A College Kid’s Guide to Boston (and Medford and Somerville and Cambridge)

I was that kid who liked every school she toured. I loved schools near cities so you could go to concerts and museums, and schools near nature so I could go hiking. I liked schools that were near other schools so I could meet other college students, and schools with their own little towns so I could have “my spots” and feel at home. With Tufts, I pretty much hit the jackpot. 

Before I give you all my recs, you might want to know who the heck I am. My name is Hannah, I’m 22-years-old, and I’m from New York (Westchester, in full transparency). I started off as an English major, which I often cite as the best decision I’ve ever made, and then got into politics after the 2016 election. By senior year, I was going up to New Hampshire almost every weekend to canvass (another perk of a Boston-area school: proximity to a first-in-the-nation primary state), so I ended up studying political science too. I had brilliant professors, many of whom I’m still in touch with. I wrote articles and started a podcast for the newspaper, I took photos for the campus magazine and wrote poems for the literary magazine, was in a satirical dance show and a Frankenstein marathon reading and a bunch of other shit you only do in college. I met the most good-hearted, nerdy-yet-cool people I’ve ever come across and am lucky to call many my best friends. And I graduated—yes, virtually—this past May, so forgive me for getting a lil’ sentimental as I walk you through some of my favorite spots to eat, do work, shop, stroll, and eat again. 

If you don’t want to work in Tisch… take your backpack over to Tamper and post up with a chai latte and a sunny egg mash with cheddar. I would sometimes spend hours working in the window or at the long communal table, or other times just go for a coffee between uphill classes if I didn’t want to go back to my dorm. Warning, you will probably run into at least five people you know. If you’ve got a car, you could drive over to NU Cafe, which is a spacious, modern spot for clean eats. They have massive smoothie bowls which is the best treat while you’re powering through your final papers. 

If you have a free day...walk to Harvard Square. Yes, it’s only two stops on the T, but if you have the time (it takes a little less than an hour), it’s worth it. Once while headed to Harvard, we saw Elizabeth Warren power walking through Porter Square, and she nodded at me. That could be you! Without a doubt, you should get brunch at Tatte Bakery & Cafe, an Israeli-style spot with locations all over Boston. Get the shakshuka if you’re hungry and literally any pastry if you’re not. Just down the street, you can browse the Harvard Book Store—they have great recs, and I can’t go in there without buying a new book. You can also walk through Harvard’s campus and pretend like you’re in Good Will Hunting or Legally Blonde (depending on your mood). Pick up a sweetgreen and eat it on Harvard Yard, or shop around at stores like Black Ink for fun gifts. 

If you just have the afternoon free...there’s plenty to keep you busy (and well-fed) in Davis Square. There’s a bunch of great thrift shops—whether you’re looking for digs for a costume party or a date party, my go-to is Buffalo Exchange. For all of your kitchy needs, (think RBG pins and rings and ceramic mugs), stop by Magpie. I always leave with something small enough to justify buying on a whim. There are so many good places to eat in Davis Square that I won’t try to name them all (okay I’ll name a few: Dakzen, Mr. Crepe, and Redbones Barbecue), but it would be wrong not to plug my most highly frequented food stop: Pokeworks is my go-to if I’m spending a long night in the library or I just need a big bowl of something yummy. 

If you need a lil’ dose of nature...the best place to go is the Middlesex Fells Reservation, A.K.A “The Fells.” It’s less than a 15-minute drive from Tufts but makes you feel much, much further. It’s especially gorgeous in the fall when the leaves are changing. If you want to have a little picnic, bring some food to Bacow Sailing Pavilion, A.K.A. “The Docks,” for a lil’ waterside dining at sunset. 

If your parents are visiting...show them you’re ~cultured~ and take them to one of Boston’s many incredible museums (you can also show off your newfound ability to navigate the T). I took my parents to the Institute of Contemporary Art in the Seaport and walked along the water before dinner. There’s also the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Science, and so many more. For dinner, there are tons of places in Boston, but if you want to stay more local, my favorite can’t-afford-this-on-my-own spot is Alden and Harlow in Harvard Square. They have the most unique and delicious menu of any place I’ve tried in the Boston suburbs (pickled corn pancakes with popcorn, for example). In Davis Square, check out Posto for delish Italian food or Sugidama for sushi. Semolina is also a great option for a yummy Italian lunch or dinner —they serve sandwiches from Dave’s Fresh Pasta, which always hit the spot.

