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A silver pan is full of steamed mussels
Mussels from the Daily Catch in the North End
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Where to Eat Mussels in Boston

From Spanish tapas to traditional Belgian, Boston’s got bivalves

by Terrence Doyle
1 comment / new
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Mussels from the Daily Catch in the North End
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by Terrence Doyle
1 comment / new

Boston is going to remain a frozen hellscape for at least another couple of months, so thank heavens the city is full of restaurants dishing up brothy, nourishing pots of mussels.

Mussels are great because they come in many forms and can therefore hypothetically suit tastes of all kinds. This map spans everything from Belgian-style moules frites to Spanish tapas-style preparations, red-sauce Italian mussels, and more. All are best served with some crusty bread and a bottle of something crisp (a riesling, a chenin blanc, or a clean pilsner will do.)

Here are the best places to eat various kinds of mussels in and around Boston.

Note: Map points are arranged geographically from north to south, not ranked.

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Juliet

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Every night at Juliet is a good night, but Wednesday night is mussels night. Mussels and potatoes come with tomatoes in a white wine broth, served with toasted bread. Pair them with something special from the Union Square spot’s small but intriguing beverage list.

21 Union Square, Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 718-0958
(617) 718-0958
Wednesday night mussels at Juliet
Wednesday night mussels at Juliet
Juliet [official photo]

Also featured in:

The Druid

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Despite the beverage instructions in this map’s introduction, another great combination is a Guinness with a pot of Prince Edward Island mussels. The Druid has both in droves.

1357 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 497-0965
(617) 497-0965
The Druid
The Druid
The Druid [official photo]

Also featured in:

Green Street

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Green Street is a classic Central Square bar and grill. The mussels are done with white wine, saffron, and fennel. Pair with a crisp pilsner.

Green St, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 876-1655
(617) 876-1655
Green Street is a Central Square haunt
Green Street is a Central Square haunt
JJ C./Yelp

Giacomo's

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There will probably be a line, but it will be worth the wait. The mussels are available in a white wine sauce or with red sauce. You’re in the North End; go with the red sauce.

355 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 523-9026
(617) 523-9026
giacomo’s mussels
A classic white wine and garlic preparation
Giacomo’s [official photo]

The Daily Catch Restaurant

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Another North End joint on Hanover Street, another plate of delicious mussels. The Daily Catch does its mussels Sicilian-style with white wine, fennel, thyme, and lemon.

323 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 523-8567
(617) 523-8567
A silver pan is full of steamed mussels
Some more North End mussels
Facebook

Neptune Oyster

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Get the lobster roll, but get the mussels first. They’re served with ‘nduja calabrese — which is a spreadable and spicy pork salumi — and basil from Fenway Farms. A real home run, y’all.

63 Salem St # 1, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 742-3474
(617) 742-3474
Exterior shot of a restaurant with blue-framed windows and a low brick wall.
There are many good treats at Neptune Oyster
Bill Addison/Eater

Also featured in:

Sonsie

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If you can manage a window seat, this classic Newbury Street spot is great for people-watching. The mussels aren’t half bad, either.

327 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02115
(617) 351-2500
(617) 351-2500
Sit in the window at Sonsie and watch all the fabulous folks shop on Newbury Street
Sonsie [official photo]

Also featured in:

Island Creek Oyster Bar

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Go for the oysters, stay for the mussels. Island Creek knows bivalves about as well as anyone in the city, and these Prince Edward Island mussels are no exception. They’re done simply with white wine, garlic, and thyme.

500 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
(617) 532-5300
(617) 532-5300
Island Creek is all about the bivalves
Island Creek Oyster Bar [official photo]

Also featured in:

Barcelona Wine Bar South End

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Okay, so Barcelona Wine Bar is a chain, but it’s a chain doing some very solid mussels. Again, simple preparation is best: Mussels love few things like they love parsley and garlic.

525 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 266-2600
(617) 266-2600
barcelona wine bar mussels
Mussels, tapas-style
Barcelona Wine Bar [official photo]

Anchovies

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Like at Giacomo’s, eaters can get mussels cooked with white wine or red sauce at Anchovies. Both are good, but Anchovies is a red-sauce joint, so go with the red sauce.

433 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 266-5088
(617) 266-5088
A restaurant exterior by night. Neon signage in its window reads Anchovies Food & Spirits.
Anchovies does mussels with white wine or marinara, and both are great
Katie Chudy/Eater

Also featured in:

Franklin Cafe

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Franklin Cafe has been doing its thing in the South End for more than two decades now. Its mussels — skillet smoked with clarified butter and and lemon — prove why.

278 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 350-0010
(617) 350-0010
franklin cafe
The Franklin Cafe has been at it for more than two decades
Franklin Cafe [official photo]

Also featured in:

The Publick House

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If there’s a spot in or around Boston that screams “mussels overload!” it’s got to be the Publick House in Brookline’s Washington Square. Choose from four options — all served with frites and a hunk of French bread. They’re all worthy of your money, but try the pot steamed with Fiddlehead IPA.

