Restaurants & Site-Seeing Near Campus
A Taste of the Neighborhood: Dean B’s Favorite BU-Area Restaurants
When you’re visiting your student at BU, you’ll quickly discover that our campus sits in the heart of one of Boston’s most vibrant dining scenes. I’m excited to share a few of my personal favorites—restaurants run by friends who’ve become true pillars of our community.
First, let me tell you about John and Pam Beale, the heart and soul behind Cornwall’s, a fantastic English pub right in Kenmore Square. This remarkable couple has been working in the square for over 50 years, and their dedication to both Boston University and the city of Boston is truly extraordinary. Cornwall’s isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a gathering place where the warmth of genuine hospitality meets authentic English fare.
Just steps away, you’ll find what we affectionately call “Harkerville” – Garrett Harker’s trio of exceptional establishments: Eastern Standard, Standard Italian, and Equal Measure. Perfectly positioned between BU’s South Campus, Kenmore Square, and Fenway Park, these restaurants have become integral to the fabric of our neighborhood. Garrett’s commitment to culinary excellence and community spirit makes each venue a destination worth experiencing.
And don’t miss Audubon Bar, where owner Jay Bellao and Chef Sergio Salas are redefining what bar food can be. Their creative approach to casual dining has made Audubon a favorite among students, faculty, and neighborhood regulars alike.
Here’s a tip: when you visit any of these spots, tell them Dean B sent you. In fact, you might just run into me there – I’m a big fan of all three destinations.
Of course, these are just a few highlights from our fantastic foodie scene. And don’t sleep on our own BU Dining Options – they’re all pretty awesome as well!
Also on my foodie list:
TsuruTonTan Udon Noodle Brasserie
Beyond the Classroom: Christy’s Guide to Boston’s Hidden Gems
If you love a good mystery, like I do, let me recommend a visit to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. In 1990, thieves stole $500 million worth of art, from the museum, that has never been recovered. Watch This is a Robbery: The World’s Biggest Art Heist on Netflix—then head over to this intimate, palazzo-style museum (just a short walk from campus) to see if you can spot the empty frames still hanging on the walls where the stolen works once resided. There’s something hauntingly beautiful about those vacant spaces, each one telling its own story of loss and mystery.
After exploring the Gardner’s enchanting courtyard and remaining treasures, take a diagonal stroll across the street to the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA). From Monet to mummies, and everything in between, there truly is something for everyone to enjoy at the MFA! The breadth of their collection is staggering—you could easily spend an entire afternoon wandering from contemporary installations to classical sculptures.
Pro tip—your BU student has free admission to these museums with their student ID—yet another perk of being part of the BU family.
Later on, hop on the Green Line to Copley Square and discover one of the city’s true architectural gems: the Boston Public Library (BPL). This isn’t just any library—it’s a masterpiece of art and design, with stunning murals, a breathtaking central courtyard, and reading rooms that feel more like cathedrals than study spaces. And here’s a fun bit of trivia: do you know which BU alum and NHL star chose this magnificent venue for their wedding? Click here to find out!
I hope you fall in love with this city as much as I have. I’ve called Boston home for a long time now, and these are just a few suggestions out of a long list of favorites!
We are pleased to offer a discount to our BU families wishing to experience View Boston.
View Boston is the only observatory in Boston, located at the top three floors of the Prudential Tower. The three floors include indoor and outdoor observation decks, immersive exhibits, and a rooftop bar/restaurant. Take in stunning views of the city from a totally unique perspective at a discounted rate by using the link below.
Attention book lovers! Looking for a literary adventure while you’re visiting your student during Family & Friends weekend?
BU Libraries can connect you and your student to leisure reading resources at BU and Beyond with the BU Libraries’ Reader’s Guide to Boston. Did you know that Boston was the home to many literary greats including Louisa May Alcott, Sylvia Plath, and Henry David Thoreau? You can use this resource to help you plan literary sightseeing with your student while in Boston.
This guide was curated by BU librarians to highlight places the BU community can find their next favorite book, whether that’s at our BU Libraries @ the Howard Thurman Center collection, the Boston Public Library, or one of the many indie bookstores in the Boston area. BU Libraries supports the whole BU student, including providing opportunities for leisure reading. While university libraries are known to be places of stress, we promote holistic wellbeing and expanding the imagination through reading. Studies show that leisure reading decreases stress levels, enhances empathy, and stimulates creativity (Academic libraries, student wellbeing and the power of leisure reading) – all important for student success and wellbeing! Visit our table Friday from 1 – 4pm in the Family & Friends Weekend Lounge to learn more about how we support students!
Bookish Boston Afternoon
Have a vibrant literary afternoon in Boston – curated by your favorite librarian team:
Total walking distance: 1.6 miles
From campus, take the T’s Green Line B east from BU; get off at Copley.
Stop 1: BPL Central Library in Copley Square
Take a self-guided tour of the historic library, including the iconic Bates Hall reading room, the tranquil central courtyard, and the spectacular mural galleries featuring works by John Singer Sargent. You can also visit the adjoining Boylston Street building, a newly renovated space featuring collections and services supporting today’s library patrons – this is where your student can get their BPL card (all residential university students in Massachusetts are eligible).
Dining options: The BPL has several options for dining, including the Courtyard Tea Room, the Map Room Lounge, and the Newsfeed Cafe.
After you finish at the Library, walk north on Dartmouth Street and then turn right (east) on Newbury Street. You can check out this vibrant shopping district as you walk three blocks to the Boston Public Garden.
Stop 2:
Make Way for Duckings Sculpture in the Boston Public Garden
Pause for a photo op with Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings, an ode to Robert McCloskey’s classic children’s book set in the Public Garden.
Take some time to explore the Garden, then cross Charles Street and make your way across Boston Common, America’s oldest park. Exit the Common at the corner of Park Street and Beacon Street, across from the Massachusetts State House. Continue east for half a block on Beacon Street.
Stop 3:
Boston Athenæum, 10 ½ Beacon Street
Take an Art & Architecture tour of this unique combination of library, museum, and cultural center. One of the country’s oldest and most distinguished independent libraries, the Athenæum predates the Boston Public Library and has served as an intellectual and cultural center for Boston for more than 200 years.
Dining option: Folio, a restaurant inside of Athenæum, serves lunch and dinner.
Head back towards the Common on Beacon Street and take a left on Park Street, cross Tremont Street and head south, turning left on West Street.
Stop 4: Brattle Book Shop, 9 West Street (open 9 am – 5:30 pm Mon-Sat; closed Sun)
Complete your afternoon browsing one of the nation’s oldest and largest used book shops. In addition to three floors of general and rare books, don’t miss the outdoor sale lot where you can snag volumes for just a few dollars.
Need to get back to campus? Head back toward the Common and enter the T station at Park Street and Tremont Street. Take the Green Line B westbound and get off at one of the BU stops.