One Kenmore Square, at 545 Commonwealth Ave., will be the new global headquarters for WHOOP, the wearable health and fitness technology firm. The building is part of a major redevelopment of the north side of Kenmore Square, and will include about 7,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. Photo by Cydney Scott

Things-to-do

Getting to Know Your Neighborhood: Fenway-Kenmore

Explore one of Boston’s most iconic areas, from sports to fine arts to scenic locales

Not so much a square as a confusing convergence of Commonwealth Avenue, Brookline Avenue, and Beacon Street, Kenmore Square has several claims to fame—first may be the iconic Citgo sign. A beacon to visitors and residents on both sides of the Charles River since 1965, the sign’s original five miles of winding neon tubing was replaced in 2005 by 240,000 red, white, and blue LED lights. In July 2018, the sign went dark for two months so that the 9,000 feet of lights on the double-sided, 60-by-60-foot sign could be replaced with the latest LED lighting and new computers could be installed to manage the sign’s famous animation. Close behind the sign is Fenway Park, the jewel box of a baseball field that has served as home to the Boston Red Sox since its opening in 1912. 

For years, Kenmore Square was little more than a busy doorstep to Fenway Park. Prior to the 1960s, it was part of Boston’s Auto Mile, famous for more than 100 automobile dealerships. The 1970s ushered in a new era, when partiers from all over the region thronged to the infamous Rathskeller, a punk rock venue that helped launch the careers of the Ramones, R.E.M., and the Police, among others. During the 1980s, Kenmore Square fell into disrepair. By the 1990s, even the Red Sox were threatening to leave. But the 2002 opening of the Hotel Commonwealth, backed by Boston University, sparked a renaissance, helping transform the square into a dining and nightlife destination.

Since 2018, Kenmore Square has been undergoing yet another facelift following BU’s sale of several buildings on the north side of the square to the developer Related Beal. When construction is fully completed, it will dramatically change the area, with more than 500,000 square feet of office and retail space. WHOOP, the personalized fitness and health technology company, is opening their new global headquarters at One Kenmore Square later this year. Happily, the iconic Citgo sign will remain where it is for at least the next three decades. 

Below is our guide for some of the best places to visit while strolling through the Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood.

Comicopia
464 Commonwealth Ave.

A mainstay of Kenmore Square since 1989, Comicopia stocks several thousand comic book trade paperbacks, from classics like Batman and Captain Marvel to new releases like Astro City Metrobook. New comics arrive every Wednesday, but you can check out the incoming stock online beforehand. The store carries a huge selection of indie and self-published titles, as well as extensive manga, YA, and graphic novel collections.

The Kenmore
476 Commonwealth Ave.

This affordable, postage-stamp size pub, where the Lower Depths Tap Room once stood, is all about craft beer, burgers, and hot dogs. With 16 draft lines and extensive collection of cans and bottles, they serve up a rotating list of some of the best beer from New England and around the world. Their signature Pat LaFrieda blend hamburgers are locally sourced, and their 100 percent all-beef Kayem hot dogs are made from scratch right in the back. Whether stopping in before a Red Sox game, brunching with friends, or enjoying a night out on the town, the Kenmore has you covered.

India Quality
484 Commonwealth Ave.

Rated Boston’s top Indian restaurant by Zagat 18 years in a row, India Quality is the place to go if you’re craving a warm, spicy curry. With more than 60 entrées, including beef, chicken, lamb, goat, and vegetarian options, the selection can be overwhelming. If you’re having trouble deciding and are dining with a group, the Dinner for Four option includes a good cross section of the menu. Specializing in North Indian cuisine, it’s renowned for its coconut karma dishes and spinach poor bread. There’s a 10 percent discount on dine-in and pickup orders with a valid college ID.

Nuggets
486 Commonwealth Ave.

Nuggets has been supplying BU students with music since 1978. With over 10,000 records, including rare and out-of-print titles, this repository of pop culture sells several decades’ worth of tunes, posters, and old copies of rock magazines, as well as videos, cassettes, and DVDs. Check out the extensive collection of local music, and browse its online collection here. Short on cash? No worries. Customers can buy, sell, and trade. Note: closed Mondays.

Hotel Commonwealth
500 Commonwealth Ave.

Prior to the COVID pandemic, Hotel Commonwealth was a popular destination with diners from across the city flocking to its two restaurants, Island Creek Oyster Bar and Eastern Standard, and its intimate 18-seat cocktail bar, the Hawthorne. Those venues shuttered during the COVID pandemic. All three venues have or will be replaced with restaurants run by Blue Ribbon Restaurant Group. 

