Overview
The Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood is named after Kenmore Square, and after the Fens, both of which it encompasses. Kenmore Square is the area's dynamic urban center. This is where trains arrive and shops light up in an effort to entice passing customers. High above, the Citgo sign (now a historical landmark) keeps a watchful eye on new arrivals as they make their way through these congested crossroads.
5 sights · 8 things to do · 20 places to eat · 13 bars & cafés · 8 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Fenway-Kenmore
The Museum of Fine Arts
As the fourth largest museum in the US, the Museum of Fine Art is known for its impressive assortment of French Impressionist paintings as well as its extraordinary collection of ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art. T…
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Not your typical museum experience. Modeled after a 15th-century Venetian palazzo, the museum displays Mrs. Gardner's evocative home as it was when she lived here. She collected many masterworks, unappreciated at the tim…
Massachusetts Historical Society
Founded in 1791, the Massachusetts Historical Society is the nation's oldest historical society. The collections of the MHS bring alive the stories of America's past through a series of changing exhibitions and public pr…
Warren Anatomical Museum
This small exhibition is tucked away on the 5th floor of Harvard Medical School's Countway Library of Medicine. It was designed by Mr. Warren in the mid 1800s to teach his medical students about anatomy. The real highlig…
The Boston Symphony Orchestra
One of "The Big Five", an evening at the Boston Symphony Orchestra (or BSO) will be a treasured memory for any visitor. Attending one of these highly acclaimed, if somewhat formal performances, is a must for any lover of…
House of Blues
See all types of live concerts and special events at this popular entertainment chain. The first HoB opened in Harvard Square in the early 90s, but moved to this much larger location in 2009. They play host to bigger nam…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 22°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Mar and Nov. (climate data from nearby Brookline)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BOS Boston Logan International Airport, Boston — 5 mi away (major hub). Directions
- BED Laurence G Hanscom Field, Bedford — 13 mi away. Directions
In this part of town the Green line will usually be your best bet, and Kenmore is the station to know. The B, C, and D Green line branches all stop here, and a large glass bus depot hovers above. It's also the closest stop to the Fenway Park. From here the B line continues outbound to Blandford Street, BU East, and BU Central before entering Allston. The C branch serves Saint Mary’s St and the D branch passes through Fenway and Longwood before both trains enter Brookline. The E branch is great for visiting area museums, it stops at Symphony, Museum of Fine Arts, Longwood, and Brigham Circle stations.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $49–$200 a night (typical $145), from 8 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $10 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$80, mid-range ~$200, comfortable ~$320.
Options are grouped as Budget, Mid-range in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Panopticon Gallery, House of Blues, Lucky Strike Lanes
- Lunch Hojoko
- Afternoon Fenway Park, Regal Cinemas Fenway 13
- Dinner Eastern Standard
- Evening Bleacher Bar
Day 2
- Morning Massachusetts Historical Society, The Emerald Necklace Conservancy
- Lunch Ichiban Yakitori Sushi House
- Afternoon The New England Conservatory of Music, The Boston Symphony Orchestra
- Dinner Pita
- Evening Caffe Bene
Day 3
- Morning The Museum of Fine Arts, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
- Lunch The Squealing Pig
- Afternoon Warren Anatomical Museum
- Dinner Rod-Dee Thai Cuisine II
- Evening Pavement Coffeehouse
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Owing to the enormous student presence here, dining out in Fenway-Kenmore doesn't have to break the bank. There are a variety of Asian spots and Irish pubs to keep your stomach happy and full. The dollar signs will start to climb as you head towards Kenmore Square, and of course watch out for overcrowding and increased prices on game days.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Neighborhoods
- Kenmore: The area is quite urban, but all the green space makes it feel much more livable than you might think. Like many other areas of Boston, Kenmore is in the middle of a building boom. The closeness of the parks and gardens help to balance the city and nature experiences.
- The Fens: Just south and away from the square lies the hushed Fens, a study in contrasts. The Muddy River meanders through rustling reeds and shady, sloping lawns and gardens. Rustic stone bridges and benches offer a place to linger, to admire the water and all its inhabitants. The Fens also work to separate Kenmore from the sprawling medical complex, Longwood Medical Area. Turkeys have even been known call the place home. If you see one, watch out, they can be mean!
