Located at 545 Commonwealth Ave., One Kenmore Square is the new global headquarters for WHOOP, the wearable health and fitness technology firm. The building was part of a major redevelopment of the north side of Kenmore Square, which included about 7,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor.

Things-to-do

Getting to Know Your Neighborhood: Fenway-Kenmore

Explore one of Boston’s most vibrant and bustling areas, from sports to fine art to scenic locales, all on or near campus

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 LEDs. In July 2010, the double-sided, 60-by-60-foot sign went dark for two months so that the 9,000 feet of lights could be updated with the latest LEDs lighting and new computers to manage the sign’s famous animation. The sign went dark for a second time in May 2026 so that it came be moved  t 30 feet higher and 120 feet eastward to provide a more prominent view of the landmark. (It is expected to be reinstalled by December 2026). 

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 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 Row, 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 other storied bands, before closing in 1997. During the 1980s, Kenmore Square fell into disrepair and 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.

Below, 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 the Batman and Captain Marvel series to newer releases like Astro City Metrobook. New comics arrive every Wednesday, but you can check out the incoming stock online beforehand or sign up for their mailing list here. 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 pub, located where the Lower Depths Tap Room once stood, is all about craft beer, burgers, and hot dogs. With their extensive collection of IPAs, pale ales, lagers, ciders, sours, and stouts, The Kenmore serves 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 all-beef hot dogs are made from scratch on the premises. A bonus for night owls: The Kenmore serves hot dogs for $2.50 and their classic “K” Burgers for $3.50 nightly after 10 pm. Appetizers include chicken tenders and wings, pretzel bites, cheese fries, and more. Whether stopping in before a Red Sox game, brunching with friends on the weekend, or enjoying a night out on the town, The Kenmore has got you covered.

India Quality
484 Commonwealth Ave.

Regularly rated Boston’s top Indian restaurant by numerous publications, including Boston magazine, 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 extensive selection features something for every palate. The restaurant, which specializes in North Indian cuisine, is renowned for its coconut korma dishes and spinach poori bread. India Quality offers a 10 percent discount on dine-in orders for students with a valid college ID.

Nuggets
486 Commonwealth Ave.

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

Hotel Commonwealth
500 Commonwealth Ave.

Hotel Commonwealth is home to two popular eateries, operated by New York City’s Blue Ribbon Group.

One is Blue Ribbon Sushi at 500a Commonwealth Ave. The popular 120-seat restaurant offers a wide range of fresh sushi and seafood dishes, including sashimi, maki, and zensai, as well as traditional Japanese cuisine and Wagyu steaks. The sleek interior includes 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 includes a range of Japanese whiskies, beers, and sake, as well as signature cocktails. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner daily. The food can be on the pricey side, though, with most sushi specials starting at around $25.

Row 34
498 Commonwealth Ave.

Billing itself as a “connection to the ocean,” Row 34 is Kenmore Square’s newest seafood restaurant (they have four other locations in Massachusetts and New Hampshire as well as a food truck). The name refers to the 34th row of oysters grown in Duxbury Bay. True to its name, the restaurant, located next to the Hotel Commonwealth, features a dazzling raw bar that includes oysters, crudo, and more. You’ll find stalwarts like clam chowder, crab cakes, and calamari, along with pan-roasted scallops.. You’ll also find nonseafood items like salads, grilled skirt steak,and  bacon cheddar burgers. And it wouldn’t be a seafood restaurant in New England without lobster rolls, so Row 34 offers two delicious options: Ethel’s creamy lobster roll and a warm buttered lobster roll, both served with a side of slaw and chips.

El Jefe’s Taqueria
533 Commonwealth Ave.

This popular Mexican eatery opened a location on BU’s West Campus in 2022, which quickly became a hit with students. Happily, the chain has now established a location in Fenway, and the perfect place for an early breakfast or a late-night meal. Customers can design their own burritos, bowls, quesadillas, and nachos combos. Churros are available as well. During hockey season, El Jefe’s Taqueria offers a free taco to any student who attends a Boston University hockey game in which the Terriers score a goal — a literal win-win!

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 Kenmore fixture. In 2019, it moved a few doors down from its previous location at 654 Beacon St. due to the construction on the north side of the square. With its steaming plates of bangers and mashand its 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, or play a game of darts or a round of Scrabble, which you can grab from the bar’s large shelf of board games.

