Boston MA is renowned for its succulent seafood, and the state’s oyster bars are no exception. Featuring some of seafood freshest catches, these 12 far-reaching establishments offer an unforgettable edible experience complete with views of rocky coasts and salty air.
The Best Oyster Bar in Boston MA
Union Oyster House
- Address: 41 Union St, Boston, MA 02108, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.3 (7469)
- Phone: +1 617-227-2750
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PMTuesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PMWednesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PMThursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PMFriday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PMSaturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PMSunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
5 Replies to The 12 Best Oyster Restaurants in Boston MA
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Top 12 Oyster Restaurant in Boston MA
Legal Sea Foods – Harborside
- Address: 270 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.4 (4288)
- Phone: +1 617-477-2900
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMTuesday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMWednesday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMThursday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMFriday: 11:30 AM – 11:00 PMSaturday: 11:30 AM – 11:00 PMSunday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Reviews:
Excellent food and great service. We could not get a reservation but the restaurant has a great amount of bar seats for walk in traffic. We were seated immediately and had some amazing food and drinks. This restaurant sits in the harbor and the atmosphere is very relaxed and comfortable. This was our first time in Boston and the first place we ate. It set a good tone for our visit.By Lana (7 months ago)I came here on a whim while being in the area for work. Walked in and quickly found a spot at the wrap around bar. (Even if it’s busy, stop in and see if seats are available along the bars!) I enjoyed the atmosphere and excitement of the restaurant.
Food was amazing. I wanted to try a little of everything so ordered the crab cake appetizer, clam chowder, and salmon nigiri. Everything was delicious. I was not expecting a sushi menu but was excited to see it and enjoyed the salmon. The chowder and crab cakes were rich but flavorful and not overly heavy where I could still enjoy my whole meal.
Highly recommend this restaurant if you’re nearby!
By Jillian O’Connell (4 months ago)Tried to call and reserve the table before going and it says no table, then we walked in around 12 with 6 people in total. Luckily we have a table immediately. The view is good if we could have a table besides the window. I have been told that it has 3rd floor with even better view. Maybe try next time. The Caterpillar Roll 🍣 is highly recommended! I ordered Grilled Swordfish steak with French fires and Fregola salad. The French fries is good, but salad is okay. The fish is fresh, but if you want to have something more flavored, maybe try something else. My friend tried butter roasted potatoes and sweet corns as sides. He said sweet corns are good but potatoes are too many and inside is too plain. It provides freed bread before food which is okay. The waiters are nice and polite.By Johnson MrBear (7 months ago)I have very mixed feelings about Legal. They were highly recommended in blogs, YouTube videos, and from locals. But, I was slightly disappointed with our experience.First, the location is amazing, and we were seated near the water without having to wait though we were a large party.
Everyone was amiable, and our waitress was very accommodating. However, our food was nothing to brag about (except the oysters were impeccable).
As you’ll see in the pictures, the cheeseburger I ordered from the kid’s menu was not properly cooked and was still raw inside.
The mac and cheese our friends ordered (also for a child) tasted “like aspirin” or rotten cheese. Our waitress and the manager came to apologize and refunded our money for both items, which were appreciated.
But, as a tourist, this isn’t an establishment that I would return to when we visit again.
By Victoria Vaden (6 months ago)Food was absolutely delicious!!! Fun fact…their clam chowder has been served for every presidential inauguration since Ronald Reagan! I can taste why! So good! Crystal, our server was an awesome host! Cod fritters, lobster bisque soup and fish tacos were so good!By Lyn Campbell (9 months ago)
Neptune Oyster
- Address: 63 Salem St # 1, Boston, MA 02113, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.4 (3250)
- Phone: +1 617-742-3474
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PMTuesday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PMWednesday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PMThursday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PMFriday: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PMSaturday: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PMSunday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM
- Reviews:
Neptune oyster is wonderful. Staff are friendly and courteous, committed to giving diners a great experience. The razor clam appetizer was amazing as was the hot buttered lobster roll. Also had a few things from the raw bar (oyster and scallops) which are great to try based on your preference. Wine selection was good as well. The only downside is the wait, about an hour and 15 minutes on a Friday evening. You just have to stand outside in line and commit. Definitely worth it though! Inside is pretty squished together so I wouldn’t say it’s great for large groups at busy times.By Lena Owens (6 months ago)I had lunch here with my friend today. The long line outside seems promising. Got in after an hour and 15 minutes. High hopes. Oysters are decent. Fresh enough. I had a lobster roll and my friend had a fried oyster burgers. Both are jaw-droppingly terrible. My friend’s burger is tough and dry. My lobster roll has absolutely no flavours. I thought I had COVID and lost my palate. But I could taste the fries. The fries are great and definitely the highlight of my meal. The urchin toast is equally bad. Urchin all melted on the toast with no texture and flavours. This joint is definitely over-hyped and overpriced. Doesn’t deserve the hour long line up.By Trekker T. (3 months ago)Neptune Oyster. Oh, yes. The afternoon I visited was a weekday so the wait was only 45 minutes.