1648 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02445
(617) 277-2880
(617) 277-2880
publick house mussels
One of several mussels preparations at the Publick House
The Publick House [official photo]

Also featured in:

Toro

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Toro is, at this point, an OG in the Boston tapas game. Its mejillones are cooked with chorizo, Basque cider, and smoked hazelnut herb butter.

1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 536-4300
(617) 536-4300
toro mussels
The mussels at Toro
Toro [official photo]

Also featured in:

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Juliet

21 Union Square, Somerville, MA 02143

Every night at Juliet is a good night, but Wednesday night is mussels night. Mussels and potatoes come with tomatoes in a white wine broth, served with toasted bread. Pair them with something special from the Union Square spot’s small but intriguing beverage list.

21 Union Square, Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 718-0958
(617) 718-0958
Wednesday night mussels at Juliet
Wednesday night mussels at Juliet
Juliet [official photo]

The Druid

1357 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Despite the beverage instructions in this map’s introduction, another great combination is a Guinness with a pot of Prince Edward Island mussels. The Druid has both in droves.

1357 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 497-0965
(617) 497-0965
The Druid
The Druid
The Druid [official photo]

Green Street

Green St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Green Street is a classic Central Square bar and grill. The mussels are done with white wine, saffron, and fennel. Pair with a crisp pilsner.

Green St, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 876-1655
(617) 876-1655
Green Street is a Central Square haunt
Green Street is a Central Square haunt
JJ C./Yelp

Giacomo's

355 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113

There will probably be a line, but it will be worth the wait. The mussels are available in a white wine sauce or with red sauce. You’re in the North End; go with the red sauce.

355 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 523-9026
(617) 523-9026
giacomo’s mussels
A classic white wine and garlic preparation
Giacomo’s [official photo]

The Daily Catch Restaurant

323 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113

Another North End joint on Hanover Street, another plate of delicious mussels. The Daily Catch does its mussels Sicilian-style with white wine, fennel, thyme, and lemon.

323 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 523-8567
(617) 523-8567
A silver pan is full of steamed mussels
Some more North End mussels
Facebook

Neptune Oyster

63 Salem St # 1, Boston, MA 02113

Get the lobster roll, but get the mussels first. They’re served with ‘nduja calabrese — which is a spreadable and spicy pork salumi — and basil from Fenway Farms. A real home run, y’all.

63 Salem St # 1, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 742-3474
(617) 742-3474
Exterior shot of a restaurant with blue-framed windows and a low brick wall.
There are many good treats at Neptune Oyster
Bill Addison/Eater

Sonsie

327 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02115

If you can manage a window seat, this classic Newbury Street spot is great for people-watching. The mussels aren’t half bad, either.

327 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02115
(617) 351-2500
(617) 351-2500
Sit in the window at Sonsie and watch all the fabulous folks shop on Newbury Street
Sonsie [official photo]

Island Creek Oyster Bar

500 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

Go for the oysters, stay for the mussels. Island Creek knows bivalves about as well as anyone in the city, and these Prince Edward Island mussels are no exception. They’re done simply with white wine, garlic, and thyme.

500 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
(617) 532-5300
(617) 532-5300
Island Creek is all about the bivalves
Island Creek Oyster Bar [official photo]

Barcelona Wine Bar South End

525 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Okay, so Barcelona Wine Bar is a chain, but it’s a chain doing some very solid mussels. Again, simple preparation is best: Mussels love few things like they love parsley and garlic.

525 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 266-2600
(617) 266-2600
barcelona wine bar mussels
Mussels, tapas-style
Barcelona Wine Bar [official photo]

Anchovies

433 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02116

Like at Giacomo’s, eaters can get mussels cooked with white wine or red sauce at Anchovies. Both are good, but Anchovies is a red-sauce joint, so go with the red sauce.

433 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 266-5088
(617) 266-5088
A restaurant exterior by night. Neon signage in its window reads Anchovies Food & Spirits.
Anchovies does mussels with white wine or marinara, and both are great
Katie Chudy/Eater

Franklin Cafe

278 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

Franklin Cafe has been doing its thing in the South End for more than two decades now. Its mussels — skillet smoked with clarified butter and and lemon — prove why.

278 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 350-0010
(617) 350-0010
franklin cafe
The Franklin Cafe has been at it for more than two decades
Franklin Cafe [official photo]

The Publick House

1648 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02445

If there’s a spot in or around Boston that screams “mussels overload!” it’s got to be the Publick House in Brookline’s Washington Square. Choose from four options — all served with frites and a hunk of French bread. They’re all worthy of your money, but try the pot steamed with Fiddlehead IPA.

1648 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02445
(617) 277-2880
(617) 277-2880
publick house mussels
One of several mussels preparations at the Publick House
The Publick House [official photo]

Toro

1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118

Toro is, at this point, an OG in the Boston tapas game. Its mejillones are cooked with chorizo, Basque cider, and smoked hazelnut herb butter.

1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 536-4300
(617) 536-4300
toro mussels
The mussels at Toro
Toro [official photo]

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