South End

South End Data

• Pet friendly

  9.8

• Dining

  9.2

• Clean

  8.3

• Families

  8.0

• Safety

  8.0

Lowest Attributes

• Empty nesters

  6.4

• Community

  6.3

• Seniors

  4.9

• Parking

  3.5

• Income

  3.2

Alana's South End

Growing up in a very Jewish suburb of Baltimore, the South End is a big change for me. I both live and work in the South End, and I think it’s one of the coolest neighborhoods in Boston.

Though it is one of the most expensive neighborhoods to live in and feels very safe, it also includes some pockets of low income housing. Still, these areas feel safe because they consist mostly of families.

Everyone here is extremely friendly- it’s an odd day if I don’t exchange pleasantries with at least two strangers on the way to and from work, especially in the Villa Victoria area. One of my favorite parts of the South End is the fact that there are dogs everywhere.

Even if you don’t have one of your own, you can get some dog lovin’ simply walking down the street or though one of the many parks. Pros: - restaurant variety - easy access to public transportation - well lit, safe streets (for the most part) - full of character - tons of dogs to play with Cons: - a few areas feel less safe - cost of living

Pefection for a price.

I recommend avoiding the South End for this reason: you may never want to leave. This is one of those perfect nabes you see on TV: quaint coffee shops where you always run into the same characters, restaurants where the chef comes out to say hi, local grocers with fresh fruits and dew-drop spotted vegetables, boutiques with handmade clothes, and spas around every corner (one for your pets too).

Public transportation is lacking (only a few buses go through the neighborhood, and infrequently at that), but to make up for it picture-perfect brownstones with colorful doors and tree-lined sidewalks peppered with parks galore make walking the most desirable mode of transportation anyway.

Sound perfect? It sure is, but perfection isn’t free. The South End is a costly place to live and the South End lifestyle ain’t cheap either.

Sure, there are sub shops and pizza places, but the sit-down restaurants are pricey. On the plus side there is no lack of options (French, Cuban, Italian, American), and wherever you choose the cuisine and service will likely be top notch.

You’d be hard pressed to find anything under $100 at the local boutiques and a day at the spa can cost you a week’s pay. The residents are mostly upper-class families and well-dressed young couples who like to pamper their dogs.

Though, despite gentrification, subsidized and low-income housing has kept the area diverse. The South End is a lovely visit and a great neighborhood to keep in mind for when that pay raise kicks in.

South End: juxtapositions and bakeries

The South End has all the telltale signs of being a neighborhood passing over the first hump of gentrification. What once was the mixed and somewhat rough "southie"when I was growing up is now filled with high-windowed artists lofts, boutique shops, and charming bakeries.

The characteristic dark brownstone buildings and quiet streets have made this nabe a magnet for hipster parents along with artists, a thriving gay population, and anyone else who can afford the rapidly rising rents. Perhaps most famously to the arts and crafts community this is the home of the SOWA market, a weekly bazaar for local crafters and vintage vendors to sell their wares.

This year SOWA proudly added a farmers and gourmet market. On that note it serves to mention that the South End is also a great neighborhood for foodies. With two major gourmet markets and dozens of restaurants to choose from, you will always be able to find what you’re craving (just watch the price tags!) Of note are The Gallows restaurant, a newly opened gastropub with a focus on local and organic french-inspired cuisine and the South End Buttery, which makes an insane Boston Cream Pie cupcake.

This neighborhood is not, however, Boston’s answer to New York’s West Village. This area still is the home of a number of low-income housing buildings and numerous medical facilities that belong to the city’s major universities.

The farther south you travel here the more industrial and sparse the landscape will become until you start moving into Roxbury which has a shady past of it’s own. Sarah G

Vibrant South End

Boston’s South End can be thought of as a neighborhood of neighborhoods. The SoWa (South of Washington St.) district is very different from Tremont Street’s bars and restaurants, which are in turn strikingly different from the Villa Victoria housing projects.

As a result, the most diverse, gay-friendly neighborhood in Boston, is also arguably the most vibrant. Characterized by two juxtaposed resident groups, the working class renters, low-income residents and long-time residents, versus the yuppies, artists, gay community, and upper middle class urbanites, the South End is a classic gentrifying, “up-and-coming” neighborhood.

