Boston Restaurant Talk: Back Bay

Showing posts with label Back Bay. Show all posts

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Venchi Opens in Boston's Back Bay

A chocolate company that got its start in Italy nearly 150 years ago has opened its first shop in Boston.

According to a press release, Venchi is now open in the city's Back Bay neighborhood, moving into a space on Newbury Street beneath Diptyque. The new store offers such items as Italian chocolates, hot chocolate, gelato, and crepes, and it is the 20th location to open in the United States (and its first in Massachusetts). Venchi, which started out in Turin in 1878, today features more than 350 chocolate recipes and 90 gelato flavors.

The address for Venchi in the Back Bay is 123 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the company is at https://us.venchi.com/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Angelina Plans to Open in Boston's Back Bay/Fenway Area

It looks like a brand new bakery is coming to a busy intersection in Boston.

According to a Bluesky post from @conciergeboston.bsky.social, Angelina is planning to open near where the Back Bay and the Fenway meet, taking over the space at the corner of Boylston Street and Massachusetts Avenue where a branch of Bank of America had been. A Bluesky post from @thedrewstarr.bsky.social mentions that this is part of a chain that got its start in Manhattan and which offers items with both Asian and Italian influences, including bombolones, cakes, gelato, pizza and pasta, sandwiches, and more.

The address for the upcoming Angelina is 133 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115.

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Chicha San Chen Opens at Lyrik Back Bay in Boston

Last summer it was reported that a Taiwanese boba chain would be opening a location within a new mixed-use project in Boston, and now we have learned that it is up and running.

According to a source, Chicha San Chen is now open at Lyrik Back Bay (which is located by Newbury Street and Massachusetts Avenue), with a note from the business within Google saying the following:

Step into our cozy tea house and enjoy our award-winning teas, brewed with precision for the perfect balance of flavor. Led by our skilled Tea Masters, we offer everything from relaxed tastings to curated tea experiences. With a focus on quality and tradition, CHICHA San Chen brings an authentic taste of Taiwanese tea culture to Boston.

The address for the new location of Chicha San Chen in the Back Bay is 400 Newbury Street (Suite 300), Boston, MA, 02115. The Instagram page for the Boston location is at https://www.instagram.com/chichasanchen.ma/

[Earlier Article]
Chicha San Chen to Open in Boston's Back Bay

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Opening Shops in Boston's Back Bay and Fenway Along with Wellesley

Earlier this year, it was reported that the people behind a group of ice cream shops with roots in New York City were opening three locations locally--all of which are now open--and now we have learned that three more are on the way.

According to a post from Drew Starr within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is opening at the Lyrik development in Boston's Back Bay, while a check on the website for the business shows that outlets in the Fenway and in Wellesley are coming as well. Once these stores open, they will join others locally in Boston's Seaport District, Cambridge's Harvard Square, and The Street Chestnut Hill.

The website for Van Leeuwen, which got its start as a truck in NYC in 2008, can be found at https://vanleeuwenicecream.com/

[April 18, 2025 update: According to a source (Gary Goldblatt) and an article from The Swellesley Report, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is now open in Wellesley.]

[June 24, 2025 update: According to a press release, the Back Bay and Fenway locations of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream are now open.]

[Earlier Article]
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Is Opening Locations in Boston, Cambridge, and Chestnut Hill

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Monday, November 11, 2024

Tree House Brewing Company May Be Opening a Brewery, Distillery, and Tasting Room at the Prudential Center in Boston

A couple of months ago, it was reported that one of the best-known breweries in New England had opened a retail shop in Boston, and now we have learned that this may have just been the opening act of what appears to be some big plans.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the city's website, Tree House Brewing Company is seeking licenses to operate a brewery, tasting room, and distillery at the Prudential Center in the Back Bay, with the 35,000-square-foot space including a brewing area, brewhouse, distilled spirits plant, consumption areas, and a retails sales section on the first floor and consumption areas with seating for approximately 121 people on the second floor, and the plans include a patio as well. This proposal comes on the heels of Tree House opening a retail shop at the Pru back in September, and the company has also had a pop-up beer garden in the South Garden.

