Harvard, Inman and Central Squares
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Harvard, Inman and Central Squares Take this walking tour to familiarize yourself with a few neighborhoods in which many MIT students live. This tour will walk you through residential areas, past restaurants and nightlife, and give you a good idea of where bank services are located in the area. For convenience sake, the tour begins in Harvard Square. Enjoy! Inman Square: Historically, Inman Square has been home to many immigrant populations and today, the strong influence of the Portuguese community permeates this lively neighborhood. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its many architecturally significant buildings, this square is also home to countless restaurants offering cuisine of unparalleled excellence and diversity. Central Square: Located between Harvard and MIT, Central Square is one of Cambridge’s few non-gentrified neighborhoods. With many independent shops and clubs, a good mix of residents and students, and many local musicians and artists, Central Sq. holds the seat of city government, and is home a vast array of multicultural offerings. Central Square still has a decent amount of free and metered public parking, both on the streets and in city lots. Once a year, Mass Ave shuts and Central Square celebrates a day-long World’s Fair street festival. Harvard Square: Adjacent to the walls of Harvard University, "The Square" is famous for its collection of small boutiques, chain stores and good food. The Square is often lively well after midnight with music, food and entertainment everywhere. Harvard Square boasts the world's largest concentration of bookstores, and street performers often greet you at every corner. Harvard Square is also home to Cambridge’s Mayfair, Oktoberfest and SPARKLEFEST. The Walking Tour (Map is at the end) 1. The Kirkland (427 Washington St) Neighborhood bar where you'll find locals gathered over beer and TV. There's a fireplace where you can chat with friends or just relax. Friday and Saturday feature rock shows. 2. Dali Restaurant & Tapas Bar (415 Washington St) Popular Spanish restaurant featuring more than 40 varieties of tapas. 3. Kebab Factory (414 Washington St) Excellent Indian with a very affordable lunch buffet. 4. Wine and Cheese Cask (407 Washington St) Small market featuring wine, fine cheeses, beer and liquor. 5. Toscanini's Ice Cream (406 Washington St) Known first for its ice cream, but also offers tasty sandwiches and coffee. 6. The Thirsty Scholar (70 Beacon St) A no-frills local favorite with affordable beer selection, including many Irish and English favorites. Pub features live Irish acts, poetry readings and tasty pub food. 7. Foodmaster Supermarket ( 45 Beacon Street ) Cheap neighborhood grocery store. Not a giant selection, but they deliver, almost never have a line and sell beer. 8. Walgreen’s Pharmacy (16 Beacon) 9. Urban Oasis (243 Hampshire St) Hydrotherapy spa with hot tub rentals and massage services. 10% discount for students with valid ID. 10. Punjabi Dhaba Restaurant (225 Hampshire) Made to order Indian food and cheap prices requires you try it at least once, but be sure to request mild flavor if you are new to Indian food. Here spicy means serious spice. 11. Ryles Jazz Club (212 Hampshire) A Cambridge institution that boasts two floors, which allows it to be the most diverse of any club in its genre. 12. City Girl Café (204 Hampshire) A "Hidden Jewel" by the Phantom Gourmet that serves a mean grilled panini and gigantic calzones. 13. Christina’s Homemade Ice Cream (1255 Cambridge St) Ice cream lovers wanting a classic favorite or ready to try something adventurous make their way to Christina's for a taste of one of its 40-plus homemade varieties. 14. S&S Restaurant & Deli (1334 Cambridge) A Cambridge standard for a super tasty brunch. 15. Hess Gas Station (287 Prospect St) 16. Broadway Bicycle School (351 Broadway) A full-service bicycle repair shop that will teach how to a fix bike and sells used bikes, parts, and accessories. 17. Whole Foods (115 Prospect St.) 18. Carberry’s (74 Prospect St) Carberry's encourages patrons to linger over steaming mugs of coffee and slices of freshly baked challah or garlic-parmesan bread. Great sandwiches and fresh salads for lunch. 19. The Field (20 Prospect St) Pub with a decidedly Irish atmosphere that focuses on a welcoming vibe. The door's 21-plus policy keeps the undergraduate crowd away, so expect a laid-back pack of casually dressed 20- and 30-somethings. 20. Harvest Co-op Markets (581 Massachusetts Ave.) Community owned, not-for-profit, natural foods cooperative. 21. The Enormous Room (569 Massachusetts Ave) Hip lounge in Central Square featuring small bites, a simple drink list of wines, single malt scotches and sipping tequilas. 22. The Middle East (472 Massachusetts Ave) A Boston landmark to see nationally know bands and the best local music. Headliners play downstairs while local favorites play upstairs The Middle East also serves basic coffeehouse fare with a wide variety of Middle Eastern dishes to choose from. 23. TT the Bear’s Place (10 Brookline) Central Square’s T.T.'s has provided a venue for small musical acts of all genres since the 1970s. Several huge bands played their first area show here. With a capacity of only 300, T.T.'s guarantees an intimate environment for every show and the chance to literally rub elbows with band members. 24. Phoenix Landing (512 Massachusetts Ave) Phoenix Landing is a low-key Irish pub by day and a rocking dance club by night. You can drink Guinness with Irishmen while watching English football and enjoying an authentic shepherd’s pie. 25. Cambridge Police Department (5 Western Ave) 26. The Cantab Lounge (738 Massachusetts Ave) A Cambridge dive bar with an enduring appeal. It’s one of the few spots in Boston where the crowd is ethnically diverse and, without exceptions, inviting, appealing to blues and bluegrass aficionados, poetry slammers, and long-time locals. 27. Main Cambridge Post Office (770 Massachusetts Ave) 28. Cambridge City Hall (795 Massachusetts Ave) 29. YMCA Cambridge (820 Massachusetts Ave) 30. People’s Republik (876 Massachusetts Ave) One of the few bars where sitting alone with a drink and book won’t get you an odd look. The bar attracts a wildly mixed crowd with a populist vibe and an eclectic, laid-back atmosphere 31. Dado Tea (955 Massachusetts Ave) Asian teahouse with tasty food and rare, calming teas. Dado offers a second location in Harvard Square on Church Street. 32. Plough and Stars (912 Massachusetts Ave) Recently reopened Irish pub popular with graduate students and locals. Live music. 33. The Cellar (991 Massachusetts Ave) Well priced drinks and a laid back vibe its the perfect place to unwind after a long day. 34. 1 Arrow Street Crepes (1 Arrow St) Tasty savory and sweet crepes to fit any pallet. 35. Hong Kong Restaurant (955 Massachusetts Ave) Popular Harvard hangout serves up lethal mixed drinks and a lively bar scene. 36. Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage (1246 Massachusetts Ave) Harvard Square’s burger joint destination. 37. Harvard Book Store (1256 Massachusetts Ave) Independent landmark book store with wide-ranging and unexpected stock. Nonfiction is the real strength here with displays that call attention to titles you might otherwise miss. The basement features a great stock of remainders and secondhand paperbacks at bargain prices. 38. Cambridge Public Library (449 Broadway) .