Local's Guide: Everything worth doing in Boston during the Marathon
A local's guide to Boston Marathon week: which popups to visit, where to run, eat, and visit to experience the best of Greater Boston.
There are dozens of events to go to during the Boston Marathon, local landmarks to see, and places vying for your attention.
It’s chaotic around the Boston Marathon Expo which runs for the better part of the week, and many of the brand activations you will find are on Newbury Street, the main shopping strip in Boston.
Not quite parts unknown, but here’s my list of the places worth seeing and things worth doing. I have also compiled a list of every single marathon popup, shake out run, and satellite event for the 2025 Boston Marathon.
Vintage Boston Marathon Online Popup
In celebration of the 129th Boston marathon, I partnered with Swiftwick to share a one-of-a-kind collection of vintage Boston Marathon from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. The collection will drop in three waves: the first on Monday, April 14, followed by additional releases on Wednesday, April 16, and Friday, April 18. On each day, the collection will be released at 9 am ET. All items are one-of-a-kind and available on a first-come, first-serve basis – once a piece is gone, it’s gone for good!
What to do
There are 40+ events you can stop by that aren’t the Boston Marathon Expo. Definitely stop by there to see the hubbub, but once you get your race bib, there are so many other things to do.
Below I have a rough itinerary and then a full list of suggestions including where to run, where to get coffee, what stores to visit, and where to eat and drink. Choose your own adventure.
Friday 4/18
8:30 am go to the Marathon Sports run with Alex Herms and hit the Charles River
10:00 am head to Newbury and swing by Tracksmith, Puma, and Bandit before the crowds hit. Stop by the Marathon Sports Big Brand Shop and Little Brand Shop along Boylston.
5:00 pm Grab an early dinner at Pammy’s because you earned it
7:00 pm head to the On Labs Launch Party with Mental Athletic
Saturday, 4/19
11:00 am run the link up with BLU and Erniold
12:30 pm head to Lee Glandorf’s popup with Running Wylder and Pruzan at Neighborhood Wines and get a Tarot card reading
4:30 pm go to Saucony’s Product Design Panel
6:30 pm run Puma’s Unsanctioned Race
Sunday, 4/20
9:30 am Heartbreak shakeout
12:00 pm get ice cream from the Mizuno truck on Newbury
6:00 Grab a swami bowl from Life Alive
Tuck in early!
Monday, 4/21
Don’t make any plans beyond where you’re watching the race. Crossing the course is difficult, and if you bring a bag you’ll have to get it searched at checkpoints.
There are 6 after parties (that I know of so far), so take your pick!
Where to run
There are a bunch of shakeouts, so depending on when you get here those are an option. If you are trying to take in the sights or need something alone time, you have options.
If you need to get in a run, do a loop of on the Charles River (route) starting from the Mass Ave. Bridge. Make sure you come back across it and see “Smoot” markers - measurements done by MIT students with a former classmate in 1958.
If you are looking to get away from the bustle and want something a bit more unique, head to Brookline and run from Harry Downes Field to Jamaica Pond for some easy flat loops. Bill Rodgers would have the lifetime Strava Local Legend. For something a bit longer, run the entire Emerald Necklace (route) part of the Frederick Law Olmsted designed park system.
If none of those work for you, I have some more routes on my Boston city guide.
Stores to Stop By
Boston doesn’t have many of the new third and fourth wave running stores, but it’s worth stopping by both Heartbreak (South End) and Tracksmith (Newbury) as well as the Marathon Sports “Big Brand Shop” on Boylston.
Marathon Sports will have their Big Brand Shop and Little Brand Shop operating on Boylston. You can get a sampling of a number of brands including Topo, Altra, Craft, and HOKA.
Heartbreak is the premier running store in Boston and has several locations, but their South End one is perhaps the best stocked. Pick up any last minute needs there or attend any of their numerous events with Nike and adidas. If you want something a bit less exciting, there’s Marathon Sports as well.
