Sunday in Boston: Art, Afternoon Tea, and a Rainy-Day Plan B

Welcome to Part Two. After Saturday spent walking Boston from end to end, Sunday started the only way I know how: with a run.

A Run Through the Common and the Public Garden

There’s no better way to wake up in Boston than an early run through Boston Common and the Public Garden. The color was still glowing and the paths were quiet. I was also on a mission. I wanted to find the Good Will Hunting bench. I walked around the garden, phone/map in hand, but no luck. Either I’m terrible at scavenger hunts or that bench is better hidden than Acorn Street at noon on a Saturday. I’ll try again next time.

Breakfast at Cafe Bonjour

Finding a breakfast spot that checked all our boxes was harder than it sounds. We wanted something on the way to our first stop, highly rated, and without a long wait. Cafe Bonjour hit the first two, so we crossed our fingers on the third.

As we walked up, my heart sank a little. There were people standing everywhere, all waiting for a table. We were told it would be a 20-minute wait. It turned out to be closer to 45.

Once we finally got seated, the wait was completely worth it. The indoor space is narrow, with an open kitchen along one side, and it looks like an old Boston bar that was converted into a breakfast spot. It has loads of charm. We’d read great things about the food, and the reviews were not exaggerated. My husband and I both ordered breakfast sandwiches and lattes, and I ate so much I nearly burst. Thank goodness for all the walking.

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Sort Of)

Next up was the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. We walked a solid hour through multiple beautiful parks to get there. But, unfortunately, tickets were sold out. Lesson learned: book ahead, or at least check before you hike an hour on foot.

Plan B: The Museum of Fine Arts

Plan B turned out to be a happy surprise. When we couldn’t get into the first museum, we headed a block away to the Museum of Fine Arts, and I can say it’s nearly as good as the Art Institute of Chicago, which is high praise coming from me. The range is incredible. We went from Monet to Van Gogh to Piet Mondrian without leaving the building. We were so glad we ended up there. Sometimes a sold-out sign is the best thing that can happen to your itinerary.

Boston Public Library and Afternoon Tea

From there we walked to the Boston Public Library, which looks more like a museum than a library, with gorgeous art and sculptures around every corner. We had afternoon tea in the Map Room Lounge, a cocktail-like space with old maps of Boston covering the walls. It was a good place to rest tired feet. I have a lot to say about the tea itself, so more on that in a separate post.

Raindrops and the Seaport

Then the rain started, so we hired a car to the Seaport (South Boston Waterfront) for a little shopping. I’ve been to Boston many times, but this was my first visit to this part of the city. Rain or not, we had so much fun. Our stops included:

Sézane, Ralph Lauren, and Anthropologie. Nothing makes a rainy afternoon better than quaint shops and Fall sales.
Porter Square Books: Boston Edition, because I can’t pass up a bookstore, and this one was a calmer experience than Saturday’s crowded ones.
The Travel Mug Cafe, an Instagram favorite known for its iced latte flights served on a real skateboard. The concept is awesome. The reality is that I’m not an iced coffee fan, and it was way too much caffeine for one person, or even two, to share. I’m glad I tried it. I won’t be ordering it again.

Samuel Adams Taproom

The rain let up a bit, so we walked about 30 minutes to the Samuel Adams Boston Taproom. The latte flight was on my list. This stop was for my husband. We shared a traditional flight of beers, and although I’m not a huge fan of beer anymore, it was a fun and tasty experience. Cheers to marriage compromise.

Dinner at 75 Chestnut in Beacon Hill

We ended our 2-day whirlwind trip of Boston at a lovely dinner in Beacon Hill at 75 Chestnut. We actually had a reservation somewhere completely different, but when we passed by this new restaurant the day before, I was intrigued by the location and the menu. The restaurant did not disappoint – it had great charm and ambience + great food. A perfect way to end our anniversary trip.