The historic Harvard Square Kiosk is going to reopen in early 2025 as a community space.
The City of Cambridge announced this news in a press release sharing that the space will be named the Cambridge Kiosk which will also act as a “vibrant cultural incubator” and a “visitor information center.” The city announced the space will be be run by the new Cambridge Kiosk Advisory Committee. Those interested in serving on that committee can apply here.
Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang said in a statement, “The activation of the Cambridge Kiosk represents a significant milestone for our community. By transforming this historic landmark into a dynamic public space, we will provide greater opportunities for creativity, connection, and collaboration in the center of Harvard Square.”
The kiosk has existed since 1927. Notably, it featured the Out of Town Newsstand from 1983 until the kiosk closed in 2019.
Commissioner of Cambridge Public Works Kathy Watkins said in a statement, “The Kiosk has adapted over its nearly 100 years to meet the needs of the community and it is exciting to see it transform yet again. The current renovations have been led by a dedicated team of architects, engineers and historians and will support this treasured building becoming a modern amenity, while honoring and celebrating the historic details that make it special.”
The Harvard Square Kiosk, which has sat in the heart of the square at the mouth of the MBTA stop for nearly 100 years, is set to reopen early next year, the City of Cambridge announced Thursday.
The Kiosk, which has been “recently restored,” will open in partnership with the Cambridge Office for Tourism and Somerville-based nonprofit CultureHouse, the city announced. The landmark will be renamed the Cambridge Kiosk to be a “cultural incubator, community gathering space, and visitor information center.”
“The activation of the Cambridge Kiosk represents a significant milestone for our community,” Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang said in a statement. “By transforming this historic landmark into a dynamic public space, we will provide greater opportunities for creativity, connection, and collaboration in the center of Harvard Square.”
The historic kiosk has been vacant since before the pandemic, when longtime Cambridge landmark Out of Town News closed in 2019. The newsstand was the natural center of the square, providing global news since 1978, when the Kiosk was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was registered as a Cambridge Landmark in 2017.
Since 2019, the kiosk has been under seemingly perpetual construction, surrounded by a chain link fence, in the middle of Cambridge’s biggest tourist spot. The Boston Globereported last week that the construction cost $3.3 million, or about $6,600 per square foot.
Now, Cambridge is looking for community members to join the Cambridge Kiosk Advisory Committee and for local partners to host events at the Kiosk. CultureHouse will hold community meetings and do surveys to discuss how to use the space moving forward.
“Programming at the Cambridge Kiosk will continuously evolve to meet the needs of the community and turn the space into a dynamic hub where people from all places and backgrounds can come together to experience culture and to build relationships,” said Aaron Greiner, the executive director of CultureHouse.
By Malcolm Johnson• Published November 1, 2024 • Updated on November 1, 2024 at 7:56 pm
A historic Harvard Square kiosk is set to reopen early next year. Its local impact has spanned decades as it served as a popular newsstand in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Organizers have a modern vision for the local landmark, which is nearly 100 years old.
“The kiosk was constructed in 1927 by the Boston Elevated Railway. It was originally an entrance to the Cambridge subway which should’ve been completed in 1912,” explained Charlie Sullivan, Cambridge Historical Commission executive director.
The kiosk was reconstructed and became Out of Town News, which closed in 2019. It was a key service in days predating the internet.
But how can the legacy of the institution be preserved in the 21st century? Melissa Peters, the city’s chief of planning strategy, has some answers.
“The windows are all full size as well as transparent and it’s meant to be an indoor, outdoor space. Really the living room of Harvard Square,” Peters said.
The kiosk seeks to serve as a cultural hub – a place for visitor information, arts and culture and social connection. It’s reopening with several partnerships, including one with Culture House, which improves livability by transforming underutilized spaces into social infrastructure.
“It’s also an opportunity to create a space where people can connect across that difference. In times when we have loneliness and division, having a chance to meet on level ground is an important way to rebuild that social trust that we’ve had over the couple years, Executive Director of Culture House, Aaron Greiner, said
The Harvard Square Kiosk, which has sat in the heart of the square at the mouth of the MBTA stop for nearly 100 years, is set to reopen early next year, the City of Cambridge announced Thursday.
The Kiosk, which has been “recently restored,” will open in partnership with the Cambridge Office for Tourism and Somerville-based nonprofit CultureHouse, the city announced. The landmark will be renamed the Cambridge Kiosk to be a “cultural incubator, community gathering space, and visitor information center.”
“The activation of the Cambridge Kiosk represents a significant milestone for our community,” Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang said in a statement. “By transforming this historic landmark into a dynamic public space, we will provide greater opportunities for creativity, connection, and collaboration in the center of Harvard Square.”
