Somerville

3 Little Figs

Coffee, sandwiches, pastries, and breakfasts, all with a Greek twist. Expect a line at popular times. Free wifi, but no laptops allowed on weekends.

Mon-Fri 7AM-4PM, Sat Sun 8AM-4PM

Aeronaut Brewing

A microbrewery in a large warehouse with an expansive taproom and many flavorful beers on tap. It also has board games and a Super Nintendo with such classics as Mike Tyson's Punch Out.

Mon 6PM-11PM, Tue-Fri 5PM-midnight, Sat noon-12:30AM, Sun noon-8PM

American Fresh Beer Garden

Hit up this spot in shiny new Assembly Row if you want to try some Slumbrew, but don't want to go all the way to the brewery.

Mon-Thu 4-11PM, Fri 4PM-midnight, Sat 11AM-midnight, Sun 11AM-10PM

Assembly Row

Behold the mighty force of nature that is modern American capitalism. Once a Ford Motor Company "assembly" plant (get it?) during the 1950s; it was largely left abandoned and run-down until 2006. The proximity to Boston and water access made it an easy sell for real estate companies looking to invest. Today it's an enormous outdoor mall, featuring scores of well known big box retailers, and infilled with pricey luxury condos. Many of the stores here are factory outlets, and you'll also find a wide variety of restaurants, fitness, and lifestyle companies doing business here as well.

Mon-Sat 10AM-9PM, Sun 10AM-6PM

Bloc Cafe

Sister cafe to the Diesel Cafe, Bloc Cafe features a few breakfast selections, pastries, soups, and made-to-order sandwiches, along with a selection of espresso, coffee, tea, and soda beverages. The cafe features artwork by local artists, and hosts open mic music nights as well. Located in a former bank branch, the cafe also features seasonally-available outdoor courtyard seating.

7AM-7PM daily

Blue Cloud Gallery

Fun and functional handcrafted gifts created by local artisans.

Wed-Sat 10AM-6PM, Sun 11AM-4PM

Bow Market

Inspired by the street markets of Marrakech, Bow Market hosts a semi-rotating cast of independent shops, art studios, restaurants, and bars, all circling a central courtyard and event space.

Casa B

Head upstairs in this tapas restaurant to find a rum-focused cocktail bar.

Mon-Thu 5-11PM, Fri Sat 5PM-midnight, Sun 3-11PM

Comicazi

Well-stocked comic book shop, featuring a very friendly staff.

Mon Tue Thu noon-9PM, Wed 11AM-10PM, Fri Sat 11AM-9PM, Sun 11AM-7PM

Diesel Cafe

Coffee and light dining (including breakfast, sandwiches and salads), winner of several local awards. An area favorite providing an alternative to the Starbucks across the street, locally owned with art for sale on the walls and a couple of pool tables in back.

Mon-Fri 6AM-10PM, Sat Sun 7AM-10PM

Fasika Ethiopian

Ethiopians looking for a new place after they lost their lease took over a local bar and put a partition down the middle, keeping the bar on one side and having seating on the other. The result? Probably the only Ethiopian restaurant in the world with video keno! Townies having a beer watch yuppies chow down on very good yemasir wat.

Mon-Thu 5:30-10PM, Fri 5:30-11PM, Sat Sun 2-11PM·$10-14

George Dilboy VFW Post 529

Plays host to various dances and acts, ranging from swing to electronica to circus and vaudeville.

Highland Kitchen

Hip comfort food and cocktails. Public transit accessible via the 88 and 90 bus routes from Davis Square.

Sat-Fri 5PM-1AM; Sun 11AM-2:30PM, 5PM-1AM·Starters $7-12, mains $10-22

Kelly's Diner

Traditional 1950s dining car in Ball Square, usually has a line out the door on Sundays. Well known for their pancakes, portions are generous.

Mon-Sat 6AM-3PM, Sun 6AM-2PM·$6-10

Magpie

One of the nation's best stores devoted to handmade hipster crafts, unique gifts, independent designers, and local artists. A second branch of this store is closer to Porter and focuses more on children's items.

Mon-Fri 11AM-7PM, Sat 11AM-6PM, Sun 11AM-5PM

Man-O-Salwa Kabob & Grill

S&S Market

Incredible Pakistani food served out the back of a small grocery store. Mostly a catering place but you can eat what they're making on premises. Definitely the most authentic South Asian food in the area, and probably, in most of New England. The portions are substantial.

Sun Mon Wed Thu 11AM-10PM, Fri Sat 11AM-11PM·$8-12

Martsa on Elm

Tibetan specialties, including momos and a variety of vegetarian dishes as well as entrees with meat. Lunch buffet.

