After many years of living in the shadow of Boston’s drinking and dining scene, Brookline, more than ever, is holding its own. The town hosts a diverse array of options across its various squares, corners, and main streets. The menus are wide-ranging
and fun, with cozy and gorgeous decor to boot. This map highlights 14 of the best dining choices in Boston’s neighbor to the west. — Additional reporting by Erika Adams and C. Shardae Jobson
What’s changed in this update: We added French cocktail spot Bar Lunette, Capricho Colombian Steakhouse, and Italian restaurant La Morra. We’ve removed Orinoco since it closed.
Shan-A-Punjab Boston
500 Harvard St, Brookline, MA, 02446, US
(617) 734-9000
A mainstay at the intersection of Brookline and Allston, Shan-A-Punjab delivers an excellent array of dishes from across India in a bungalow-style space. A full bar and cocktail menu are also available. A lot of the servings are plentiful, so you will likely be able to head home with leftovers.
Taberna de Haro
999 Beacon St, Brookline, MA, 02446, US
This Brookline mainstay, which was recently refreshed under new ownership, promises a classic Spanish experience, including meat and seafood paellas and quintessential tapas like tortilla española, gambas al ajillo (garlicky shrimp in olive oil with dried chiles), and espinacas (sauteed spinach tossed with garlic, pine nuts, and golden raisins). And, thanks to former owner and current wine director Deborah Hansen, the restaurant’s curated list of all-Spanish wines is the second largest in the U.S.
El Peñol 3
404 Harvard St, Brookline, MA, 02446, US
(617) 487-8936
The third El Peñol in Massachusetts, 25 years in, this Colombian eatery remains family-run. From crispy empanadas to simmering sancocho, the menu feels like you’re having dinner at the home of a friend’s family, in the best way.
Zaftigs Delicatessen
335 Harvard St, Brookline, MA, 02446, US
(617) 975-0075
Opened in 1997, Jewish deli Zaftigs is a mainstay of the food scene in Coolidge Corner. The space is reminiscent of a diner, only bigger, and the vibe is super-friendly and low-key.
Barlette
318 Harvard St, Brookline, MA, 02446, US
(601) 301-2024
Barlette started with a bit of a curveball — its origins were as a BYOB bar — but it has since become a full-fledged cocktail bar, with no personal bottles of gin required. Try classics like the Negroni or Manhattan on tap, or go for a seasonal concoction like the Toasted Coconut S’mores Hot Chocolate, a decadent cocktail that features coconut fluff, honey graham crackers, and a choice of bourbon, rum, or a spirit-free amaretto as the base.
Ganko Ittetsu Ramen
318 Harvard St, Brookline, MA, 02446, US
(617) 730-8100
Classic ramen dishes and Japanese sodas (in bottles that can be quite the task to open if you’re not used to them) are available here. Plan ahead: This is a crowd favorite, and there’s almost always a waitlist to add your name.
Bar Lunette
278A Harvard St, Brookline, MA, 02446, US
The evening answer to Paris Creperie, sibling Bar Lunette is a French cocktail bar serving Parisian riffs on classic drinks like the Nutella espresso martini and the Guillo-tini, a rosé cosmopolitan topped with basil foam. On the small bites menu, try the warm French onion dip, the bread service sourced from nearby Clear Flour Bakery, and the steak tartare with mushrooms, maple vinaigrette, and Parmesan crisps.
Prairie Fire
242 Harvard St, Brookline, MA, 02446, US
(617) 396-8199
A date-night destination in the neighborhood, Prairie Fire is the place to go for a bevy of wood-fired dishes, from a variety of pizzas (the fennel and sausage is exceptional) to entrees, including a half-chicken glazed in a lager, and vegetables like broccolini and cabbage.
Capricho Colombian Steakhouse
1627 Beacon St, Brookline, MA, 02445, US
One of the newer players in the Brookline dining scene, Capricho Colombian Steakhouse serves up Latin American takes on steakhouse classics. Swap rolls for buñuelos del mar, Colombian cheese fritters with sauteed shrimp and a rosé sauce. Exchange a filet with truffle butter for a porterhouse with a Colombian coffee and garlic butter served with a side of chimichurri. And don’t forget dessert: there’s flan, a coffee-chocolate mousse, and obleas, a dessert wafer served with blackberry preserve and cheese.
Bar Vlaha
1653 Beacon St, Brookline, MA, 02445, US
(617) 906-8556
Bar Vlaha is a homey Greek restaurant from the hit team behind swanky spot Krasi and cocktail bar Hecate in Back Bay. At this spot, the focus is on the cuisine of the Vlachs, an ethnic group of nomadic shepherds in northern and central Greece. Alongside the hearty foods — stews, roasted meats, and savory pies fill out the menu here — expect to see delightful touches of Vlach culture throughout the dining room.
Blossom Bar
295 Washington Street, Brookline, Massachusetts 02445, United States
(617) 734-1870
It’s a little unfair to the rest of the city that there is so much dining talent packed into this one square block in Brookline Village. But it makes for great all-in-one-night food crawl potential, at least. Blossom Bar has been winning fans (and awards) for its inventive cocktails paired with fiery Sichuan food for over five years. When it comes to cocktail bars that have put the Boston area on the national map in the past decade, Blossom Bar and its team of talented bartenders have been integral to making that happen.
Cutty’s
284 Washington St, Brookline, MA, 02445, US
(617) 505-1844
This bustling lunch stop is where locals gather for well-executed sandwiches made with all-natural meats and cheeses, and much of the produce comes from the neighborhood’s own Allandale Farm. Soups and salads are also on the menu.
Mahaniyom
236 Washington St, Brookline, MA, 02445, US
(617) 487-5986
A rollicking little bar and restaurant, Mahaniyom is home to some of the best Thai food in the Boston area. Don’t miss the kang puu, a subtle crab curry, and the spicy salted pepper pork cheek served with sticky rice. Mahaniyom has racked up many accolades: the Michelin Guide gave it Bib Gourmand status in 2025, and owner Chompon “Boong” Boonnak of Mahaniyom was the Northeast Cities Exceptional Cocktails Award winner the same year, Eater Boston named it the best new restaurant of 2021, and the restaurant was awarded a five-star review in the Boston Globe in 2022. If you want to extend the evening, the team followed up this act with Merai, located just down the street. It’s a dive bar of sorts that has plenty of Thai drinking foods on the menu (don’t skip the hot dog made with kra pao sausage and salted egg yolk mayo).
La Morra
48 Boylston St, Brookline, MA, 02445, US
(617) 739-0007
When a restaurant has been around for 23 years, it’s a good indicator they’re doing something right. Josh and Jen Ziskin spent a year in the Piedmont region of Italy studying the food and wine and then brought their newfound knowledge back to Brookline in the form of handmade pastas, wood-grilled proteins, and a refined wine list.