It is well known for its Victorian brownstones – which line picturesque streets such as Union Park and Rutland Square –, for its array of diverse and gourmet cuisine, for the gigantic and equally hectic Boston Medical Center, and for its art galleries in SoWa. In the 1950s, the South End was a hub, home to Boston’s African-American community and many jazz clubs.

Soon, its reputation morphed, and up until the 1980s, it was known as a dangerous and poverty-stricken neighborhood. This trend reversed, however, with a spike in new business and gentrification that was jumpstarted by the gay community.

Now, the South End is a relatively safe neighborhood with low rates of street crime. Nevertheless, there are areas to avoid at night. Generally speaking, the farther south of Huntington Ave. and the farther west of Mass Ave. you go, the less nice and “safe” it gets.There are many things to do in the South End, but in order to fully experience it, you must live there.

Food is the nabe’s forte, with restaurants ranging from cheap Greek delis to expensive Tremont Street steakhouses. The South End has sizeable Asian, Black and Hispanic populations, and this diversity is reflected in the wide range of cuisines one can find, ranging from Ethiopian to Dominican dining.

The art galleries in SoWa are a popular destination during the summer, and the Boston Center for the Performing Arts on Tremont Street is another attraction for residents. Located close to the Prudential Center and Copley Square, residents and visitors can walk into the heart of the city from most parts of the South End.

There are many pluses to living in the South End. The location is tremendous, just minutes from Back Bay and a short subway ride from downtown. Despite the central location, the residential streets are quiet and relatively tucked away.

The architecture is beautiful, though old, and the nabe boasts the most parks of any neighborhood in Boston. The Southwest corridor park, a new project that runs through the heart of the neighborhood, provides amenities such as dog-walking parks, tennis courts, basketball courts, bike paths, and much more.

Every area has its downsides however. Recently, housing prices have become so high that they nearly rival the Back Bay and Beacon Hill on some streets.

On the other hand, there is lots of low-income housing. One common complaint is the lack of access to subway stations, with only three Orange Line stations located on the fringe of the neighborhood.

Nevertheless, bus stops are plentiful, and the new Silver Line goes all the way through the South End, almost to Roxbury. Good luck finding non-residential parking any time of the year.

All in all, the South End is worth visiting, and definitely worth living in. The diversity gives birth to exciting business, but also to cultural events, such as the annual Gay Pride parade.

Easiest way to get to the South End is to take the orange line to Back Bay or Mass Ave. station and start walking south.

Chic, trendy and great eats

The South End is an idyllic place, with rows of brownstones, young couples walking perfectly groomed dogs and adorable boutiques filled with knick-knacks. It’s gotten a reputation as Boston’s newest hip dining scene where you can empty your wallet on oysters at Myers + Chang or on pecan rolls at Flour.

It may seem stuffy (how many boutique dog hotels does one neighborhood need?) but that’s a fair enough tradeoff for pristine streets and excellent dining. Some streets are nicer than others—Washington and Tremont are safer than Albany Street—but overall it’s a lovely place to live or visit.

The SoWA market is a must on Sunday afternoons and Drag Queen Bingo, hosted by the South End Neighborhood Association is always a good time.

What's awesome

dining, markets, brownstones, dogs

Boston's Best Pocket Nabe

The South End, not to be confuse with South Boston, is one of the most sophisticated neighborhoods in Boston, in my opinion. The architecture alone: the tidy brownstones with the infamous South End iron work, are well worth the visit.

As is expected, the rent is fairly high here although there are some bargains to be had. Despite being so close to downtown, this is a lovely place for children, there are several pocket parks in the nabe, the streets are fairly quiet and its definitely a safe place.

The South End has really become its own Boston nabe, with several well known and fantastic boutiques, restaurants, and bars. Many restaurant owners are catching on and opening South End locations.

The way I’m talking about it, it sounds like the nabe is in Boston Siberia, but its right near the Back Bay and close to Back Bay Station and several Green Line T stops. Visiting or moving here, this is a worthwhile nabe!

Lost and Loving It; A Day in Boston's South End