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Back Bay, Boston, MA

Back Bay, Boston, MA

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Actually underwater until a massive 19th-century land reclamation project filled in areas between Downtown and Kenmore, Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood has an endearing old-world charm and a population of young professionals who have taken over the area and the neighborhood’s distinct Victorian-era brownstones.

During the day, bustling Newbury Street is a magnet for upscale shoppers looking to browse the designer and boutique clothing stores or pop into the pricey cafés and restaurants for an afternoon treat.

Back Bay is also home to historic buildings like Trinity Church, the Old South Church, and the magnificently designed Boston Public Library, as well as two of Boston’s signature skyscrapers, the John Hancock Tower and the Prudential Center (“the Pru”), which boasts incredible views from its fiftieth-floor observation deck.

Back Bay’s central location means that nightlife can vary from the classy wine bars and trattorias near Newbury Street to the handful of crowded and dingy dives along Boylston Street popular with students from the Berklee School of Music.

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What to Do in the Back Bay

Tico

Mexican Restaurant

Party Earth Review Nothing works quite like a margarita for warming up coworker relations, which may explain the perpetual stream of hip young colleagues loosening their ties at exotic tequila bar ... more

222 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116

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Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar

Lounge / Mexican Restaurant

Party Earth Review A lair of Mexican spirits and Latin beats, Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar is a sultry sunken lounge with a drink list almost as long as Nabokov’s namesake novel – albeit ... more

271 Dartmouth Street
Boston, MA 02116

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Stephanie's On Newbury

New American Restaurant

Reviewed by Sarah G.

"My Take: Stephanie’s On Newbury is my favorite restaurant to eat at on Newbury Street. The location of this restaurant is so prime, which attributes ..." more

190 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116

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Summer Shack

Seafood Restaurant / Tiki Bar

Party Earth Review Boston is far from an island paradise, but unpretentious seafood joint Summer Shack brings a bit of the tropics – and a whole lot of shellfish – to Beantown. Located ... more

50 Dalton Street
Boston, MA 02115

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Max Brenner

Café / American Restaurant

Reviewed by Kelly G.

"For the most die-hard of chocolate connoisseurs, there is no better place. Yes, some of the delicacies here are a little expensive, but to have choco ..." more

745 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116

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minibar

Cocktail Bar / Hotel Bar

Party Earth Review Despite the prevalent stereotype that hotel bars are soulless affairs only intended for temporary guests, the historic Copley Square Hotel’s minibar has become a go-to for ... more

Copley Square Hotel
51 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02116

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Forum

Bar / Restaurant

Party Earth Review Right in the thick of always-booming Boylston Street, slick and trendy Forum provides a sexy respite from the hustle and bustle of one of Boston’s busiest thoroughfares. During the ... more

755 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116

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Post 390

Bar / Restaurant / Tavern

Party Earth Review Posh partiers in search of an upscale but cozy nightspot should head to Post 390, a warm and welcoming tavern whose outgoing clientele, open kitchen, and creative cocktails make for ... more

406 Stuart Street
Boston, MA 02116

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Top of the Hub

Bar / Restaurant

Party Earth Review Located on the fifty-second floor of the Back Bay Prudential Center, Top of the Hub lives up to its name by offering breathtaking panoramic views of the Boston skyline to its clientele ... more

800 Boylston Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02199

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The Brahmin

Bar / Lounge / Restaurant

Party Earth Review Maybe the only place in town with both crystal chandeliers and tater tots, The Brahmin is an elegant 20s-style speakeasy with one foot firmly planted in modern day. Named for the wealthy ... more

33 Stanhope Street
Boston, MA 02116

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Storyville

Club / Lounge / Restaurant

Party Earth Review Tucked beneath the historic Copley Square Hotel, Storyville may have the same name as the preeminent jazz joint that occupied the space in the 1950s, but this new incarnation adds a ... more

Copley Square Hotel
90 Exeter Street
Boston, MA 02116

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Newbury Street

Outdoor Activity

Party Earth Review An eight-block stretch containing some of the city’s best high-end shopping, restaurants, and cafés, Newbury Street is sometimes referred to as the Rodeo Drive of the ... more

Newbury Street between Massachusetts Avenue and Arlington Avenue
Boston, MA 02116

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Top Upcoming Events in the Back Bay

May 2013

May 24 Fri	Michelangelo: Sacred And Profane, Master Drawings from the Casa Buonarroti Art Exhibit / Art Museum of Fine Arts	Add to Calendar
May 24 Fri	Luxury On Paper: The Art of Surimono Art Exhibit / Art Museum of Fine Arts	Add to Calendar
May 24 Fri	Art of the White Mountains Art Exhibit Museum of Fine Arts	Add to Calendar