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Perched on the Charles River, Boston is a historic New England city with plenty to offer the millions of tourists that visit each year.
Boston’s history is a huge draw and no trip is complete without strolling the Freedom Trail to discover well-known delights such as the USS Constitution, Massachusetts State House, and Boston Public Gardens. However, if you’re eager to discover the enthralling secrets that the wider Boston area is hiding, keep reading for the lowdown on 18 can’t miss hidden gems.
1. Boston Public Library Courtyard Tea Room
- Website: thecateredaffair.com/courtyard-tea-room
- Address: 700 Boylston St, Boston, MA
- Opening hours: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm Tuesday / 11:00 am – 4:45 pm Wednesday / 10:00 am – 4:45 pm Thursday to Saturday / 11:00 am – 4:45 pm Sunday
For a charming afternoon tea experience, look no further than the elegant tea room at Boston Public Library. You’ll find this hidden gem in the McKim building overlooking the Italianate Courtyard — you’ll know you’re in the right place when you spot the crisp white linens and smell the scent of freshly baked scones.
2. Harvard Museum’s Glass Flowers
- Website: hmnh.harvard.edu/glass-flowers
- Address: 26 Oxford St, Cambridge, MA
- Opening hours: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm daily
Harvard University is home to a complex of four museums where visitors flock to see global treasures and works by famous artists. Those in the know, make sure not to miss the Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants or the Glass Flowers.
There are 4,300 glass models representing 780 plant species to admire in this one-of-a-kind art piece. Hop on the MBTA Red Line to easily reach Harvard Square where the exhibit is located.
3. Fenway Victory Gardens
- Website: fenwayvictorygardens.org
- Address: 1200 Boylston St, Boston, MA
- Opening hours: 6.00 am – 11.30 pm daily
This hidden gem is located across the street from the historic Fenway Park — home to the Boston Red Sox. Dating back to 1942, the gardens date back to 1942 when Americans were taking up gardening due to concerns about dwindling food supplies during WWII. The area spans 7.5 acres and green-thumbed visitors can sign up to do a spot of gardening if they desire.
4. The Mapparium
- Website: marybakereddylibrary​.org​
- Address: 210 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02115
- Opening hours: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm daily
The Mapparium is a room-sized, stained-glass globe that visitors can walk through on a glass bridge. It was designed to accurately depict the world’s countries’ geographical relationships to one another, and the acoustics inside the globe are such that even the tiniest whisper can be heard.
5. The Boston Athenaeum
- Website: bostonathenaeum.org
- Address: 10-1/2 Beacon St, Boston, MA
- Opening hours: 9.00 am – 8.00 pm Monday to Thursday / 9.00 am – 5.00 pm Friday & Saturday
Boston Athenaeum, established in 1807, is one of the oldest independent libraries in the United States. It houses around 150,000 rare books, art, and documents. The fifth-floor reading room offers stunning views of Granary Burying Ground.
6. Bodega
- Website: instagram.com/bodega
- Address: 10-1/2 Beacon St, Boston, MA
- Opening hours: 12.00 pm – 6.00 pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday / 12.00 pm – 7.00 pm Thursday to Saturday
Sneakerheads will love searching for this speakeasy-style fashion hotspot. Hidden behind a forgettable convenience store front is a secret high-end boutique filled with skate and street fashion. Patrons gain access to Bodega via the Snapple machine.
7. Boston Harbor Islands
- Website: bostonharborislands.org
- Address: 191w Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA
- Opening hours: 24 hours
Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park is made up of 34 islands and peninsulas and is within easy reach of Downtown Boston. There are dozens of trails to explore, wildlife to spot, and educational displays where you can learn about the history of Boston Harbor. Visitors can choose from taking a guided tour or exploring independently.
8. Brattle Book Shop
- Website: brattlebookshop.com
- Address: 9 West St, Boston, MA
- Opening hours: 9.00 am – 5.30 pm, Monday to Saturday
This hidden gem of a bookstore has been selling used and collectible books since 1825 and is a great opportunity to pick up a unique souvenir. Located next to Boston Common, bookworms can make a purchase and head to this lush green space for a tranquil afternoon of getting lost in a captivating story.
9. Museum of Bad Art
- Website: museumofbadart.org
- Address: 1250 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA
- Opening hours: 11.30 am – 10.00 pm Tuesday to Thursday / 11.30 am – 11.00 pm Friday & Saturday / 11.30 am – 9.00 pm Sunday & Monday
If you’ve already been to the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Bad Art is a fun change of pace. This is the only museum in the world dedicated to art that wouldn’t be welcome in a traditional gallery, and there are 500 terrible pieces to ‘admire’.
10. Boston’s Speakeasies
When Prohibition took effect in 1920, Bostonians responded with a whole host of speakeasies. Today, there are still a number of hidden and pop-up bars for deft drinkers to seek out.