Tue-Thu 5-9:30PM, Fri Sat 11:30AM-10:30PM, Sun noon-9:30PM·Starters $3-6, mains $9-12

Mike's Food and Spirits

The menu is enormous and contains just about everything including pasta, pizza, and calzones — none are fantastic but all are decent, cheap, and in large portions. There are many TVs playing Boston sports. A classic "Old Somerville" experience is sitting in Mike's in front of an open window looking out on the Square with a pitcher of beer and a pizza watching a Red Sox game.

11AM-midnight daily·Starters $5-12, mains $9-18

Museum of Modern Renaissance

Not really a museum, but sort of. Picture a gorgeous old building (once a Unitarian church) lived in by a Yoga-practicing artist couple, who often look inward for inspiration. Much of the work is influenced by Russian mythological and religious icons. No one's really sure exactly when it's open, so go poke your head in if you happen to be walking by. Truly one of a kind, and only in Somerville.

Orleans

Davis Square. Large beer selection and huge selection of exotic mixed drinks including a variety of Sangrias and martinis.

Mon-Thu 11AM-1AM, Fri 11AM-2AM, Sat 10AM-2AM, Sun 10AM-1AM

Posto

Delicious pizza and various other Italian dishes. Their pizzas are cooked in a traditional wood-fired ovens and two of their pizzas have been officially approved by the Associazione Vera Pizza Napoletana. Reservations are taken and may be helpful during the businessiest times of the week but are generally not necessary.

Sun-Thu 5:30-10PM, Fri Sat 5-11PM, Sun 4:30-10PM·Starters $12-16, mains $20-24

Prospect Hill Monument

Climb this tower for great views of Boston. Check out the slightly unfamiliar flag flying atop the structure. This was a Betsy Ross original; and on January 1, 1776 the tower was the location of the first American flag flown.

24 hours daily

Redbones

Excellent BBQ and great selection of microbrewed beers. While certainly not what you'd find in Texas or Mississippi, they clearly know what they're doing; you don't find hush puppies and okra on too many menus in New England. The art in the basement room is great, the bar has a "wheel of beer" in case you're feeling lucky or indecisive. They serve a late night menu until midnight, another area rarity.

11:30AM-12:30AM daily·Starters $5-10, mains $14-24

Sacco's Bowl Haven

Flatbread Company

Once one of 18 independent candlepin bowling alleys, you can still roll the quirky little balls here today. Times have changed, and as the new century dawned the original owners sold this building (the last one standing!) to a small New England-based pizza chain. They preserved most of the original features, but took out a few lanes to add a little modern equipment. Most visitors prefer bowling with a fresh pizza and microbrew in hand, instead of the luxury condos this location would have surely become.

Mon-Sat 9AM-midnight, Sun 9AM-10:30PM·$30 one lane one hour, $3 shoe rentals

Saloon

An extensive whisky list, plus beer, wine, and other cocktails, and elevated pub grub. Shares its entrance with The Rockwell.

5-10:30PM

Sound Bites

Voted "Best Breakfast in Boston" many times. Lines out the door on weekends. Next door is Ball Square Cafe which is an (at least) equally highly rated restaurant started by original Sound Bites employees that is almost identical in its menu and experience.

Mon-Sat 6:30AM-9:45PM, Sun 6:30AM-3:45PM·$9-16

Tasting Counter

Eat whatever is freshly prepared, curated by skilled and experienced chefs. Buy tickets for a specific "seating" in advance and leave your wallet at home. The Counter seats about 20, and drinks are included with your ticket. Enjoy!

Tue-Sat 1PM-midnight, usually. Your ticket will have the specifics·Lunch $60, dinner $180

Taza Chocolate Factory

Take a 45-minute tour of one of the few bean-to-bar chocolate factories in the USA. Get a close-up view of Taza's vintage chocolate making machines and learn how cacao is transformed into authentic stone ground organic chocolate. Visit the Factory Store to shop for limited edition chocolate treats and see the factory through special viewing windows. Lots of chocolate samples available in the store and throughout the tours. Online reservations required for tours, maximum 6 people.

Mon-Fri 11AM-6PM, Sat Sun 10AM-6PM. Tours everyday·$8, children under 3 free

The Burren

An Irish pub once said to pour more Guinness than any other in North America. Live Irish music. Music nightly in the back room, including the amazing Swinging Johnsons on Thursday nights.

Mon-Thu 11:30AM-1AM, Fri 11:30AM-2AM, Sat 9AM-2AM, Sun 9AM-1AM

The Neighborhood Restaurant

It is worth visiting Union Square for, especially in the summer months. There's an overhead grape arbor with real fruit growing on it. There's a large breakfast/brunch menu, and very colorful outdoor decor. The menu also includes some Brazilian fare, as well as alcoholic drinks.

7AM-4PM daily·$8-14