Condé Nast Traveler: A Summer Guide to the South End of Boston

Stroll through some of the city’s most beautiful architecture on your way to celebrate Pride, the World Cup, or just a weekend in town.

By Shannon McMahon and Andrew Sessa

Boston’s tony South End is a wonderful amalgamation of a neighborhood that feels straight out of a European enclave. It offers the London-like charm of brick townhouses arranged around gardened squares, the chic sidewalk cafes of Paris, and the numerous artist studios and galleries akin to Brooklyn's, all in addition to its own decidedly New England character.

Sitting between the Back Bay, Chinatown, South Boston, and Roxbury, the highly walkable and less-touristed South End is something of a physical crossroads between the city's center and its more diverse residential neighborhoods. Small parks and playgrounds dot its acreage, making it a favorite neighborhood for young families. It's also one of the centers (if not the center) of the city's storied gay scene. And, because it boasts some of the best restaurants in Boston, the South End is a dining destination for folks from all over Boston and the surrounding area.