The historic kiosk has been vacant since before the pandemic, when longtime Cambridge landmark Out of Town News closed in 2019. The newsstand was the natural center of the square, providing global news since 1978, when the Kiosk was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was registered as a Cambridge Landmark in 2017.
Since 2019, the kiosk has been under seemingly perpetual construction, surrounded by a chain link fence, in the middle of Cambridge’s biggest tourist spot. The Boston Globereported last week that the construction cost $3.3 million, or about $6,600 per square foot.
Now, Cambridge is looking for community members to join the Cambridge Kiosk Advisory Committee and for local partners to host events at the Kiosk. CultureHouse will hold community meetings and do surveys to discuss how to use the space moving forward.
“Programming at the Cambridge Kiosk will continuously evolve to meet the needs of the community and turn the space into a dynamic hub where people from all places and backgrounds can come together to experience culture and to build relationships,” said Aaron Greiner, the executive director of CultureHouse.
Beloved Massachusetts Eatery Named ‘Most Charming Restaurant’ In The State
By Logan DeLoye
October 29, 2024
Photo: iStockphoto
If you’re already planning on dining out, why not enjoy a tasty meal at the most charming restaurant in the state?
A main course pairs well with a few savory, pre-meal appetizers and a sweet desert to follow, but nothing compliments a dish quite like ambiance, or as Gen Z would say: the “vibe.”
If the overall vibe of the restaurant is good, then the food and experience might just soar over your expectations. While there are many restaurants scattered throughout Massachusetts, only one is known for having the most charming vibes around.
According to a list compiled by LoveFood, the most charming restaurant in Massachusetts is Harvest in Cambridge. This restaurant was praised for its ambiance and delicious dishes among other beloved qualities.
Here’s what LoveFood had to say about the most charming restaurant in the entire state:
“In the beautiful city of Cambridge, down a cobbled path in the heart of Harvard Square, is Harvest. This elegant restaurant presents the best of New England cuisine, with chefs working closely with local farmers to devise seasonal menus. The interiors are smart, with dark woods and neutral tones, while there’s a beautiful patio for dining al fresco.”
For more information about the most charming restaurants across the country check out Love Food‘s full list!
A still from “Practical Magic.” (Courtesy Warner Bros.)
Massachusetts romance readers will soon have a meeting place for all things literary love and lust in Cambridge: Lovestruck Books. The brick-and-mortar store dedicated to romance of all subgenres and a selection of general fiction will open at 44 Brattle St. in Harvard Square this winter.
Owner Rachel Kanter plans to spotlight works by women, people of color and LGBTQIA+ authors. “We’re seeing publishers taking notice of authors that maybe traditionally would not have been published by a big five publisher, so that’s really exciting, because it means that more and more stories are getting out and being celebrated,” said Kanter. “That’s one of the things that has always attracted me to the romance genre, and I really wanted that to be reflected in our store.”
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To get potential visitors excited, the bookstore is hosting events leading up to its opening, including a night celebrating “Practical Magic” at The Brattle Theatre on Oct. 29.
The 1995 novel by Alice Hoffman was turned into a film starring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock as sisters Gillian and Sally Owens. After their parents die, the girls grow up with their eccentric witch aunts in a small town in Massachusetts. The Owens sisters are outcasts — the townspeople avoid them in fear of the girls cursing them. Still, Gillian and Sally have each other until Gillian runs away and Sally gets married. But they rekindle their connection after Sally has two girls of her own.
The event will kick off with a conversation between Hoffman and Shelf Love Podcast creator Andrea Martucci. Then audience members will settle in for a screening of the cult classic film. Each ticket includes a Lovestruck Books tote bag, a signed copy of the book, a drink ticket and surprise goodies. (The event is already sold out.)
By Spencer Buell Globe Staff,Updated October 23, 2024, 6:10 a.m.
The long-fenced-off location of the Harvard Square kiosk. For decades it was home to landmark newsstand Out of Town News, which left in 2019.David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
CAMBRIDGE — It may not look like much, this 500-square-foot kiosk in the heart of Harvard Square.
Visible through chain-link fencing, which has hemmed it in for years now, the small structure has the shape and feel of an oversized bus shelter, albeit one with handsomely restored brickwork and an ornate copper roof.
It had been the longtime home of Out of Town News, which closed in 2019, but then languished in construction purgatory. That journey is set — allegedly, at least — to wrap up early next year and cost $3.3 million, which would put it in the ballpark of an eye-popping $6,600 per square foot.
There has been jubilation at this news among those who live and work in the square. But also, exasperation at what has transpired as the city has tried to reopen this beleaguered little landmark.
“This project has been dragging on for way too long. It is painfully slow, frustrating, and expensive,” said Denise Jillson, head of the neighborhood’s business association. “With all this money that we have and the resources, and the brain trust that we have, these things should be — it shouldn’t be this difficult.”