The first is Blue Ribbon Sushi, recently opened in the Hawthorne space. The 120-seat restaurant offers a wide range of fresh sushi and seafood dishes, like sashimi, maki, and zensai, as well as traditional Japanese cuisine and wagyu steaks. The renovated interior has a mezzanine-level dining section, cocktail bar, and, of course, a sushi bar. Starters include staples like miso soup, tempura, and fried chicken wings. Find a complete menu here. The curated cocktail menu has a range of Japanese whiskies, beers, and sake, as well as signature cocktails. The food is on the pricey side, though, with most sushi orders starting at around $25.

The other is Pescador, a seafood restaurant set to open in late October in the Island Creek Oyster Bar space. The 195-seat space will feature a cocktail bar and ceviche bar, and a menu of fresh local seafood. Rumor has it that a brasserie will go into the Eastern Standard location.

Cornwall’s
644 Beacon St.

Boston bleeds green, especially on Saint Patrick’s Day—but the city was actually colonized by the English. Even so, British pubs are a rarity around here, which makes Cornwall’s a cherished square fixture. Three years ago, it moved a few doors down from 654 Beacon St., because of the construction on the north side of the square. With its steaming plates of bangers and mash, and pints of hard-to-find English ales, Cornwall’s would make any Brit feel at home. It’s an excellent place to grab a glass of London Pride, a game of darts, or a round of Scrabble—the bar stocks a shelf of board games.

MGM Music Hall at Fenway
2 Lansdowne St.

Boston’s newest live music venue, MGM Music Hall, opened in August 2022. Just behind Fenway Park’s right field bleachers, the 5,000-seat venue has already played host to pop artist Bruno Mars, Grammy winner James Taylor, and country singer Chris Stapleton. Despite its size, it’s designed so that no seat is farther than 115 feet from center stage, guaranteeing an intimate experience. Check out the events calendar here.

Cheeky Monkey Brewing Company
3 Lansdowne St. 

This brewery and tap room has become popular for its house-brewed craft beers (there’s also a full bar) and as an entertainment venue. You’ll find digital dartboards, pool tables, shuffleboard, and parlor games, as well as an outdoor patio. The menu includes salads and flatbreads, tacos, burgers, and an array of appetizers. Most patrons come for the bowling—but take note: despite 16 lanes, weekend waits have been known to be up to two hours. Only those 21-plus are allowed in after 8 pm, and there’s a dress code (no athletic wear, ripped or baggy clothing, or sleeveless or white T-shirts).

House of Blues
15 Lansdowne St.

House of Blues officially opened in February 2009, returning to the area after an early incarnation in Cambridge. Formerly home to the dance clubs Axis and Avalon, this 53,000-square-foot concert venue, restaurant, and bar headlines a musical act nearly every night of the week. Founded in 1992 by Hard Rock Café founder Isaac Tigrett and actor Dan Aykroyd, the chain features music by rock, jazz, blues, rap, hip-hop, soul, country, and folk artists, and Southern-inspired cuisine. It’s also renowned for its Sunday gospel brunch. Check out the concert calendar here.

The Bleacher Bar
82A Lansdowne St.

Opened in 2008, the Bleacher Bar lies under Fenway Park’s center field bleachers, a few feet from the Ted Williams red seat, which commemorates the Splendid Splinter’s 1946 502-foot home run, the longest ever hit into the Fenway bleachers. With a wide variety of local brews on tap and deli classics like roast beef, corned beef, and BBQ pulled pork, you’ll find something to satisfy your hunger and thirst while getting an amazing view of the field—all at a reasonable price. It is open off-season as well as when the boys of summer play. The bar doesn’t take reservations, so be prepared to wait if you’re going on a game day.

Lucky Strike
145 Ipswich St.

This 70,000-square-foot, three-story entertainment complex offers billiards in a 34-table pool parlor, a massive 800-square-foot LED video wall, an upscale bowling alley, plasma TVs, six full bars, and two restaurants serving up pizzas, burgers, and more.

Fenway Park
4 Jersey St.

Home of the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park is the oldest, the most famous, and arguably the most interesting baseball stadium in the United States. The park opened on April 20, 1912. With a capacity of just 37,305 spectators, Fenway is one of Major League Baseball’s smallest stadiums. Because of its age and constrained urban location, renovations and additions have resulted in some unique and quirky features, most notably left field’s famous Green Monster—a 37-foot wall that prevents home runs on many line drives that would clear the walls of other ballparks, but turns some fly balls into game-winners. Fenway Park tours consist of a 60-minute walk around the ballpark, with stops at the Sam Adams right field roof deck, the State Street Pavilion, the Green Monster seats, and the press box, although stops are subject to availability. Tour schedules and rates vary. For more information, call 617-226-6666.

