134 ©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd

Seaport District & South Boston

Neighborhood Top Five 1 Spending an afternoon 2 Boarding the Boston 4 Wriggling, crawling at the striking waterfront Tea Party Ships (p 137) and and climbing on the three- site of the Institute of tossing crates of tea over- story climbing structure Contemporary Art (p 136), board. at the Boston Children’s contemplating the artistic 3 Admiring the view and Museum (p137 ). curiosities on display within catching a breeze while 5 Sidling up to the bar and admiring the stun- feasting on the creatures at Drink (p 140) for some ning harbor and city views of the sea at Legal serious cocktail swilling. without. Harborside (p139 ).

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For more detail of this area, see Map p255 A 135 Lonely Planet’s Explore Seaport District & Top Tip South Boston Thursday nights are free at Separated from Boston proper by the jellyfi sh-laden Fort the ICA while Friday nights Point Channel, the Seaport District has always aff orded at the Boston Children’s a spectacular vista of the Boston Harbor and downtown Museum are only $1. The Boston. Now this up-and-coming district off ers all kinds reduced admission is from of opportunities to see and savor it. 5pm to 9pm, in both cases. Following the HarborWalk, it’s a pleasant stroll across the Northern Ave Bridge. Once across Fort Point Chan- nel, walk around the Moakley Federal Courthouse to en- Best Places to joy the landscaped parks and fantastic views from Fan 5 Eat Pier, eventually ending up at the Institute of Contempo-  Sportello (p139 ) rary Art (ICA). Spend an afternoon admiring contempo-  Yankee Lobster Fish Co rary art and feasting on fi sh and you’ve got a pretty good (p 139 ) sense of what the Seaport District is all about.

Sam’s (p139 ) SEAPORT DISTRICT & SOUTH BOSTON Further east, the wharves are dominated by fi sh-  processing facilities and a marine industrial center. But  Channel Café (p139 ) change is afoot, as restaurants, bars and retail open in the For reviews, see p138 A new buildings. It’s worth visiting the Fish Pier to catch a whiff of what this area used to be, and what it’s becoming. Meanwhile, the rest of South Boston remains well off Best Places to the beaten path. Former stomping ground of Whitey 6 Drink Bulger and preferred setting for Boston-based mafi a movies, ‘Southie’ lives large in local and national lore.  Drink (p 140 ) Despite its reputation, South Boston has its own  Lucky’s Lounge (p 140 ) charm. The waterside community off ers great harbor  Croke Park Whitey’s views, as well as Boston’s best city beaches. On a hot (p 140 ) summer day, Castle Island is a windy, welcoming water- For reviews, see p140 A side playscape for families and outdoorsy types. The ‘hood is packed with Irish pubs, but there are also a few notable ‘New American’ restaurants, should you Best Lookout care to drink something other than Guinness or PBR. 1 Points This area is getting a glimpse of the gentrifi cation that has transformed other parts of the city, but Southie is  Founder’s Gallery in the still unapologetically old-school. ICA (p 136 )  Sam’s (p139 )  Legal Harborside (p 139 ) Local Life For reviews, see p136 A  Drinking joint 1 You know it’s a local when they don’t even put a sign outside. Such is Lucky’s Lounge (p140 ).  Drinking joint 2 For a singular picture of local Southie, visit the regulars at (signless) Croke Park Whitey’s (p140 ).

Getting There & Away

 Metro to The Seaport District is a 10-minute walk from South Station (red line), and Broadway Station (also red line) sits at the top of South Boston’s main street.  Bus The silver line bus (SL1 or SL2) runs from South Station through the Seaport District, stopping at Courthouse, the World Trade Center and Silver Line Way.