Kathy Watkins, the city’s public works commissioner, has heard that very criticism many times over the (many) years the project has crawled along.
“I know people are frustrated about how long these things take,” Watkins said. But “we are super excited to see this coming to a conclusion, have it be open and usable, celebrate the community, and have people embrace and enjoy this building.”
She said refurbishing even a modest rectangular building — the kind of thing that would be a breeze just about anywhere else in the country — is not so simple. Not in Harvard Square, at least.
The kiosk’s story begins in 1928, when it was the headhouse for the transit stop beneath it. The original Out of Town News opened next door in 1954 as a separate newsstand, then moved into the structure in 1984.
The Harvard Square kiosk in 1928 or so. (Cambridge Historical Commission)Cambridge Historical CommissionOut of Town News stand in Harvard Square on Oct. 14, 1966.Bill Brett/Globe Staff
In either location, Out of Town News, which specialized in selling periodicals from around the world to the neighborhood’s globally minded residents, was treated as a landmark. It was for more than half a century an intellectual hub and informal meeting place, and a touchstone for anyone who lived, visited, or studied in Cambridge during its heyday.
Julia Child browsed for recipes there, student protesters routinely rallied near its steps (and sometimes on its roof), and a young Bill Gates is said to have been inspired to explore the potential of computers after reading about them in a magazine bought on its shelves.
In its latter years, even as it increasingly served as a convenience store, the Out of Town brand was a reminder of a simpler time, when people needed to seek out news from far away rather than having it arrive at all hours via smartphone.
But by 2012, its best days clearly behind it, Jillson’s Harvard Square Business Association was calling for the kiosk to be patched up, restored, and put to some other use than what it had become: a place, Jillson said, to buy scratch tickets and a pack of smokes.
Still, ideas are one thing. Plans are another. When it came time to do something about it, the city moved cautiously, and slowly. Many community meetings were held. Working groups formed. Consultants were consulted. Neighborhood groups coalesced.
Out of Town News in 1982.John Blanding, Globe StaffLate-night reading at Out of Town News in 1987.David Binder/Globe Staff
Meanwhile, the kiosk restoration was lumped into the broader project of renovating the plaza surrounding it, which was due for a refresh, bringing it up to modern accessibility standards. (Included in the $3.3 million price tag for the kiosk, officials said, are some modifications to the nearby T stop headhouse that were needed so it could support new accessible grading on the plaza. Renovations for the kiosk and plaza combined are budgeted at about $11.5 million, the city said last week).
By the time Cambridge was ready to break ground, COVID had struck. Supply chain issues slowed progress from there.
Even as construction began in May 2021, the nature of the work itself was an obstacle: a historic structure, in a historic locale, at one of the densest corners of one of the state’s densest cities, at one of its busiest crossings for cars, bikes, and pedestrian traffic.
A contractor to fix up the kiosk would need to specialize in historic preservation, and on obscure design elements like the structure’s artisan-crafted roof. Workers updating the plaza, meanwhile, would need to be willing to use smaller and lighter equipment than is typical, and to operate in phases so the area can remain open to the millions of people who pass through each year.
“The heart of the square is an extremely challenging place to do construction,” said Watkins.
To make matters more complicated, the plaza sits directly atop the age-worn Harvard MBTA station, in some places just a foot-and-a-half above its ceiling. So every step of the project has needed to be reviewed and approved by the T, a laborious and time consuming affair.
“That has been one of the big delays, to be honest,” Watkins said.
The T has certainly had good reason to be extra cautious. Just last year, a Harvard student was injured when a decrepit piece of equipment clattered on top of her inside the stop — an incident that came just two months after a chunk crashed down, nearly hitting a passenger.
A T spokesperson said the agency has “worked diligently” to “review and refine designs” for the project “to ensure that the renovations do not compromise the safety or convenience of riders.”
Despite the challenges, work on the kiosk is itself almost done.
Out Of Town News in 1985.Ted Dully/Globe StaffTom Fosnot of Cambridge read an out of town newspaper at Out of Town News in Harvard Square in 1999.GREENE, Bill GLOBE STAFF
When it opens, it will be a very different space than the landmark people remember.
Where there were once racks of newspapers and magazines along its walls, there are now wide windows, some of which swing open, so passersby can see straight through it. The interior is sparse, and will stay that way, so furniture can be arranged and re-arranged to fit various purposes.
It will, as needed, be used by the city’s Office for Tourism whose staff guide visitors around the square. The city also envisions other uses for its 500square feet, and hopes to use it for temporary attractions like art galleries and historical exhibits, musical performances, lectures, and other events.
Melissa Peters, chief of planning strategy for the city’s Community Development Department, said officials hope the tight space will feel like the beating heart of Harvard Square: “Active and alive and open.”
