Me, the wife, and 2 other couples going to Newport for 2 days and Boston for 3 in June. Haven’t been to Boston in almost 30 yrs. Any suggestions on areas to stay and restaurants?
OT: Boston/Newport RI
- Thread starter DawgsGoneWild
- Start date
Boston Harbor Hotel. Any restaurant on the North End. You’re welcome.
I stayed at the Encore casino/hotel when I went last year. It's pretty new and it is awesome - high end. They have a water taxi that will take you to the Italian district, which was awesome, close taxi to lots of cool stuff.
Boston is probably the best city in the United States to visit. Just eat a bunch of lobster rolls, walk the freedom trail, and go watch the Sox. The town is very walkable and crime is almost non-existent. They seem to have priced criminals out of the city.
Best lobster rolls: Neptune Oyster (North End), James Hook & Co (Waterfront/Downtown), Saltie Girl (Back Bay) if you can get in; I always get them warm with butter
Other places: Moo (nice steakhouse in Beacon Hill area) and Trattiria Il Panino (Italian in the North End)
We've tended to stay in kid friendly places. The Fairmont Copley is great if your wives are looking for swanky. And it's near Newberry Street, which is likely where the wives will want to hang out and shop. The best located hotel we've stayed in for convenience to historical stuff is the Omni Parker House. It's dated though, but again really convenient to everything. Has some unique history too. Ho Chi Minh was once a kitchen worker there. Hyatt Regency downtown is also nice with a very helpful staff. It's just kind of smack in the middle of downtown.
The T is convenient. It's much safer and cleaner than the NY subway.
I keep telling myself I'm going to get a car and drive over to Lexington/Concord but I haven't yet.
Best lobster rolls: Neptune Oyster (North End), James Hook & Co (Waterfront/Downtown), Saltie Girl (Back Bay) if you can get in; I always get them warm with butter
Other places: Moo (nice steakhouse in Beacon Hill area) and Trattiria Il Panino (Italian in the North End)
We've tended to stay in kid friendly places. The Fairmont Copley is great if your wives are looking for swanky. And it's near Newberry Street, which is likely where the wives will want to hang out and shop. The best located hotel we've stayed in for convenience to historical stuff is the Omni Parker House. It's dated though, but again really convenient to everything. Has some unique history too. Ho Chi Minh was once a kitchen worker there. Hyatt Regency downtown is also nice with a very helpful staff. It's just kind of smack in the middle of downtown.
The T is convenient. It's much safer and cleaner than the NY subway.
I keep telling myself I'm going to get a car and drive over to Lexington/Concord but I haven't yet.
Also the Cliff walk. And a harbor cruise. Downtown Providence is pretty cool too. In Boston the aquarium is good & a whale watching cruise. And as someone else said Freedom Trail is awesome. As for places to eat no idea. I just go where my brother takes me. But there’s plenty of good places in both towns. Really, if you just Yelp it you can’t go wrong.
The North End for Italian is a great area, you cannot go wrong. Recommend Vinoteca di Monica (North End). Stay near Faneuil Hall (close to Freedom walk area). Seaport area is also nice.
Go to Mike's Pastry or Modern Pastry for dessert. SAVR restaurant in Seaport is also very good.
Go to Mike's Pastry or Modern Pastry for dessert. SAVR restaurant in Seaport is also very good.
Newport is awesome. If you like oysters, there is no better food city. It’s also good even if you don’t like oysters.
Those old mansions are a really cool to tour. You can buy a yearly mansion tour membership online before arriving and it will pay for itself if you tour 3 of them (or it would a few years ago), and you can skip to the front of the admission lines.
All restaurants are good. Black Pearl had the best clam chowder. White Horse Tavern (oldest restaurant in america) is overrated. The downstairs bar at Clark Cooke House is cool. You’ll probably be able to say you ate with, or in the same room as, a billionaire (or their kid) if you go.
I’ve never felt as poor as I did in this city. Newport is the oldest money in the country. Prices at all restaurants will remind you of this.
Parking is terrible. Make sure wherever you stay includes onsite parking (or at least close by). I recommend a bed and breakfast within walking distance of the downtown/harbor area. There are lots of them. They likely will not have an elevator, so keep that in mind if you will be toting a 50# suitcase.
Those old mansions are a really cool to tour. You can buy a yearly mansion tour membership online before arriving and it will pay for itself if you tour 3 of them (or it would a few years ago), and you can skip to the front of the admission lines.
All restaurants are good. Black Pearl had the best clam chowder. White Horse Tavern (oldest restaurant in america) is overrated. The downstairs bar at Clark Cooke House is cool. You’ll probably be able to say you ate with, or in the same room as, a billionaire (or their kid) if you go.
I’ve never felt as poor as I did in this city. Newport is the oldest money in the country. Prices at all restaurants will remind you of this.
Parking is terrible. Make sure wherever you stay includes onsite parking (or at least close by). I recommend a bed and breakfast within walking distance of the downtown/harbor area. There are lots of them. They likely will not have an elevator, so keep that in mind if you will be toting a 50# suitcase.
sent me down a copilot rabbit trail:
White Horse Tavern (Newport, Rhode Island)
- Began operating as a tavern: 1673
- Building constructed: 1652
- Widely recognized as America’s oldest tavern [en.wikipedia.org], [visitnewportri.org]
Union Oyster House (Boston, Massachusetts)
- Opened as a restaurant: 1826
- Building constructed: circa 1716
- Recognized as the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the U.S. [en.wikipedia.org]
Bottom line
- White Horse Tavern (1673) predates Union Oyster House (1826) by over 150 years.
- The distinction usually comes down to terminology:
- Oldest tavern → White Horse Tavern
- Oldest continuously operating restaurant → Union Oyster House
Final Verdict (by category)
Oldest tavern overall: White Horse Tavern
Oldest Revolutionary‑era tavern: Fraunces Tavern
Oldest Boston tavern/bar: Bell in Hand Tavern- Oldest continuously operating restaurant: Union Oyster House