Tree House currently has brick-and-mortar locations in Charlton, Sandwich, Deerfield, and Tewksbury; its website can be found at https://treehousebrew.com/

[Earlier Article]
Tree House Brewing Company Opens Retail Store at the Prudential Center in Boston

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Friday, October 04, 2024

Chip City Opens in Boston's Back Bay

Early last year, it was reported that a cookie chain based in New York City would be opening a location in the Back Bay of Boston, and now we have learned that it has debuted.

According to a press release, Chip City is now open by the corner of Newbury Street and Hereford Street, joining others in the West End, Cambridge's Harvard Square, and Arsenal Yards in Watertown. The new shop offers a rotating list of cookies, including a core list along with specials.

When the Back Bay location was first announced in March of 2023, the West End and Arsenal Yards outlets were also mentioned, but it wasn't known at the time which of the Boston-area locations would open first.

The address for the new location of Chip City in the Back Bay is 316 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02115. The website for the chain is at https://www.chipcitycookies.com/

[Earlier Article]
Chip City to Expand to Boston, Opening a Shop in the Back Bay

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Thursday, September 19, 2024

HeyTea Is Opening in Boston's Back Bay

It looks like a chain of cheese tea shops with roots in China will be expanding to Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, HeyTea is looking to open in the Back Bay, moving into a space at 223 Newbury Street. Once it opens, the new shop will join several locations in New York, California, and Washington State along with others overseas, and expect to find such options as fruit tea and milk tea, with the teas being topped with a thick cheesy foam.

The website for the HeyTea chain can be found at https://www.heytea.com/

[June 13, 2025 update: A poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page mentions that the Back Bay location of HeyTea is now open, and this is its second Boston location, as another had opened in Allston early this year.]

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Friday, September 13, 2024

Tree House Brewing Company Opens Retail Store at the Prudential Center in Boston

One of the highest-rated breweries in New England now has a retail shop in Boston.

According to a press release, Tree House Brewing Company has opened a store at the Prudential Center in the Back Bay, with the shop being on the retail level of the Pru between Shake Shack and USPS. The store is open on Friday and Saturday this week, and it will expand its hours to 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily over the next several weeks--and for those who want to order ahead, there is a drive-through pick-up area in the orange level free loop garage via the 125 Huntington Avenue entrance before Pressed Café. (The press release mentions that the brewery has also created a special IPA for the Pru called "Hello Boston.")

Tree House has had a pop-up beer garden open on Thursdays in South Garden at the Pru, and which remains in operation this month; brick-and-mortar locations can be found in Charlton, Sandwich, Deerfield, and Tewksbury. (Its website can be found at https://treehousebrew.com/)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Wednesday, September 04, 2024

King Arthur Baking Company Is Opening a Pop-Up Retail Shop in Boston's Back Bay

A baking goods company whose roots date back more than 200 years is bringing a retail store to Boston this fall.

According to a couple of messages sent to us, King Arthur Baking Company is opening a pop-up retail shop in the Back Bay, moving into a space on Newbury Street starting in early October and running through the rest of the year. The store will be a baking goods shop that will sell ingredients, flours, mixes, tools, appliances, and resources, and we are told that they plan to have some demos as well. Once it opens, its hours are slated to be 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily.

King Arthur was established in Boston in 1790, moving to Vermont in 1984; its headquarters are located in Norwich where it has a bakery, cafe, retail shop, and baking school.

The address for the new location of King Arthur Baking Company is 172 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the company can be found at https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Friday, July 12, 2024

Chicha San Chen to Open in Boston's Back Bay

It looks like a Taiwanese boba chain is expanding to Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Chicha San Chen is planning to open in the city's Back Bay neighborhood, apparently moving into a space on Newbury Street just west of the Massachusetts Avenue intersection. Based on an Instagram page for the upcoming shop, it could be opening sometime this fall and it will be Boston's "flagship" location.

Chicha San Chen was first established in Taiwan in 1998.

The address for the upcoming location of Chicha San Chen in the Back Bay is 400 Newbury Street (Suite 300), Boston, MA, 02115. The website for the chain is at https://www.chichasanchen.com/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

Black Rose European Bakery Is Opening in Boston's Back Bay

A MetroWest bakery that is known in part for its French and Italian pastries is expanding to Boston.

