"Cabana Boy's Somerville Page" Top 5 Page for this destination Somerville by Cabana_Boy

Somerville Travel Guide: 85 reviews and 71 photos

The Citadel overlooking The Charles River & Boston

Welcome to Somerville, Massachusetts (a.k.a. Slummerville) a fine working class Boston neighborhood. Somverville's most recent claim to national fame is playing host to the Winter Hill Gang whose organized crime ring reached it's zenith in the 1980s under the direction of James "Whitey" Bulger and Stephen "the Rifleman" Flemmi. These two dudes burned both ends of rope so to speak by serving as FBI informants while they continued their usual gangster type activities...ha-ha, very clever...

With those days behind it, Somerville is on the move again getting groovier each year. Primarily an Irish and Portuguese neighborhood, more and more college students and new arrivals to Boston's dot.com boom (and subsequent bust) have relocated to Somerville in search of cheaper rents (relatively speaking compared to other Boston neighborhoods). In turn, this has brought renewed attention and investment to Somerville in terms of new pubs, restaurants and shops. As a result, the various city squares in Somerville are booming.

Despite all of this, Somerville still has some connections to the extreme past. The photo above is what's left of the Citadel built in 1775 after the American Colonial Army withdrew from Bunker Hill during the American Revolutionary War to a hill in what is now present day Somerville.

But enough history...Check out my "General" sections for the coolest Squares in Somerville and then the "restaurant" and "nightlife" sections for all the places to eat, drink and hangout in each square.

Last visit to Somerville: Oct 2002
Intro Updated Oct 13, 2003
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Reviews (28)

A fine bottle of Tremont Ale... - Somerville

The beer hunt continues....in... Local Customs (3)

Wherever you go, whatever you do, sampling the local beer is definite must!!! What do the locals drink, what beer is... more travel advice

A colonial farm on the Battle Road - Somerville

Shoeshowing in Minute Man National Park Sports & Outdoors (1)

While living in Boston, I always enjoyed snowshoeing on the Battle Road in Minute Man National Park (obivously during... more travel advice

Case in point, it's the "Connah" store... - Somerville

What did you say??? Local Customs (3)

Ahhhh, that New England accent…here is a quick language lesson: the consonant “r” is pronounced as “ah” and the vowel... more travel advice

Hang with the locals at Sully's Off The Beaten Path (1)

R.F. O'Sullivan's (a.k.a. Sully's) is a local joint. Head into this place if you are in the mood for watching a game or... more travel advice

Warnings Or Dangers (1)
The same traffic/driving...
What to Pack (1)
Packing List
Restaurants (7)
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Comments (9)

KarenandCory Aug 20, 2005 at 1:16 PM Report Abuse

Great tips! Will try some of your restaurant recommendations.
amapola66 Feb 19, 2005 at 9:56 AM Report Abuse

Dali's Tapas Bar was my favourite place to eat while I lived in MA. Their goats cheese and tomato tapas was something else!
gilescorey Jan 31, 2004 at 12:52 AM Report Abuse

Slummerville is out of control! Great hood, but my sis lives on Teele Square and pays a mint. The changes make my head spin. "Savannah Cafe" is great...
diver-x Nov 10, 2003 at 7:13 PM Report Abuse

Can you believe it? There's a Starbucks in Davis now... Thank god for Redbones!
kalimerahara Nov 7, 2003 at 11:09 AM Report Abuse

thanks for mentioning the burren! one of my friends plays there often - by far it has some of the best irish music to be had in the states.
sflorenz May 6, 2003 at 2:10 PM Report Abuse

I just move to this area and can't wait to try some of the restaurants you mentioned!
acemj Nov 7, 2002 at 3:46 AM Report Abuse

Sounds like it's putting its infamous past behind it. The Thirsty Scholar is a good name for a pub here!
dinhyen Sep 14, 2002 at 1:53 PM Report Abuse

Ah, Somerville, the second best town after Cambridge :)
DaKat Jul 16, 2002 at 4:49 AM Report Abuse

Sounds like it`s becoming a lively place!