Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Somerville, MA

To the northwest of Boston, Somerville is a densely populated city that was once unflatteringly known as Slummerville.

Much has occurred since the 1980s to alter that perception. One significant change was the extension of the MBTA’s Red Line during that time, fostering development around Davis Square and Porter Square in particular.

The result is a vibrant community and commercial areas housing innovative, stylish, and ethically-conscious enterprises that attract a young demographic from nearby universities.

Despite the absence of major landmarks, Somerville offers numerous intriguing spots, including the location where the first United States flag was raised and the oldest stone structure in Massachusetts.

1. Davis Square

If there is one location that represents Somerville’s evolution over the past thirty years, it is Davis Square, which is trendy and filled with restaurants, nightlife options, independent boutiques, and cultural venues.

The inclusive vibe and youthful audience can be attributed to the proximity of Harvard, Tufts University, and Lesley University, all within a mile.

Among the various establishments offering bubble tea, poke bowls, and organic flatbread pizza, a few businesses have remained since the arrival of the Red Line at this bustling intersection.

One of these is the evocatively named Rosebud diner, which opened its doors in 1941 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally, the local Somerville Theatre and candlepin bowling alley will be discussed later in this article.

From mid-May to late November, there is also a farmers’ market in Davis Square from 12 PM to 6 PM.

2. Union Square

Somerville’s oldest and largest commercial district served as a mustering site for the Union Army during the Civil War, which inspired its name.

This neighborhood serves as a crossroads in Somerville, where the traditionally blue-collar East Somerville converges with the more affluent western areas.

The outcome is a locale with distinct and lively character, highlighted by many benches creatively painted by local artists.

Visitors can enjoy eclectic shops, bars, cafés, and a diverse array of dining options ranging from Peruvian to Nepalese. A farmers’ market is held in Union Square Plaza from mid-May to the end of October, regardless of weather conditions.

A significant milestone in the neighborhood’s modern history occurred in 2022 with the inauguration of the MBTA Green Line station, as part of the line’s extension project.

3. Porter Square

Similar to Davis Square, this neighborhood is served by the Red Line, which began operations in 1984. A defining feature marking the completion of this project at Massachusetts Ave and Somerville Ave is a 46-foot painted steel and aluminum kinetic sculpture titled Gift of the Wind by artist Susumu Shingu.

Currently, Porter Square hosts a cluster of shopping centers, while Lesley University maintains offices in the area, including its College of Art and Design located in the historic North Prospect Church (built in 1845).

Reflecting its youthful and multicultural composition, the food scene in Porter Square is vibrant and diverse, offering cuisine from Cuban, French, Indian, Vietnamese, Thai, to predominantly Japanese.

Lesley University also operates University Hall, a longstanding hub for the Japanese community, which hosts establishments serving sushi, udon, bento boxes, yushoku, and more.

4. Somerville Theatre

This cinema, inaugurated in 1914, was originally part of a larger complex that included a dance hall, bowling alley, billiards hall, and café.

These additional features were removed in the 1980s when the cinema transitioned into a multiplex. Despite now comprising six screens, the main auditorium remains intact and retains a capacity of 900 seats.

The venue has a rich history of live performances dating back to vaudeville, which saw a revival in the early 1980s.

The illustrious roster of artists who have performed here includes U2, Joan Baez, Bruce Springsteen, Jonathan Richman, and Norah Jones. In terms of film, the Somerville Theatre showcases both first-run and repertory cinema, with daily screenings of classic, cult, and obscure films.

5. Assembly Row

In the 20th century, the eastern riverfront neighborhood of Assembly Square was associated with heavy industry and urban decline beginning in the 1960s.

However, during the last two decades, extensive redevelopment efforts have transformed the area into a viable commercial destination.

Exemplifying this change, Assembly Row is a large-scale mixed-use development featuring offices, residential spaces, retail outlets, dining options, and a revitalized waterfront, all completed in 2014.

Alongside international retailers like Sephora, Assembly Row also hosts numerous outlets for brands such as Nike, Converse, Saks Fifth Avenue, Columbia, and Banana Republic, as well as upscale restaurant chains (including Ruth’s Chris and Shake Shack) and the AMC Assembly Row 12, making it a great place for a full-day experience.

6. Mystic River State Reservation

The Mystic River is one of the Commonwealth’s most well-preserved waterways, and nearly the entire riverbank is accessible to the public.

In Somerville, as well as in neighboring communities such as Medford and Arlington, the banks form part of the Mystic River State Reservation, which dates back to 1893 and encompasses nearly 350 acres.

The waterfront can be reached at the Sylvester Baxter Riverfront Park located on the north side of Assembly Row, where a plaza-like area, trails, and public art are available.

To the west lies Blessing of the Bay Park, which features a scenic green space with shaded benches. This park serves as one of the locations for Paddle Boston, offering shuttle trips up the river to the Mystic Lakes, followed by a leisurely four-mile paddle back to Somerville.

7. Brickbottom Artists Association (BAA)

In the mid-1980s, a former bakery and cannery building for the A&P Grocery chain was transformed into one of the first artist-developed live-work spaces in the United States.

Brickbottom remains one of the largest such installations, celebrated for its annual open studios event each November.

The association comprises numerous members, both resident and non-resident, with expertise ranging from textiles and ceramics to performance art, printmaking, documentary filmmaking, oil painting, and drawing.

The gallery within Brickbottom acts as a non-profit exhibition venue established in 1989, featuring dynamic shows throughout the year.