The johnny cake with bluefish and caviar is a must order item. Delicious! The flavors! The lobster roll was fresh, but not special-tasting. Razor clams were supremely fresh and magnificent. Loved the taste. The oysters were very fresh and an employee explained where each oyster was from.
The service was A+ from all employees. Servers made sure I was taken care of and the water glass was continually filled. Small interior of restaurant. Service is quick and friendly so the turnaround time is frequent. And they take American Express.
By Kelly Cambridgeport (7 months ago)Hands down to the best raw oysters. I love their little menu showing different types of oysters. I wished this place was bigger. Came here at 7pm, no wait-list accepted. Came here again early in the morning 30 minutes before it opens there was already a long line, put my name down for the wait-list, 1.5hours wait, but it’ was worth the wait.By Momo (8 months ago)I was really really really pleased to decide to visit here. I had to wait for some time but it was totally worth of it. The oysters are very fresh, juicy and delicious. And the foods which I ordered are yummy too and went well with my drink. Surely the service was very satisfactory. My family had a great time in here. I’ll definitely try again next time.By Jongchan Park (JC) (a year ago)
Row 34
- Address: 383 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (2657)
- Phone: +1 617-553-5900
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 5:00 – 10:00 PMTuesday: 5:00 – 11:00 PMWednesday: 5:00 – 11:00 PMThursday: 11:30 AM – 11:00 PMFriday: 11:30 AM – 11:00 PMSaturday: 11:30 AM – 11:00 PMSunday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Reviews:
Absolutely delicious restaurant close to the downtown offices of the seaport district. Had a great experience after coming back twice in the same week and was impressed every time.
First time had the uni caviar and the buttered lobster roll. Both absolutely delicious and very refreshing.
Second time had 3 people and we shared the seafood platter as an appetizer. The grilled mussels are such a fantastic value, fresh, and delicious. Finally the dessert cookie and apple pie was great as well.
By Victor Wang (3 months ago)Excellent seafood place. Oysters range about $3.5-4, which is not bad given Boston price. They were fresh and yummy. All food including calamari lobster rolls and lobster pasta were great. But it has some sort of bar vibe (a bit noisy). So if u prefer quiet fine dining, it may not be a good fit for you. The service was good too.By Mo “Where r u?” Jones (a month ago)My friends and I came here for lunch on a Friday. Row 34 is a popular spot but was a bit hard to find if you are walking. We were seated in the back in the seats with cushions.Service
Our waiter seemed a bit disgruntled and weren’t sure why.Drinks
The drinks were a hit. I enjoyed the lights out so muchLunch
Cornbread is huge
Biscuit is smaller but also tastes delicious
Tacos are small
The burger is a solid option.
Oyster – the first oyster on the list was the best. They were cleaned wellPrice was mediocre around $20-30 per person.
I would recommend trying this place out.
By Shawn Varughese (5 months ago)Excellent location and seafood! Kind of industrial warehouse look with high ceiling. b Large windows and not at least a lovely staff makes it to a ‘sunny’ place. Good wines and beers are being served. Cooked, raw or as ceviche… it’s focused and fresh.By Thomas Kaupert (3 months ago)Row 34 is a popular spot, so were lucky to get some seats at the bar on a Saturday night without reservations. The staff were super knowledgeable about everything on the menu, they really know their oysters, and answered all our questions. They were also able to recommend some decent beers to pair with our meal. The Tuna Crudo was incredible, a perfect blend of flavors. Lobster rolls are super generous and delicious. We ended up staying for a while and had a nice time chatting with other customers at the bar, overall a really great experience.By Eric Wright (9 months ago)
Saltie Girl
- Address: 279 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.4 (2004)
- Phone: +1 617-267-0691
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PMTuesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PMWednesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PMThursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PMFriday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PMSaturday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PMSunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Reviews:
Great place to get seafood. The raw bar is fresh with quality ingredients. Each bite is made into the perfect flavorful bite!
The presentation of the food is nice.
The canned fish menu is large and has a nice accompaniment to pair with the fish.
The tuna flatbread was large and the tuna with the roasted tomatoes was great.
