Unconventional Boston Restaurants & Sites Your Attendees Will Enjoy

This fall, we had the pleasure of working with intern Kevin Cap, a junior at Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration. Kevin had the chance to learn an enormous amount about the meetings industry, as well as the city of Boston. This week he shares with us some of his favorite unusual Boston spots to visit alone or with a group.

Attending a convention often means busy days of meetings and networking, but what makes it a truly worthwhile experience is the opportunity to build meaningful connections with colleagues. In this week’s blog we will take you off the beaten path to some of Boston’s unconventional restaurants and hidden gems that are guaranteed to spark a deep conversation and deliver interesting new experiences that your attendees will remember long after your Boston event is over.

Experiential Dining

Image by Yume Wo Katare via Instagram

Yume Wo Katare (4.7 miles from the Hynes and 7.1 miles from the BCEC)

Have a dream of starting your own business, becoming a corporate executive, or travelling the world? This unusual ramen restaurant is the perfect place for dreamers like you! In the seven years that Yume Wo Katare has been in business, it has fostered a strong local community of dreamers. They believe that if you can finish their heaping portion of delicious ramen noodles, you can achieve everything. So, at the end of the meal, customers are encouraged to share their dreams out loud, which is followed by tremendous support and applause from everyone in the room. The venue encourages patrons to put down their phones for a while and connect with each other to create a sense of community and togetherness.

Image by Cuchi Cuchi

Cuchi Cuchi (1.5 mile from the Hynes and 3.3 miles from the BCEC)

Travel back in time to the age of Old World Beauty (la belle epoch) and Early Hollywood while sharing internationally influenced small plates and eclectic drinks served in quirky glassware. For those wishing to take a glimpse into the future, the restaurant also offers complimentary mystic Tarot card readings every Tuesday starting at 6 pm. And with enough luck (or reservations), your group of up to 10 can be seated at a colorful and interactive LED table to make the night even more magical.

Image by Table via Instagram

Table (2.7 miles from the Hynes and 2.2 miles from the BCEC)

Table is owned by Jen Royle, a former contestant in ABC’s cooking show The Taste, and is the only restaurant in Boston that serves a real family-style Italian feast. This popular reservation-only restaurant can accommodate up to 32 people for a seven course dining experience complete with bread, pasta, and appetizers all made in-house by Jen Royle herself. Eating at Table not only means leaving with a full stomach, but also adding a new contact to your network, as guests often sit next to and share food with complete strangers.

Images by MIDA via Instagram

MIDA (0.9 mile from the Hynes and 2.8 miles from the BCEC)

In Italian mida means “he gives me,” and this Boston restaurant is truly the gift that keeps on giving. With an open kitchen and a patio, this small 52-seat contemporary Italian dining spot puts emphasis on freshness and simplicity. Guests can enjoy easy-to-share fresh starters, housemade pasta, and even try an interesting food combination: decadent olive oil on classic gelato flavors. And in case your group can’t get enough of the restaurant’s pasta, MIDA is also the only non-chain restaurant in Boston that offers all-you-can-eat pasta on its “Mangia Pasta Mondays”.

See, Shop, and Learn

Image by Stir via Instagram

Stir (1.3 miles from the Hynes and 2.2 miles from the BCEC)

Owned by renowned restaurateur Barbara Lynch, this part bookstore, part kitchen, part classroom is the place to shop, eat, drink, and learn something new alongside your peers. Come for their curated cookbook selection and stay for an intimate dinner party that turns strangers into new friends. If that is not your scene, the shop also offers private bookings for up to 10 people. There, your group can participate in an interactive cooking class or sit back and watch the professionals prepare an indulgent meal for you to enjoy.

Image by Bodega Boston

Bodega (0.2 mile from the Hynes and 5.9 miles from the BCEC.)

Hidden in plain sight, this unique high-end clothing store playfully hides under the façade of a convenience store. Household items, snacks, and everything you would expect from an old school convenience store create the perfect cover for the secret shop. Walk past the cashier counter and by the beverage vending machine to discover the real entrance to the trendy store. Get ahead on holiday shopping with the latest collections by some of the most popular domestic and international sneaker brands, as well as a great variety of sportswear and accessories. Invite your friends and colleagues to tag along, as this unique concept represents one of Boston’s main values: to welcome everyone.

Image by Mary Baker Eddy Library

Mapparium (0.3 miles from the Hynes and 5.9 miles from the BCEC)

Located inside the Mary Baker Eddy Library, this three-story stained-glass walk-in globe offers a unique three-dimensional perspective of the world in 1935 that doesn’t distort the surface of the Earth the way that globes typically do. Walk-ins are welcome or you can book a private group tour up to two weeks in advance. The tour is accompanied by a light-and-sound show and will stimulate your group to think back about the countries and territories that ceased to exist and the new ones that were formed in their place.

Looking for more things to do in Boston? Check out our guide of What To Do for shopping, dining, arts & music, historic landmark, and sports & entertainment suggestions. To give you a better idea of Boston’s make-up, also explore our guide to all the neighborhoods of Boston. Our Interactive Map will help you find the hotels, restaurants, and private event venues near our convention centers that are best suited for your group.