Massachusetts · best-of list
The 5 Best Restaurants in Massachusetts
All 5 restaurants our route editors picked in Massachusetts, across 3 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect tables and food stops, spread across 3 destinations.
Our curated picks
5 restaurants in Massachusetts, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Boston 2 picks
Neptune Oyster
Boston · On our Boston to Portland route
Small North End oyster bar famous for its hot buttered lobster roll.
Tip: No reservations; arrive before opening.
Photo: Thong Le · Google
Regina Pizzeria
Boston · On our Boston to Portland route
The original 1926 North End pizzeria serving thin, charred pies.
Photo: Keith Lennop · Google
Downtown Boston & the Waterfront 2 picks
Mamma Maria
Downtown Boston & the Waterfront · On our Boston New Year's Eve route
Long-running Italian restaurant in a townhouse on North Square, steps from the Paul Revere House.
Tip: Book an early New Year's Eve table and walk to Christopher Columbus Park for midnight.
Union Oyster House
Downtown Boston & the Waterfront · On our Boston New Year's Eve route
Open since 1826, the country's oldest continuously operating restaurant, with a raw bar and chowder by Faneuil Hall.
Tip: Sit at the semicircular oyster bar downstairs.
South Boston & Castle Island 1 pick
Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant
South Boston & Castle Island · On our Boston New Year's Eve route
Busy neighborhood restaurant on West Broadway, known for its weekend brunch.
Tip: Check holiday hours before going on Jan 1.
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the restaurants in Massachusetts?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 5 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Massachusetts has the most restaurants on this list?
Boston and Downtown Boston & the Waterfront lead with 2 each; the other picks are spread across 1 more destination.
More lists for Massachusetts
Best restaurants nearby
Destinations on this list
- Boston 2 on this list
- Downtown Boston & the Waterfront 2 on this list
- South Boston & Castle Island 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.