- Longwood: An extremely dense cluster of hospitals and schools.
Get in
By public transit
In this part of town the Green line will usually be your best bet, and Kenmore is the station to know. The B, C, and D Green line branches all stop here, and a large glass bus depot hovers above. It's also the closest stop to the Fenway Park. From here the B line continues outbound to Blandford Street, BU East, and BU Central before entering Allston. The C branch serves Saint Mary’s St and the D branch passes through Fenway and Longwood before both trains enter Brookline. The E branch is great for visiting area museums, it stops at Symphony, Museum of Fine Arts, Longwood, and Brigham Circle stations.
The Orange line shares the Ruggles and Massachusetts Avenue stations with several other neighborhoods, but you won't find these stops quite as helpful. The E branch of the Green line is closer to top sights, however, the Orange line can be a good alternative if the E line is experiencing service issues. Ruggles also serves as a stop for Commuter Rail lines headed to Providence/Stoughton, Franklin, and Needham. Another Commuter Rail station (especially popular on game days) is Lansdowne, which serves the Framingham/Worcester line adjacent to Fenway Park.
By far the most popular bus route is the #57. Running from Kenmore Square down Comm Ave, into Allston and eventually ending in Watertown. Also leaving from Kenmore, the #60 and #65 run less frequently into Brookline, while the #8 and #19 take you through the Longwood area and the South End via Ruggles. The CT2 and #47 busses can be picked up in Boston University, and take you over the BU bridge into Kendall and Central squares in Cambridge. The #39 also runs constantly down Huntington Ave taking you to either inbound to Back Bay or outbound to Mission Hill. Ruggles is also a major bus hub, fanning lines out citywide.
By car
As a newer neighborhood, Fenway-Kenmore is arguably the best area of central Boston to drive in. The Kenmore Square/Fenway exit from Storrow Drive is the main access point to the neighborhood — from there, follow signs to your destination. As on street parking is fairly limited in most areas, go right for a garage. You're looking at around $15-20 an hour to park, and on game days expect to be gouged $100 or more for parking, if it's even available in the first place.
By bike
From Allston Brighton, there are dedicated bike paths along Comm Ave. From Jamacia Plain or Roxbury, the Southwest Corridor bike path takes you much of the way to Ruggles.
See
See The Museum of Fine Arts (MFA)
As the fourth largest museum in the US, the Museum of Fine Art is known for its impressive assortment of French Impressionist paintings as well as its extraordinary collection of ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art. The MFA also has one of the largest collections of Japanese art outside of Japan. A new modernist Art of the Americas Wing was completed in 2010, architected by Norman Foster. A visitor could simply rush through the highlights in a few hours, or linger all day and take it all in properly. The museum also has a great collection of early American art, including the portrait of George Washington used on the dollar bills you might find in your wallet right now.
See Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Not your typical museum experience. Modeled after a 15th-century Venetian palazzo, the museum displays Mrs. Gardner's evocative home as it was when she lived here. She collected many masterworks, unappreciated at the time, and displayed them in a most unconventional manner. The juxtaposition of artworks from different cultures and time periods still delights visitors today. While the museum contains works by famous artists like Rembrandt and Velazquez, the main attraction is not in any particular work, but in how each room is laid out: not only the paintings and tapestries, but also the furniture and architecture in every corner of the building are valuable works of art. Gardner's will stipulates the works of art must remain in her original arrangement. This is the reason one wall remains blank, after an unbelievable art heist in early 1990. Thirteen pieces were stolen, valued at over $500 million dollars; the works of art remain missing to this day.
See Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS)
Founded in 1791, the Massachusetts Historical Society is the nation's oldest historical society. The collections of the MHS bring alive the stories of America's past through a series of changing exhibitions and public programs that are free and open to the public. Thomas Jefferson's handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence is a particularly significant piece in their collection. Many famous people sit on the board of directors, including professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, and director Ken Burns.
