Oft the T’s beaten track, Cambridge’s Inman Square is a hidden gem. This treasure trove of multicolored storefronts and restaurants is at the junction of Cambridge and Hampshire streets in East Cambridge, tucked among and often overshadowed by Harvard, Central, and Kendall Squares. Likely named after Ralph Inman, a wealthy merchant who lived in Boston during the 1700s, Inman Square is diverse, home to professionals and working people alike. With strong Brazilian and Portuguese influences, it has a vibrant flair.

1369 Coffee House 
1369 Cambridge St.
Inman Square is one of the few major commercial centers in Cambridge that does not have at least one Starbucks. Residents seeking a hot cup o’ joe go to 1369 Coffee House, a charming, independent shop that used to be a jazz club where Berklee students aired out improvisations. Now, the baristas brew two dozen varieties of coffee from around the world, as well as 25 varieties of fine loose-leaf teas, and often there’s a visual improv, designs drawn in your latte foam. Lunch consists of homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, and quiche, and the bakery case has a selection of cakes, pies, cookies, and shortbread.

All Star Sandwich Bar 
1245 Cambridge St.
Anyone can stuff meat and cheese between two slices of bread and call it a sandwich. But it takes talent to craft a sandwich worth $9. At All Star Sandwich Bar, taste overrides cost. The bread is wholesome, the ingredients fresh, and the sandwiches big and flavorful. There’s the Gobbler, a roast turkey sandwich with apple-sausage stuffing, orange-cranberry relish, mayonnaise, and gravy. For vegetarians, there’s the Veggie Cubano, with grilled eggplant, zucchini, summer squash, mushrooms, peppers, and red onions with “Mango Mojo May Dressing,” pickles, and Swiss cheese. All sandwiches are served with coleslaw and a pickle. There is also an impressive selection of sides, including poutine (fries with gravy and cheese curds) and Fries from Hell.

Bird By Bird 
1361 Cambridge St.
After starting a family, physical-therapist-turned-entrepreneur Lulu Davis (SAR’01) and fellow mom Debbie Bowman opened Bird By Bird, a colorful baby boutique. Featuring an array of stylish products from national and local designers, the store’s selection of spill-friendly cotton T-shirts and onesies with slogans like “Binge Drinker” proves that even parents can be hip. The store also offers organic cotton clothes and diapers.

Boutique Fabulous 
1309 Cambridge St.
While the large silver knight and ornate crystal chandeliers grab attention, the vast selection of funky furniture, housewares, kitchenwares, art, clothing, jewelry, and accessories keeps customers coming back to Boutique Fabulous. Owner Mara Kustra handpicks every item. The store sells vintage clothing — dresses, jackets, hats, shoes, and patchwork bell-bottoms — and new items, such as organic soaps and lotions, jewelry by local artists, Somerville T-shirts, magnets, and note cards.

Broadway Bicycle School 
351 Broadway
Although it’s a bit of a walk from Inman Square, the Broadway Bicycle School is worth a trip, and you might leave on two wheels. Established in 1972, this collectively owned, full-service bicycle repair shop sells new and used bikes, parts, and accessories and offers classes on bicycle repair. While the brand selection isn’t huge — the shop sells mostly Marin’s — there is an inventory of new and reconditioned city-style hybrid and mountain bikes, street bikes, and commuter bikes. Customers who want to do their own bike repairs can borrow tools and work space for $9 an hour.

Bukowski Tavern 
1281 Cambridge St.
With more than 160 beers and a full bar that would have satisfied even the legendary drinker and writer Charles Bukowski, Bukowski Tavern boasts brew so obscure they  aren’t even pronounceable. Local craft beers are well represented as well. A modest menu tries to hold its own against the impressive beer list and includes staples like sandwiches and fries, as well as a surprisingly good chili dog and the chunky peanut butter burger. The front opens to the sidewalk in good weather, combining bar and street to form a nice ambiance. Note: credit cards are not accepted, but there is an ATM in the back, past murals of Bukowski and near a wheel that can be spun, if you’re tired of making big decisions, to choose your next beer.

Casa Portugal 
1200 Cambridge St.
The oldest Portuguese restaurant in the Boston area, Casa Portugal has been serving authentic dishes for 30 years. Specializing in meat and seafood, the restaurant offers paella, fried steak, and grilled squid. The portions are large, and the traditional Portuguese “fries,” served with most entrees, are crispy and delicious. An extensive wine list complements the menu.

Christina’s Ice Cream 
1255 Cambridge St.
For a sweet finish, swing by Christina’s Ice Cream and try one of its 40-plus homemade varieties. While the chocolate and vanilla are popular, the real draw is the shop’s uncommon flavors like adzuki bean, ginger molasses, honey lavender, and licorice. Seasonal offerings such as fresh rose and fresh mint help beat the summer heat, while eggnog and peppermint stick are wintertime favorites. The shop also sells sorbets and hard frozen yogurts.

