| mous by Revolutionary events, infamous by cold | | | | Don't worry about driving and trying to find a parking |
| winters, and both by the World-Series winning | | | | spot in the impossible Beacon Hill neighbourhood - a T |
| RedSox, Boston Travel has its fair share of reasons | | | | stop and a cabstand are only a few steps from the |
| to visit. With such a reputation, however, comes high | | | | door. |
| prices, and it has become increasingly difficult to find | | | | Activities |
| bargain deals in the city. That is why we created a | | | | Faneuil Hall Marketplace (Downtown) - More |
| list of budget restaurants, bars and activities that | | | | commonly referred to as Quincy Market, this |
| both locals and tourists can use when going out in | | | | marketplace offers all kinds of food, shopping and |
| Boston. Spanning the unique Boston neighbourhoods, | | | | live entertainment. Hungry? Try one of the 17 |
| we have suggestions whether you are with family, | | | | restaurants or 40 eateries serving up everything |
| friends or single. We also provide ideas for dates that | | | | from famous New England clam chowda to ethnic |
| won't break the bank - great especially for a first | | | | Indian and, of course, delectable deserts. Looking for |
| outing, yet perfect also for a change of pace in the | | | | something new? There are multiple retailers, from |
| old routine. | | | | recognized apparel stores to local gift shops, for you |
| Restaurants | | | | to browse. Just want to be entertained? The musical |
| Grendel's Den - Stop by for the happy hour food | | | | and variety acts put on by the street performers |
| specials from 5-7:30pm and after 9:30pm at this | | | | provide free amusement for passerby’s of all |
| popular Harvard Square bar. The entire menu | | | | ages. Or check out The Comedy Connection (see |
| (normally very reasonable) is half priced, giving the | | | | write-up below) for a more organized comedic |
| diner on a budget some great options. Try the | | | | routine. Located on the waterfront and easily |
| Mediterranean platter for steak tips and hummus for | | | | identified by the cobblestone walkways and 19th |
| only $5 during happy hour. Also, stop by on Sunday | | | | century buildings, Quincy Market can't be missed. |
| evenings for the special dollar menu, featuring items | | | | Kayak the Charles (Charles River Canoe and Kayak, |
| such burgers and pasta. There is a minimum drink | | | | in Artesani Park in Allston/Brighton) - You're sure to |
| purchase of $3 required for the discount prices. | | | | cross the Charles River at some point during your |
| Brother Jimmy's BBQ - Enjoy some of the best BBQ | | | | stay in Boston - but have you ever considered |
| you can find north of Memphis and east of St. Louis. | | | | paddling through it? Stroll with a friend to the Charles |
| While the entrees can get pricey, you can enjoy a | | | | River Canoe and Kayak kiosk and rent a two-person |
| great BBQ sandwich and a side for under $10. Try | | | | canoe or kayak for around $15 per hour. Whether |
| the pulled Chicken with the Eastern Carolina sauce | | | | you're looking for a strenuous workout or a leisurely |
| and the mashed potatoes with gravy. If you're | | | | paddle (the waters are typically calm), kayaking the |
| looking to splurge, try a Swamp-water; this fish bowl | | | | Charles River can provide either one, or anything |
| of liquor is $15, but does come with its own alligator. | | | | in-between. Just make sure the skies are sunny, |
| On Wednesdays, be sure to check out the Ladies | | | | because rentals are not available on rainy days. Easily |
| Night specials and receive $1 domestic beers and $1 | | | | spotted in Artesani Park by the green-roof, this |
| margaritas. Also on Wednesdays, receive a 25% | | | | rental site is open on fair days from May through |
| discount on your food purchases with a valid | | | | early October. Check out other options at their |
| Southern ID (States south of the Mason-Dixon Line | | | | website here. |
| and east of the Mississippi). On Saturdays, there are | | | | The Comedy Connection (Faneuil Hall Marketplace) |
| $0.35 wings and $8 pitchers from 12-4pm. For those | | | | Relax for a night and let the upcoming professionals |
