Location: Downtown
Top Things to do in Downtown
Top 10 Gift & Specialty Shops in Downtown, Massachusetts (MA)
Walk the Freedom Trail the first time you visit Boston and you'll quickly get a sense of this coastal city's revolutionary spirit and history. But make sure you also explore some of Boston's fine museums (try the Isabella Stewart Gardner, featuring masterpieces displayed in their collector's mansion) and old neighborhoods (like the North End, Boston's Little Italy). You can't claim to have experienced real Boston culture, though, until you've watched a Red Sox game from the bleachers.
Restaurants in Boston
1. Brattle Book Shop of Boston
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 83 reviews
The country's oldest antiquarian bookstore, the Brattle has over 200,000 used and out-of-print books, magazines and more.
Reviewed By randyb07 - New Orleans, United States
Just off Boston Common sits this gem of a bookstore! Rare and unique books abound - you never know what you'll find...Worth a trip!
2. Pepper Palace
3. Ten Thousand Villages
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By notdenise - Goshen, United States
I always try to visit Ten Thousand Villages stores when I am traveling. The stores have a variety of unique items - home decor, jewelry, gifts, food and more. Take time to read the tags on each item to see in which country they are made, and ask questions to learn more about the artisan group that made them. Beautiful, high quality items, all fairly traded.
4. Commonwealth Books
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 33 reviews
Reviewed By morrigan716 - Wichita Falls, United States
My husband and I managed to stumble upon this gem of a bookstore one night while visiting Boston, and it was amazing. We could have stayed for hours but ended up leaving with only one book. In any case, it was a beautiful, wonderful, old-fashioned book store.
5. Christmas in Boston
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By victorian986 - Gateshead, United Kingdom
The only other place I have seen as many Christmas decorations is Disneyland! This place certainly comes a good second. There are decorations for literally every possible decoration idea, including an amazing wine themed tree! They even had a Halloween tree selection which I thought was very unique. The shop had two levels and many areas to explore. I really enjoyed it.
6. Old South Meeting House
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 307 reviews
No Tax on Tea! This was the decision on December 16, 1773, when 5,000 angry colonists gathered at Old South Meeting House to protest a tax...and started a revolution with the Boston Tea Party! Built in 1729, Old South Meeting House was the largest building in colonial Boston. From outraged protests over the Boston Massacre, to the night when Samuel Adams gave the secret signal to throw 340 crates of tea into Boston Harbor, colonists came to the Meeting House to protest British rule. Our museum and historic site is an important stop on your Freedom Trail Tour or visit to Boston, and our award-winning Museum Shop is a favorite of tourists and locals alike! From our informative exhibits, 3D map of colonial Boston, and scavenger hunts, to taking in the beauty of our historical meeting house interior, to browsing the titles, locally-sourced goods, and revolutionary gifts of our museum shop, we have something for everyone.
Reviewed By SarahS233 - Spring Hill, United States
We decided to tour the inside and the admission was very reasonably priced - check their website for the different pricing and hours open. At the Meeting House you can see tea leaves and a tea crate label from the Boston Tea Party, a popular 3-D model of colonial Boston that is over 100 years old, John Hancock's portable writing desk, a a statue of enslaved poet Phillis Wheatley and her first-edition 1773 book - and more. The girls really enjoyed the different scavenger hunts available to help them explore the exhibits, with multiple levels available depending on the age of the children. There is a small gift shop downstairs and a place to get a National Parks Passport Stamp if you are collecting them.
7. Cheer's
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 9 reviews
Reviewed By 207michaelj - Apple Valley, United States
Did you need a Norm or Cliff bobblehead? They have them. Need sweatshirts or anything else with the Cheers name or logo on it? They have them. Do not enter unless you are will to use your credit card because you will find something you just must have. Note: They do charge 10 cents for a bag under the Boston reduce waste ordinance. It was worth it for us because we now have a bag to use over and over that has the Cheers name on it. It's just a fun place to visit.
8. Calamus Bookstore
"A Free Marketplace of Ideas" bookstore specializing in gay and lesbian literature.
9. 1630
10. ADCO Diamond
Established 1980. We specializes in loose diamonds for engagement rings and other jewelry, including custom made. Our Graduate Gemologists' expertise and service separate us from others. ADCO Diamond has had the privilege to serve many satisfied customers with whom we have developed lasting relationships. As we do not advertise, the majority of our customers come to us based on recommendations.
