Lined with brick bow-front town houses, most of which were built in the mid-1800s, many of the homes here have hidden gardens. Explore it on foot to discover pocket parks, tiny bakeries and some of the city’s best restaurants. The South End and neighboring Roxbury share cultural and architectural histories that blend seamlessly around Massachusetts Avenue.

The South End is a vibrant center with eclectic art studios, experimental theatres, and independent boutiques and galleries. The beautiful SoWa Arts + Design District coexists alongside more modern developments like Ink Block to make the South End a true microcosm of Boston, where history and innovation are in constant conversation.

The South End is often declared as Boston’s best food neighborhood. Critically acclaimed restaurants like Coppa, SRV, Toro, B&G Oysters, and Kava Neo-Taverna are constantly packed, but there are also plenty of great classics that have held on through the years. Charlie’s Sandwich Shoppe, which served black jazz musicians when hotels were segregated, has even made it to the front page of the New York Times thanks to a visit from Al Gore when he ran for president.