According to a source, Black Rose European Bakery is planning to open in the Back Bay, with a photo and an address given indicating that it will apparently move into the space on Newbury Street that had been home to a location of Coco Leaf. Based on the shop in Westborough, the upcoming outlet could be offering such options as cannoli, macarons, tiramisu, petite fours, eclairs, cheesecake, tarts, and more.

If all goes as planned, the new location of Black Rose European Bakery will open sometime this summer.

The address for the new location of Black Rose European Bakery in the Back Bay is 303 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02115. The website for the business is at https://theblackrosebakery.com/

[August 19 update: According to a press release, the Back Bay location of Black Rose European Bakery is now open, having debuted on August 17.]

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Monday, July 10, 2023

Beard Papa's to Open in Boston's Back Bay

A chain of cream puff shops that once had three locations in Boston will be trying again, with this one coming to the city's Back Bay neighborhood.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Beard Papa's is planning to open on Newbury Street, moving into a space next to Shake Shack just east of the Fairfield Street intersection. Beard Papa's, which has roots in Japan, once had outlets in the Back Bay, Chinatown, and Allston but none of them are in operation anymore.

The address for the upcoming Beard Papa's is 232 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.beardpapas.com/

[February 16, 2024 update: According to a source (Geoff Wong), the new Beard Papa's in the Back Bay has its grand opening on February 24.]

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Georgetown Cupcake in Boston's Back Bay Has Closed

A Back Bay cupcake shop with roots in the Washington, DC area has shut down.

According to a source, Georgetown Cupcake on Newbury Street is no longer in business, with its last day in operation apparently being May 25. A check on the website for the company shows that the Boston outlet has indeed been removed from the location page, showing only stores in Washington, DC, Bethesda, MD, and Atlanta, GA.

Georgetown Cupcake first opened its doors in the Back Bay in 2012.

The address for the now-closed Georgetown Cupcake was 83 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the company is at https://www.georgetowncupcake.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

NOTE: Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is currently dealing with health issues and needs your help. Please donate if you can at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

Thursday, March 09, 2023

Chip City to Expand to Boston, Opening a Shop in the Back Bay

A cookie chain that is based in New York City is on its way to Boston.

Eater Boston is reporting that Chip City is planning to open a shop in the Back Bay, moving into a space by the corner of Newbury Street and Hereford Street. The website for the business mentions that its shops offer a rotating list of 18 types of cookies and that they are "hand crafted and created to satisfy your tastebuds, be gooey as possible and warm your hearts (and bellies.)," while Eater says that other outlets of the chain are slated to open in Boston's West End and at Arsenal Yards in Watertown later this year (an opening date has not yet been given for the Back Bay location).

Chip City was established in Queens in 2017 and currently has shops in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Long Island, and New Jersey.

The address for the upcoming Chip City in the Back Bay is 316 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02115. The website for the chain is at https://www.chipcitycookies.com/

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Tuesday, November 01, 2022

Insomnia Cookies Plans to Open in Boston's Back Bay

A growing chain of cookie shops with roots in Philadelphia plans to open its fourth Boston-area location--and its third within the city itself.

According to an article from Universal Hub, Insomnia Cookies is looking to open in the Back Bay, moving into a space on Clarendon Street between Newbury Street and Boylston Street. The proposed storefront would be geared more toward delivery than takeout/pickup and it is looking to be open until midnight; if approved, it would join other locations of Insomnia in downtown Boston, by Boston University, and in Cambridge's Harvard Square along with outlets in Amherst and Worcester and more than 200 others across the country.

The address for the proposed location of Insomnia Cookies in the Back Bay is 222 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the company is at https://insomniacookies.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Monday, July 25, 2022

Blank Street Coffee Is Opening in Boston's Back Bay

A growing group of coffee shops and coffee carts based in New York City appears to be expanding to Boston.

According to a source, a door on Boylston Street says "Your New Daily Coffee" and "Blank Street Coming Soon" along with a reference to the Blank Street Instagram page, which confirms that this is the same Blank Street Coffee with locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and London. The business first started out in Brooklyn in 2020 and now has a mix of tiny storefronts and mobile carts where people can use a Blank Street app to order ahead.