| really looking to eat, stop by on Sundays for | | | | work to make your date laugh! Comedians perform |
| all-you-can-eat ribs and all-you-can-drink drafts for | | | | live every day of the week, but you will want to call |
| $22.95 (two hour max) or on Mondays for | | | | for reservations if you plan to attend a show |
| all-you-can-eat wings and rib tips and all-you-can-drink | | | | between Thursday and Saturday. Ticket prices |
| drafts for $14.95. | | | | usually range between $12 and $25, depending on |
| Fajitas and Rita’s - It's easy to stuff yourself | | | | who is on stage, but cheaper doesn't mean less |
| with fresh Tex-Mex food here without spending too | | | | funny - just less well known acts, which often leads |
| much cash, because Fajitas and Ritas is one of the | | | | to more original comedy. To see who will be |
| few places around that serves dinner-sized fajitas for | | | | performing next, check here. |
| less than $10. For those who prefer the Tex instead | | | | The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (280 The |
| of the Mex, you can get a BBQ pulled pork sandwich | | | | Fenway, Fenway Kenmore) - If the long Bostonian |
| accompanied by slaw, beans and corn bread, also for | | | | winter gets you and your significant other down, and |
| under $10. And even though you might be trying to | | | | you both need to see something blooming (but know |
| save money, it's hard not to splurge on a Raspberry | | | | that won't happen outside in winter), you can visit |
| Margarita for a bit over $4. No matter your budget, | | | | the atrium in the centre of the Gardner Museum, |
| you won't be hungry when you leave! | | | | where the garden courtyard is flowering in every |
| McCormick and Schmick's (North Market Building, | | | | season. There are also three floors of art that, upon |
| Faneuil Hall) - This upscale seafood restaurant can | | | | Ms. Gardner's direction, have not been modified since |
| normally cost a pretty penny but at happy hour | | | | their placement during the 19th century. The museum |
| anyone can afford to enjoy some of McCormick and | | | | is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11am to 5 pm. If |
| Schmick's great food. From 3:30 to 6:30pm Monday | | | | you can convince them your name is Isabella, you |
| through Friday and 10pm-12am on Saturday and | | | | can get in for free. Otherwise, show a student ID for |
| Sunday, the bar features a $1.95 menu featuring | | | | a $5 admission fee. You can get to the museum by |
| standby favorites such as burgers, chicken wings, | | | | taking the Huntington Avenue No. 39 bus or the |
| and cheese quesadillas, as well as seafood choices | | | | Green Line train to the Museum stop. |
| such as oysters and clams. The menu changes daily | | | | Cheap Dates |
| and there is a minimum drink purchase required. | | | | South Street Diner (corner of Kneeland and South |
| Reservations are suggested. For more info, take a | | | | Sts, Beacon Hill) - Nothing beats sharing a booth and |
| look at their website here. | | | | a milkshake at a diner with your date. Open 24 hours |
| Drink Specials | | | | a day, there is no bad time to take your significant |
| Sunset Grill and Tap (130 Brighton Ave., Allston) - | | | | other out for a bite - be it breakfast, dinner or |
| While this bar doesn't have any drink specials, the | | | | dessert. Actually, no matter when you go, you should |
| sheer vastness of its beer selection makes it worth | | | | still order a slice of their famous chocolate mousse |
| checking out. Offering 112 beers on tap and 380 | | | | cake! From the jukebox playing the hits of the |
| types of bottled beer, Sunset is truly a beer | | | | decade to the life-sized James Dean near the |
| drinker’s heaven. The prices range based on | | | | bathroom, South Street provides that happy, |
| the brand but try the Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA. | | | | romantic feel we all associate with a typical 1950s |
| This one is 9% alcohol so at about $4 per pint, it can | | | | diner. |
| be a pretty good deal. For the drinker living on the | | | | Mike's Pastry (300 Hanover St., in the North End) - |
| edge, there's the 120 Minute IPA, which is 21% | | | | Want to show your date how sweet you can be? |
| alcohol by volume. The Sunset also offers a menu of | | | | Then take him or her to Mike's Pastry and choose |