Eastern Standard
775 Beacon St.

This popular eatery owned by Garrett Harker opened in 2005 at the Hotel Commonwealth, but closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, Harker reopened the restaurant around the corner, on the ground floor of the Bower apartment building on Beacon Street. The menu features seasonal New England takes on classic brasserie fare, including lobster rolls, seared salmon, and steak frites. There’s also a superb raw bar with oysters, shrimp cocktail, littleneck clams, and more. Eastern Standard is also renowned for its innovative craft cocktails and popular plats du jour, which change with the seasons. The expansive patio is perfect for outdoor dining in warm-weather months, and the vibrant Fenway atmosphere creates the perfect ambiance.

Loretta’s Last Call
One Lansdowne St.

This country venue brings the honky-tonk to Fenway with Southern cuisine, live music, and line dancing. The dinner menu boasts Southern staples like pulled pork and fried chicken sandwiches, BBQ country-style ribs, and chicken and waffles. The weekend brunch menu features an array of biscuit-based dishes as well as Loretta’s Big Breakfast, which comes with bacon, sausage, potatoes, eggs, and toast. Be sure to check out the on-site Back Door Donuts pop-up, with its “Donuts After Dark” menu that serves up a variety of favorites, including apple fritter, buttermilk glazed, chocolate frosted, and maple bacon. They’re available daily from 7 pm to closing. 

MGM Music Hall at Fenway
2 Lansdowne St.

Located just behind Fenway Park’s right field bleachers, MGM Music Hall opened in August 2022. The 5,000-seat venue has hosted a starry list of headliners, including pop artist Bruno Mars, Grammy winners James Taylor and Kim Petras, pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer, and country singer Chris Stapleton. Despite its size, it’s architecturally 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 taproom has become popular for its house-brewed craft beers (they also have a full bar) and as an entertainment venue. Across three floors, 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, including nachos, chicken tenders, and mozzarella bites. Note: only guests aged 21 and older are allowed in after 8 pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 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 vacating an early incarnation in Cambridge. This 53,000-square-foot concert venue, restaurant, and bar located across from Fenway Park headlines a musical act nearly every night of the week. Opened 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. Check out its concert calendar here.

The Bleacher Bar
82A Lansdowne St.

Located 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—the Bleacher Bar offers a wide variety of local brews on tap. With deli classics like roast beef, corned beef, and BBQ pulled pork, and burgers, salads, and appetizers (like chicken sliders and cheesy bacon fries), you’ll find something to satisfy your hunger and thirst while getting an amazing view of the field—all at a reasonable price (and no ticket fee!). It is open off-season as well as when the boys of summer play. The bar doesn’t take reservations on game days, so be prepared to wait. For nongame days, you can make a reservation on their website.

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. Only patrons 21-plus are admitted after 7 pm.

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. The park also hosts artists like Hozier, Lana Del Rey, and Noah Kahan during the summer months. 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, though stops are subject to availability. Tour schedules and rates vary. For more information, call 617-226-6660 or visit their website.

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, right 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 year-round. 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.

Sal’s Pizza
51 Brookline Ave.

Strategically located across the street from Fenway Park, the “official pizza of the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots” offers classic options, like cheese and pepperoni, along with more adventurous speciality flavors like the South Western (shaved steak, peppers, onions, smoky BBQ sauce, cheese, and seasonings) and the Nashville Hot Chicken (breaded chicken, olive oil, dill pickles, garlic, mozzarella, Nashville Hot Sauce, and Mike’s Amazing® Ranch). It’s open daily until 9 pm and on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays it stays open until 2 am—perfect for those looking for a late-night bite.

Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar
61 Brookline Ave.

Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar creates the perfect blend of two of Boston’s favorite foods: tacos and oysters. You’ll also find burritos, bowls, and delicious tortas (Mexican sandwiches). Loco boasts great food (the nachos are a must), but it’s also a destination space for dining and dancing, with DJs most Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. With its wooded, homey interiors and high ceilings, it’s perfect for any occasion—be it a birthday, an end-of-finals party, or a Red Sox win celebration. Loco has several locations in Boston, but the Fenway eatery is arguably the best. The restaurant is open daily until 1 am. 

