South Boston
South Boston
4
About
Southie is a gritty working-class neighborhood on the brink of gentrification.
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The area
Neighbourhood: South Boston
How to get there
- Design Center • 10 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
1,740 within 5 kms
Attractions
555 within 10 kms
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.0
26 reviews
Excellent
6
Very good
13
Average
5
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Thomas V
Oakland, CA15,343 contributions
Jan. 2020
This is one of the traditional old Irish neighborhoods and back in the day, not a place for tourists. Because it is very close to the center, gentrification is under way and times have changed. Some hipsters now.
Written June 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael B
Bellflower, CA24,406 contributions
Mar. 2018 • Friends
We left sunny California to spend a long Weekend celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day with friends, in snow covered South Boston. This is a really great area to explore not only in the daytime but also at night. Our friends lived very near the entrance gate to the Thomas J Butler park and a city bus stop. But walking was our best mode of transport around, heading for down town we would cross over the Medal of Honor Park to the main shopping area, or cross over the road and walk up to Dorchester Heights, and its view of the town and harbour below, passing the local high school on the way. One can only imagine how the British felt when they woke up on the morning of the 17th March 1776 and saw all George Washington’s cannons bearing down on them. (even though some were only hollowed out tree trunks blackened by fire to look like cannons). It was intimidation enough to make them loading up all their troops and loyalist colonists on to Royal Navy ships, and evacuate the city for Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The old Forts of William and Mary on Castle Island just before the American Civil War were replaced with granite fortification, this inspired Edgar Allan Poe, who was stationed here for five months in 1827, to write The Cask of Amontillado, a story based on an early Castle Island legend.
With Irelands Great potato Famine, between 1845 and 1849 large numbers of Irish emigrated to South Boston, making it a predominately an Irish working-class neighborhood. There are lots of drinking and eating places that have an Irish theme to them, and with all the craft breweries it was not hard to find a green friendly bar.
With the local Evacuation Day parade (Day the British left Boston.) on the 17th March already a local holiday, adding Saint Patrick to it was only natural. Now on the 17th March each year in South Boston a parade that takes place with police and army contingents, marching bands, novelty vehicles, Minutemen firing their muskets’, and in general all participants and onlookers wearing something green. Many caricatures and famous people were born on the south side, the most renown are the Bulger brother's, James "Whitey" Bulger, a convicted organized crime head, and William M. Bulger former president of the Massachusetts Senate, former president of the University of Massachusetts.
TIP: For the Parade do not stand near the start move on down the route as it gets less crowded with tourists and move fun with locals.
The old Forts of William and Mary on Castle Island just before the American Civil War were replaced with granite fortification, this inspired Edgar Allan Poe, who was stationed here for five months in 1827, to write The Cask of Amontillado, a story based on an early Castle Island legend.
With Irelands Great potato Famine, between 1845 and 1849 large numbers of Irish emigrated to South Boston, making it a predominately an Irish working-class neighborhood. There are lots of drinking and eating places that have an Irish theme to them, and with all the craft breweries it was not hard to find a green friendly bar.
With the local Evacuation Day parade (Day the British left Boston.) on the 17th March already a local holiday, adding Saint Patrick to it was only natural. Now on the 17th March each year in South Boston a parade that takes place with police and army contingents, marching bands, novelty vehicles, Minutemen firing their muskets’, and in general all participants and onlookers wearing something green. Many caricatures and famous people were born on the south side, the most renown are the Bulger brother's, James "Whitey" Bulger, a convicted organized crime head, and William M. Bulger former president of the Massachusetts Senate, former president of the University of Massachusetts.
TIP: For the Parade do not stand near the start move on down the route as it gets less crowded with tourists and move fun with locals.
Written February 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Indah Edlightz
Ontario, Canada3,075 contributions
Jun. 2018 • Family
South Boston has changed so much from years past. Its now a family friendly area with parks, lots of shopping, and lots of restaurants. Most of the old building have been replaced with new condos and retail.
Written June 19, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patti R
Washington, IL18 contributions
Jun. 2017 • Friends
Coming home is always exciting.
Seeing family, longtime friends and places we hung out.