In this next iteration, the city said it hopes in the near future to publicize a form that various groups — artists, nonprofits, cultural institutions, businesses — can use to pitch ideas for the space. It has tapped the Somerville firm Culture House to direct programming there when it opens.
For most Harvard College students, it will be the first time they encounter the structure from the other side of the fence.
Frankie Freeman, a junior and president of a group of student-run businesses in the square called Harvard Student Agencies, said the new structure will be a step — finally — in the right direction.
“It’s kind of just an eyesore currently,” said Freeman, of Rhode Island, who oversees the student-led tours that kick off right next to the long-dormant kiosk, and the Harvard Shop, which is located next door. “It’s a little saddening to have to talk to tourists who are coming in and want to see this beautiful landscape, but all they get to see as they leave the T is the construction right outside the station.”
Freeman, 20, said he is too young to have ever been to Out of Town News, so has no personal connection to it. “I just hope that they can work efficiently and quickly, and have the construction done so that we can present Harvard as it should be presented.”
Denise Jillson, head of the Harvard Square Business Association, is frustrated by the glacial pace of the project to re-imagine the kiosk that once housed Out of Town News.David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
Museums, great eateries, unique stores, and of course, Harvard Yard make this a must-visit destination
Harvard Square (the area around the convergence of Massachusetts Avenue and Brattle, Mount Auburn, and John F. Kennedy Streets) is a commercial center for Harvard students, Cambridge residents, and tourists. Photo by Chynna Benson (CGS’18, COM’20)
According to historian Charles Sullivan, an area that includes the present-day Harvard Square was founded in 1630 as the Puritan village of Newtowne, which would become Cambridge in 1638. Many of the original streets still exist, including parts of Church, Story, Eliot, Arrow, and Mount Auburn Streets. And a few early 18th-century wood-frame houses on Winthrop, Dunster, and South Streets remain, as well.
The name Harvard Square did not become popular until the middle of the 19th century. Today the square (the area around the convergence of Massachusetts Avenue and Brattle, Mount Auburn, and John F. Kennedy Streets) is a commercial center for Harvard students, Cambridge residents, and tourists. It’s no surprise, given the disposable income passing through, that regional and national chains have moved in—yet the square retains many long-standing locally owned and operated businesses.
No amount of economic evolution can remove the area’s fascinating blend of characters. A sunken region next to the MBTA subway entrance (“the pit”) is a prime venue for political activists, panhandlers, skateboarders, and street performers, who also provide a festive atmosphere one block away, on Brattle Street. (Tracy Chapman and Martin Sexton both performed as Harvard Square buskers.) Nearby, on Mass Ave, chess aficionados challenge one and all for kicks and cash.
Below are some jumping-off points for exploring the square—destinations that lead to other destinations.
One of Harvard Square’s go-to spots for delicious Italian cuisine, Bar Enza, which opened inside the Charles Hotel in 2021, is a carb-lover’s dream. Be sure to try the restaurant’s delicious potato gnocchi with braised rabbit, favas, and pecorino. The restaurant’s spinach tagliatelle and baked rotolo with braised short rib ragu are among the other standouts. And don’t forget to leave room for dessert. The tiramisu and the affogato are worth every calorie. The restaurant is open for dinner only.
This Japanese ramen chain first opened in New England in 2015 in Harvard Square and has earned a devoted following. The signature dish is shio ramen, a mild and creamy soup flavored with salt and topped with pickled plum. Another favorite is the robustly flavored tokusen toroniku ramen, with pork. In all, there are six ramens to choose from, each of them delicious.
The Attic feels like a well-kept secret in Harvard Square. The light pink and powder blue walls are adorned with vintage artwork and hanging bags. Hats and accessories rest neatly on wall-mounted shelves, while a pink couch and wooden furnishings make the space feel like stepping into your grandmother’s living room. Racks are filled with a carefully curated mix of clothing: cozy sweaters, unique pants, and an array of jackets. Open daily from 11 am to 6 pm, and until 7 pm on Saturdays, the store’s ever-changing selection ensures that no two visits are ever quite the same. The store offers a 15 percent off discount for students every Monday. Be sure to check out their $10 and under vintage room, as well. Follow the Attic on Instagram for updates on new arrivals and store highlights.
From its modest beginnings in 1954, this Chinese restaurant has become a Harvard Square fixture and has expanded to three floors, with a restaurant, a lounge, and the area’s largest dance floor. The menu is nothing remarkable, but you’ll find the biggest scorpion bowl in town: nine alcohols (mostly rums) and pineapple and orange juices. With exotic drinks like that, who needs food? That said, you’ll find plenty of entrees to choose from, including BBQ spare ribs, Peking ravioli, crispy salted pepper calamari, and kung pao shredded beef.