Christina’s Spice and Specialty Store
1255 Cambridge St.
Next door to the ice cream shop, Christina’s Spice and Specialty Store carries exotic flavors from around the world. A whiff of more than 250 spices and seasonings will bring out the inner chef in the most reluctant cook. Walls are lined with jars and bags of exotic seasonings, including grains of paradise, black cardamom, and rare Galangal spices. Be sure to check out the dried chilies, including the ají amarillo from Peru and the Indian ghost chili — reputedly the hottest chili in the world.

Dalí Restaurant and Tapas Bar 
415 Washington St.
With its burnished copper ceilings, Iberian tiles, and cozy mahogany nooks, Dalí Restaurant and Tapas Bar (10 minutes on foot from the heart of the square) is one of Cambridge’s most romantic dining destinations. The sangria, sherry, and Rioja all flow freely, and the creative tapas — venison sausage with pomegranate sauce, braised rabbit with red wine, juniper berries, and garlic — are ideal for sharing. For a main course, try the sea bass baked in a crust of salt or paella for two. Dalí is the perfect place to impress a first date — or rekindle an old flame. If Mario is at the front door to greet you, you’re in luck; give him a hug.

The Druid 
1357 Cambridge St.
Located in the oldest wooden mercantile building in Cambridge, the Druid is a popular neighborhood Irish bar that offers good beer and, by Irish pub standards, even better food. Regional brews such as the Berkshire Steel Rail Pale Ale and the Long Trail Double Pack taste great with the bar’s hearty food, but of course there’s always a Guinness. Try the shepherd’s pie, the homemade veggie burger with fries, or the fish and chips. Live Irish music, sessions style (no stage, players gathering in a corner), is performed every Tuesday and Friday night, and a traditional Irish brunch is served on Sunday.

East Coast Grill
1271 Cambridge St.
An Inman Square institution, the East Coast Grill has been one of the neighborhood’s most popular dining destinations since 1985. One bite of the North Carolina–style shredded pork, and you’ll understand why owner Chris Schlesinger’s inventive approach to seafood and barbecue has won national acclaim. In addition to traditional Southern barbecue fare, the restaurant serves raw shellfish and a variety of native fish dishes, including the Super Hot Jerk Bluefish with spiced pineapple chutney, fried yucca, and hearts of palm salad. For masochists, East Coast Grill offers Hell Night — the hottest ticket in town. Spicy-food lovers can order Wings of Ass Destruction, Satan’s Soy and Szechuan Chile-Braised Pork Shank, and the Guillotine Gibson Hell ’Tini. You will feel pain, but the relaxed, welcoming environment will cool you out.

Extreme Dancesport 
288 Norfolk St.
It takes two to tango, but at Extreme Dancesport, you can go stag. Established in 2004, this no-frills dance studio is a modern ballroom and Latin dance center that teaches everything from the foxtrot to the cha-cha. Group and private lessons are available, and the Rock ’n Roll program offers unlimited dance classes for a low monthly fee.

Frida Bee
1297 Cambridge St.
Although the space is not large, Frida Bee sells a variety of men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing at competitive prices. Some of the merchandise is vintage, most of it contemporary. Prices range from $5 for men’s shirts to $25 for women’s sundresses and jackets. The store buys gently used clothes, if you’re looking to make a little extra cash. Call 617-661-1967.

Inman Oasis 
243 Hampshire St.
Stressed out? Tense? Soak it up at Inman Oasis. With nine therapists on staff, the spa offers a wide range of massages, including Swedish, deep tissue, prenatal, and neuromuscular, as well as Shiatsu and Thai massages. The facilities include two private hot tub rooms, a five-foot Jarrah wood Japanese soaking tub, and a seven-foot fiberglass tub with 51 jets. There is also an eight-foot teak wooden “community tub” that holds up to 10 of your best friends.

Midwest Grill
1124 Cambridge St.
Carnivores rejoice at Midwest Grill, a Brazilian barbecue that offers an all-you-can-eat rodízio. Waiters deliver skewers of various meats to each table, encouraging patrons to eat as many slices of tender beef, chicken, lamb, pork, and sausage as stomachs can hold. The price of the meal also includes unlimited trips to hot and cold buffet tables, which feature smoky black beans with pig’s feet, roasted vegetables, and various salads.