Official Red Sox Team Store
19 Jersey St.

Red Sox Nation fans will find plenty of must-haves at the Official Red Sox Team Store, across the street from Fenway Park. What began as a single street cart in 1947, operated by twin brothers Arthur and Henry D’Angelo, today is a sprawling 25,000-square-foot store that’s open all year. You’ll find all manner of Red Sox apparel, as well as commemorative memorabilia, pennants, key chains, glassware, game-used merchandise, and autographed baseballs. The Fenway Park tours begin and end here, although the store doesn’t run them.

PlantPub Fenway
61 Brookline Ave.

This pub, featuring plant-based food sourced from sustainable local farmers and some of the best craft beers in Boston, opened in the former Boston BeerWorks location in July 2022. The 25-seat bar and restaurant, located just steps from Fenway Park, bills itself as the city’s largest vegan restaurant, full of plant-based interpretations of classic pub food. You’ll find Impossible Burgers, a mouthwatering mezze platter with hummus, muhammara, tomato salad, marinated olives and pita with za’atar, fried cauliflower wings, street corn, garlic fingers (delicious!), and even a plant-based spin on a Fenway frank. In addition to local craft beers, there is an extensive wine and cocktail list, featuring liquors produced locally. Be sure to check out the plant-themed murals by local artist Brand Rockwell. PlantPub also has a smaller restaurant in Cambridge. The restaurant offers dine-in, pickup, and delivery options.  

Nagomi Izakaya
636 Beacon St.

This Japanese restaurant opened in October 2021, featuring poke bowls, sushi, gyoza kaisen don, ramen, and more across its extensive menu. There’s an a la carte menu for sushi, as well as a selection of combos. It’s open for lunch and dinner and is a short walk from the Kenmore Square T station.

Saloniki Greek
4 Kilmarnock St.

This sleek eatery, helmed by famed restaurateur and chef Jody Adams, a two-time James Beard Award winner, pays tribute to the “humble Greek sandwich shop.” The Fenway spot—there are four others, in Cambridge’s Central and Harvard Squares, and Boston’s Back Bay and Beacon Hill—offers traditional Greek fare, either as a plate or a pita. Try the classic Herc (braised honey-garlic pork shoulder and whipped spicy feta) or the Mykonos salad (a spicy slaw and zucchini-feta fritters concoction). There’s also a fantastic Greek salad, traditional soups, and yummy Greek desserts, such as baklava crisps. Greek cocktails are available, as well. Catch a seat inside or on the patio, or take it to go.

Blackbird Doughnuts
20 Kilmarnock St.

This Fenway outpost of the popular South End artisanal doughnut shop (now with seven locations in and around Boston) serves up filling doughnuts with an innovative twist. They’re formed from either brioche dough or cake batter, with house-made glazes, frostings, and toppings. The constantly rotating flavors can include vanilla glaze, banana creme, chocolate old fashioned, and the “Everything Bagel Donut,” which tastes like it sounds. You can order full-size doughnuts and cinnamon minis (individually packaged stacks of four vanilla cake donuts rolled in cinnamon sugar), as well as decadent doughnut ice cream sandwiches and doughnut cakes (two days’ notice needed for these). There are even vegan brioche specials, including rice pudding (coconut rice pudding and a coconut and cinnamon glaze) and summer berry.

Eventide
1321 Boylston St.

Eventide Fenway brings a counter service version of the popular Eventide Oyster Co. in Portland, Maine, to Boston. Noted for its raw oyster bar and succulent lobster rolls, Eventide has both indoor and outdoor dining, and also serves up crudos, salads, fried seafood, and a delicious New England clam chowder. There’s even a smoked tofu sandwich and a classic cheeseburger on the menu for those preferring something other than fish. Be sure to save room for dessert: the brown butter soft-serve ice cream is a wonderful treat.

Hojoko
1271 Boylston St.

Named one of the city’s great hotel restaurants by Boston.com in 2022, this Japanese-style tavern inside the hip Verb Hotel features a menu by James Beard Award–winning chef Tim Cushman and Nancy Cushman, owners of the popular Japanese eatery O Ya in the Leather District. Diners can enjoy robata-grilled koji chicken, pork and shrimp potstickers, sushi, and a selection of small plates. The chic eatery sports a Japan-inspired craft cocktail list, including the popular Tokyo Tea (tequila, long-leaf green tea, Midori, and lemon). And there’s a patio for those who prefer dining al fresco.

Honeygrow
1282 Boylston St.