Americans love two things: burgers and snark. At Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage, a Harvard Square institution since 1960, diners can have both: every seven-ounce burger comes with a free side of sarcasm. The restaurant has been featured in the New York Times and on the Food Network, among other media. Some menu items are a nod to our current political zeitgeist: there’s the Kamala Harris (a burger with habanero ghost pepper cheese, bacon, jalapeños, crispy fried onions, and ranch), and the Trump (a double burger with American cheese, BBQ sauce, and crispy fried onions). And, yes, the restaurant also features a Coach Walz and J.D. Vance burgers. If you don’t have an appetite for politics, try the Boston University sandwich (featuring breaded chicken, mozzarella cheese, homemade marinara sauce, and shaved Parmesan). For an authentic Mr. Bartley’s experience, add an extra-thick frappe or malt—but only if you wear your stretch pants
In 1932, Mark S. Kramer borrowed $300 from his parents to open a small store for used and remaindered books (books a publisher is trying to quickly get rid of). Today, the store is still independent: Mark’s son, Frank, sold it in 2008 to longtime customers Jeff Mayersohn and Linda Seamonson, who have expanded it to 100,000 new and used titles. The award-winning author event series presents readings, signings, and lectures by established and emerging authors. True bibliophiles will want to check out the store’s updated Frequent-Buyer Program: the more you buy, the more you save.
Clover, 1326 Massachusetts Ave. Photo by Cydney Scott
Local vegetarian chain Clover Food Lab aims to convert carnivores. And with a rotating menu of unique pita sandwiches and other items, the fast food chain may indeed claim some converts. Staple sandwiches include the chickpea fritter (a take on falafel)—with homemade hummus, cucumber tomato salad, pickled veggies, and tahini—and the Impossible Meatball (wheat and potato protein, coconut oil, and heme), featuring garlic, parsley, a red sauce, provolone, and pecorino. Another favorite? The Mediterranean bowl, with homemade hummus, farro lemon dill, chickpea eggplant pepper salad, cucumber tomato salad, pickled cabbage, and falafel balls, drizzled with green tahini. Clover is constantly experimenting with new food technologies and introducing new flavor-packed vegetarian dishes.
Founded in 1882 by a group of Harvard students, the Harvard Coop (pronounced like coupe, not co-op) is one of the country’s largest bookstores. Now run in partnership with Barnes & Noble College, the multilevel, multibuilding retailer sells textbooks, school supplies, and dorm necessities, as well as Harvard merchandise. The membership fee is only $1 per year, just as it was back in 1882. But membership is selective: only students, faculty, alumni, and employees of Harvard, MIT, and affiliated hospitals of Harvard Medical School can join. Members receive an instant 10 percent discount on all purchases.
Bringing a little taste of Hawaii to Harvard Square, Pokéworks launched in 2015 by founders who were inspired by frequent trips to the island. The menu features signature bowls, with options like spicy ahi (ahi tuna, cucumber, sweet onion, edamame, sriracha aioli, masago, green onion, sesame seeds, onion crisps, and shredded nori) and sweet sesame chicken (all-natural chicken breast, cucumber, sweet onion, edamame, mandarin orange, cilantro, Pokéworks classic sauce, seaweed salad, green onion, sesame, wonton crisps). You can also build your own bowl. Pair your meal with some hot miso soup, spicy edamame, or seaweed salad. The eatery offers a rewards program: spend $99 and you earn a $9 credit.
Tucked into a sliver of Plympton Street and resembling a small hallway closet is Grolier, the oldest continuously operated poetry bookshop in America. Established in 1927, this nook of a bookstore now stocks over 15,000 volumes of trade, small press, and university publications devoted to poetry, prosody, and poetry markets. It also offers regular author readings and book signings. T. S. Eliot, Allen Ginsberg, Marianne Moore, and e.e. cummings are among the many legendary writers who visited Grolier, and their black-and-white portraits gaze down from above the shop’s many shelves. The store is open 11 am to 7pm three days a week, Wednesday to Friday, and on the first Saturday of each month. You can also place delivery orders online.
Before she became a poster child for the antiwar movement in the 1960s, Joan Baez gave her first concert at a small Cambridge music venue called Club 47. Now, more than half a century later, Club 47—now Club Passim—remains a cornerstone of local and legendary folk music. Noted performers—among them Nobel laureate Bob Dylan, Tom Rush, Judy Collins, Shawn Colvin, and Joni Mitchell—made some of their first public appearances here. Among recent performers are progressive folk duo Honeysuckle, Richard Shindell, Janet Feld, and Bernice Lewis. The club’s intimate setting invites audience and artist interaction. The venue also offers membership tiers, including a free student membership that grants access to ticket presales, free concert live streams, and many other benefits. It’s a great way to support the local folk scene, so be sure to check out all the perks here.
