I had the privilege of traveling to Boston with an amazing group of friends. But going to Boston was no cake walk – there were a lot of logistical challenges; despite that, we all finally came to one place and made it work.
I’ve always wanted to go to Boston, but I was a bit nervous traveling with a group (some whom I’ve never traveled with before and just met) – I didn’t know how the dynamics would be. I’m so used to traveling with my family, who understand how I can be when in unfamiliar settings.
But little I did know that this would probably be one of the best trips of my life. I didn’t realize how fun it could be with a group and how supportive each person was especially in my endeavors to explore Boston. I’m incredibly grateful for this experience and for this amazing group of people.
Here I begin my Boston Diaries!
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Below is a list of places to check out in this spectacular city!
Faneuil Hall Marketplace + Quincy Market: First stop after meeting each other (we all had different flights) was Faneuil Hall Marketplace. This place had beautiful Christmas decorations, shops including Lovepop (I love cards!!), and a fabulous ceiling. We ate lunch and took some photographs by the tree. If you want to get some great gifts and grab some food, this is the place to visit.
Financial District: We took a stroll through Financial District after lunch; we ran through Christmas lights and enjoyed the views. One recommendation is to know where you want to go in Financial District. It is a great place to admire the buildings and walk around, but having a specific location in mind to check out is ideal.
Primark: My friend found this pretty wall on Pinterest – while some friends went shopping, we took a few photographs at the front. The wall features a bright neon blue sign that says, “Hello Boston,” and artistic drawings of famous places around the world.
Boston Common: We walked to this public park from Primark and saw many Christmas decorations in the trees. Boston Common is seen as US’s oldest public park, according to National Park Service’s website. I bet it would be gorgeous to walk around in the summer when the weather is warmer.
Tatte Bakery & Cafe: This is one of the best cafes you’ll ever visit. Grab a dessert with fresh orange juice for an afternoon snack, and you’ll feel so rejuvenated.
Thinking Cup: The weather was brutal – we stopped by this cool spot for tea and snacks. We felt much better after getting embraced by the wind of Boston. Check out the cool tuba near the desserts section!
Hanover Street/Prince Street: We walked on these streets to go to dinner at an Italian restaurant after a major dance party at the hotel. There were many Italian restaurants with gorgeous lights and decorations. I felt like I was in Lisbon and Prague – the restaurants reminded me so much of Europe. It is worth a walk if you want to see colorful restaurants especially at night.
Assaggio: I love pasta and thought this place would be great to dine at. I had the Nerano, which was a zucchini pasta; the colors of the pasta were pretty shades of green. We had a lovely dinner and drinks, celebrating what the trip meant to us before walking back to the hotel and dancing our hearts out until 3 AM.
Terramia Ristorante: This cute restaurant is a must. The wine, Montepulciano D’Abruzzo “Aida”, was so fantastic that I wish I had another glass to enjoy with my pasta. Luckily, they had a few vegetarian choices, and they made my Ravioli alla Amatriciana vegetarian-friendly just for me.
Vaanga: We went to this place for brunch and had spicy food. If you’re looking to experience a bit of India in Boston with the cupboard, Indian snacks, music, and food, this is the place to go. I had a spicy ghee (butter) roast dosa (crepe) and idlis (rice cakes) with sambar (gravy) and chutney (yeah I know, I’m a true #southindian!).
Acorn Street: If you Google the “most photographed street in US,” you will see Acorn Street pop up. We went for a few minutes because the cold weather was worse than the day before. This is a cobblestone street that is narrow, yet cute. It is surrounded by houses and street lamps that look marvelous during sunset.
Boston Seaport: If you love walking around the city and want to see shops, restaurants, lights, and life, this is the place to see. It reminded me a lot of the Wharf in DC. It is exceptionally lovely at night with all the Christmas lights.
Tuscan Kitchen: We ended up in Tuscan Kitchen for drinks. I had tasty sweet red wine followed by an amazing Espresso Martini. The place was gorgeous to sit in and enjoy the decor while reminiscing over our favorite childhood memories.
bartaco: After drinks, we had dinner at bartaco. I had the best cauliflower tacos, street corn (topped with cotija cheese) and chocolate ice cream (my favorite dessert to eat in Winter!); overall, it was a nice dinner before going back to the hotel. Afterwards, we played a game of cards as the sun went to sleep.
CLINK. – Liberty Hotel: On our last day in Boston, I wanted to go somewhere nice to eat before going home. A quick Google search brought me to CLINK.’s website; our Uber driver had also told us to check out this place. I heard the food and views were fantastic – it made perfect sense to come here on Christmas. We got ready and walked about five minutes away from our hotel to this place. This was a former jail – you could see the cells in the restaurant; they modernized it and added gorgeous Christmas decorations. It was one of the best breakfasts I’ve ever had while traveling (omelette, potatoes, fruits, and mimosa!) – afterwards, we took a few photos before running back to our hotel so we could pack up and see one more place before our flight.
Harvard University/Square: I have always wanted to visit Harvard and feel like Elle Woods from Legally Blonde. We visited the university on Christmas, so a lot of restaurants and cafes were closed. However, it felt nice to walk on a campus again after a long time. This university reminded me of the university I studied at – we saw magnificent buildings and cool shops.
Davio’s: This restaurant is a special mention. Our flight back home got delayed, so we had some extra time to eat. We waited to get a table at this restaurant for over an hour. After waiting for what seemed an eternity, we finally sat down and ordered pasta and pizza – it was so worth the wait. The food was tasty and fulfilling before the flight. I highly recommend visiting this restaurant at Boston Logan International Airport if you are traveling and need a great meal.
Brattle Book Shop: This is one of the coolest used book shops you’ll ever visit since it is outdoors. According to its website, this is one of the largest and oldest book shops in America!
Copley Square: This is a great place to stop by since it is right by the Boston Public Library and Trinity Church.
Boston Public Library: This is a must if you love architecture and books. The intricate walls inside are marvelous, and so is the large chandelier at the top. Stop by for a quick glance of the grandeur.
Trinity Church: Right across the Boston Public Library was this beautiful church. I felt like I was in Europe when I walked into this magnificent church. The design, architecture, splendor, and walls were stunning. It is definitely a must when sightseeing Boston!
Terra: This place has been on my bucket list for months – I have visited other locations (Las Vegas and Dallas!) but not the Eataly in Boston. Given my love for pasta, I had to come here. We had the tastiest red wine to pair with Pansotti di Zucca e Tartufo (butternut squash ravioli) and espresso martini to pair with Cavatelli Con Cime di Rapa (without anchovy). It is a must if you are in Boston!
BONUS: I spent Halloween in Boston, and it was the best experience I’ve ever had. If you are in town for the weekend during Halloween, sign up for the pub crawl and party cruise. You can get some cool Halloween-themed drinks at different bars and see the Boston skyline.
Me. Poojah.