hey all, heading to boston for one night on the 14th with the wife for her birthday. we use to go to farmstead in providence all the time when we first started dating so we thought it would be fun to go to there new restaurant the townsmen in boston for dinner and we are staying three minutes away at the hyatt, does anyone have recommendations for places to check out with in walking distance, mind you she will probably have heels on and we want to have an easy going fun night out so dont really want to be dealing with trains, etc. so lay it on me, give me your suggestions for things like: cool beer spots cool whiskey spots cool cocktail spots cool barcades cool museums cool waterpark or whatever weird thing that might be unexpected and really sensational cant wait to hear what you all have to say ps the wife has no idea what we are doing that day so if you know us please dont say anything. thanks gang.
Cool whiskey, specifically japanese whiskey, near Townsman - Go to Shojo in Chinatown, it's an interesting/hip place unlike anything else I've seen in Boston. Cool cocktails - the coolest (as in, the cool kids go there) is Drink over in Fort Point. While you're in Fort Point you can go across to Trillium, Row 34 (which serves trillium), Lucky's, City Tap House, etc. Barcades, there's one in Kendall Square Cambridge now I believe, but haven't been yet.
Looks like you'll be in the Chinatown/Downtown Crossing area. Trillium in Fort Point, if you want to take home beer, is the easy suggestion, and next door is Row 34, a fantastic restaurant with great beer. It's less than a mile away. I'd also point you at JM Curley, which is right around the corner from your Hyatt. Good beer, good cocktails, good food, etc. The aquarium is fantastic, if you're into that, and there's also the Institute of Contemporary Art which is on the waterfront nearby. You'll be in the theater district, so there's gonna be shitloads of shows going on. Maybe something tickles your fancy.
Boston's ICA (Institute for Contemporary Art) is one of the best art museums in Boston and a very cool building. It's just a couple of blocks away from some of the places suggested above in Fort Point (Row 34, Trillium, Drink). You won't be disappointed if you go to Townsman. Amazing restaurant. +1 on Shojo too.
All within walking distance of your hotel: Gingerman(big beer and whiskey selections) Stoddards(beer and cocktails) Row 34(beer) Highball Lounge(cocktails) Tavern Road(cocktails) Drink(cocktails) The Last Hurrah(whiskey) The Tap Trailhouse(beer) Yvonnes(cocktails) Ruka(cocktails) For parks, there is the Harbor Walk which goes along the Harbor(obviously) starting in the North End and goes into the South Boston waterfront. Near your hotel is the Kennedy Greenway which is a narrow park that goes through multiple neighborhoods. The Chinatown portion is right by Townsman.