If you’re in the mood for a late night snack… walk over to Espresso’s on Boston Ave. Come for the pizza, stay for the mac and cheese bites. Major hack I wish I knew sooner: you can use Tufts’ Jumbo Cash there. If you’re already on your couch and there is absolutely no way you’re moving, get some burritos delivered from Felipe’s in Cambridge (if you didn’t already start your night on Felipe’s rooftop). Craving something sweet, but again, you are in the middle of a New Girl marathon and can’t possibly move? Scoop N Scootery delivers massive sundaes to your door. Have I ordered Scoop to the library before? No comment.

If you wake up, um, tired, and all you want is a big iced coffee and something starchy, have no fear. This is the Medford/Somerville specialty. If you want more of a diner vibe, definitely check out Kelly’s Diner, which is located in an actual 1950’s dining car. If you’re craving a bagel, oooh baby you are in luck. Here are the options: Magnificent Muffins and Bagels, affectionately known as MagMuff, is key to the Tufts experience. They’re cash only and they close at noon, so you can imagine how many times I was rifling through my wallet for $5 at 11:45 am. The newest spot in Medford, Goldilox, is home to what may be my favorite bagel of all time: the rosemary salt bagel. Get it with lox, tomato, and veggie cream cheese—*chef’s kiss* delicious. If you’re in the mood for an adventure and have the patience for a potentially long line, go to Bagelsaurus in Porter Square for the gourmet bagel experience. 

If it’s your birthday...start your day with some massive donuts from Davis Square Donuts and Bagels. For dinner, head over to Dali in Cambridge for good vibes and great tapas and sangria. Sei Bar in Medford is another option if you want to eat copious amounts of sushi while drinking a giant scorpion bowl (who doesn’t). For a cake, Lyndell’s in Medford is my favorite bakery by a mile. 

If you want to have a city day... you have to go to Newbury Street at least once or else people will accuse you of having never lived in Boston (same rules apply to going to a Red Sox game). There are lots of spots to grab a bite and even more places to spend all your money on clothing. No Rest for Bridget is a good place to buy dresses and “going out tops” (will we ever need them again? sigh) without breaking the bank. Walk all the way down to find one of Newbury Street’s hidden gems, Trident Booksellers & Cafe, where you can browse new novels and get brunch all in one place. Truly the dream. 

If you want to have a city night… I will not pretend to be an expert on the Boston nightlife scene, but I do consider myself an expert on eating giant pans of pasta, which you can do at Trattoria il Panino in the North End. It’s a really fun spot for a date. And yes, you read that correctly: they give you a full pan. For dessert, walk over to Mike’s Pastry for the full North End experience and get a box of cannolis to go. Take ‘em to a nearby park and go off. No date necessary. Other favorite dinners include Gourmet Dumpling House in Chinatown, Citrus & Salt for festive cocktails and Mexican food in Back Bay (and the infamous “I didn’t text you, tequila did” mirror art), and Banyan Bar and Refuge in the South End which has a happy hour special with $1 dumplings. I mean !!! Also, try their miso mac and cheese with short ribs and thank me later. 

One of my favorite things I did all four years at Tufts was one night after dinner, my best friend and I checked on Stubhub for concert tickets and saw that Lorde happened to be playing at TD Garden that night. So in, like, an hour. For around $30 a person, we got our tickets, ubered the 15 minutes over to the stadium after the concert was already slated to start, and made it in time for Lorde’s whole set. I’m not saying to do exactly that, but definitely take advantage of your proximity to TD Garden and the Boston music scene in general.

I know this is really really long but the crazy part is I feel like I barely scratched the surface. If you’re reading this, I hope you’ll become an official Tufts Jumbo so you have four years to check out all these places and more for yourself. Wherever you end up, I hope you find “your spots.”

With love and rosemary salt bagel breath, 

HK 

P.S. You can text me with questions at (914) 844-0987!