Boston/Outer Neighborhoods

Hyde Park

The southernmost neighborhood of Boston, Hyde Park is home to a diverse range of people, housing types and social groups. The area was established in the 1660s and grew into a hub of paper and cotton manufacturing in the eighteenth century. The extension of rail lines from Boston in the 1850s spurred the area's residential development.
Hyde Park was once home to the first all African-American army unit, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. They assembled and trained at Camp Meigs in Readville. The area would later briefly become a race track during dawn of the 20th century, before being used as an air combat testing facility during WWI. Today it is a series of light industrial buildings near the Neponset river.

Mattapan

Historically a section of neighboring Dorchester, Mattapan became a part of Boston when Dorchester was annexed in 1870. Predominantly residential, Mattapan is a mix of public housing, triple deckers, and single-family homes. Mattapan Square, where Blue Hill Avenue, River Street, and Cummins Highway meet, is the commercial heart of the neighborhood, home to banks, law offices, restaurants, and retail shops. Mattapan now has the largest Haitian community in Massachusetts, and is also largely made up of African Americans and immigrants from other Caribbean countries.

Roslindale

Roslindale is a primarily residential neighborhood six miles southwest of downtown Boston. Originally part of Roxbury, and after seceding in 1851—the town then voted in 1873 to be annexed to the City of Boston. Roslindale grew residentially as a classic streetcar suburb. Railways were built after the American Civil War, which spawned a new round of commercial development. In the 1920s, Roslindale Village took the shape it has today, with tree-lined Adams Park at its center.
That tree lined park surrounded by local businesses remains attractive to Bostonians in the 21st century. This walkable area has become a haven for those priced out of JP and other areas affected by gentrification issues. Even here prices have seen dramatic rises recently, and residents are working together to maintain the fabric of their community.

West Roxbury

Founded in 1630, West Roxbury is nine miles from downtown Boston, and was originally used as farm land by the then independent town of Roxbury. Seceding in 1851, West Roxbury was annexed by Boston in 1874. Due to this quirk of history, it's often confused with Roxbury, although the two are not connected and don't share a border.
This neighborhood's claim to fame is that it once played host to an experimental Utopian community during the mid 19th century. Called Brook Farm, members (like Nathaniel Hawthorne) were inspired by the ideals of Transcendentalism, a religious and cultural philosophy based in New England. Ultimately the experiment was financially unsuccessful, although many members looked back on their experience positively. Unfortunately all buildings from this era have since been lost to fire, but the grounds are now a park and available for tours.

By car

The car is the premiere way to get around in these neighborhoods. You will be further from the city center, so traffic and congestion will be (comparatively) less of an issue. On street parking is cheap and easy to find. Most attractions here are further apart and not well served by public transit. While not necessary, a car will make your life easier while here.

By public transit

Forest Hills station on the Orange line in Roslindale is the only option for direct rapid transit into the city. The next closest option is the Ashmont–Mattapan High Speed Line, a historic trolley and part of the Red line. The last stop on this line serves Mattapan. Used by locals daily, the current rolling stock was built at the end of WWII and is a tourist attraction for any train enthusiast.
Other than those two options, you're going to need to ride the commuter rail. For Hyde Park and Mattapan, take a train from South Station on the Fairmount, Franklin, or Providence/Stoughton lines. For Roslindale or West Roxbury get on the Needham line, also from South Station.

• The Parish of Christ Church

  phone: +1 617 361-2457
  address: 1220 River St

• Historic French’s Opera House

  phone: +1 617 361-7024
  address: 45 Fairmount Ave

• Theodore Parker Church

  phone: +1 617 325-4439
  address: 1859 Centre St

• Westerly Burial Ground

• Forest Hills Cemetery

  phone: +1 617 524-0128
  address: 95 Forest Hills Ave
  Take in a festival, light lanterns, or visit the grave of E.E. Cummings in this 275 acre greenspace.

• Millennium Park

  phone: +1 617 635-4505
  address: 300 Gardner St

• Brook Farm Historic Site

  phone: +1 617 698-1802
  address: Baker Street

• Holy Name Church

  phone: +1 617 325-4865
  address: 1689 Centre St

• George Wright Golf Course

  address: 420 West Street
  Named for baseball Hall of Famer and Cincinnati Reds shortstop George Wright. The golf course is a Donald Ross-designed course and is considered one of his finest designs.

• Chez Vous

  phone: +1 617 825-6877
  address: 11 Rhoades St
  Roller rink, also billiard and arcade.

• Laser Quest

  phone: +1 617 325-1005
  address: 1580 VFW Pkwy

• Ron's Gourmet Ice Cream and Twentieth Century Bowling Alley

  phone: +1 617 364-5274
  address: 1231 Hyde Park Ave
  Grab a cone, a rickey, and get in some candlepin bowling at this stalwart bastion of New England traditions. Ice cream is made with high quality ingredients and can be enjoyed by connoisseurs. Tons of kids in here all the time, so the staff knows how to handle them.

