Guidebook for Cambridge

Kristin
Guidebook for Cambridge

Everything Else

Best hot chocolate in the world, with an indulgent array of European-style cakes - a treat for adults and kids alike!
64 locals recommend
L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates
52 Brattle St
64 locals recommend
Best hot chocolate in the world, with an indulgent array of European-style cakes - a treat for adults and kids alike!
Unique flavors of ice cream are sure to delight! Stop by for a pick-me-up after an afternoon of window shopping.
298 locals recommend
J.P. Licks
659 Centre St
298 locals recommend
Unique flavors of ice cream are sure to delight! Stop by for a pick-me-up after an afternoon of window shopping.
A divey Chinese restaurant and bar popular with undergrads for its scorpion bowl.
33 locals recommend
Hong Kong
1238 Massachusetts Ave
33 locals recommend
A divey Chinese restaurant and bar popular with undergrads for its scorpion bowl.
The post office is within walking distance.
97 locals recommend
United States Postal Service
655 Centre St
97 locals recommend
The post office is within walking distance.
Delicious ice cream in interesting flavors. I don't like it quite as much as Toscanini's or J.P. Licks, but some people swear by this place.
68 locals recommend
Christina's Homemade Ice Cream
1255 Cambridge St
68 locals recommend
Delicious ice cream in interesting flavors. I don't like it quite as much as Toscanini's or J.P. Licks, but some people swear by this place.
The New York Times once called this the best ice cream in the world; I agree! I love their salted caramel as well as their burnt caramel flavors; the ice cream is on the soft side and very indulgent!
115 locals recommend
Toscanini's Ice Cream
159 First St
115 locals recommend
The New York Times once called this the best ice cream in the world; I agree! I love their salted caramel as well as their burnt caramel flavors; the ice cream is on the soft side and very indulgent!

