Here’s a look at the restaurant honorees—and some other food- and drink-related businesses—for this year’s awards.
Mahaniyom. / Photo by Chris McIntosh
Best of Boston—our annual awards, 50-plus years running—is back, and boy, are our stomachs full. With over 80 categories in the main dining section—and other food- and drink-related categories scattered amongst our other sections, from shopping to arts and city life—there is a lot of food, and yep, we’ve eaten it all. (And then some.)
We’ve stood in an hour-plus line for thinly sliced roast beef, piled high on a squishy bun. We’ve sampled sweets galore, from giant cookies to mindblowing baklava. We’ve eaten steak (so much steak); we’ve sipped martinis. We’ve visited (and revisited) old favorites and hyped newcomers; we’ve dined luxuriously in gorgeous rooms and gotten takeout from no-frills counters.
Each year, we bring you some long-running classic categories (a variety of world cuisines, neighborhood favorites, and more) and some new ones reflecting trends of the moment or things that pique our interest. The goal? To celebrate the best food in and around Boston, to help you find new favorites and revisit old ones, to make sure you get the most bang for your buck when dining out.
While you can find our entire collection of 2026 Best of Boston honorees here, we’ve gathered 100-plus winners below that fall under a broad umbrella of food, including straightforward restaurant awards and even an influencer who certifies “Seger bars.” Read on, and dine well.
Best of Boston 2026: All the Winners
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Environment, Occasion, or Type of Meal
Looking for excellent food inside a brewery, a feast meant to share, vegan delights, and…Labubus? Find those in this category, and more.
Mai. / Photo by Nina Gallant
Steak!
Boston loves steakhouses. Steakhouses love Boston. We made a whole section of ‘em for this year’s Best of Boston awards.
“The Eisenhower” at Maple & Ash, a 45-day dry-aged porterhouse. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Favorite Dishes
Destination-worthy roast beef, huuuuuge lobster rolls, Neapolitan-style pizza, and other must-try dishes.
The Modern Butcher’s Saturday-only North Shore beef. / Photo by Joe St. Pierre; food styling by Joy Howard.
Sweet Treats
There’s always room on the dessert shelf.
Yafa Bakery & Café. / Photo by Nina Gallant
Best of the New
Top-notch newcomers that debuted within the past year(ish).
Capri. / Photo by Assembly Design Studio
Neighborhood Favorites
Great spots to become a regular if you live nearby. (We include a rotating selection of Boston-proper neighborhoods each year—your favorite’s missing? There’s always next year!)
Tres Gatos. / Photo by Nina Gallant
- Best Neighborhood Restaurant, Back Bay: Saltie Girl
- Best Neighborhood Restaurant, Beacon Hill: Zurito
- Best Neighborhood Restaurant, Charlestown: Dovetail
- Best Neighborhood Restaurant, Chinatown: Taiwan Café
- Best Neighborhood Restaurant, Dorchester: Comfort Kitchen
- Best Neighborhood Restaurant, Downtown: Trade
- Best Neighborhood Restaurant, Jamaica Plain: Tres Gatos
- Best Neighborhood Restaurant, North End: Carmelina’s
- Best Neighborhood Restaurant, Seaport: Woods Hill Pier 4
- Best Neighborhood Restaurant, South End: Baleia
- Best Neighborhood Restaurant That’s Always Booked: Tonino
World Cuisines
Big flavors, global inspiration.
A spread of dishes at Moona, including several dips. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Beyond Boston
Best of the ‘burbs, Cape, and islands.
Lê Madeline. / Photo by Nina Gallant
- Best Restaurant, North: Bernadette
- Best Place to Grab a Drink, North: Bubble Bar Boston on Main
- Best Restaurant, South: Lê Madeline
- Best Place to Grab a Drink, South: Doctor’s Island Brewing Company
- Best Restaurant, West: Coach Grill
- Best Place to Grab a Drink, West: GlenPharmer Distillery
- Best Restaurant, Martha’s Vineyard: The Ocean Club Restaurant & Bar
- Best Place to Grab a Drink, Martha’s Vineyard: El Barco MV
- Best Seafood Shack, Martha’s Vineyard: The Back Door at the Homeport
- Best Restaurant, Nantucket: Billie’s
- Best Place to Grab a Drink, Nantucket: Cisco Brewers
- Best Seafood Shack, Nantucket: Straight Wharf Fish
Restaurant- and Food-Adjacent
From cooking classes to a grocery-store-inspired song, these awards are kinda dining-related.
Lovestruck Books & Café. / Courtesy photo
Additional research by Avary Amaral.