• Sky Zone

  phone: +1 857 345-9693
  address: 91-B Sprague St
  Boston's first (and only) trampoline park.

• Boston Cheese Cellar

  phone: +1 617 325-2500
  address: 18 Birch St

• Boomerangs

  address: 1870 Centre St
  Thrift store.

Budget

• Le Foyer Bakery

  phone: +1 617 298-0535
  address: 132 Babson St
  Very good Haitian bakery.

• Simco's

  phone: +1 617 296-3800
  address: 1509 Blue Hill Ave
  The exterior has seen better days, but people love the footlong hotdogs on a top split style bun. They also sell fried clams and raspberry lime rickeys to complete the New England hat trick. Don't expect much in the way of ambiance, or tables for that matter.

• P & R Ice Cream

  phone: +1 617 296-0922
  address: 1284 Blue Hill Ave
  Check out this hole in the wall for Jamaican take out and ice cream, together at last!

• Al's Roti

  phone: +1 617 298-9850
  address: 1188 Blue Hill Ave

• Los Antojitos

  phone: +1 617 469-2100
  address: 5272 Washington St
  Highly regarded Salvadoran food.

• Nu Flav

  phone: +1 617 506-7092
  address: 1100 Blue Hill Ave
  Haitian dishes with plantains, rice, beans, and pineapple; served alongside comfort food like mac and cheese.

• Safari African

  phone: +1 617 296-0011
  address: 1336 Blue Hill Ave

• Pit Stop Barbecue

  phone: +1 617 436-0485
  address: 888 Morton St
  One of Boston's best BBQ joints, figure out when it's open and get here. Featured by Phantom Gourmet among other local accolades.

• La Lechonera

  phone: +1 617 323-0311
  address: 342 Cummins Hwy

Mid-range

• Sophia’s Grotto

  phone: +1 617 323-4595
  address: 22 Birch St

• Dogwood Cafe

  phone: +1 617 522-7997
  address: 3712 Washington St
  Great Bar/Restaurant, Wood-Grilled Pizzas. Right across the street from the Forest Hills Orange Line station

• Rox Diner

  phone: +1 617 327-1909
  address: 1881 Centre St
  Most everything is local, organic, and from scratch.

• ZAZ

  phone: +1 617 276-3729
  address: 1238 River St

• Antonio's Bacaro

  phone: +1 617 272-3028
  address: 5 Fairmont Ave
  Italian.

• Fairmount Grille

  phone: +1 857 345-9649
  address: 81 Fairmount Ave

• Delfino

  phone: +1 617 327-8359
  address: 754 South St

• Redd's In Rozzie

  phone: +1 617 325-1000
  address: 4257 Washington St

• Porter Cafe

  phone: +1 617 942-2579
  address: 1723 Centre St

• Cappy's Tavern

  phone: +1 617 364-9292
  address: 11 Wolcott Ct
  Kind of a "locals only" spot far off the beaten path. Serves decent pub food, cash only.

Coffee

• Recreo Coffee & Roasterie

  phone: +1 617 553-2379
  address: 1876 Centre St

• Simpli Bar & Bites

  phone: +1 617 522-2400
  address: 3840 Washington St
  Continuously changing throughout the day. Offers coffee in the morning, and something stronger in the evenings. Small bites served all day, and brunch on the weekends.

• Brassica Kitchen + Cafe

  phone: +1 617 477-4519
  address: 3710 Washington St

• Fornax

  phone: +1 617 325-8852
  address: 27 Corinth St
  Stop in to this funky, eclectic space for some of the best freshly baked bread in the city. Plenty of other sweet and savory baked goods to wash down with your hot cup of coffee. Eat in or take away.

• Bean & Cream

  phone: +1 857 342-7179
  address: 680 Truman Pkwy

This is one of the least densely populated areas of Boston, and unfortunately for the visitor there are no accommodations to be found here. Check out nearby Brookline or the Back Bay neighborhood for a few alternatives. If you're determined to stay in the area, look into your favorite room sharing website to see what's available.

• Roslindale Branch

  phone: +1 617 323-2343
  address: 4246 Washington St

• Mattapan Branch

  phone: +1 617 298-9218
  address: 1350 Blue Hill Ave

• West Roxbury Branch

  phone: +1 617 325-3147
  address: 1961 Centre St

• Hyde Park Branch

  phone: +1 617 361-2524
  address: 35 Harvard Ave

• The next neighborhood to the east is Dorchester, where you can pay a visit to the JFK Presidential Library.
• Interested in a slightly older president perhaps? Don't miss Adams National Historical Park in nearby Quincy
• If you have a car, drive it to the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline, and see some of the first cars ever made.
• Keep heading out of the city and drive to the Blue Hills Reservation. Over 100 miles of trails are waiting in nearby Milton.
• Alternatively, take one of the Commuter Rail trains back into downtown Boston, and be in the heart of it all.