| tasty, relatively cheap food to accompany your beer | | | | from a selection of cannoli, biscotti, cheesecake and |
| selections. You might want to get here early; the | | | | every other Italian dessert you could imagine. You |
| lines and wait can get long. For more information take | | | | can order enough tasty treats to satisfy yourself and |
| a look here. | | | | your date without being alarmed by the price, but it |
| Roggie's Brew and Grille (356 Chestnut Hill Ave., | | | | may be tough to find a spot to sit. The line may be |
| Brighton) - While this is definitely a Boston College | | | | long, but isn't your date well worth the wait? Well, if |
| bar, anyone looking for a fun scene and young | | | | not, the goodies will be! |
| crowd can enjoy this Brighton hotspot. Roggie's | | | | Boston Bike, Beach and Brewery Tour (Boston |
| offers 52 beers on tap and martinis for only $5. Also | | | | Common) - If you enjoy bicycling, beaches and beer, |
| stop by between 4-7pm for $0.15 wings. For those | | | | then this is the tour for you! On the third Saturday |
| with a larger crowd, or perhaps looking to not | | | | of each month from late Spring to early Fall, the |
| remember their night, try the 64 once bowls of | | | | Boston Bike Tours guides its patrons through the |
| mixed drinks for around 17 dollars. As an added | | | | Financial District to Castle Island and Carson beach |
| bonus, Roggie's also has a pizza shop right next door | | | | and then to Boston's Harpoon Brewery for a beer |
| for anyone looking for some great cheap eats after | | | | and a tour. The entire trip takes about 4 ½ hours, |
| a night of heavy drinking. | | | | but only covers between 16-20 miles of mostly flat |
| Pour House Bar and Grill (909 Boylston Street, | | | | terrain, so a lot of that time will be spent relaxing at |
| Fenway Kenmore) - Well known as a college | | | | the beach and brewery, and you do not need to be |
| student's dream bar, this place offers a fun crowd | | | | an 'experienced' cyclist to enjoy the tour. The guided |
| and cheap prices. The deals on food can be | | | | tour, with bike, helmet, water and beer, is $25 total, |
| exceptional. On Wednesdays after 6pm, try the | | | | or $20 if you bring your own bike. Reservations are |
| $2.50 chicken sandwich and Saturdays after 6pm all | | | | suggested and can be made by calling or visiting their |
| burgers are half priced. This bar offers a pretty | | | | website here. |
| standard selection of drinks, which are also | | | | Walk the Freedom Trail (from Boston Common to |
| reasonably priced. The service is seat-yourself, but | | | | Bunker Hill) - Wear a pair of comfortable walking |
| this bar can fill up pretty quickly. | | | | shoes, bring a good friend and spend half a day |
| Beacon Hill Pub (149 Charles Street, Beacon Hill) - If | | | | strolling along this historical trail through Boston. The |
| you are looking to relive your college years, then | | | | trail begins in Boston Common (where I suggest you |
| Beacon Hill Pub is the place to go. Start with the $1.55 | | | | grab a map at the Information Kiosk), continues |
| Bud draft pints in plastic cups. Then challenge your | | | | towards Faneuil Hall, winds through the North End, |
| buddies to a game of foosball or pinball. Within | | | | and then ends with a loop around Charlestown and |
| minutes you'll feel as if you're 21 again (or even 18?). | | | | the Harbor. If you're not up for walking the entire 2.5 |
| Wednesday nights are best if you're looking for a fun | | | | mile trail, you can sign up for a short, 90-minute |
| but chill scene - make sure to introduce yourself to | | | | guided tour from Boston Common to Faneuil Hall ($12 |
| Garrett the bartender (and, of course, tip him), and | | | | for adults, $6 for kids) or opt for the loop at the end |
| he'll be sure to remember your poison and prepare it | | | | of the trail, which takes you past the Bunker Hill |
| for you as soon as you approach the bar. Thursdays | | | | Monument and USS Constitution. Either way, the trail |
| through Saturdays tend to be more crowded, but | | | | provides a leisurely and economical means to enjoy |
| fun all the same, especially if that is more your scene. | | | | the sights and history of Boston. |
