See more of Allston in the slideshow above. Photos by Cydney Scott

Everyone in and around Boston University seems to have a cherished memory of Allston: a too-late night at the Sunset Grill, that first apartment on Glenville Avenue, an encounter with the neighborhood’s late, great, dreadlocked, guitar-toting unofficial ambassador Mr. Butch. It’s safe to say, however, that few recollections involve high-end clothing, artisanal cocktails, and spa treatments. But the new 02134, once called a “student ghetto,” now mixes local mainstays with Boston’s hot shopping and dining.

“I’ve seen a real diversification of the kind of businesses here,” says Katie Reed (GRS’06), a graduate of Boston University’s historic planning and preservation program and executive director of Allston Village Main Streets, a nonprofit neighborhood improvement association. “It’s great to see it becoming a destination.”

Allston takes its name from 18th-century American painter-poet Washington Allston, who lived in Cambridge and famously painted the area in the landscape Fields West of Boston. The neighborhood developed around a major railroad yard and nearby stockyards. Allston is cut off from most of Boston by the town of Brookline, which borders it on the south and east.

The busiest section of Allston is Harvard Avenue between Commonwealth Avenue and Cambridge Street, which caters to the large student population calling Allston home. Many immigrants live in the area, from East Asia, South Asia, and South America, among other places.

Harvard University owns a significant amount of property in lower Allston and has recently razed several buildings to construct a new science complex.

There are lots of interesting places to check out in this constantly evolving neighborhood, as you can see below.

Clear Flour Bread
178 Thorndike St.

Clear Flour makes authentic breads, pastries, and cookies using unbleached flour and no preservatives. According to Boston magazine, this bakery produces the best bread in Boston. Such staples as French, onion focaccia, sourdough, and whole wheat are available every day. If you’re looking for a certain specialty variety—fire-roasted tomato rustic Italian rolls, for instance—be sure to check the day’s schedule to see if it’s available.

Shabu-Zen
80 Brighton Ave.

Try this authentic Asian hot pot cuisine eatery for a special lunch or dinner. Hot pot cooking refers to food dipped into a boiling pot of broth, eaten with a plate of fresh vegetables, accompanied by garnishes and sauces. Choose beef sirloin ($15), chicken ($11), seafood ($12), or a vegetarian platter ($12). All courses are served with assorted veggies, noodles or rice, and dessert. Fresh sashimi is also on the menu, along with sake, beer, and wine.

International Bicycle Center
89 Brighton Ave.

The Comm Ave bike lanes give you no excuse to stay off a bike. This store carries popular brands, including Trek, Gary Fisher, and Ibis. It also stocks bike apparel, equipment, and helmets. Sign up for its email list to receive discount coupons and notification of special sales.

Urban Renewals
122 Brighton Ave.

This secondhand store, offering clothes, appliances, books, and furniture, has the feel of a giant yard sale. Apparel is organized by color instead of size, making your hunt for a good pair of jeans more difficult. Other challenges: it’s cash only, there are no dressing rooms, and returns are not allowed. However, new merchandise comes in every Tuesday and Thursday, and the store offers a different deal every day (e.g., senior discount, student discount).

Sunset Grill and Tap
130 Brighton Ave.
Big City
138 Brighton Ave.

These two popular bars, offering different nighttime experiences, are in the same building. Sunset Grill and Tap is a restaurant and bar, with 112 beers and 380 microbrews on tap, standard pub fare such as burgers and nachos, and an all-you-can-eat fajita and taco bar. Big City is your more traditional bar (patrons must be 21 or over to enter), with 80 beers on tap. Stop in Sunday through Tuesday for a game of pool, a pitcher of beer, and pizza for $20.

Bazaar on Cambridge
424 Cambridge St.

This Russian supermarket is the place to go for a taste of Eastern Europe. Over half of the store consists of imported goods, ranging from chocolate to drinks, candy, liquor, and packaged foods. There are myriad options in the bakery section, with lunch sandwiches, bread, and sweets. Try the dark brown Lvovskiy bread, or a multilayered Russian dessert tart.

Twin Donuts
501 Cambridge St.

Dunkin’ Donuts isn’t the only option for coffee and something to soak it up. This no-frills mom-and-pop donut shop has long been an Allston mainstay. If you’re there when doors open at 4 a.m., you’re likely to see cabbies and other early risers sitting across the table from students who haven’t been to bed yet. The glazed donuts are the big draw. Get there early while they’re still warm.

Grasshopper
One North Beacon St.