Wahlburgers
132 Brookline Ave.

Owned by the famous Wahlberg brothers—actors Mark and Donnie and brother and restaurant chef Paul—this popular eatery serves up innovative burgers, fresh salads, and crowd-pleasers like “Mom’s Favorites” smoked bacon mac ’n’ cheese. The restaurant features counter service and sit-down dining. Grab a seat at the outdoor patio, weather permitting.

Nagomi Izakaya
636 Beacon St.

This Japanese restaurant features sushi, gyoza, kaisen don, and more across its extensive menus. There’s an a la carte menu for sushi, as well as a selection of combos. It’s also popular for its extensive sake menu. Nagomi Izakaya is open daily for lunch and dinner, and is just a short distance from the Kenmore Square T station.

Namastay Boston
636 Beacon St.

Just steps from the Kenmore Square T station, Namastay Boston serves up a wide selection of Indian favorites, from curries and biryanis to tandoori dishes and kebabs. For diners looking to sample a little bit of everything, the restaurant offers an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet daily from 11 am to 2 pm for $19. Students and MBTA workers also receive 25 percent  off the buffet price with a valid ID, making it an especially affordable lunch option in the neighborhood.

Saloniki Greek
4 Kilmarnock St.

This sleek eatery, helmed by famed restaurateur and chef Jody Adams, a two-time James Beard Award winner, recently moved around the corner to a new location. The restaurant pays tribute to the “humble Greek sandwich shop.” The Fenway location—there are four others, in Central Square and Harvard Square in Cambridge, and Boston’s Back Bay and Beacon Hill—offers traditional Greek fare, which can be ordered either as a plate or a pita. Try the braised pork pita sandwich (with spicy feta, slaw, and secret sauce) or the Santorini Summer Salad (a blend of fruits, vegetables, and rose water syrup). You can also order a fantastic Greek lamb and grain bowl, traditional soups, and yummy desserts, such as Greek donuts filled with Dubai chocolate, honey and cinnamon, sour cherry, or caramel and pistachio. Wash it all down with the restaurant’s signature Greek cocktails . Allergen and vegetarian menus are also available. Take 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 (there are now seven locations in and around Boston) serves up filling doughnuts with an innovative twist. The doughnuts are formed from either brioche dough or cake batter, with house-made glazes, frostings, and toppings. The roster of flavors includes vanilla glaze, salted toffee, chocolate old-fashioned, and an everything bagel doughnut, which tastes just like it sounds. They also have a rotating selection of flavors that change by the month, like apple butter jam bismarck and pumpkin cake. Check their menu for current choices. Patrons can order full-size doughnuts and seasonal minis, as well as decadent doughnut cakes, which include a vegan option. And Blackbird now offers several yummy sandwich options and a delicious banana pudding.

Cisco Brewers Fenway
1301 Boylston St. 

This popular outdoor brewery, just a short distance from Fenway Park, began on Nantucket and recently expanded to the Fenway. The venue includes an outdoor beer garden, indoor taproom, and live music daily. The drinks menu features Cisco craft brews and offerings from Nantucket Vineyard and Triple Eight Distillery. The casual menu offers a selection of salads, sandwiches, snacks, and baskets.

Eventide
1321 Boylston St.

Eventide Fenway brings to Boston a counter service version of the popular Eventide Oyster Co. in Portland, Maine. Noted for its raw oyster bar and succulent lobster rolls, Eventide offers both indoor and outdoor diningand also serves up crudos, salads, fried seafood, and a delicious New England clam chowder. The menu changes daily, andfeatures staples like a smoked tofu sandwich and a classic cheeseburger,for those who prefer something other than fish. There are also unique seafood twists on classic brunch fare, like lobster Benedict and a chirashi sushi bowl. Be sure to save room for dessert: the brown butter soft serve ice cream is a wonderful post-lunch 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, rock & roll–themed Verb Hotel features a menu by owners Tim Cushman, a James Beard Award–winning chef, and restaurateur Nancy Cushman. (They also own the popular Japanese eatery O Ya in the Leather District.) Diners can enjoy a bowl of robata-grilled koji chicken ramen, pork and shrimp potstickers, sushi, and a selection of small plates. The chic eatery sports a Japan-inspired craft cocktail list, including the Nashi Riot (roku gun, pear, citrus, spices, wild peppercorn, and club soda) and an extensive selection of sakes. 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. As a diner, you  order on a touch screen, navigating between suggested options and substitutions 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 leave room for one of Honeygrow’s “Honeybar” desserts. The brownie crumble, apple pie, cheesecake, and fruit and granola bowls are the perfect sweet ending to your meal. Pickup and delivery are also available.

