Beacon Hill
If you’re searching for a glimpse of colonial Boston, look no further. Beacon Hill’s Federal-style rowhouses, narrow streets, and brick sidewalks will make you feel like you traveled back in time to the 18th century. Today, Beacon Hill is regarded as one of the most desirable and expensive neighborhoods in Boston
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beacon_Hill,_Boston
Some Bostonians may argue the best Italian food can be found in the North End, but the hidden gem known as Toscano sits prominently in Beacon Hill. Located on picturesque Charles Street where people watching here is one of the best in the city, Toscano has a knowledgeable staff who review both the food and wine menus with guests while making suggestions. The upscale restaurant is an ideal location for a special occasion or formal night on the town. This year, Toscano celebrates its 25th anniversary with new owners and a new look. The interior has been revitalized to include 80-year-old hand carved walnut hardwood floors, Italian stone walls, and individually painted chandeliers. The menu includes freshly baked pizzas, homemade breads, house made pastas like gnocchi Quattro formaggi to slow grilled meats and fresh seafood (think oven roasted monkfish). Be sure to make a reservation in advance as this place fills up to capacity quickly, especially on the weekends. When you leave here, you will truly feel their motto “Toscano – where a road in Tuscany leads to Beacon Hill” rings piercingly true. For more information, visit toscanoboston.com.
Steakhouses in Boston are everywhe
re, so finding one of the best in the city was a challenge until Mooo made its debut. Chef/owner Jamie Mammano’s modern steakhouse with the unusual name offers some of the juiciest, well prepared steaks in town and a private Wine Cellar dining room. Located in Beacon Hill across from the State House, Mooo attracts numerous politicians (Governor Deval Patrick is said to be a regular).
It’s difficult not to fill up on the Staub skillet of four dense hot buttered sweet rolls topped with sea salt, but be sure to save room for the likes of a 35-day dry aged New York sirloin, bone-in Delmonico, pepper crusted prime sirloin au poivre or ribeye steak. Top it off with a béarnaise, red wine, bordelaise, steak or barbecue sauce. Dishes are a la carte so complement your dinner with panko and parmesan crusted onion rings, mushroom risotto and creamed spinach. The restaurant also offers a good selection of seafood dishes, including grilled salmon, seared sea scallops and butter poached Maine lobster. End the night with the ultimate indulgence – a $25 Bailey’s hot fudge sundae for two. Visit mooorestaurant.com for more information.
Everything you’ve ever wished for can be found at the
dreamy little boutique Wish in Beacon Hill. The contemporary women’s shop features high end designer labels (think black American Express Centurion), including Shoshanna, Diane von Furstenberg, Theory, Rebecca Taylor, Hudson and Citizens of Humanity.
Everyone loves a fabulous shop that has all the latest fashions and Wish truly has it all from handbags to jeans. Whether your look is trendy or traditional, Wish offers some of the most stylish threads in the city, but be prepared to pay luxury store prices.
Wish is the brainchild of three former Newbury Street employees, who had a dream of opening their own clothing store. This boutique just goes to prove that wishes really do come true. Check out wishboston.com for more information.
The complimentary Lexus sedan parked outside the front door of XV Beacon lets you know you are in for a luxurious stay. The sophisticated Beacon Hill hotel just recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary, and it’s no wonder why the property remains one of the top luxur
y hotels in the city for service, style and value.
There are only seven guest rooms on each floor of this boutique property and every single room has a gas fireplace. Every modern amenity is considered here from the 42-inch flat screen television situated on a stainless steel wall above the fireplace, surround sound stereo system with five-disk CD player and CD library to the amazing marble bathroom equipped with a rainforest shower head, Fresh products and Frette bathrobes.
The pet friendly hotel also offers a sumptuous stay for your four-legged friend complete with a pet bed, bottled water and treats upon arrival. Best of all, the $25 “fee” to bring your dog with you is donated in full to the MSPCA Angell Memorial Hospital to assist with animal medical treatment, rehabilitation and adoption assistance.
Don’t forget to check out the rooftop deck for an amazing peek at the city.
Bet you didn’t know that every Boston neighborhood has a chocolate story! Taste of Chocolate offers a walking tour every Saturday and Sunday of the city’s best neighborhoods, including Beacon Hill, Back Bay, South End and Cambridge, where you’ll learn about fine chocolates and indulge in a variety of delicacies. From the Toll House cookie to Baker’s chocolate, New England has a deep, dark and sumptuous history in chocolate.
On the tour, you’ll learn the history and creation of luxury chocolate by visiting a third generation market whose founder worked with Julia Child, tasting chocolate soup, and enjoying a formal tasting with an acclaimed pastry chef.
Even if you already have a love for chocolate, you are guaranteed to leave with a deeper appreciation of this one-of-a-kind experience. The tour company also hosts an on-going series of chocolate workshops designed as a hands-on introduction to the world of chocolate making.
Imagine spending the night in a prison cell – that’s exactly what guests will do at The Liberty Hotel. This now uber-chic boutique is the former Charles Street Jail, famed for housing The Boston Strangler and Malcolm X.
Gone is the barbed wire that once surrounded the property yet some of the original architecture remains, including wrought iron and exposed bric
k walls. The massive rotunda opens up to a three-story atrium that once served as the prison’s catwalk. There is a tile mosaic here that also highlights some of the property’s historic jailbirds.
Don’t miss a drink at the aptly named bar, Clink, where you can view a 19th century prison cell. Scampo, the hotel’s upscale Italian restaurant, features dishes from Chef Lydia Shire of Biba and Excelsior fame. There is even a lively club, Alibi, for those late-night partiers.
Located in Beacon Hill overlooking The Charles River, the hot hotel now offers modern amenities, including flat screen TVs, Wi-Fi, and complimentary local car service. Mick Jagger, Annette Bening and Bruce Willis have all enjoyed a stay at this former prison. The Liberty Hotel now offers all law-abiding citizens a taste of the other side of the law.
Every Bostonian know
s some of the best winter fun can be had at the Frog Pond in The Boston Common. While it’s no Rockefeller Center, it does provide a great time for the everyone. Located in America’s oldest park, ice skating here has become a favorite pastime for both residents and visitors. Saturday nights are the busiest times of the week with a nearly all adult crowd and romantic couples.
The entire area is lit up at night with spectacular holiday decorations and the twinkling lights. The nearby trees and stately homes lining Beacon Hill will surely guarantee a memorable time to be had by all.
In the warmer months, the Frog Pond is filled with just six inches of water transforming it into a wading pool with a spray fountain for adventurous individuals.