Tracksmith will mobbed during their events, so worth going early or late to that. I’ve seen lines go down the block, and there’s no reason to be on your feet that long!
I’m a big vintage fan and will be having my own online popup with marathon vintage from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. If you’re looking for good vintage shopping though, stop by Vivant in Allston, We Thieves in Cambridge (both locations), and FOUND in Cambridge.
Cafes and Bakeries
In Boston proper, there are a handful of cafes worth swinging by. Pavement on Newbury will be swamped, but has great breakfast sandwiches (order online). Gracenote downtown has amazing coffee and is an excellent local roaster. Clear Flour Bread & Bakery is an all time favorite if you can make it to Brookline. Incredible bread, pastries, and great coffee. If you’re willing to get out further, Cafe Fixe is worth a stop. Be sure to order a small cappuccino not a cortado, or the barista will correct you. Tatte is a great local chain for brunch options (shakshuka!!!) although you can do better for coffee. If you’re staying in Seaport (sorry) that might be your best option in walking distance.
In Cambridge, Faro Cafe and Pepita Coffee are my hang spots where I’ll make an effort to dine in. Smoot Standard opened recently as well, and worth a shout if you’re coming from Boston into Cambridge via Mass Ave. If you have a car or don’t mind taking the T, Tilde has excellent coffee, breakfast sandwiches, and operates a pretty good wine bar. Honorable coffee mention to Cicada.
Where to eat
Newbury and the North End will a madhouse so worth getting away from there for dinner. If you do head to the North End, god bless you, and try Bova’s bakery for some Italian cookies and cannolis.
Delivery options if you can’t be bothered to go out:
Life Alive for healthy veg food, get the swami bowl
Mike and Patty’s for anything breakfast sandwich
Time Out Market has a ton of options, but may be swamped because it’s in the Fenway area
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Mistral is a lovely French restaurant, MIDA for Italian, Krasi for Greek. In Cambridge there’s Pammy’s (bar seating is easiest), Sarma (get a resy), Cicada (resy)
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In Boston it’s tough to escape the Newbury area, and the North End is sure to be packed with marathoners seeking pasta dinners. I’d probably skip that and get to The Abbey or Publick House for classic American. Time Out Market isn’t a bad option for a group, but is sure to be busy as well. If you’re feeling like you need something healthy, go to Life Alive and get their swami bowl - thank me later.
If you’re stuck in Seaport, I’d go to either Pastoral for pizza and pasta or Trillium Brewery for one of their grain bowls.
Just across the bridge you can get to Naco Taco for tex-mex, Miracle of Science for burgers, and Veggie Galaxy for super healthy vegetarian food.
If you have the energy to get to East Cambridge, Desfina is a family owned and operated Greek spot. The grilled chicken salad is fantastic and there’s plenty of good bread to go with it. Lone Star is the spot for tacos, and if you aren’t in the mood for that, Gufo (Italian) is across the street.
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Life Alive is a local vegetarian chain that has delicious, healthy food. For something quick and cheap Felipe’s / Anna’s Taqueria for burritos. Beyond that your best bet is probably a fast casual place like Cava.
Where to drink
If you aren’t racing, or are indulging a little there are a bunch of cute wine bars and great dives to go to. Haley.henry downtown serves up natural wine and tinned fish. Temple Records is a cool vinyl bar with a long beer list and solid cocktails. If cocktails are your thing though, get to OFFSUIT speakeasy or Birds of Paradise. For divier bars: Mr. Dooley’s, The Dubliner (likely mobbed), Bukowski Tavern, Anchovies. If you want a field trip head out to a the new pub in Dorchester, McGonagle’s.
Venturing outside of Boston, Cambridge has Dear Annie, a vibey wine bar with small plates and a communal table, The Druid, an Irish pub (plenty of those here) with surprisingly good food, or Lamplighter Brewery for local taps.
For all those racing, good luck! For everyone else, enjoy your visit here and cheer loud :)
Thanks for sharing! Will check these out!
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