The Ultimate Boston Picnic Guide
Grab Your Basket
The Ultimate Boston Picnic Guide
My Boston Picninc Guide will make sure you avoid any FOMO during your next visit to Boston by showing you the perfect picnic spot and foods loved by tourists and locals. I can’t think of many things better after a day on the Freedom Trail than a picnic featuring some of Boston’s best quick bites. As well, this guide will have you avoid crowds by staying away from places like Quincy Market.
Location
Rose Kennedy Greenway
This park is located just between Boston’s downtown, the historic North End, and the middle of the Freedom Trail. Stretching from Chinatown to Haymarket, this park is surrounded by skyline views and scattered with art displays, swings, and fountains. I recommend that you find a shady spot towards the Haymarket end of the park as it is closest to the next stops on this list and offers the best views of the city.
What to Eat
Starter Cheese from curds&co
Located inside Boston Public Market
Entrees Italian Sandwich and Poutine
From Monica’s Mercato and Saus Boston
Desert Cannolis from Bova’s
Oft overlooked North End Italian Bakery
curds&co
Alright, I may be cheating by starting this list by recommending you visit a place inside the Boston Public Market. But given their quality and selection, the cheeses at Curds & Co match the type of picnic experience you are about to have. My personal choice would be a Délice de Bourgogne (pictured), but these fine folks know more about cheese than I could ever hope to, so definitely ask them for a suggestion. In fact, they offer cheese tasting classes at their Brookline location, a cheese tasting app called Curdlist (iOS and Android), and even a cheese subscription box called Curdbox.
Italian Sandwich
If you were to ask me the #1 dish to eat in Boston, above all else, I would not point you to some fancy brunch in the South End, nor an upscale Italian trattoria in the North End. No, I would point you to Monica’s Mercato.
This fantastic and small Italian market and deli is not often talked about outside of Boston circles, but it serves arguably the best Italian “grinder” in Boston. Order one of these stuffed with Italian cold cuts and cheeses sliced just for you, all inside a rustic charred baguette. This place should charge visitors just for how good it smells.
Fries & Poutine
Aged potato French fries? Check. Fifteen different kinds of sauces? Check. Customizable poutines? Check.
Saus Boston has become a bit of an establishment in Boston’s downtown. Located just next to City Hall Plaza, this restaurant offers a simple menu focusing on French fries, but also offering sandwiches, salads, and sausage rolls. It still offers substantial variety thanks to all their selection of sauces and toppings of variety that will definitely scratch your urge for all things fried and covered in sauce. I recommend the pictured is a “Big” poutine with classic gravy and pork belly.
Cannolis
Before you walk to the park, head next door from Monica’s to Bova’s Bakery and grab some cannolis for dessert. Boston is known for their cannolis and Bova’s is home to some of their best.
This family-owned bakery is open 24/7 and is sadly often overlooked with other mega-popular North End bakeries nearby. However, this means less time waiting in line and more quality time with an Oreo chocolate chip cannoli. Or two.
Bova’s is my favorite – brings back college memories of midnight dessert runs.