Tasty Burger
86 Van Ness St.

Now in a new location (they recently moved around the corner from their previous address in a converted gas station on Boylston Street), Tasty Burger is not your average burger joint. The new venue offers more seating and a decidedly more modern vibe, complete with huge windows to let the breeze in on a nice day. Despite the location upgrade, the restaurant retained its affordable menu. The Big Tasty burger and the spicy jalapeño burger, at just $8.75, are both an excellent value. The hot dogs and chicken sandwiches are pretty tasty, as well. And it’s open until 2 am every day, perfect for those with a case of the late-night munchies. Be sure to check out the $13 Starvin’ Student special: a burger or cheeseburger, side order of fries, and a can of beer. Tasty Burger is the official burger of the Boston Red Sox, so you can enjoy their burgers at Fenway Park, too. 

Citizen Public House and Oyster Bar
1310 Boylston St.

For a unique dining experience you can’t beat, try the Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar’s family-style pig roast. Available for groups of 10 or more, the meal begins with assorted oysters, clams, and shrimp, 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 a smoked ararat and paprika roast chicken, lamb ragu over potato gnocchi, and Atlantic cod loin. The tavern also carries more than 400 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. Not a fan of sushi? They also have numerous platters and rice or noodle entrees that are also delicious. Patrons will find a variety of seating options, from communal tables to private dining areas, making it an excellent gathering spot for groups both small and large. The restaurant 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, serves up cocktails, wine, and beer, along with a small, curated list of “snacky things.” It’s open Wednesday through Saturday, offering a wide selection of choices for the mature clientele who frequent 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. Regular entrées like pork belly, fried chicken, pulled pork, and BBQ chopped brisket come with two sides, which range from mac ’n’ cheese to a big farm salad. There’s also a small, but delicious selection of desserts, including key lime pie and a giant Nutter Butter cookie.

Time Out Market Boston
401 Park Drive

This 25,000-square-foot food hall nearly closed in 2026, but got a last minute reprieve when a new operator came to the rescue. The market is home to 16 restaurant stalls from some of Boston’s top restaurants and chefs, plus two bars on the ground floor of the 401 Park building. The food 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 like baba ganoush from anoush’ella. Visitors can also stop at Far Out Ice Cream 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 one-acre green space hosts year-round activities, ranging from summer concerts to winter ice skating. The outdoor park 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, which has over 20 craft beers on tap along with bottled options.

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 Fenway that has cultivated a devoted clientele. The lobster roll is king, but you’ll find plenty of other delicious options, including a traditional steak melt and a Mediterranean falafel sandwich. . The shop also offers a variety of delectable breakfast sandwiches and bowls, served all day, and great smoothies, including one made with peanut butter, cocoa, banana, and vanilla oat milk.

Phinista
96 Peterborough St.

“Influenced by authenticity,” this French-Vietnamese café takes its name from phin (a style of brewed coffee) and barista. They serve a unique array of coffee and tea-based drinks, sweet and savory crepes, pastries, classic banh mi, and salad and rice bowls. Try the Saigonese (traditional phin with condensed milk, topped with sea salt foam) or the strawberry matcha latte. Phinista also offers a weekday happy hour from 8 to 10 am, serving Súa (milk coffee) and Đen (black coffee) for $3 and Saigonese Iced Coffee for $3.50.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
25 Evans Way

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is one of Boston’s most beloved cultural institutions. This Venetian-inspired 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 museum made international headlines in 1990 when two 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. Students may also reserve free advanced tickets for timed entry with the promo code BOSTUNIV.

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 boasts an extraordinary collection of Chinese art, Egyptian artifacts, and the largest collection of Japanese art outside of Japan, along with 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 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 parks—which are linked by parkways and waterways—to provide a respite from urban living for all people..

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 Route 39 bus from Copley Square to the Museum stop.

This article was updated October 8, 2026.

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