Food Scene

Hot steaming bowls of pho (rice noodles with beef shank in a savory broth) hit the spot on chilly days, while crisp spring rolls with vermicelli are perfect for the summer.
10 locals recommend
Le's Restaurant
36 Dunster St
10 locals recommend
Hot steaming bowls of pho (rice noodles with beef shank in a savory broth) hit the spot on chilly days, while crisp spring rolls with vermicelli are perfect for the summer.
Another coffee option in the Square, in an old Victorian house overlooking a small park
66 locals recommend
Peet's Coffee
285 Harvard St
66 locals recommend
Another coffee option in the Square, in an old Victorian house overlooking a small park
Locally-sourced burgers and shakes that are hands-down delicious! Our favorite is the Adopted Luke (mushrooms and swiss cheese) - I make mine a turkey burger and my husband sticks with beef.
15 locals recommend
b.good
24 Dunster St
15 locals recommend
Locally-sourced burgers and shakes that are hands-down delicious! Our favorite is the Adopted Luke (mushrooms and swiss cheese) - I make mine a turkey burger and my husband sticks with beef.
The biggest Starbucks in Harvard Square - the second floor has floor-to-ceiling glass windos overlooking the center of Harvard Square and tons of seating and tables. Great place to hang out or do work
202 locals recommend
Starbucks
1380 Massachusetts Ave
202 locals recommend
The biggest Starbucks in Harvard Square - the second floor has floor-to-ceiling glass windos overlooking the center of Harvard Square and tons of seating and tables. Great place to hang out or do work
Undergrads flock to Noch's for the thick-crust pizza, but a lesser-known secret are its delicious subs
22 locals recommend
Pinocchio's Pizza & Subs
74 Winthrop St
22 locals recommend
Undergrads flock to Noch's for the thick-crust pizza, but a lesser-known secret are its delicious subs
Popular gastropub that offers modern twists on American classics
58 locals recommend
Russell House Tavern
14 John F. Kennedy St
58 locals recommend
Popular gastropub that offers modern twists on American classics
Best sandwiches ever! Also tons of baked goodies to try.
53 locals recommend
Darwin's Ltd - Cambridge St.
1629 Cambridge St
53 locals recommend
Best sandwiches ever! Also tons of baked goodies to try.
Best sandwiches ever! Also a wide selection of baked treats.
35 locals recommend
Darwin’s Ltd.
148 Mt Auburn St
35 locals recommend
Best sandwiches ever! Also a wide selection of baked treats.
The Square's only Tex-Mex, this place hits the spot.
50 locals recommend
Border Cafe
32 Church St
50 locals recommend
The Square's only Tex-Mex, this place hits the spot.
A wonderful spot for low-key diner-style weekend brunch, plus it's kid-friendly to boot! Just around the corner from our apartment.
26 locals recommend
Zoe's
1105 Massachusetts Ave
26 locals recommend
A wonderful spot for low-key diner-style weekend brunch, plus it's kid-friendly to boot! Just around the corner from our apartment.
A local cafe with sandwiches and baked goods
52 locals recommend
Crema Cafe
27 Brattle St
52 locals recommend
A local cafe with sandwiches and baked goods
One of our favorite restaurants in the area - excellent seafood and ribs, with interesting side dishes (tip: you can swap out sides for others that you like), a fun vibe, and super kid-friendly!
55 locals recommend
East Coast Grill
Cambridge Street
55 locals recommend
One of our favorite restaurants in the area - excellent seafood and ribs, with interesting side dishes (tip: you can swap out sides for others that you like), a fun vibe, and super kid-friendly!
Yummy sandwiches. I prefer Darwin's, but this is a better place for hot sandwiches.
44 locals recommend
All Star Sandwich Bar
1245 Cambridge St
44 locals recommend
Yummy sandwiches. I prefer Darwin's, but this is a better place for hot sandwiches.
Amazing high-level Turkish/Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. In warm weather, it's worth the wait to eat outdoors in the backyard patio - a magical experience. Get the vegetarian tasting menu to split!
130 locals recommend
Oleana
134 Hampshire St
130 locals recommend
Amazing high-level Turkish/Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. In warm weather, it's worth the wait to eat outdoors in the backyard patio - a magical experience. Get the vegetarian tasting menu to split!
A fun, bright space with an open kitchen, this is a great place to get a quick, affordable, and tasty vegetarian meal. The falafel sandwich is awesome, as is the eggplant platter. Kid-friendly!
106 locals recommend
Clover Food Lab
1075 Cambridge St
106 locals recommend
A fun, bright space with an open kitchen, this is a great place to get a quick, affordable, and tasty vegetarian meal. The falafel sandwich is awesome, as is the eggplant platter. Kid-friendly!
I'm not a coffee snob, but my friends who are tell me this is the place to go. Public coffee cupping (tasting) every Thursday at 3 PM.
58 locals recommend
barismo 364
364 Broadway
58 locals recommend
I'm not a coffee snob, but my friends who are tell me this is the place to go. Public coffee cupping (tasting) every Thursday at 3 PM.
My next special-occasion restaurant. Have only heard good things about it. Creative New American cuisine.
29 locals recommend
Bergamot
118 Beacon St
29 locals recommend
My next special-occasion restaurant. Have only heard good things about it. Creative New American cuisine.
Delicious Thai food - try the mango curry, the pad thai, or the drunken noodles (which are spicy - the non-spicy version is pad see yew, also very good!).
14 locals recommend
Spicies Cambridge | Thai Restaurant
24 Holyoke St
14 locals recommend
Delicious Thai food - try the mango curry, the pad thai, or the drunken noodles (which are spicy - the non-spicy version is pad see yew, also very good!).
Harvard Square used to have almost no chain stores or restaurants. All that changed in the last several years. For those who love Panera's soups and sandwiches, that's a good thing.
35 locals recommend
Panera Bread
220 Boylston St
35 locals recommend
Harvard Square used to have almost no chain stores or restaurants. All that changed in the last several years. For those who love Panera's soups and sandwiches, that's a good thing.

Drinks & Nightlife

A bar popular with the business-school crowd, I sometimes watch sports here. It's also a pretty good restaurant (their fish and chips rocks!).
39 locals recommend
Grafton Street Pub & Grill
59 Massachusetts Ave
39 locals recommend
A bar popular with the business-school crowd, I sometimes watch sports here. It's also a pretty good restaurant (their fish and chips rocks!).
A popular bar
16 locals recommend
John Harvard's Brewery & Ale House
1 Worcester Rd
16 locals recommend
A popular bar

Essentials

This grocery store is just around the corner from our apartment. It's small but has a wide selection of produce, bread, prepared foods, wines, and other grocery items. Super convenient!
40 locals recommend
Broadway Marketplace
468 Broadway
40 locals recommend
This grocery store is just around the corner from our apartment. It's small but has a wide selection of produce, bread, prepared foods, wines, and other grocery items. Super convenient!
The biggest and most affordable grocery store in the area, boasting very fresh produce and long checkout lines.
237 locals recommend
Market Basket
400 Somerville Ave
237 locals recommend
The biggest and most affordable grocery store in the area, boasting very fresh produce and long checkout lines.