See Warren Anatomical Museum (Countway Library of Medicine)
This small exhibition is tucked away on the 5th floor of Harvard Medical School's Countway Library of Medicine. It was designed by Mr. Warren in the mid 1800s to teach his medical students about anatomy. The real highlight here—among the charts, specimens and 19th century medical instruments—is the skull of Phineas Gage. Phineas improbably survived 12 years after a large iron bar was driven through his brain.
See Panopticon Gallery (Hotel Commonwealth)
Founded in 1971, Panopticon Gallery is one of the oldest galleries in the United States dedicated solely to fine art photography. The gallery specializes in 20th century American photography and emerging contemporary works. Check their calendar for up to date information on their current exhibition. They also carry many interesting, hard to find, fine art books in their store.
Do
Do The Boston Symphony Orchestra (Symphony Hall)
One of "The Big Five", an evening at the Boston Symphony Orchestra (or BSO) will be a treasured memory for any visitor. Attending one of these highly acclaimed, if somewhat formal performances, is a must for any lover of the finer things in life. If you think you might prefer something lighter, however, try the Boston Pops. Comprised of BSO musicians (but usually not their first-chair players), The Pops plays more familiar classical and popular music. The building, Symphony Hall, was constructed in 1900 and is considered to have the finest acoustics of any concert hall in the United States. In 2006 the BSO renovated the building and was worried about preserving the quality of the sound. They decided to spare no expense, using only craftsman capable of building with the same methods and materials as the original construction.
Do House of Blues
See all types of live concerts and special events at this popular entertainment chain. The first HoB opened in Harvard Square in the early 90s, but moved to this much larger location in 2009. They play host to bigger name national performers like The Flaming Lips and Run the Jewels. They also serve several southern inspired dishes, if you feel compelled to eat here.
Do The New England Conservatory of Music (Jordan Hall)
Catch a performance at the oldest independent school of music in the United States. The New England Conservatory of Music is renowned for its instruction in string, woodwind, and brass instruments. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1994, Jordan Hall—along with Symphony Hall—are considered two of America's most acoustically perfect performance spaces. Often used as a concert hall for NEC students and faculty, the BSO will perform in this space as well.
Do Lucky Strike Lanes (Jillian’s)
Not into classical music, and the finer "intangibles" a bowstring might provide? No problem. Head here for an evening of bowling, billiards, and ping-pong. An attached dance club bills itself as "52 weeks of spring break", if you're up for that. The entertainment is spread out over several floors so you may find something to your liking. All areas serve alcohol and are 21+.
Do The Observatory (BU Astronomy)
Spend a few hours learning a little astronomy, and looking through Boston University's not very powerful telescopes. You won't be seeing much of anything if the lights are on at Fenway Park. Tickets are free, but you still have to "buy" them online in advance, because space is limited. The stairwell to the Observatory is on the fifth floor just to the left of room 520.
Fenway Park
Watch the Boston Red Sox play at Fenway Park, the oldest Major League Baseball stadium still in use. Built in 1912 and one of only two classic ballparks remaining, the other being Wrigley Field in Chicago. This red brick and green steel structure is one of the best places in the world to take in a baseball game. As one of the smallest ballparks in the major leagues and given Boston's loyal fan base, seeing a game here is intimate, exciting and a part of living history. Few baseball teams can claim to represent their city to the extent of the Red Sox, and Fenway Park is nothing short of a baseball landmark. Theoretically, single game tickets can be purchased directly from the Red Sox at face value. In practice single game tickets usually sell out for the entire season within hours of going on sale. If you'd like to catch a game, and didn't snag a ticket online right when they became available, you do have a few options:
- Buy through a licensed broker, such as StubHub or ABC Tickets.
- Try the game day window on Landsdowne Street. Line up starting five hours prior to game time. Any open seats go on sale 90 minutes before the first pitch. Tickets are sold on a first come first serve basis; if you're not one of the first 50 people or so in line, chances for a ticket are slim.
- Patronize a scalper. Buying and selling tickets on the street is pretty common, but caveat emptor! The tickets you're buying may be fraudulent, and be aware scalping on public property is illegal in Massachusetts.
If you'd like to see Fenway without attending a game, try a behind the scenes tour on non-game days or show up early on game days. A must for any Red Sox fan even if you do manage to get game tickets!
