eating in the gym’s food court. But if you turn left instead of right, you’ll be seated in front of HUGE floor-to-ceiling windows with a fantastic view of the street, the Paramount, and some verrrrrrrry pricey apartments.
Apart from the view, Blu’s food is incredible AND pretty reasonably priced! Ben took me here on my birthday and it’s been a great dinner option ever since.
4. AERONAUT BREWING COMPANY
Somerville, MA
First of all, I can’t take credit for this picture - I went to Aeronaut on a rainy day and my pics just didn’t do it justice. But Aeronaut is a craft brewery, taproom, and food hub just a few minutes from our apartment, and it’s AWESOME. And as you may have guessed, it’s space-themed! I mean, seriously - astronauts everywhere, a mural depicting all the major “air and space” events in history, and nonstop footage of the Space Station in orbit. Plus, the Aeronaut beer cans are super colorful and very, VERY loud.
In contrast, the brewery itself has a pretty cool, chill vibe. It’s connected to a whole separate “food room,” which in turn is next to a climbing gym. When we were there, it seemed like lots of people grabbed a beer after completing a tough workout. Brilliant spot and super cool branding…we’ll definitely make this a regular hangout.
5. EAT CAKE 4 BREAKFAST
Cape Cod, MA
BEST pastries on the entire Cape.
Eat Cake for Breakfast is the CUTEST bakery ever, featuring a fantastic assortment of goodies. This is a “must eat” destination whenever we head to the Cape - as you can see by the balloons, our last trip was on the Fourth of July. It’s a bit out of the way but totally worth it!
My personal favorites? The pistachio chocolate croissant, chocolate mousse, and fruit tart. But I doubt you could go wrong with anything from Eat Cake.
6. PHINISTA CAFE
Boston, MA
I’ve only been here once (on my way to #8 on this list) but it was FABULOUS. I’ve never had Vietnamese coffee before and safe to say, it’s my new favorite! This little coffee shop had cute indoor and outdoor seating and the nicest staff ever; plus, the crepes were to-die for. It’s a bit off the beaten path, but I need to go back to try the banh mi and rice bowls. The internet says they’re just as good as the crepes!
7. RISING TIDE & AUSTIN STREET BREWERY
Portland, Maine
These two breweries are right next to one another, and great spots for an afternoon drink. Austin Street Brewery has a super hip, indoor-to-outdoor sitting area and fantastic merch; Rising Tide has a huge tented seating area and an AWESOME variety of brews. I personally did a flight of four 4 oz. beers for $10 so…there’s nothing not to love. Both breweries are serviced by food trucks, and I chose a wood-fired pizza at Rising Tide on this particular outing (it was called the Murder Hornet and mixed pepperoni with honey - AMAZING). But Austin Street had Chicago-style food on tap, so I’ll definitely make a return trip.
Portland, Maine is about two hours from Boston, but it’s a straight shot up the coast and a perfect destination for a day trip. These two breweries were just the tip of the Portland iceberg - downtown had about six different streets full of shops, restaurants, and bars!
8. THE ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER MUSEUM
Boston, MA
Not a food place, but definitely the most unique museum I’ve ever seen. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a masterpiece from 1901, built by the eccentric (and very rich) Isabella Stewart Gardner. During her life, Isabella lived on the fourth floor of the museum and carefully arranged more than 7500 paintings, sculptures, pieces of furniture, textiles, silver, and ceramics; 1500 rare books; and 7000 archival objects on the bottom three floors. Plus, the entire middle section is totally dedicated to a gorgeous indoor courtyard! The museum has undergone extensive preservation efforts, but every item is still where Isabella left it.
Apart from its unique layout and eclectic style, the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum is famous for being the scene of the Greatest Art Heist ever conducted. In 1990, two thieves broke into the museum dressed as police officers and stole 13 paintings within 81 minutes - including two Rembrandts, one of which was the only seascape from the famous artist. The thieves were never apprehended and the empty frames still hang in the museum, serving as a reminder of the theft and a symbol of hope that they will be recovered.
Fun fact: it may be 31 years later, but the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum is still offering a $10M reward for information regarding the theft or whereabouts of the stolen paintings!
9. RAIL STOP RESTAURANT & BAR
ALLSTON, MA
Rail Stop is my #1 brunch destination - I’m seriously there two to three times a month. This place is only ten minutes from my apartment, directly across from a friend’s place, and has tons of accessible parking, so…a dream come true. The food and drinks are BOMB (I’ve never had anything I didn’t love) and it’s a good lunch and dinner destination as well. I really owe the friend who lives right next door for introducing me to this great little go-to!
10. ALDEN & HARLOW
Harvard Square, MA
Okay, hear me out: Fried Brussel Sprouts with fried peanuts, fish sauce, and herbs, alongside Pickled Corn Pancakes made of Buttermilk, Maple, and Shito with popcorn on top. I know. I know! But I promise - those two are unbelievably, mouthwateringly delicious.
Alden & Harlow is a gorgeous brick building on a side street off Harvard Square. It’s a “tapas” style place, perfect for a big group to share multiple plates, with great cocktails and a solid selection on tap. It’s just a bus ride away for me, so A&H has definitely been a repeat player on our summer outing list.
BONUS: THE OLE HOUSE PARTY
My own apartment isn’t super conducive to hosting events, so I’ve been mooching off my friends! As much as I love visiting a new brewery or restaurant, nothing beats a round of brewskis with your pals in a relaxing, comfy space. And if that space happens to be a roof with a full view of the city, well - I guess I picked some okay friends 😬
Long story short, I’m not even close to ready to start school again. So many great places and so little time!!! Fenway and Salem are still on my summer to-do list, as well as a few other notable breweries (and as always - open to suggestions from the peanut gallery!). But it’s been a memorable summer so far, and for that, I’m grateful.
