Let’s face it: We students are notorious for not leaving the “Harvard bubble.” A 20-minute bus ride or equally time-consuming trek to Somerville’s Union Square may not seem worth the effort, but this destination is a hidden gem. During daylight hours, locals flock to its many cute cafés and weekly Saturday morning farmer’s market under the shadow of the well-known and yet seldom-visited Prospect Hill Monument. As the last rays of sun fade and afternoon turns to evening and night, Union Square offers a tremendous number of unique restaurants with cultural dishes you’ve likely never tried, as well as a hopping young professionals’ bar scene.
For the “locavores” out there
SHERMAN CAFÉ AND MARKET
One of the first businesses you see upon arriving in Union Square from Harvard, Sherman Café and Market offers only local food, with specific farm names and locations listed on each fruit, vegetable, or grain in sight. With a distinctly quaint and hipster-esque vibe, members of the friendly staff greet you at the door to recommend their favorite item that particular day. If the local and organic food, alternative music, and chill atmosphere aren’t enough to convince you to go, a trip to the bathroom yields a room filled with old and wildly amusing newspaper clippings plastered to the walls. You’ll spend so long reading them, the person next in line will think you’ve fallen in.
257 Washington St., Mon - Fri 7 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sat & Sun 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
For a taste of Boston’s history
PROSPECT HILL MONUMENT
The name of Union Square itself is a result of its status as a recruitment and meeting site for the Union Army during the Civil War. Because of its height and location on the road from Charlestown, Prospect Hill was of great importance during the Revolutionary War as well. The monument, a tall stone building surrounded by a small park lush with breathtaking fall foliage, was erected in 1903 to commemorate the hill’s strategic significance. A climb up to the top yields a spectacular image of the Boston skyline, as well as a bird’s-eye view of couples getting married in the park or a man playing frisbee with his dog while practicing his Tae Kwon Do between tosses.
Prospect Hill Park
For true authenticity
MACHU PICCU
Many restaurants profess to serve authentic Peruvian cuisine simply because they serve raw fish in a lime sauce and call it ceviche. Machu Picchu, however, is the real thing. The owner greets you when you enter beneath the red and gold “Restaurante Turistico” sign, as Peruvian salsa music plays in the background. He’ll bring you to a table where a menu written in Spanish awaits (don’t worry, there are English translations). With soccer playing on the television and Lambayeque ceramic replicas in the corner, this is as close to a restaurant in Peru as you will get without actually traveling to the country. The food is both traditional and delicious—plus, Machu Picchu is the only place around Harvard where you can find pisco sours, the national cocktail of Peru.
307 Somerville Ave., Mon - Sun 9:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. (when kitchen closes, but stays open a bit later on weekends)
To tap into your German roots
BRONWNYN
A tiny tavern tucked away next to some of the more popular bars in the square, Bronwyn tends to remain unnoticed and overlooked. Once you step in the door, though, you’ll know you’ve discovered something great. The quiet and close atmosphere will make you feel right at home, as will the fact that “Downton Abbey” is playing in the corner on a television set that can’t be less than 30 years old. You’ll order off handmade menus written in German (again, with English translations), boasting a tremendously wide variety of German drinks and food. The ginger beer, alcoholic or not, is not to be missed.
255 Washington St., Sun - Wed 5 p.m. - 10 a.m., Thurs - Sat 5 p.m. - 10:30 a.m., Bar & Biergarten 5 p.m. - 12 a.m.
For nightlife in the square
BACKBAR
Possibly Union Square’s most well-known and well-attended bar, Backbar is a hub of young adult life not only on the weekends, but during weeknights and afternoons as well. True to its name, Backbar is difficult to find—upon reaching the nondescript address, look for a red door with a tiny plaque inscribed next to it, revealing you’ve found the correct location. After slinking through a dimly-lit concrete hallway bunker, you’ll be rewarded with a bright and plush assortment of cushion seating. A bourbon sour called the “Lion’s Tail” is prominently advertised as the most popular drink, along with daily and weekly specials scribbled on the chalkboard walls. Check out “Genius Hour” for after-school cheap snacks during the week. But make sure you get there early on weekend evenings, because the bar is small and doesn’t fill over-capacity, typically resulting in a line of at least ten people at the door.
9 Sanborn Ct., Wed - Mon 4 p.m. - 12 a.m.
Once you’ve experienced the highlights of both the day and nightlife in Union Square, be sure to check out the other popular restaurants and bars in the area. Once both Backbar and Bronwyn close at midnight, the Precinct and the Independent remain open for the later scene. Sally O’Brien’s is also worth a visit, offering live music most nights of the week and weekend. Hit up Journeyman, Union Square Pizza, India Palace, or Mama Gina’s for a tasty lunch or dinner—that is, if you’re not already stuffed from all the Square’s other offerings.