Buy
Shop Official Red Sox Team Store
T-shirts and hats run about $30. Peruse the array of other novelty items, ranging from pennants to baseball cards to bobble head dolls. Other more expensive items are also for sale, such as game jerseys and sweatshirts. These guys don't run the tours of Fenway Park, but they do start in the store.
Eat
Owing to the enormous student presence here, dining out in Fenway-Kenmore doesn't have to break the bank. There are a variety of Asian spots and Irish pubs to keep your stomach happy and full. The dollar signs will start to climb as you head towards Kenmore Square, and of course watch out for overcrowding and increased prices on game days.
Budget
Eat B. Good
Offers vegetarian and health-conscious veggie burgers with great fixings, like salsa and guacamole, and sides of tasty steamed veggies. The fries are air-baked and taste like real potatoes!
Eat Noodle St.
This establishment has been a hit with the student crowd with its complex menu of create-it-yourself Thai fusion at reasonable, if not quite insanely cheap prices. Try the special buckwheat noodles or the Noodle St. soup.
Eat Nud Pob
A student favorite for years, this little Thai jewel is delicious. Tucked away below street level this place is easy to miss but worth searching for. The food is fast, cheap, and some of the best in Boston. Their pad thai is perfect and their yellow and green curry dishes are fantastic.
Eat Rod-Dee Thai Cuisine II
Amazing Thai food, amazing value. Walking by it, you might not be impressed, but when you eat you will know why there are so many Zagat stickers on the door.
Eat Ichiban Yakitori Sushi House
Mid-range
Splurge
Eat Hojoko (The Verb Hotel)
Get full and drunk at this loud and hip space frequented by cool kids who have a little money that night. Try the fun sushi roulette dish (one of the six pieces is loaded with spices). Served with a little baby's bottle filled with a cooling tonic to sooth your burning mouth.
Eat Island Creek Oyster Bar (Hotel Commonwealth)
Drink
Drink Bleacher Bar
A unique bar in that it is built under the Fenway Park bleachers in right field, with a large glass window overlooking the game. Even the urinals in the men's room offer a view of the field! You don't need a ticket to get in, but the place does fill up quickly.
Drink Boston Beer Works
This is the original location, opened in 1992. It opened as one of the first microbreweries in the area, and serves 15 microbrews on tap at any given time. May open early during game day and other special events.
Drink Cask 'n Flagon
Arguably the most famous sports bar in Boston, located right outside Fenway Park. Raise a glass with the Fenway faithful from around the world. This bar is always wicked packed on game days, if the Sox are losing it might be time to leave.
Drink Game On Fenway
Opened in 2005, this bar has made a name for itself as a worthy competitor to Cask n' Flagon. Plenty of televisions to catch the game on, and even indoor batting cages.
Coffee
Drink Caffe Bene
This chain was launched in South Korea in 2008, modeled after the finest European cafes. There's a bunch of these in New York, but this is the only one in New England for now. Offers the requisite coffee alongside light sandwiches and fancy Belgian waffles.
Drink Pavement Coffeehouse (Fenway Location)
The bagels are homemade at this miniature chain with a handful of Boston only locations. The owner hails from Chicago, but was drawn here by the local universities and made bagels and coffee his passion.
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Budget
Mid-range
Go next
- Follow the Muddy River along the Emerald Necklace and south into Jamaica Plain.
- Smell the salt air aboard the USS Constitution, on active naval duty since 1798, and docked in nearby Charlestown.
- See a preview of what will hang in the museums of tomorrow, and browse a few of the South End's many galleries.
- As an alternative to Landsdowne Street, check out Allston Rock City, to the west.
- The Back Bay is located just a few feet east, across Mass Ave, the very heart of Boston for many visitors.
Nearby
Brookline
City / town · 61 listings · 1 mi away
Cambridge
City / town · 127 listings · 2 mi away
Somerville
City / town · 66 listings · 3 mi away
Watertown
City / town · 21 listings · 5 mi away
Everett
City / town · 14 listings · 5 mi away
Medford
City / town · 13 listings · 5 mi away
Newton
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Arlington
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