Newbury Street is Boston’s most famous destination for dining and shopping. The street’s fancy boutiques, galleries, and 19th-century brownstones are charming enough to lure in anybody for an afternoon stroll, including local Bostonians, students, and tourists.
Given the in-demand real estate, dining on Newbury Street can get very expensive for what is, in some cases, a mediocre meal. Below, find our guide to old and new restaurants that are actually worth your money on the iconic street.
What’s changed in this update: We’ve added Crazy Good Kitchen, a family-owned joint for loaded smash burgers and crispy chicken tenders, and Bubble Bath, a playful Champagne restaurant with views of the whole Newbury Street strip. For now, we’ve removed Krasi, an upscale Greek restaurant on nearby Gloucester Street (but kept its sister spot, Greco).
Bubble Bath
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100 High St, Boston, MA, 02110, US
(617) 877-7211
Tiffani Faison’s playful wine bar Bubble Bath is tucked inside the Citizen M hotel with rooftop views down Newbury Street and across Back Bay, with the Charles River on one side and the Prudential Center on the other. Wine and champagne are at the heart of the beverage menu here, although there are some fun cocktails as well. On the food menu, find snacks like salt-and-vinegar fries, a mini lobster roll, and steak tartare, or ball out with caviar service.
Saltie Girl
279 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116, USA
(617) 267-0691
Owned by restaurateur Kathy Sidell, Saltie Girl quickly became a Back Bay staple, and now has a sister location in Los Angeles. It is a must if you’re looking for seafood. Sit at the bar and enjoy a generous serving of moules frites and a bottle of white wine, or make a reservation for a table and work your way through the menu, from seafood towers to smoked fish to a whole fried black bass for two. The lobster roll is also one of the best in the city.
Greco
225 Newbury St, Boston, MA, 02116, US
(617) 572-3300
Greco is the ultimate casual lunch on Newbury, perfect for when you need a quick refuel but don’t want to sacrifice flavor to speed. Owned by Greek hospitality group Xenia (which also owns Krasi), Greco has gained a reputation for delicious Greek pitas, plates, and salads, assembled to your liking with options including pork, chicken, or lamb gyro; meat-free proteins like halloumi or squash fritters; and sides including zucchini chips, lemon pilaf, and Greek slaw. If you need a sweet treat to top off your lunch, order the loukoumades (Greek-style doughnuts).
Sabina Mezcalería
253 Newbury St, Boston, MA, 02116, US
(857) 449-6023
Sabina is Boston’s first mezcaleria. It’s a strong date-night spot, with an extensive list of mezcals to try and plates that feature ingredients that are lesser-seen in Boston, including rich huitlacoche. The churros and flan con dulce de leche for dessert are not to be missed.
La Voile
261 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116, USA
(617) 587-4200
La Voile (which is French for “the sail”) is a worthy stop for lunch or dinner. Founded by Frenchman Pierre Honegger, La Voile is inspired by now-closed Cannes restaurant La Voile au Vent (which means “the sail in the wind”), where sailors and reportedly Ernest Hemingway frequented. But in Boston, La Voile will transport you to France with its decadent food — escargots, onion soup, beef tenderloin, chocolate mousse — and bistro-style seating.
Casa Romero
30 Gloucester St, Boston, MA, 02115, US
(617) 536-4341
Established in 1972, Casa Romero is a Back Bay institution. The entrance is in Public Alley 431, around the corner from Newbury off Gloucester Street. Tuck into tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, or favorites like carne asada and camarones a la diabla (sauteed spicy shrimp), and enjoy the warm, vibrant interior or the tranquil patio.
Union Park Pizza
244 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116, USA
(617) 855-1100
Union Park Pizza was founded by husband-and-wife team Joe and Maggie Sylva and originally in the South End before relocating to Newbury in 2022. The restaurant continues to serve excellent pizza, by the slice or whole pie. The Mags Supreme — pepperoni, sausage, mushroom, red onions, green peppers, olives, baby spinach — and the Buffalo chicken are fan favorites. The ranch is a must-order for connoisseurs.
Crazy Good Kitchen
268 Newbury St, Boston, MA, 02116, US
(617) 936-4359
Scratch your comfort food itch at this family-owned burger joint that makes Shake Shack look like a sad stepchild. Order a giant smash burger oozing with special sauce and griddled onions or a platter of crispy chicken tenders with dipping sauces like burnt butter mayo, chipotle mayo, and buttermilk ranch. Loaded barbecue or cheese fries and a milkshake complete the Americana meal.
Bar Pallino
278 Newbury St, Boston, MA, 02116, US
(857) 991-1080
Enter through Faccia a Faccia and ask the host to point you to the staircase that will take you downstairs to sibling spot Bar Pallino. Once downstairs, you’ll enter a sleek, dimly lit space, intended to evoke a modern Paris wine bar. Grab a table along the record-lined walls, or sit at the bar and order a glass of natural wine from the impressive program. Alternatively, opt for an expertly mixed cocktail (mezcal is a specialty). The rotating menu includes shareable plates like ricotta toast, stuffed olives, grilled lamb ribs, and fresh pasta from the Faccia a Faccia menu. The fresh gelato is also a hit.
Bangkok Bento
272 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116, USA
(857) 263-8440
Bangkok Bento serves Thai and Japanese food and is great for a quick, casual bite. The extensive menu is a crowd-pleaser, and the seasonal patio is particularly fun for people-watching. From stir-fries to curries to sushi, dine-in or take-out are both solid options here.
Little Whale Oyster Bar
314 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02115, USA
(857) 277-0800
Chef and owner Michael Serpa of Serpa Hospitality (Select Oyster Bar, Atlántico) opened Little Whale in 2022 in the space that previously housed Grand Tour, a French bistro that was owned by Serpa. The menu retained some Grand Tour hits, such as steak frites and mussels, but it’s mostly focused on New England seafood classics: clam chowder, fried Ipswich clams, Maine lobster rolls, Gloucester swordfish, and an impressive raw bar.
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
66 Hereford St, Boston, MA 02115, USA
(857) 310-5194
Often hailed as the best ramen on Newbury (or rather, directly around the corner on Hereford), Santouka serves up delicious, filling bowls of ramen in a variety of flavors. While a line often forms outside, it is worth the wait for intimate indoor (or seasonal patio) seating. Takeout is an option for those who do not want to wait in line, and is especially delightful on a gloomy day.
