Boston’s Top 10 : Essential Shopping Experiences

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  1. Newbury Street

    Try
    as it might, Back Bay’s most famous street cannot escape comparisons to
    Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive. True, both offer stupendous
    people-watching, sophisticated shopping, chic dining, and prestigious
    galleries. Yet with its 19th-century charm and convenient subway stops,
    Newbury Street outclasses its built-yesterday Left Coast counterpart by
    far. 

  2. Filene’s Basement

    Discount
    fashion outlets nationwide owe Filene’s Basement an immense debt of
    gratitude. Since 1908, this sprawling subterranean department store has
    championed the “name-brand shopping for less” retail philosophy. Some
    items are well priced, while others see their prices plummet the longer
    they sit on the shelves – illustrating Filene’s markdown concept. The
    store is closed until 2010 while the 1912 building undergoes extensive
    renovation.

    • 426 Washington St

  3. Charles Street

    Charm abounds on this bluest of blue-blooded street, which is studded with antique
    dealers, specialty grocers, and modern houseware boutiques. Come
    nightfall, wrought-iron gaslamps illuminate the brick sidewalks,
    residents hurry home with wine and fresh flowers, and sleek bistros buzz
    with excitement.

  4. Dairy Fresh

    The
    waft of enticing aromas floating from this treasure could send even the
    most resolute dieter into a tailspin. Candied fruits, chocolate-covered
    nuts, imported hard candies – all sold in bulk – taste as heavenly as
    they smell. But don’t overlook the extensive inventory of imported
    Italian foods, and quality teas and coffees.

    • 57 Salem St

  5. Harvard Coop

    Next
    to a Red Sox baseball cap, no other clothing item is as fundamentally
    Bostonian as a Harvard sweatshirt. The Coop, in Harvard Square, is your
    one-stop shop for Harvard-related merchandise with a dizzying array of
    clothing, books, posters, prints, and even specially engraved Tiffany
    silver jewelry.

    • 1400 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge

  6. Copley Place

    This was among the country’s first upscale urban shopping malls. It counts such du mode
    tenants as Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Neiman Marcus, and Gucci plus
    locally owned shops such as the arts and crafts boutique, Artful Hand.

    • 100 Huntington Ave

  7. The Haymarket

    Being
    presented with a grilled salmon fillet may be more appealing than
    cooking one yourself, but this 350-year-old outdoor produce market still
    holds undeniable charm for visitors. Witness the feeding frenzy as
    fishmongers try to undercut each other on the day’s catch.

    • Open noon–7pm Fri, 7am–7pm Sat




    Fish stall, The Haymarket

  8. Harvard Square Bookstores

    Harvard
    Square’s bookstores are some of the most distinguished in the country.
    The Harvard Coop boasts 170,000-plus titles, while Schoenhof’s Foreign
    Books specializes in non-English books. The c.1932 Harvard Book Store
    (1256 Massachusetts Ave) stocks countless new and used titles. 

  9. Faneuil Hall Marketplace

    With
    its millions of visitors every year, Faneuil Hall Marketplace would not
    be found on any best-kept secret list. However, with its central
    location, rich colonial history, and plethora of food stalls, it offers a
    unique shopping experience. Choose from name-brand stores such as
    Victoria’s Secret or the more unusual offerings in the fleet of
    pushcarts. 




    Stall, Faneuil Hall Marketplace

  10. Downtown Crossing

    Here
    you’ll find large stores such as Macy’s and Filene’s Basement (closed
    until 2010). A range of smaller shops attract a youthful mix, while the
    jewelry district lies just east on Washington St.

    • Junction of Summer, Winter, & Washington sts