This trendy, upscale gastro pub is known for its high-end take on a classic dish: pizza. Here, you’re encouraged to eat it with…gasp…a fork and knife! SOURCE serves up delicious pies, such as the SOURCE Margherita—with Maplebrook Farm mozzarella, roasted tomato, and basil—and a seasonal pizza—featuring truffle smoked ricotta, roasted mushrooms, red onions, and arugula. You’ll also find an excellent selection of cocktails, including seasonal drinks like their Autumn spritz, and an assortment of entrees, pasta dishes, small plates, and delicious desserts. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and serves a weekend brunch featuring French toast, and a variety of egg dishes, in addition to pasta and pizza.
This live music venue, which opened in 2012, has helped revive Harvard Square’s nightlife scene. Rebecca Black, Field Medic, and Rico Nasty are among the numerous acts that have appeared. The space can hold 500, but it has an intimate feel. Best of all, there isn’t a bad view of the stage from anywhere (the balconies have the best vantage point).
Established in 1988, the Cambridge Artists Cooperative is the area’s only year-round, artist-owned and artist-managed crafts cooperative. With work from more than 100 artists from across the country, this 2,000-square-foot gallery has contemporary crafts, paintings, pottery, photography, jewelry, clothing, and sculptures. New work is displayed every month. Online shopping is also available.
Wholesome Fresh is like a mini upscale grocery store in the middle of all the Harvard Square action. In addition to groceries, it sells deli sandwiches and fresh self-serve options that steer clear of artificial ingredients. Stop in to grab a bite to eat, or place a pickup order online.
This Swedish-based retailer specializes in outdoor gear and is particularly popular for its backpacks, which can be seen all over Boston. The backpacks, along with the company’s jackets, pants, and other outdoor equipment, are made with its signature “G-1000” hard-wearing and versatile fabric—engineered to be durable and breathable, good for both mountain climbing and a stroll down Comm Ave. Though Fjällräven’s products are on the more expensive side, they’re popular for their high quality.
Ramen places are popping up all over the Boston area, but few can top this one. Bosso Ramen Tavern opened its doors in March 2022 and drew an immediate crowd of devoted patrons. The rotating, ocean-inspired menu offers several delicious rice bowl and sushi options—and they are best known for their ramen dishes. The umami ramen is particularly flavorful and comes with flavored egg and kikurage, a type of mushroom. Umami means “essence of deliciousness” in Japanese, and this dish fully lives up to that description. Whether you choose to go for lunch or dinner, this place never disappoints. Delivery is also available here.
This mom-and-pop cafe, open for takeout, has a fun and fresh spin on traditional bagels—or, as they call them, “baaagels.” The bagels are made in-house with creative pairings. Try the caprese toast (served with tomato, mozzarella, and pesto), the breakfast BLT sandwich (served with maple bacon cream cheese, lettuce, tomato, and bacon bits), and the classic avocado toast. The cafe also serves coffee and offers catering for bulk orders with advanced notice.
This award-winning ramen chain takes pride in its origin story, with its first few locations taking Japan by storm in 2010. The first American flagship restaurant opened in New York City in 2017. In July 2021, they opened their first local eatery in Harvard Square (they also now have locations in the Seaport and at Legacy Place in Dedham). Check out the famous Ibusuki ramen (mixed broth made from pork and chicken, and paired with garlic and soy sauce, pork chashu, scallions, bean sprouts, and fried garlic), named after the Japanese city where the chain launched. Menu offerings include vegetarian options, such as the veggie miso bowl (miso flavored vegetable stock soup, jiro vegetable mix, tomato, sweet corn, and tofu). Not in the mood for ramen? Check out the udon, takoyaki, or gyoza.
Walking into Cardullo’s feels like stepping back 70 years, to a time when specialty shops like this were at the heart of every neighborhood. The walls are jam-packed with shelves of imported pastas, olive oils, and other pantry staples, while the deli counter hums with activity, offering freshly made sandwiches and an array of fine cheeses and charcuterie. In between, you’ll find artisanal chocolates, gift baskets, craft beers, and a thoughtfully curated selection of wines and spirits. The shop has been a Harvard Square staple since 1950, balancing old-world charm with an ever-changing selection that reflects tastes from around the world.
Hands down, Felipe’s is the best destination for Mexican food in Harvard Square. Their tacos are a must-try, made with fresh corn tortillas, chopped onions, and a generous topping of guacamolillo. You pick the meat and toppings. If you’re not a taco fan, try the quesadilla or the chimichanga. The festive environment is one of a kind and only improves as the late-night crowd rolls in. There’s a rooftop bar that is open during warm-weather months. Felipe’s is famous for its fresh key lime margaritas. Stop by for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. On their website, Felipe’s sums up their dining experience in three words: fresh, fast, and friendly. Trust us—you can take them at their word.