If you want to sit outside you’ll definitely be waiting a long time.By Elizabeth Krogue (7 months ago)This is a great place on so many levels! The food quality is amazing. The drinks were spectacular. Everything is made to order, which gives it such a fresh flavor. Even the hot sauce is home-made and it is delicious and super spicy! The clam chowder from here is definitely one of my top favorite chowders in all of Boston. The staff was extremely polite and attentive. The vibes and the music were superb. I cannot emphasize how pleased I was with my visit! Will definitely come back.By Sullibet Ramirez (8 months ago)10/10 would come again for the seafood tower! It was perfect for sharing and for sampling a little bit of everything. The seafood tasted clean and fresh. These were some of the biggest shrimps we’ve ever had!Although very expensive, it was a nice splurge.
We had a reservation and were seated promptly. The parking around the area is almost nonexistent.
By Trang T. (2 months ago)One of my favorite meals of the year, by far! This place was recommended to me by a friend who is local and it did not disappoint. Each of the 3 dishes I had was amazing, but definitely the star was the hot lobster roll with butter! In general this place is pricey, but for the quality is worth it!By Jason Neukom (5 months ago)Came here on a Sunday at 1pm, was seated outdoors pretty quickly for party of two. We ordered the small bowl of clam chowder, which was already pretty big so I can’t imagine how big the deluxe bowl is. The lobster roll is exceptional. They are very generous with the amount of lobster they stuff in their perfectly toasted, buttered, fluffy bread. Also, I prefer a warm lobster roll, and they let you choose if you want it served warm or cold which is a huge plus in my book.By Sufei Zhao (5 months ago)
Summer Shack
- Address: 50 Dalton St, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.3 (1571)
Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar
- Address: 412 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.4 (1056)
The Hourly Oyster House
- Address: 15 Dunster St, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (933)
Mare Oyster Bar
- Address: 223 Hanover St, 3 Mechanic St, Boston, MA 02113, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (771)
Ostra
- Address: 1 Charles St S, Boston, MA 02116, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (769)
B&G Oysters
- Address: 550 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (746)
Eventide Fenway
- Address: 1321 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02215, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.3 (742)
Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar
- Address: 1310 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02215, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.3 (728)
Thank you for reading! We hope this list helps you find the best oyster restaurants in Boston MA. If you have any additional information, please leave a comment below!
During a quick trip to Boston, we looked up for the best seafood restaurant in the area and Google recommended this place.
After struggling to find a parking spot, we finally made our way to the restaurant.
The place has the charm and warmth that can only be acquired through years of continuous service. The place was not very busy when we visited so we got a seat quickly. I ordered their special clam chowder, the soup of the day (minestrone) and the fish of the day (haddock) with a side of mashed potatoes. All washed down with a Guinness beer (I wish it was draught, but it was available only in a can)
The food was delivered very quickly by our very helpful server. Everything was delicious. I could not find anything that was lacking. Even the prices are very reasonable.
Must try!
Just the history and the inside decor of the restaurant is an enough reason for a visit. Started with complimentary warm tasty corn bread. Clam chowder was also very good. Had the Fried oysters with fries and it was very fresh and tasty. Receive a free pot of gold souvenir for St.Patrick’s Day. Server was friendly and attentive. Definitely recommend.
Good food, especially if you’re looking for fried food. Clam chowder was good, just very small bowl, cup is even smaller. My daughter had the fried seafood platter. It had a lot, with fish and chips, and a variety of fried seafood. She really enjoyed. I had a scallops platter in a light creamy tomato sauce with rice. I enjoyed it also. The salmon was good and the lobster macaroni and cheese was good also. It was a bit pricey, parking wasn’t easy to find, but it’s a great area to walk around with a lot of pubs in the area with music. This place had very good service and worth the visit at least once.
I know this place has been around for a while but man was it just amazing from food to service. Everything was top notch. The lobster we got was amazing. We got clam chowder to share for the table to taste. Our waitress was the life of the party not only with our table but you could just tell how her energy made everyone’s night amazing at other tables. Food was super filling and the set up is very nice. I know their upstairs kitchen is closed and it’s a shame their menu has shrunken since covid but they’re doing amazing! This is a must if you’re in Boston – add it to your list now!
My wife and I did the tourist thing and went here while visiting Boston. It was relatively empty when we came for lunch so the service was pretty quick. Our server was very nice and friendly, she made recommendations on what we should order. The brought us some cornbread to start, it was super soft and moist. It wasn’t to sweet which I liked. We got the clam chowder to start and I ended up getting the lobster mac and cheese for my entree. My wife got the lobster ravioli. Overall the meal was pretty good but to us the decor on the wall was the coolest part of the meal. Definitely a cool place to see while in Boston but definitely more for tourists I think.