Honeygrow offers customizable stir-fries and salads designed to appeal to every palate. Diners order on touch screens, navigating between suggested options and substitutions that you can select to customize your dish. A chicken stir-fry can be changed to beef, pork, or vegan in just a few taps. The salads are particularly noteworthy, drawing on locally grown produce. And try one of Honeygrow’s “Honeybar” desserts with your meal. The brownie crumble, apple pie, cheesecake, and fruit and granola bowls are a sweet ending to your meal. Curbside pickup is also available.

Tasty Burger
1301 Boylston St.

Tasty Burger is not your average burger joint. With an easy-on-the-wallet menu and mouth-watering fast food, Tasty Burger lives up to its name. The Big Tasty burger and the Spicy Jalapeño burger, at just $8.25, are excellent values. The hot dogs and chicken sandwiches are pretty tasty, as well. And it’s open until 2 am every day, for those with a case of the late-night munchies. Be sure to check out the $12 Starvin’ Student special: a burger or cheeseburger, side order of fries, and a can of beer.

Citizen Public House and Oyster Bar
1310 Boylston St.

For a unique dining experience, you can’t beat this spot’s family-style pig roast. Available for groups of 10 or more, it begins with assorted shellfish and ends with a slow-roasted (for 14 hours) whole suckling pig. If pork isn’t your favorite, there are plenty of other options, including lobster rolls, a slow-braised lamb shoulder risotto, and Atlantic cod loin. The tavern also carries more than 350 whiskies, including a small number of hand-selected single barrels.

Basho Japanese Brasserie
1338 Boylston St.

Basho serves up some of the best sushi in Boston. There are plenty of inventive signature rolls, and fresh ingredients are flown in daily. It has a variety of seating options, from communal tables to private dining areas, making it an excellent gathering spot for groups both small and large. It also offers takeout and online ordering.

Fool’s Errand
1377 Boylston St.

Billing itself as an “adult snack bar,” Fool’s Errand, operated by restaurateur Tiffani Faison, underwent a transformation during the pandemic, hosting private events for customers and providing a space for events, pop-ups, and anything in between. But in July 2022 it returned to its original premise: a snack bar serving cocktails, wine, and beer, along with a small, curated list of savory and sweet snacks. It’s open Wednesday through Saturday, offering a wide selection of choices for the mature clientele that frequents the venue.

Sweet Cheeks Q
1381 Boylston St.

For a taste of “the American South,” head over to Sweet Cheeks Q (also run by Tiffani Faison) for some authentic southern barbecue. There are tray deals and entrées like pork belly, fried chicken, pulled pork, and BBQ chopped brisket, each served with two sides. Most of the pork, beef, and chicken is all-natural, bought from local farms whenever possible, and all meats (except for the fried chicken) are gluten-free. If the hearty entrées aren’t enough to fill you up, check out the More Sweet, Less Cheek options, a small selection of desserts, including a strawberry cheesecake and a giant Nutter Butter.

Time Out Market Boston
401 Park Drive

This 25,000-square-foot food hall is home to 15 restaurant stalls from some of Boston’s top restaurants and chefs, plus two bars on the ground floor of the 401 Park building. Time Out Market came to the Fenway in 2019, becoming the third market of its kind to open in the United States, following the Miami and New York branches. The eatery lineup—which draws from Italian, Mediterranean, Asian, and American influences, among others—includes customizable rice bowls from InChu, authentic Mexican dishes courtesy of Taqueria El Barrio, and craveworthy mezzes, such as baba ganoush from anoush’ella. Visitors can also stop at Gelato & Chill and Union Square Donuts for something sweet. The market is a great place to grab takeout, but it does feature indoor seating, as well as a 6,000-square-foot patio.

The Green at 401 Park
401 Park Drive

Formerly a parking lot for the historic Landmark Center building, this newly developed one-acre green space is part of the $650 million redevelopment of the former Sears, Roebuck and Co. warehouse and distribution center. The outdoor park hosts year-round activities, ranging from summer concerts to winter ice-skating. The green space is anchored by a public art installation, Grouping of Works from Fountain, by sculptor Nicole Eisenman, and a contemporary glass pod, the year-round home of Trillium Brewing Company.

Bennett’s Sandwich Shop
1348 Boylston St.

Chances are, if you’ve ever been to Kennebunk, Maine, you’ve stopped by Bennett’s Sandwich Shop, famous for its lobster rolls. Happily, Bennett’s also has an outpost in the Fenway and it’s attracted a devoted clientele. The shop has moved half a block from its old location on Peterborough Street, but still has the same delicious food. The lobster roll is still king, but you’ll find plenty of other delicious options, including a BLT served with cheese and a yummy chicken cheesesteak. The shop also offers a variety of delectable breakfast sandwiches, served all day.