Entertainment & Activities

The Cambridge Public Library is a stunning work of glass architecture. The third floor is a children's floor with story time and singalong, and the grassy lawn and playground out front are hits!
52 locals recommend
Cambridge Public Library
449 Broadway
52 locals recommend
The Cambridge Public Library is a stunning work of glass architecture. The third floor is a children's floor with story time and singalong, and the grassy lawn and playground out front are hits!
It's all in the title - kids love this book and toy store. A Harvard Square classic.
World's Only Curious George Store
1 John F. Kennedy St
It's all in the title - kids love this book and toy store. A Harvard Square classic.
The Alexander Kemp playground in Cambridge Common is marvelously designed with a wooden dragon boat, water mazes, sand pulleys, and climbing nets - a children's paradise!
77 locals recommend
Cambridge Common
77 locals recommend
The Alexander Kemp playground in Cambridge Common is marvelously designed with a wooden dragon boat, water mazes, sand pulleys, and climbing nets - a children's paradise!
The playground at the corner of Hancock and Centre is shady and cool in the summer, with ride-on toys galore and a fun water spray area.
Hancock Street
Hancock Street
The playground at the corner of Hancock and Centre is shady and cool in the summer, with ride-on toys galore and a fun water spray area.
Hours of fun and fascination are to be had here - there's something for all ages.
560 locals recommend
Museum of Science
1 Museum Of Science Driveway
560 locals recommend
Hours of fun and fascination are to be had here - there's something for all ages.

Sightseeing

Kids and adults alike will love the animals and the famous glass flowers
151 locals recommend
Harvard Museum of Natural History
26 Oxford St
151 locals recommend
Kids and adults alike will love the animals and the famous glass flowers
The Fogg Art Museum not only houses amazing art, it is a gorgeous building and boasts a lovely courtyard.
205 locals recommend
Harvard Art Museums
32 Quincy St
205 locals recommend
The Fogg Art Museum not only houses amazing art, it is a gorgeous building and boasts a lovely courtyard.
Wander among the historic brick and marble buildings, including Widener Library and Memorial Church. Enjoy the lush, shaded green spaces of the Yard - perfect for people watching or a game of frisbee.
574 locals recommend
Harvard University
3 Oxford Street
574 locals recommend
Wander among the historic brick and marble buildings, including Widener Library and Memorial Church. Enjoy the lush, shaded green spaces of the Yard - perfect for people watching or a game of frisbee.
Take a stroll or jog along the Charles to get a great view of the Boston skyline or watch the rowers and Canadian geese.
12 locals recommend
Memorial Drive
Memorial Drive
12 locals recommend
Take a stroll or jog along the Charles to get a great view of the Boston skyline or watch the rowers and Canadian geese.
Take a tour of a chocolate factory! Seriously! Free chocolate tastings, too!
31 locals recommend
Taza Chocolate
561 Windsor St
31 locals recommend
Take a tour of a chocolate factory! Seriously! Free chocolate tastings, too!

Shopping

Explore the lovely clothing and household items at this three-story Anthropologie.
12 locals recommend
Anthropologie
48 Brattle St
12 locals recommend
Explore the lovely clothing and household items at this three-story Anthropologie.
Get your workplace clothing here
Ann Taylor
100 Cambridgeside Pl
Get your workplace clothing here
This two-story Gap has baby and kids' clothing on the upper floor.
8 locals recommend
Gap
15 Brattle St
8 locals recommend
This two-story Gap has baby and kids' clothing on the upper floor.
Independently-owned and well-curated, the Harvard Book Store holds frequent book signings / author events. The basement is a treasure trove of used books.
33 locals recommend
Harvard Book Store
1256 Massachusetts Ave
33 locals recommend
Independently-owned and well-curated, the Harvard Book Store holds frequent book signings / author events. The basement is a treasure trove of used books.
You can not only browse the huge bookstore but also stock up on Harvard clothing and paraphernalia
24 locals recommend
Harvard Cooperative Society
1400 Massachusetts Ave
24 locals recommend
You can not only browse the huge bookstore but also stock up on Harvard clothing and paraphernalia
Located above Chipotle, EMS is the place for all your activewear needs.
Eastern Mountain Sports
1 Brattle St
Located above Chipotle, EMS is the place for all your activewear needs.
This gourmet food shop is crammed with European chocolates, jams, and other delicacies. It also has prepared foods.
8 locals recommend
Cardullo's Gourmet Shoppe
6 Brattle St
8 locals recommend
This gourmet food shop is crammed with European chocolates, jams, and other delicacies. It also has prepared foods.
For all your paper and stationery needs
Bob Slate Stationer
30 Brattle St
For all your paper and stationery needs