Back Bay

Boston’s Back Bay has hundreds of restaurants, stores and small galleries.

Click on the map to see a larger view of the map.

The Back Bay Hilton is at the intersection of Dalton and Belvidere, near the lower-left hand corner of the map. To go to the Prudential Center, exit the main door on Dalton St., cross Dalton St. and enter the lobby of the Sheraton Boston. On your left, you’ll see an escalator up. Go up one level. Take a right off the escalator. You’ll see the entrance to the Prudential Center down the hall, past the Business Center.

In short, if the weather is bad during Smofcon, you only have to walk across Dalton St. to easily access dozens of restaurants and many stores of all kinds.

Prudential Center is now home to Eataly, an amazing conglomeration of deli/bakery/sandwich shop/grocery/liquor store/cooking school/upscale dining. Yes, you can spend a lot of money at Eataly, but you can also get out with a cup of soup or a piece of pizza. And, if you come in on Wednesday, you could drop by for Wine Wednesday.

If Eataly sounds a little overwhelming, there are many fast food spots in the Prudential Center, in addition to full service restaurants like Cheesecake Factory. The much beloved Legal Seafoods has left the Prudential Center, but there is another Legal Seafoods a few blocks away at Copley Place. Atlantic Fish Company on Boylston St. is another highly-recommended seafood restaurant.  There are also two wonderful eating spots on Dalton on the same side as the Hilton – Summer Shack (a must for raw bar and lobster fans) and Bukowski Tavern (a cash-only joint with big beer selection & great pub food).

Other Boston restaurants/bars to consider:

  • Saturday Chocolate Bar at the Langham Hotel, a decadent and expensive ($60) chocolate buffet with 4 seatings on Saturday – 11am, 11:30am, 1pm, 1:30pm.
  • Durgin Park, one of the oldest restaurants in the US, in the heart of the shops & restaurants of Faneuil Hall marketplace.
  • Bell in Hand, oldest continually-serving tavern in the US.

Restaurant Guides

Nearby grocery/liquor stores include:

  • Trader Joe’s, food, deli, 899 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02115, 617-262-6505, open 9am – 10pm daily, about 3 blocks away (on map).
  • Bauer Wines and Spirits, wine, beer, spirits, 330 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02115, 617-262-0363, open Mon – Sat 10am – 11pm, Sun 12pm – 8pm, about 3 blocks away (on map).
  • Star Market, lots of food, deli, beer, wine, 53 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA  02199, 617-262-4688, open 24 hours daily, about 4 blocks away (on map), though if you cut across the Prudential Center and follow the Star Market signs, you can go most of the way indoors.

Other Cool Places Nearby

  • King’s Entertainment – a place to bowl or just eat is across Scotia St., adjacent to Summer Shack. Follow the “Bowl” sign. Open late.
  • Boston Public Library – one of the best libraries in the country is within four blocks. 700 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116
  • New England Historic Genealogical Society – a fabulous library for genealogy & history buffs, .8 mile walk from the hotel. If you are not a member, they charge a $20 fee to use the library, but it’s worth it. 99 – 101 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116

Boston Events

Coffee and Tea

Not only is the Starbucks in the Hilton being renovated, the one off the lobby of the Sheraton across the street is completely gone. There also isn’t one in the Prudential Center (the one indicated in that location on the Starbucks Website at 39 Dalton is the one in the Sheraton that is is being replaced by a non-Starbucks next year). But there are 4 Starbucks within .4 miles – closest one is at the Barnes and Noble in Prudential Center (hours: Sun 10-8, Mon-Sat 9-9). There’s one .3 miles away at 350 Newbury; this one opens at 6am every day. There’s a bigger one at Copley Place – take a right on Dalton, a left on Belvidere, a left on Huntington (and cross Huntington) and it’s 3 1/2 short blocks to Copley Place. The other one is on Boylston St. next to Atlantic Fish – left on Dalton, right on Boylston (cross Boylston) and it’s 2 1/2 blocks.

The closest non-Starbucks is right across Belvidere from the Hilton – Flour. It has coffee drinks, tea, pastries, sandwiches and more. Open at 6:30am weekdays and 8am on weekends. Take a right from the lobby, cross Belvidere to reach Flour. The next closest is Eataly-its coffee and panini bars are both open at 7am on weekdays and 9am on weekends.

The Prudential Center has many locals’ favorite Dunkin’ Donuts. You can get tea at David’s Tea. There are other coffee shops nearby including Wired Puppy at 250 Newbury (.2 miles) and CuppaCoffee Backbay at 699 Boylston (.3 miles) and Thinking Cup at 85 Newbury (.7 miles).

There will be coffee on the second floor of the Hilton at 9:30am in the Westminster room. There will also be coffee up in Hospitality (2601).