Phinista
96 Peterborough St.

“Influenced by authenticity,” this French-Vietnamese café takes its name from phin (a style of brewed coffee) and barista. It serves a unique array of coffee and tea-based drinks, sweet and savory crepes, sandwiches, and pastries. The Phin Rosé—drip coffee with rose syrup—is a new take on a classic, and the Strawberry Matcha n’ Cream is a crowd-pleaser. If you want to try something different, Vietnamese Egg Coffee (served only on weekends) is Phinista’s house blend, filtered through a traditional phin, served with a mixture of egg yolk and condensed milk. Can’t decide on tea or coffee? Try the Phin 50/50.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
25 Evans Way

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is one of Boston’s most beloved cultural institutions. This Venetian-inspited palace contains artwork collected by prominent Boston art collector and philanthropist Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840-1924), who helped design the museum, personally overseeing how the collection was hung. At the center of the four-story palace is a mesmerizing courtyard filled with flowers year-round.

The museum’s distinguished collection comprises more than 2,500 paintings, sculptures, tapestries, manuscripts, rare books, and decorative arts, all reflecting the taste of Gardner and her husband, Jack. Among them are works by Titian, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Manet, Degas, Whistler, and Sargent. The museum also hosts a highly regarded weekend concert series, along with digital programs exploring music at the Gardner.

The Gardner made international headlines in 1990 when a pair of thieves masquerading as Boston police officers entered the building and stole 13 works of art, among them priceless works by Vermeer and Rembrandt. The thieves have never been caught and no pieces ever recovered, making it one of the world’s most notorious art heists.

In 2012, the museum opened a new $114 million, 70,000-square-foot glass-and-copper addition connected to the Venetian palace. It features a gallery for contemporary art, a visitor center, a state-of-the-art performance hall, a café, a gift shop, and a greenhouse.

Admission is free for BU students, faculty, and staff with a valid ID. Advance tickets for timed entry are required.

Museum of Fine Arts
465 Huntington Ave.

With a collection of nearly half a million objects, the Museum of Fine Arts is one of the nation’s largest art institutions. It is also one of the most popular, with more than a million visitors a year. Famed for its French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection—with works by Manet, Degas, Renoir, van Gogh, Monet, and Gauguin, among others—the MFA also holds an extraordinary collection of Chinese art, Egyptian artifacts, and the largest collection of Japanese art outside of Japan, which includes the iconic woodblock print, Fine Wind, Clear Weather, by Katsushika Hokusai, and more than 1,000 photographs of Japanese life in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The Art of the Americas wing opened in 2010, adding 53 galleries and enough exhibition space to display over 5,000 American objects, more than double the previous number. It houses the MFA’s extensive American art collection, with numerous works by John Singleton Copley, Gilbert Stuart, John Singer Sargent, and American Impressionists Childe Hassam and John Twachtman.

MFA admission is free for BU students, faculty, and staff with a valid ID. Reserving tickets in advance is strongly recommended and special ticketed exhibitions require a timed-entry ticket. The museum is closed on Tuesdays.

Emerald Necklace

An oasis of green, the Emerald Necklace is a series of nine parks covering 1,100 acres, created in the late 19th century by one of the nation’s foremost landscape architects, Frederick Law Olmsted, who was also responsible for New York City’s Central Park. Olmsted designed the Emerald Necklace parks—which are linked by parkways and waterways—to provide a respite from urban living for people of all classes.

The Necklace begins at the Boston Common, winds through the Back Bay Fens (a former saltwater marsh in the Fenway), and ends at 485-acre Franklin Park, the city’s largest park. The Emerald Necklace has numerous walking trails and bike paths and various events throughout the year. More information and maps are available here.

Getting There

To Kenmore: Take any MBTA Green Line trolley to the Kenmore Square stop or walk down Comm Ave. To the Fenway: Take an MBTA Green Line D trolley to the Fenway stop. To Fenway Park: Walk down Brookline Avenue from Kenmore Square; the park is on your left. To the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Take an MBTA Green Line E trolley to the MFA stop or the MBTA 39 bus from Copley Square to the Museum stop.

This Series

Getting to Know Your Neighborhood: Central Square

Also in

Nearby Neighborhoods

• April 5, 2023

  Getting to Know Your Neighborhood: Kendall Square

• March 30, 2023

  Getting to Know Your Neighborhood: Fort Point

• March 23, 2023

  Getting to Know Your Neighborhood: The North End

Series home