Carrie Nation Cocktail Club
- Website: carrienationcocktailclub.com
- Address: 11 Beacon St, Boston, MA
- Opening hours: 11.00 am – 2.00 am Tuesday to Friday / 4.00 pm – 2.00 am Saturday / 11.00 am – 5.00 pm Sunday
This bar takes you back in time with classic decor, vintage cocktails, and a secret password that’s needed to access the hidden speakeasy-style section.
Backbar
- Website: backbarunion.com
- Address: 7 Sanborn Ct, Somerville, MA
- Opening hours: 5.00 pm – 12.00 am Tuesday to Sunday
Head over to Somerville and down a nondescript alleyway to seek out the Backbar sign. Once inside, you’ll find a creative list of craft cocktails and a cool Prohibition-era atmosphere.
Saloon
- Website: saloondavis.com
- Address: 255 Elm St, Somerville, MA
- Opening hours: 5.00 pm – 12.45 am Tuesday to Saturday
This spot is located in Davis Square and focuses on brown liquors and classic cocktails. Access to Saloon is via a nondescript door and a staircase that leads you into an intimate bar setting.
11. Faneuil Hall Weathervane
- Website: faneuilhallmarketplace.com
- Address: Faneuil Hall, Boston, MA
- Opening hours: 24 hours
Most visitors will head to Faneuil Hall Market during their time in Boston, but many don’t know about the unusual grasshopper weathervane has been in place for 270 years. Look out for it while you’re exploring Faneuil Hall.
12. Bell Ringing Chamber at Old North Church
- Website: oldnorth.com/music-program/bell-ringers-guild
- Address: 193 Salem St, Boston, MA
- Opening hours: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm Tuesday to Saturday / 11.30 am – 5.00 pm Sunday
The oldest bells in North America date back to 1744 and are located in Boston’s Old North Church. The ringing room also contains a copy of the 1750 charter in which the democratic organization of the tower was agreed upon — Paul Revere is the second signature on the contract.
Nowadays, the bells are rung by the MIT Guild of Bellringers, and visitors can listen to them from all over the North End neighborhood for one hour each Sunday.
13. New York City
From express trains to direct flights, there are plenty of ways to visit New York as a side trip from Boston. The train only takes four hours and flying is just 35 minutes, so you can zip down for a Yankees game or a Broadway show and be back in Boston in time for bed.
14. Empire Garden Restaurant
- Website: empireboston.com
- Address: 690 Washington St, Boston, MA
- Opening hours: 8.30 am – 9.30 pm Sunday to Thursday / 8.30 am – 10.30 pm Friday & Saturday
Boston’s Chinatown is often overlooked in favor of better-known neighborhoods like Back Bay, but foodies shouldn’t make that mistake. Empire Garden Restaurant is our top pick for authentic Chinese eats. The dim sum is definitely worth waiting in line for!
15. Rooftop at The Envoy
- Website: envoyrooftop.com
- Address: 70 Sleeper St, Boston, MA
- Opening hours: 11.00 am – 11.30 pm Sunday to Friday / 11.30 am – 11.30 pm Saturday
This beautiful harborside rooftop lounge in the Seaport District near South Boston is fabulous at any time of day, but it’s particularly special during golden hour and sunset. There’s a great menu of cocktails and small plates on offer, and the views of the Boston skyline are very impressive.
16. Old South Church
- Website: oldsouth.org
- Address: 645 Boylston St, Boston, MA
- Opening hours: 8.00 am – 8.00 pm Monday to Thursday / 8.00 am – 7.00 pm Fridays / 9.00 am – 4.00 pm Saturday / 8.30 am – 4.30 pm Sunday
Most tourists head to Newbury Street for its fantastic shopping and dining scene, but there’s also a notable landmark hidden in plain sight. Old South Church has stood two blocks away since 1873 and is a pristine example of Gothic Revival architecture.
17. Union Oyster House
- Website: unionoysterhouse.com
- Address: 41 Union St, Boston, MA
- Opening hours: 11.00 am – 9 pm Sunday to Thursday / 11 am – 10 pm Friday & Saturday
This historic restaurant has been serving New England classics like clam chowder since 1826. Said to be the oldest continually operating restaurant in the U.S., well-known patrons such as John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton have dined here over the years, and visitors in the know don’t miss the opportunity to stop by and sample a fresh oyster or two.
18. Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill is an exclusive, attractive neighborhood that many tourists overlook. However, it’s a great area of the city to see the historic area that well-heeled Bostonians have called home for centuries.
To see the best of the neighborhood, take a self-guided walking tour that passes by the hidden hot spots that most visitors miss.
Which Boston Hidden Gems Will You Unearth?
As you can see, there is much more to Greater Boston than meets the eye, and you’ll love delving into the city’s hidden gems. Bookmark this article if you’re looking to get off the beaten track while visiting Boston.
