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Best Restaurants in Boston (2026)

Seafood is the heart of eating in Boston. Union Oyster House has been serving oysters since 1826 in a building near Faneuil Hall, Neptune Oyster in the North End is known for its raw bar and lobster roll but takes no reservations, and Row 34 in Fort Point pairs oysters with a serious beer list. Saltie Girl in Back Bay specialises in tinned fish and a warm lobster roll, while James Hook & Co on Atlantic Avenue is the casual, daytime option for a lobster roll and chowder.

The North End is also the place for Italian food, including the original Regina Pizzeria, open since 1926 on Thacher Street. In East Boston, Santarpio's Pizza is a long-running local favourite for pizza and barbecue skewers. For something different, Myers + Chang in the South End serves shared Asian-inspired plates, and O Ya near downtown offers one of the city's most acclaimed omakase meals. Grill 23 & Bar in Back Bay is a classic steakhouse with an award-winning wine list.

Book ahead for dinner at the more popular places, especially at weekends, and plan walk-in spots such as Neptune Oyster for mid-afternoon to avoid long waits.

10 places · Updated October 27, 2026

Our top 3 restaurants in Boston

  1. Neptune Oyster Oyster bar and seafood, North EndA small, walk-in-only oyster bar on Salem Street in the North End, known for its raw bar and a Maine lobster roll served hot with butter or cold with mayo.
  2. Union Oyster House Historic New England seafood, DowntownA seafood restaurant serving oysters since 1826 in a Georgian building near Faneuil Hall, with its original semicircular oyster bar still in place.
  3. Regina Pizzeria Brick-oven pizza, North EndThe original North End branch of Boston's long-running pizzeria, opened in 1926 and serving thin-crust, brick-oven pizza on Thacher Street.

Restaurant

1. Neptune Oyster

Oyster bar and seafood$$$North End

A small, walk-in-only oyster bar on Salem Street in the North End, known for its raw bar and a Maine lobster roll served hot with butter or cold with mayo.

View details — Neptune Oyster

Restaurant

4. O Ya

Omakase$$$$Downtown

Tim and Nancy Cushman's omakase restaurant on East Street, serving a creative sequence of sushi and small dishes with a sake list overseen by an advanced sake professional.

View details — O Ya

Restaurant

5. Myers + Chang

Pan-Asian$$South End

Joanne Chang's lively South End restaurant serving pan-Asian dishes such as pork and chive dumplings, wild boar dan dan noodles and miso black cod.

View details — Myers + Chang

Restaurant

6. Row 34

Oyster bar and craft beer$$$Fort Point

A Fort Point oyster bar and seafood restaurant on Congress Street, pairing a broad raw bar and fish from the Boston Fish Pier with a carefully chosen beer list.

View details — Row 34

Restaurant

7. Saltie Girl

Seafood bar$$$Back Bay

A small Back Bay seafood bar on Dartmouth Street known for its tinned fish boards, warm lobster roll, caviar service and raw bar.

View details — Saltie Girl

Restaurant

9. James Hook & Co

Lobster shack and seafood market$$Waterfront

A waterfront lobster business on Atlantic Avenue trading since 1925, with a seafood market and casual seating for lobster rolls, chowder and bisque.

View details — James Hook & Co