Union Oyster House, 41 Union Street, (617) 227-2750, www.unionoysterhouse.com, is around the corner from Faneuil Hall. Yes, it’s old (open 1826, it bills itself as the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the nation), and very touristy. But kids can visit the Freedom Trail room to spot the carvings and displays of the main stops on the trail and chow down on a fish filet sandwich ($7.95) or hot dog ($4.95), while adults enjoy a bowl of creamy clam chowder ($5.50).
Locke-Ober Café
3 Winter Place, (617) 542-1340
Locke-Ober Café is just off Boston Common is classic Boston with a twist. The largely male clientele includes many politicos from Beacon Hill, who meet here to cajole and twist arms over lunch – keep an eye out for the likes of John Kerry and Mitt Romney.
Jackets are recommended. Think dark wood, gold chandeliers, worn mosaic tile floor, stained glass and the famous nude painting of “Yvonne,” much of it dating back to 1875 when the cafe was founded.
The menu, which changes weekly, includes a collection of old and new – grilled bluefish and salmon luncheon entrees swim between traditional poached eggs with roast beef hash and the calf’s liver with bacon and onions. Lunch appetizers are $13 and entrees range from $15 to $25. Dinner entrees start at $25.
Sage
North End, 69 Prince Street, (617) 248-8814
If you love authentic and hearty Italiam, Sage is hard to beat. The menu, which changes often, can include intimate savory dishes like rabbit, veal and lobster. Sage is tiny (28 seats maximum) and easy to miss from the street, while inside, it’s simply adorned, but comfortable. Reservations are recommended. Open for dinner only. Appetizers are $10, entrees $18 to $30.
Save room for torrone nougat ($4.75) at the Modern Pastry Shop around the corner at 257 Hanover Street.
South End Buttery
314 Shawmut Avenue, 617-482-1015
The Buttery is an organic bakery where the cupcakes are named after two local Labrador retrievers. Madison, the yellow Lab, is honored by the vanilla with vanilla frosting, and Simon, the chocolate Lab, by the chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting .
28 Degrees
1 Appleton Street, 617-728-0728
www.28degrees-boston.com
28 Degrees is a bar that shimmers with flashy cocktails, a flashy circular bar and an even flashier party going on inside. There are Bellinis, pomegranate cosmos and Herradura tequila and Cointreau margaritas to be downed with a mixed crowd of Euro-students, chic-beyond-belief adults and neighborhood regulars. This bar alone fills Boston’s glamour quotient.
Toro
1704 Washington Street, 617-536-4300
Toro is a Barcelona-inspired tapas restaurant that is hopping. The interior is simple and modern with whitewashed brick walls and large mirrors. The high bar stools at the communal table are the best seats to take in the action as you drink sassafras mojitos and caipirinhas with caramelized limes.
Or pick a Spanish Rioja from the four-page wine list — the wine is served in giant tumblers.
Order the Pincho sampler (a chef’s selection of small bites) that the chef, Ken Oringer, a former winner of a James Beard Award, prepares using a flaming brick oven.
Everything at Toro tastes smoky, including the pan con tomate, a Spanish dish of grilled bread rubbed with tomato, garlic, olive oil and salt; and don’t pass up the foie gras with rhubarb and strawberries.
Flour Bakery + Café
12 Farnsworth Street, 617-338-4333
www.flourbakery.com
Flour Bakery & Cafe is a small sandwich and pastry shop that serves pain aux raisins ($2.50) for breakfast and made-to-order salads for lunch. It opened behind the just-expanded and just-reopened Boston Children’s Museum (300 Congress Street, 617-426-8855; www.bostonkids.org), known for its science playgrounds and hands-on activities.