Beacon Hill is filled with many hole-in-the-wall spots, but the Tip Tap Room is an anomaly to the neighborhood. The industrial-style tavern with its retractable garage-style doors is a spacious place for a group. With more than 30 beers on draft, the upscale pub features “tips” and taps. Steak Tips are anything but standard, served with horseradish potatoes, cherry peppers, and bordelaise. Other menu staples in grilled, bite-size form include gluten-free Swordfish Tips atop olive tapenade potatoes with artichoke salsa and citrus herb cream. Other entrees and appetizers give global bar food, with brunch and lunch available every day but Monday. Local and imported beers and ciders on tap include sought-after suds from the likes of Hill Farmstead Brewery, Bissell Brothers, and Artifact Cider Project. 

Florina Pizzeria & Paninoteca might be housed in a piccolo space, but it looms large when it comes to Beacon Hill dining. It gives all the classic pizza-shop vibes, with New York-style thin-crust and big, foldable slices. Anything but small at an extra-large 16 inches, slices comprise a quarter of the pizza. Florina’s menu also includes Italian-style salads, starters, and pastas as well as an extensive list of hot and cold panini. Try the aptly named That Sandwich, with breaded chicken, prosciutto, roasted red pepper, fresh mozzarella, and the house white balsamic vinaigrette. While this shop deals mainly in takeout and third-party app delivery, Florina’s has a few seats inside including some prime real estate along windows overlooking the busting State House area.

Nestled into Beacon Hill and a stone’s throw from the Freedom Trail, cozy corner Emmets Pub & Restaurant welcomes all with warm fireplaces, delightful comfort food, and friendly bartenders and servers. This Irish pub dishes up crowd-pleasing cuisine, including a Grilled Corned Beef Sandwich stacked with melty Swiss and Dijon mustard served with a steaming cup of tomato soup. On weekends, head over for brunch for a full Irish breakfast—and no trip to Emmets is complete without a signature whiskey-spiked Irish coffee. 

Situated at the super-luxurious XV Beacon Hotel, Mooo matches the opulent style with steakhouse flair. The main menu is filled with nearly a dozen steaks, along with a la carte sides like decadent Maine Lobster Mac & Cheese. Naturally, options include everything from dry-aged ribeye to filet mignon, and an indulgent 6-ounce Japanese A5 Wagyu Sirloin sourced from Kagoshima Prefecture. There’s also Beef Wellington, plenty of seafood, and farm-fresh small plates like Steamed Jumbo Asparagus with hollandaise, and “Tater Tots” with fontina and truffle aioli. While this is an indulgent meal, we suggest saving room for dessert—specifically, the still-warm plate of Milk & Cookies. Mooo serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus a bar menu and a book of wines by the bottle.

This old-school French bistro is on a cozy corner of Cambridge Street, but it might as well be Paris in 1950. Stroll over to Ma Maison for an intimate atmosphere and dishes that have stood the test of time. Think luscious Country Pȃté, buttery Escargots imported from Burgundy, fortifying French Onion Soup, and crave-worthy versions of classic dishes like Beef Bourguignon and Duck Magret a l’Orange. In other words: This is the spot to go in Beacon Hill to satisfy your craving for Frogs Legs Provencales. With white tablecloths and a robust wine list, this small spot is romantic, but Ma Maison is also fit for a casual dinner, lunch, or weekend brunch. The time-honored traditions continue to impress as Ma Maison collects the accolades.

In operation since the 1930s, The Sevens Ale House—and its beer stein above the entrance—has been a Beacon Hill fixture for decades. The Charles Street pub is lively, unpretentious, and a beloved watering hole in the neighborhood for folks who live and work there, but also those just passing through. The Sevens pulls pints of Guinness and frosty craft beers (follow on social media to find out about tap takeovers with local breweries). It’s not just a beer bar, with mixed drinks and pub grub also on the menu.