Olé Mexican Grill 
11 Springfield St.
Nestled inn a quiet side street, this bustling Mexican restaurant is anything but ordinary. The guacamole couldn’t be fresher — waiters pound fragrant avocados at your table — and the pitchers of sangria couldn’t be fruitier. Try the tender pork ribs slow-cooked in banana leaves or the pan-seared sea bass with red bell pepper sauce. If you don’t have time to wait for your food, run across the street to Olécito, the restaurant’s take-out kitchen. 

Punjabi Dhaba Indian Café
225 Hampshire St.
Modeled after dhabas — highway truck stops in India that serve inexpensive street food and snacks — the hole-in-the-wall Punjabi Dhaba Indian Café lives up to its name by offering ridiculously cheap dishes. Try to ignore the blaring Bollywood music and the clanging of steel plates to focus on the fresh, flavorful food.

Rosie’s Bakery 
243 Hampshire St.
Another Inman Square landmark, Rosie’s prides itself on rich cakes, cookies, and brownies. All of the desserts are made with creamery butter, rich chocolate, fresh cream, unbleached flour, whole eggs, pure cane sugar, and fresh fruit and nuts. Don’t leave without trying the chocolate orgasm brownie or the fresh fruit tart.

Ryles Jazz Club 
212 Hampshire St.
Since 1919, the Ryles Jazz Club has kept Cambridge residents plugged into the local jazz scene. Performers have included major national headliners such as Pat Metheny, Arturo Sandoval, McCoy Tyner, Maynard Ferguson, Jon Hendricks, Jon Faddis, and Nestor Torres, as well as local talent. Upstairs, Ryles Dance Hall hosts weekly salsa, merengue, ballroom, and swing dance lessons. The music is the thing, but the first floor features 40 domestic and imported beers and a late-night menu, while the popular Sunday jazz brunch combines good food with popular local acts.

S & S Restaurant and Deli 
1334 Cambridge St.
Four generations ago, Ma Edelstein welcomed the first customers to her Cambridge deli by encouraging them to “es and es” — a Yiddish phrase for “eat and eat.” Her words inspired the name for the S & S Restaurant and Deli, now much expanded, where someone from the family still shows up every day. The eatery’s menu includes traditional dishes, from the house-favorite Reuben, piled with extra-lean corned beef and served on marble rye, to a thick New York–style potato knish and hearty matzo-ball soup. Take-out and catering are also available.

School of Groove 
883 Cambridge St.
Once upon a time, music lessons were confined to living rooms, the piano was the instrument, and performances took place in stuffy recital halls. Classically trained violinist Chris Vuk bucked this tradition by opening School of Groove a few blocks east of the square, a music school where students of all ages play everything from Beethoven to Zeppelin. Study is available in rock, jazz, pop, hip-hop, classical, Latin, gospel, and world music. Recitals take place at local clubs and festivals.

Stellabella Toys 
1360 Cambridge St.
Owned by Richard Henry (CAS’75, GSM’77), Stellabella Toys has provided innovative and educational toys since the 1980s. You’ll find the basics — stuffed animals, dolls, books, games, and puzzles — along with musical instruments, art supplies, and nature projects. Even adults will delight in the large wooden train set in the center of the store. At the back is a room for playgroups, storytelling, and music classes, with a free self-service gift-wrapping station.

The Thirsty Scholar 
70 Beacon St.
Not much studying goes on at the Thirsty Scholar; the Irish watering hole is a great place to procrastinate before finals. While the pub’s extensive beer selection is its main draw, the food should not be overlooked. Beer-battered fish and chips is a staple, and the Irish bangers and mash aren’t bad. If you’re feeling academic, there’s a collection of National Geographic magazines in the back. 

Wine & Cheese Cask  
407 Washington St.
There’s more to a bottle of wine than the pretty label, and sometimes it’s difficult to distinguish the diamonds from the duds. Staff from the Wine & Cheese Cask steer confused customers to the best chardonnay, cabernet, and merlot. While the store carries wines from the Loire, Burgundy, Spain, and Italy, it tends to emphasize style and character more than regions or countries. An expansive cheese and meat assortment rounds out the selection.

Getting there: Whether you take the subway or the bus to Inman Square, you’ll have to walk a bit, more so on weekends. Weekdays, the CT2 commuter bus, which stops in South Campus and in front of BU Academy, goes directly to the area but only runs during business hours. Other times and days, take the #47 bus to Central Square and turn onto Prospect Street at Massachusetts Avenue. Walk about 15 minutes until you hit Cambridge Street. Or take the Green Line inbound to Park Street and transfer to the Red Line outbound toward Alewife. Get off at the Central Square stop. At Massachusetts Avenue, turn onto Prospect Street and walk about 15 minutes until you hit Cambridge Street.

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Vicky Waltz can be reached at vwaltz@bu.edu. Edward A. Brown can be reached at ebrown@bu.edu.