Boston Seaport
Neighborhood GuideOnce home to a sea of endless parking lots and mostly known for its industrial and port histories, the Seaport has emerged to become one of fastest growing neighborhoods in Boston. Now full of luxury stores and gleaming glass buildings, the history of the Seaport finds its beginnings in the 1970s, when just a few restaurants in the area drew folks down to what then was an unswimmable and toxic harbor. In the nearby Fort Point neighborhood, artists moved in for cheap studio space. A few key events put the district on developers’ radar in the 90’s: The Big Dig, the Boston Harbor clear up, the building of the courthouse on Fan Pier, and the building of the convention center. The ICA, office towers, luxury apartments, restaurants, and retail followed, creating the Seaport we know today.
Eat
Seaport is a magnet for new food concepts and familiar fast casual. Check out our picks below and explore the dozens of restaurants in the area such as City Tap House, Lucky’s Lounge, and Shake Shake.
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
A New England staple, Harpoon Brewery hosts a beer garden and weekly events along with numerous lagers on tap. Harpoon’s brewery is also available for tours with a beer tasting at the end.
1306 Northern Ave.
Hood Milk Bottle
Originally built in 1930, the iconic Hood Milk Bottle was donated to the Boston Children’s Museum in 1977 where it has remained since. Hood serves soft serve ice cream, sweet treats, and hot dogs in the summertime with nearby tables and seating.
300 Congress St.
Mecha Noodle Bar
Specializing in Asian-American comfort food, Mecha riffs off classic pho and ramen dishes alongside delicious cocktails of the alcoholic and non alcoholic variety. Part of Mecha’s mission is to pay it forward, supporting their employees and a variety of organizations throughout the northeast.
44 Thomson Pl.
Grace by Nia
One of Seaport’s newest restaurants, Grace by Nia is an experience in food and entertainment. Described as where “Soul Meets the Seaport” this glamorous supper club serves up Southern classics to the soundtrack of soul and jazz.
60 Seaport Blvd.
Yume Ga Arukara
An expansion of Cambridge based udon shop Yume Ga Arukara is coming to the Seaport Fall 2023. The highly acclaimed restaurant will feature its classic noodle dish as well as additional Japanese fare.
70 Pier 4 Boulevard, Suite 260
Visit
Given its proximity to Boston Harbor, on a nice day it’s easy to spend a few hours walking around the Seaport, especially following the Harborwalk Trail – below are a few stops along the way.
ICA
Boston’s premier contemporary art museum, the ICA features rotating exhibitions from internationally known and local artists. Their outdoor amphitheater seating with a view of Boston Harbor and their gift shop are notable as well.
25 Harbor Shore Dr.
Porter Square Books
The Boston offshoot of the original Cambridge based bookshop, Porter Square Books, Boston Edition, is the neighborhood bookstore. In addition to hosting an extensive collection, PSB, in partnership with Grubstreet, hosts a regular calendar of events.
50 Liberty Dr.
The Current
The Current is the Seaport’s rotating pop up activation, showcasing the products of entrepreneurs aiming to take their product to the next level or tried and true brands breaking into a new market. The pop is currently in its 12th season and curated by Black Owned Bos. Check out the summer and winter markets next door on the Seaport Green for a selection of artisanal products from local makers as well.
100 Seaport Blvd.
Fan Pier Park
Fan Pier Park is the doorstep of the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse– a greenspace right of the edge of the water. Locals frequent this park as a stop along the Harborwalk, for lunch outside the office, and for the stunning views of Downtown and Boston Harbor.
22 Liberty Dr.
Temporary Art in Fort Point Channel
Walking across Summer St. Bridge? Look out into the water… is there something in the Fort Point Channel? You could be looking at the latest temporary public art installation commissioned by Fort Point Arts Community. Past installations have included sheep, a pyramid, a submerged building, a house of cards, and stacked lobster cages representing rising sea levels. Be sure to take a closer look at the water next time you walk into the Seaport.
Do
There’s always something happening in the Seaport. Check out the Boston Seaport calendar for events, markets and more. Here’s what we like to do when we’re in the neighborhood.
ICA First Fridays
The ICA hosts an after hours party every First Friday of the month featuring music, dancing, drinks, and artmaking. The museum brings in different event partners for each First Friday, so no party is the same.
25 Harbor Shore Dr.
Snowport
Snowport, the Seaport’s wintery alter ego offers a variety of holiday activities for those so inclined to celebrate. The main draw is the Holiday Market on Seaport Common featuring dozens of local vendors. Other activities include tree lightings, curling, and a tree market.
65 Northern Ave.
Leader Bank Pavilion Concerts
A 5,000 seat outdoor concert venue by the harbor, the Leader Bank Pavilion hosts shows throughout the summer and fall.
290 Northern Ave.
Puttshack
A tech infused mini golf venue with food and drinks to boot, Puttshack offers fun for all ages. Check out Puttshack on weekend nights for a live DJ.
58 Pier 4 Blvd.
Boxes at The Boston Fish Pier
The Boxes at the Boston Fish Pier is a new installation that serves as a front door to Boston’s working waterfront. The Boxes host regular programming including seafood markets, Fish Pier tenants, and local non-profits focusing on waterfront related issues. Visitors can stop by outside of programming to learn more about the past and present history of Fish Pier through its “mini museum”.
Organizations
A spotlight of a few of the organizations active in the Seaport community.
Fort Point Arts Community
Supporting the multitude of artists living in Fort Point, Fort Point Arts Community (FPAC) promotes the work of artists in the community through exhibitions and events, advocates for art opportunities, affordable live work housing, and connects with a community of artists and arts supporters.
300 Summer St.
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is dedicated to restoring and protecting Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay, and the marine environment for everyone to enjoy. From advocating for the Boston Harbor Cleanup, leading the effort to create the Boston Harbor Islands National Park and hosting free events throughout the year, StH/StB continues to connect Bostonians to the waterfront
212 Northern Ave.
Community Boat Building
Community Boat Building introduces dozens of low-income Boston Public Schools 5th graders to boat building each year. Through boat building, students engage in hands-on learning, apply classroom knowledge outside of school, and learn about the history of Boston Harbor. The organization provides many of these students with their first opportunities on the water and works with the students throughout the school year. Find out how you can get involved here.
21 Liberty Dr.
Grubstreet
Grubstreet is an independent creative writing center, offering classes, workshops, meetups, conferences and talks intersecting with a multitude of fields.
50 Liberty Dr.
Project Paulie Bocce Ball
A pop up bocce ball club in the Seaport, the Project Paulie Bocce features three outdoor bocce lanes for reservation and walk-ups. From Friday to Sunday visitors can pick up a selection of specialty hot dogs from Latina-owned Buenas. A portion of the proceeds from bocce lane reservations is donated to Project Bread, a non-profit working to end hunger in Massachusetts.
The Current, Summer 2023