This store is a must for anyone who appreciates quality stationery, fine pens, office products, diaries and calendars, and a wonderful selection of gift and holiday cards and wrapping paper. The knowledgeable staff has been serving Boston-area residents since 1930 and can provide help with everything from selecting the perfect fountain pen to finding the right kind of personalized stationery.
Brattle Theatre, and Alden and Harlow, 40 Brattle St. Photo by Cydney Scott
Fans of the silver screen have been catching flicks at the Brattle since 1953, when Bryant Haliday and Cyrus Harvey, Jr., premiered the German film Der Hauptmann von Köpenick. Showing classic, independent, foreign, and art-house films, this nonprofit theater—one of a vanishing breed—is best known for its eclectic and repertory format. Housed in a barnlike meeting hall, it is one of the few remaining movie theaters to use rear projection—the projector is behind the screen rather than behind the audience—which reduces shadows on the screen and can give better contrast and saturation.
When chef Michael Scelfo opened Alden & Harlow in 2014, he wanted to serve “honest American food, bold and flavor forward in taste.” And he does, with dishes like chicken-fried local rabbit topped with chili oil, radish, and blue cheese, and grilled bluefish with celery root, remoulade, and house pickles. There’s also a weekend brunch featuring such yummy items as pickled corn pancakes with tarragon aioli, fermented ramp greens, and burnt cherry hot sauce; avocado toast with green garlic oil, whipped feta, marinated cucumbers, and sesame chili crisp; and French toast with roasted strawberry and rhubarb, whipped cream cheese, and vanilla honey. Scelfo also has another eatery, Waypoint, across the square at 1030 Massachusetts Ave., offering coastally inspired fare.
L. A. Burdick, 52D Brattle St. Photo by Chynna Benson (CGS’18, COM’20)
When the Aztecs drank chocolate thousands of years ago, this “drink of the gods” was so rare and sacred that only the richest could afford it. At L.A. Burdick, “richest” is a culinary reference: a mug of hot chocolate here beats that watery instant stuff any day. The secret? It’s made from chocolate—and only chocolate—hand-shaved and warmed in milk. If that’s not rich enough for you, try the “Harvard Square,” a dense chocolate and walnut cake topped with velvety ganache. L.A. Burdick also sells a wide selection of chocolate confectionery. Of special note are its whimsical chocolate mice and penguins, beloved by L.A. Burdick patrons for more than 25 years, individually handcrafted in 12 steps over three days.
This eye-catching local flower shop, opened in 1973, recently moved around the corner next to L.A. Burdick. It’s famous for providing the freshest flowers and stellar customer service. The knowledgeable staff will help you put together the perfect arrangement or select the perfect houseplant. The shop offers delivery to Cambridge, Boston, and nearby areas. It’s open daily (except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day).
Founded in 1980, the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) has garnered many of the nation’s most distinguished awards: a Tony Award for best regional theater, a Jujamcyn Theaters Award, and the National Theatre Conference’s Outstanding Achievement Award. Housed in the Loeb Drama Center, the A.R.T. has seen a number of its productions transfer to Broadway, among them All the Way, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, Pippin, The Glass Menagerie, Waitress,and Life of Pi. The company has staged dozens of American and world premieres. In late 2026, A.R.T. is slated to relocate to the David E. and Stacey L. Goel Center for Creativity & Performance at 175 N. Harvard St. in Allston, near Harvard’s athletics facilities, business school, and science complex. Accessible by foot, bike, public transit, and car, the new venue will feature two performance spaces, studios, a public lobby, and an outdoor event yard, with performances beginning there in early 2027. A.R.T. will continue producing at the Loeb Drama Center until the move.
Longfellow House, 105 Brattle St. Photo by Cydney Scott
Rich in history, this landmark building was the home of one of America’s most renowned 19th-century poets, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Prior to that, the house was George Washington’s headquarters during the Revolutionary War siege of Boston (July 1775 to April 1776). Today, the museum is administered by the National Park Service and houses a collection of 19th-century documentary material and papers belonging to the Longfellow family, as well as clothing, fine arts, tools, and toys. The house, which sits on just under two acres, has a carriage barn and a pergola and is surrounded by lush lawns and formal gardens. Join the likes of Charles Dickens and Ralph Waldo Emerson as one of many visitors to the house. The site is closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, but virtual visits are available.
Follow the smell of pizza, incense, and Vietnamese food, and you’ll end up at the Garage, definitely one of Harvard Square’s oddities. This multistory mini shopping mall—a neighborhood landmark for more than 50 years—is in fact a converted parking garage, with even its original car ramp preserved. It houses an eclectic variety of eateries and shops, notably Newbury Comics, with one of the region’s largest collections of new-wave and alternative music. There are plans to redevelop the mall to offer expanded retail, restaurant, and office space, as well as six outdoor terraces. The current building, which dates back to 1860, was originally a horse stable.