8. The Burren

Often regarded as one of the finest Irish pubs in America, The Burren opened its doors in Davis Square in 1996. In addition to offering a diverse selection of beers, cocktails, and traditional pub fare, The Burren has gained recognition for its live music performances.

It is not an exaggeration to state that a different act performs nightly, spanning genres from Irish folk to rock, pop, indie, jazz, bluegrass, and everything in between.

Regarding cuisine, must-try items include fish and chips, Irish stew, and vegetarian shepherd’s pie; however, the menu also features a variety of sandwiches, burgers, salads, and appetizers such as quesadillas, warmed spinach & hummus, and Rhode Island calamari.

9. Powderhouse Park (Nathan Tufts Park)

The oldest stone structure in Massachusetts, which has great historic significance, is situated adjacent to the Tufts University campus in Somerville.

Originally constructed as a windmill, the Old Powder House was established around 1703 or 1704 and was acquired by the colonial government of Massachusetts in 1747 for use as a gunpowder magazine.

When British regulars confiscated the gunpowder on September 1, 1774, it incited the Powder Alarm, a large-scale public reaction that played a crucial role in the events leading to the Revolutionary War.

Numerous bronze monuments distributed throughout the park elucidate the history of this site and the significant events that transpired here in the mid-1770s.

10. Aeronaut Brewing Co.

With three locations currently, this craft brewery brand was launched in Somerville in 2014, becoming the first brewery established in the city in over a century.

Located in a repurposed envelope factory, the taproom hosts various events most evenings, including live music, open mics, community gatherings, and weekly trivia on Tuesdays.

A few selections when this article was compiled included Summer in Cologne (Kölsch), No Coast IPA, Robot Crush (Pilsner), Raspberry Lime Rickey Hard Seltzer, and Kaleido Bot Yuzu Rice Lager.

The two founders, one an MIT alumnus and the other from Cornell, have leveraged their engineering backgrounds to establish Aeronaut Labs, the brewery’s research and quality division. This space serves as a testing facility for new yeast strains and experimental recipes and fermentation techniques.

11. Prospect Hill Monument

Nearby Union Square, this castle-like monument is situated on a site of considerable importance in United States history.

Prospect Hill, which provides a panoramic view of Somerville, Boston, and Cambridge, is believed to be the site where George Washington raised the Grand Union Flag, the first national flag of the United States, in 1776.

The hill held strategic significance due to its proximity to Boston and was part of a network of defenses established after the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775.

The current tower, characterized by three tiers of ornate crenelated walls, was constructed in 1903 and is occasionally open for tours. At the pinnacle, the Grand Union Flag flies, featuring a Union Jack in the corner and thirteen alternating red and white stripes that symbolize the Thirteen Colonies.

12. Sacco’s Bowl Haven

Originally inaugurated in 1939, this candlepin bowling alley was part of a chain of almost 20 establishments owned by the Sacco family. For those unfamiliar, candlepin bowling is a distinct New England variation, where a ball roughly the size of a grapefruit is used to knock down ten slender, candle-like pins.

In 2010, the Somerville location was acquired by The Flatbread Company, which specializes in organic flatbread pizzas, featuring toppings like Vermont homemade sausage, buffalo cauliflower, pepperoni and peppers, and Maine potato and chive.

The resulting establishment is a hybrid restaurant and bowling alley that provides a full bar and dining tables, while still retaining several operational bowling lanes.

13. Somerville Community Path

The 3.2-mile rail trail runs directly through Somerville’s Davis Square neighborhood, forming part of a larger, continually expanding network in Greater Boston.

A significant portion of the Somerville Community Path utilizes the former Fitchburg Cutoff, which was constructed between 1870 and 1881 for the Boston and Maine Railroad. Passenger services ceased in 1927, and freight services ended in the early 1980s to accommodate the Red Line.

The trail has been developed in phases beginning in the mid-1980s, and in 2022, a new eastern segment extended the path as far as East Cambridge.

On the western end, the Somerville Community Path intersects with the Alewife Linear Park, connecting to several cycling routes including the Alewife Greenway Bike Path, Alewife MBTA Station, and the 10-mile Minuteman Bikeway, which opens up vast areas of the suburbs for cyclists.

14. Taza Chocolate Factory

This ethical, direct trade chocolate brand was established in 2005 when its founder, Alex Whitmore, learned to grind cacao using hand-carved granite millstones.

The resulting product is minimally processed chocolate that retains the sophistication of its natural flavor.

If you are interested in the production process, Taza Chocolate Factory offers tours from Tuesday to Sunday, including a brief presentation and chocolate tasting.

The factory store features a selection of bars and discs with unique flavor combinations, as well as chocolate-covered cashews, espresso beans, almonds, Brazil nuts, and more.

15. HONK!

In an example of Summerville’s engaged community and progressive spirit, HONK! is an annual gathering of activist street bands held over Columbus Day weekend.

This event has its origins in 2006 and has since inspired similar festivals across the United States.

HONK! was established to celebrate a new genre of street band that has emerged at rallies and demonstrations, blending a wide range of musical styles including klezmer, afrobeat, hip hop, punk, funk, highlife, Balkan and Romani music, samba, alongside the New Orleans second line.

The festival acts as a platform for significant causes, promoting themes such as world peace, environmental conservation, and the fight against racism, while also hosting a large celebration with approximately 25 bands taking over Davis Square on the Saturday of the event.