Vegetarians and vegans flock to Grasshopper. The spicy steak fillet, for example, is actually sliced soft tofu, pan-fried with red bell peppers and onions in a black bean sauce and served over a bed of steamed spinach. The No Name—battered gluten in a sweet and sour sauce served with steamed vegetables and sesame seeds—comes highly recommended, but true herbivores, take note: it bothered one BU Today staffer that the dish looked so similar to real chicken. The restaurant offers inexpensive lunch options, which include a main dish, soup of the day, and choice of rice. Read the BU Today food review of Grasshopper here.

Allston Farmers’ Market
Corner of North Harvard Street and Western Avenue

Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m., starting in June and running through the end of October, this market sells fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, and more, hosting bakers and specialty vendors, including When Pigs Fly and Plato’s Harvest Organic Farms.

Deep Ellum
477 Cambridge St.

Offering high-low cuisine (from a homemade charcuterie plate to pretzels with beer cheese or fries4ways) alongside an impressively long cocktail list, Deep Ellum, opened in January 2007, quickly became a Cambridge Street hot spot. Named for the trendy Dallas, Tex., neighborhood famous for its nightlife, this eatery offers guests a variety of tastes in a fun and casual setting.

Peace o’ Pie Pizza
487 Cambridge St.

This vegan pizzeria has made a serious commitment to animals and the environment. With whole wheat crusts, 100 percent vegan ingredients, recycled paper countertops, and composting, it strives to be the most responsible shop on the block. Each day there are different specials, which are listed on the website. Thursdays through Saturdays, Peace o’ Pie offers what it calls a “reverse happy hour,” where customers can buy one pizza and get another free during the last hour of business (9 to 10 p.m. on Thursdays, 10 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays).

Brighton Music Hall
158 Brighton Ave.

Formerly called Harper’s Ferry, this music venue is a favorite of Allston residents, but attracts music lovers from all over Boston. It is known for hosting some of the nation’s best touring indie and alternative acts. Tickets are available at the Paradise Rock Club box office, 967 Comm Ave, Boston, 617-562-8800, and at the Music Hall itself one hour before events begin. Check here for upcoming shows.

The Silhouette
200 Brighton Ave.

This dive bar is an Allston staple: the mostly-under-30 crowd gathers here on weekends to take advantage of the free darts and popcorn, as well as the cheap pitchers of beer. Although food is not served and the bar is cash-only, the place is popular with students, who come to enjoy the arcade games, pool table, and jukebox. This is the place to go for a night of socializing, as the Sil is famous for attracting a wide spectrum of patrons from all of Boston’s scenes. But be warned: single guys may have trouble getting in by themselves, so be sure to show up with a diverse group of friends.

At the Buzzer
81 Harvard Ave.

Sneakerheads, unite! This sneaker consignment store opened in 2008. At the Buzzer works with sellers to set the price of the sneakers they bring in. The seller gets 80 percent of the total sale, the store the remaining 20 percent. Current offerings can be viewed online. In addition, the store is a licensed retailer for New Era and Mitchell Ness. Its walls are lined with limited-edition, throwback, and just plain upscale sneakers and more than 100 styles of caps and snapbacks. You’ll find Air Jordan, Puma Nike, and New Balance as well as many lesser-known brands. At the Buzzer also runs a basketball league that competes in circuits around Boston. More information on the league can be found here.

Regeneration Tattoo
155 Harvard Ave.

If you’re thinking about a tattoo, this is the place to come. There are currently four artists on staff and consultations can be scheduled over the phone. Prices are lower than, or comparable to, other tattoo parlors in the area ($120 per hour of tattooing). If you’re a tattoo novice, you can flip through portfolios to decide which artist can best draw what you have in mind. However, make sure you are over 18 years of age and bring an ID with you or service will be refused.

Buffalo Exchange
180 Harvard Ave.

This “new and recycled fashion” chain has just arrived in Allston and offers a counterpoint to Urban Renewals. The store is well organized by type of clothing and size, with a friendly staff and a wide selection. It sells both men’s and women’s clothing (including tons of shoes for both sexes). The store buys or exchanges clothes. Just make sure to call ahead (617-779-7901) to find out what styles it isinterested in purchasing.

Getting there: By foot, walk down Comm Ave away from Kenmore Square. You’ll know you’ve reached Allston when the avenue veers left. By MBTA, take the Green Line B trolley to either Harvard Avenue or Packard’s Corner.

Click on the points in the map above for more information on the places listed in our guide to the Allston area.

Learn more about neighborhoods around Boston here.

This story originally ran August 6, 2008; it has been updated to include new locations and current information as of 2011.