Waterfront

Scenic district with outdoor recreation on Boston Harbor

Welcome to Waterfront

The Waterfront features a scenic series of wharves lined with walkways on Boston Harbor and is the ultimate Boston neighborhood for the boating lifestyle. This desirable district also has upscale hotels, sightseeing cruises, the New England Aquarium, and outdoor recreation at Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Boston Harborwalk wraps around the shoreline with 43 miles of near-continuous parkland. Real estate in this desirable community includes luxurious contemporary apartments and condominiums in mid-rise buildings and high-rise towers.

What to Love

  • Stylish condominiums

  • Waterfront recreation

  • Seafood dining

  • Boston Harborwalk

People & Lifestyle

This vibrant district is packed with things to see and do. The Waterfront has many of Boston’s best outdoor recreation facilities and tourist attractions. This a must-visit area for any visitor to Boston, and living here puts the best of Boston right on your doorstep.

Dining, Entertainment & Shopping

Boston’s Waterfront District is naturally one of the best places in the city for seafood dining. Local favorites include naked lobster rolls and barking crab cake sandwiches at The Barking Crab, fresh seafood and lobsters at James Hook & Co., and three floors of dining spaces ranging from casual to upscale at Legal Harborside. The Battery Wharf Grille at the Battery Wharf Hotel offers excellent New England-style seafood. Renowned Boston chef Barbara Lynch’s Waterfront eatery Sportello serves Italian-inspired fresh pasta dishes and baked goods. 

The Waterfront also has plenty of places to satiate your sweet tooth. Mike’s Pastry and Modern Pastry are local institutions with a devoted followed among Bostonians. Favorite menu items include cannolis at Mike’s and sfogliatellas at Modern Pastry. There are also popular local chains Flour Bakery + Café for delicious cookies, sticky buns, and banana bread and Emack & Bolio’s for unbeatable ice cream. The Rose Kennedy Greenway regularly hosts over a dozen food trucks cooking up artisanal eats from across the world.

Things to Do

Boston Harborwalk is the best way to explore the city’s scenic shoreline. This 43-mile mixed-use trail runs from the Neponset River in lower Dorchester to East Boston’s Constitution Beach. Along the way, it takes in the neighborhoods of Charlestown, North End, Downtown, Seaport, and South Boston. The Harborwalk passes by many parks, public beaches, and cultural attractions. You can rent a bike from one of the Waterfront’s Bluebikes bikeshare stations and explore the Harborwalk at your leisure. Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park is another excellent place for waterfront recreation, with open lawns, a rose garden, and a children’s playground. 

New England Aquarium is one of Boston’s most popular tourist attractions, bringing in more than 1.3 million visitors every year. New England Aquarium has an IMAX theatre and operates a whale watch program between April and November. 

Boston Harbor features floating cultural attractions including the USS Constitution Museum and Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston has large exhibition spaces hosting shows from some of the world’s premier contemporary artists. 

The Rose Kennedy Greenway is full of fun things to do. The Greenway has fountains and water play areas, beer and wine gardens, food trucks, and a carousel. Cruises departing from the Long Wharf offer tours of Boston Harbor and its islands. The Lawn on D is also a popular waterfront hangout, with fun activities including ping pong tables, giant Jenga blocks, and swings with LED displays that change color when they’re in use.

Schools

The Waterfront belongs to the Boston Public School District.