The address for the new location of Blank Street Coffee in the Back Bay is 647 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the business can be found at https://www.blankstreet.com/

[February 13, 2023 update: According to a source, Blank Street Coffee is now open on Boylston Street, joining two others in the city's Beacon Hill neighborhood which have opened as well.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Thursday, October 07, 2021

Levain Bakery Is Opening in Boston's Back Bay

A couple of years ago, it was reported that a beloved group of bakeries based in New York City was looking to expand to the Boston area. Now we have learned where its first location will be.

Eater Boston is reporting that Levain Bakery is opening a shop in the city's Back Bay neighborhood, with the address given for the Newbury Street outlet indicating that it will be near Copley Square. The article mentions that the new store will offer extra-large six-ounce cookies (including dark chocolate peanut butter chip, oatmeal raisin, and chocolate chip walnut) along with such items as loaf cakes, cinnamon butter brioche, breads, hot chocolate, and coffee. If all goes as planned, the new location of Levain Bakery will open in the early part of 2022.

Levain Bakery, which got its start in 1996, has been featured in a number of books and on TV, including a chocolate chip cookie throwdown with Bobby Flay in which the celebrity chef lost to owners Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald. Currently, seven locations can be found in New York City and on Long Island and two others in the Washington, DC area.

The address for the new location of Levain Bakery in the Back Bay is 180 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the business is at https://levainbakery.com/

[February 16, 2022 update: According to a press release, Levain Bakery opens in the Back Bay on Saturday, February 19.]

[Earlier Article]
Levain Bakery May Be Coming to Boston

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Thursday, April 09, 2020

Bauer Wine & Spirits in Boston's Back Bay Has Been Sold

It looks like a longtime liquor store in one of the busiest parts of Boston has been sold.

According to a source, Bauer Wine & Spirits in the Back Bay was recently sold to an as-of-yet unknown buyer, with a screenshot sent to us confirming this. The Newbury Street shop has actually been up for sale for awhile now, with a post from J Barrett & Company indicating that it first went on the market last October, having an asking price at the time of $1.7 million. It is not yet known what changes might be coming to the liquor store, nor is it known whether its name will remain, so keep checking back for updates.

Bauer Wine & Spirits has been in business for more than 50 years, with the shop offering a variety of beer, wine, and spirits, including both high-end and lower-priced options.

The address for Bauer Wine & Spirits is 330 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02115. Its website can be found at https://www.bauerwines.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Tuesday, November 05, 2019

Little Miss Cupcape Is Opening in Boston's Back Bay

A Cape Cod cupcake shop is expanding to a second location, and this one will be on one of the busiest streets in Boston.

According to a tweet from @izziebot, Little Miss Cupcape in Hyannis is opening a new shop on Newbury Street in the Back Bay, with an earlier "For the Record" page within The Boston Sun saying that the store plans to include an outdoor patio with seating for 12 while proposed hours would be 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Based on the Hyannis location, the new spot will offer a variety of cupcakes and it might also have cookies, pies, cakes, brownies, cake pops, and more.

The new location of Little Miss Cupcape will open on Friday, November 8.

The address for this new cupcake shop in the Back Bay is: Little Miss Cupcape , 250 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the business can be found at http://www.littlemisscupcape.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Wednesday, October 03, 2018

Fastachi Opens at the Prudential Center in Boston's Back Bay

by Marc Hurwitz

A trio of Boston-area shops featuring a variety of roasted nuts have been joined by a fourth--and its second location in the city of Boston itself.

Eater Boston is reporting (via a Facebook post from the business) that Fastachi is now open at the Prudential Center in the Back Bay, with the company saying this is a permanent shop that is located in the center court of the shopping area. As is the case with the other locations in Beacon Hill, Watertown, and Wellesley, the new store offers such items as roasted nuts, dried fruits, and handmade chocolates.

Fastachi started out in 1990 in Belmont, with the business moving to Watertown in 2003.

The website for Fastachi can be found at http://www.fastachi.com/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]