This Parisian-based gelato maker opened in Harvard Square in summer 2018, its second Boston-area location. It specializes in shaping different flavors of gelato into a multicolored rose, usually complemented by a macaron placed in the center. We dare you to find a more presentable dessert anywhere in the Boston area. Flavors range from hazelnut to passion fruit. They also serve milkshakes, granita, and sorbet drinks.
This cozy cafe, part of the Peet’s Coffee chain, is a popular spot for students and locals alike to unwind with a cup of freshly brewed coffee, crafted espresso drinks, or herbal teas. With ample seating and a laid-back atmosphere, Peet’s is perfect for catching up on reading, studying, or meeting with friends. The outdoor seating overlooks Winthrop Square, offering a pleasant spot to enjoy menu highlights like the chicken and waffles sandwich, made with warm maple waffles and melted Gouda, or the spiced maple cold brew oat latte, a fall favorite.
Grendel’s Den, 89 Winthrop St. Photo by Chynna Benson (CGS’18, COM’20)
The sign outside this enduring dyed-in-the-wool Harvard Square watering hole announces that it was established in 1271. It’s a typo, and should have read 1971. But the owners kept the sign because Grendel’s Den is named after the antagonist from Beowulf, and the medieval date evokes the epic poem’s period. The bar circumvents the state’s no-happy-hour mandate by offering half-price food between 5 and 7:30 pm daily. The justice system okayed such defiance: Grendel’s famously fought a 1982 legal battle over its liquor license all the way to the US Supreme Court and won—separation of church and state was at the heart of it, believe it or not. That’s worth celebrating with a sandwich and microbrew—or two.
This family-friendly, multilevel bar-restaurant and self-proclaimed “double cheeseburger king” has been a mainstay of Harvard Square for more than 65 years, and is a popular spot for college students. The wide-ranging menu includes cheeseburgers, fried chicken, grilled lobster melt sandwiches, and veggie items, like the homemade black bean and veggie cheeseburger with salsa, guacamole, and chips. They’re also known for their incredible grilled cheese sandwiches. The ground floor is reminiscent of a 1950s-style diner, with several HD TVs turned to local news and sports channels. There’s also a sidewalk patio, an upstairs lounge boasting “the best jukebox in Cambridge,” and a hopping beer garden featuring 22 draught beers. The beer garden stays open year-round thanks to the fire pits Charlie’s turns on during the cold months. Charlie’s traditionally hosts trivia quizzes on Wednesday nights, and they are also dog-friendly!
Harvard Yard. Photo by Chynna Benson (CGS’18, COM’20)
The “Yahd” defines one side of the square. Lined by Harvard’s freshman dorms, it’s the epitome of a New England college campus: red brick buildings under a canopy of hardwood trees, ablaze in color each fall. Presiding over the Yard is a statue of 17th-century English clergyman John Harvard, the college’s first benefactor. The sculpture is often called the “statue of three lies”: the inscription reads “John Harvard, Founder, 1638,” but the university was founded in 1636, Harvard was not the founder (although his library and fortune helped sustain the school through its early years), and no one knows what the actual John Harvard looked like. Sculptor Daniel Chester French (best known for the Lincoln Memorial) had a student model for the statue in 1884. When you look at the statue, note how brightly polished one shoe is. Tour guides say that it’s good luck to rub Harvard’s left foot. Nearby is Harvard’s main library, the Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library, with 57 miles of bookshelves and more than three million volumes, including one of the world’s few existing copies of the Gutenberg Bible.
A trip to the Harvard Museum of Natural History is an evolutionary experience. Visit prehistoric creatures, such as fossil invertebrates, reptiles, and the world’s only mounted Kronosaurus. Wander through a garden of more than 3,000 handcrafted glass flowers or admire a 1,600-pound amethyst geode. The museum is open daily and offers student discounts to non-Harvard students.
Among the things Harvard University is renowned for are its three art museums—the Fogg (Western art from the Middle Ages to the present), the Busch-Reisinger (works from northern and central Europe, with an emphasis on German-speaking countries), and the Sackler (Asian, ancient Mediterranean and Byzantine, Islamic, and Indian art). In a project that took six years to complete at a reported cost of $250 million, all three were united under one roof for the first time in 2014 as the Harvard Art Museums. The facility, designed by noted architect Renzo Piano, is an expansion of the original 1927 Fogg Museum building. The museums house more than 250,000 works of art and are home to four separate research centers. The renovation incorporated galleries to feature special exhibitions. The best part? Thanks to a contribution from the estate of David Rockefeller and support from the Office of the President of Harvard University, the Harvard Art Museums are free for all visitors.