If you every get to Boston you have to visit the following places.
Sullivan's
Castle Island
And walk the Sugarbowl
Seeing family, longtime friends and places we hung out.
If you every get to Boston you have to visit the following places.
Sullivan's
Castle Island
And walk the Sugarbowl
Written July 9, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe F
Boston, MA324 contributions
May 2017
Great - off-the-beaten path of Boston. Huge dog friendly area with more parks and green space than you might expect. Each to walk around and each access to T
Written May 23, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ben W
27 contributions
Apr. 2016 • Family
This is totally biased. My family is from Southy. Great place. Love it, good old southy.
Great neighborhoods.
Great neighborhoods.
Written March 15, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Justmyopinion
Toronto, Canada2,227 contributions
Sep. 2016 • Couples
Two totally different areas.
South Boston sometimes call the seaport district too does not have the restaurants (Although we did find 1 really great one) that other areas do.
Also, it's not real touristy (things to look st).
South end is different.
Loads of restaurants, great museums and a lot of really good walking to check it out areas.
Personally, If I wasn't doing a convention I would pick the South end over South Boston any day!
South Boston sometimes call the seaport district too does not have the restaurants (Although we did find 1 really great one) that other areas do.
Also, it's not real touristy (things to look st).
South end is different.
Loads of restaurants, great museums and a lot of really good walking to check it out areas.
Personally, If I wasn't doing a convention I would pick the South end over South Boston any day!
Written October 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RonL40
Utica, NY3,385 contributions
Apr. 2016 • Friends
If you're exploring the real South End, then you know it's not the South Shore (some people here are confusing the two). The South End is a place of neighborhoods. No beaches here but there the beautiful Victorians. Better than it used to be & not as gentrified, thankfully, as some places. But still a place to you know where you're walking or, even better, go with a Southie.
Written May 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nikiblaker
Boston, MA73 contributions
Oct. 2015
My husband and I recently moved to Boston (to the North End) and every weekend, we choose a different neighborhood to explore. Last week we walked all along the Seaport District. Checking out the Moakley Courthouse was pretty cool and potentially, it would be a great walk along the harbor - there are some great restaurants and shops there - but there's just so much construction going on that you can't really enjoy the area at the moment.
I feel really bad for all the high-end restaurants that probably usually benefit from water views suffering from everything going on there right now.
Also, the signage as to which parts of the Harbor Walk are close and any recommended detours were not clear.
Hopefully by next summer, we can come back and enjoy it, but for now - you're just going to be looking at rubble.
I feel really bad for all the high-end restaurants that probably usually benefit from water views suffering from everything going on there right now.
Also, the signage as to which parts of the Harbor Walk are close and any recommended detours were not clear.
Hopefully by next summer, we can come back and enjoy it, but for now - you're just going to be looking at rubble.
Written October 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wick1979
Dallas, TX2,849 contributions
Aug. 2015 • Business
Came here for dinner, had done drinks then hung out at the beach for a bit. Nicely maintained, little on the chilly side but it's a beach in Boston you can't complain to much.
Cool neighborhood reminds me of home with the neighborhood bars that are part of the buildings.
Cool neighborhood reminds me of home with the neighborhood bars that are part of the buildings.
Written August 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SOUTH BOSTON - 2023 All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about South Boston
- We recommend booking South Boston tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 1 South Boston tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near South Boston:
- (0.65 km) Homewood Suites by Hilton Boston Seaport District
- (0.65 km) Hampton Inn Boston Seaport District
- (1.08 km) Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport
- (1.05 km) Hyatt Place Boston/Seaport District
- (0.86 km) Element Boston Seaport District
- Restaurants near South Boston:
- (0.01 km) Ethel and Andy's Sandwich Shop
- (0.13 km) Murphys Law
- (0.26 km) Cafe Porto Bello
- (0.29 km) The Broadway
- (0.26 km) Moko
- Attractions near South Boston:
- (0.05 km) Portals Academy
- (0.27 km) The Playwright Bar & Restaurant
- (0.99 km) Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
- (2.90 km) Freedom Trail
- (0.44 km) Medal of Honor Park