Centre Street is the main commercial spine of Jamaica Plain, one of Boston’s most vibrant and walkable neighborhoods. Together with adjoining South Street, it forms a lively district packed with independent restaurants, cafes, bookstores, boutiques, bars, and ethnic eateries, reflecting JP’s mix of longtime residents, immigrant communities, and a strong local, progressive character. Murals, small parks, and frequent street life give the corridor a distinctly neighborhood feel.
The street is well served by transit: the MBTA Orange Line stops at Green Street and Forest Hills sit a short distance east of the main Centre Street business district, while the heavily used Route 39 bus runs along Centre and South Streets toward Back Bay. Forest Hills, at the southern end, is a major intermodal hub connecting the Orange Line, commuter rail, and many bus routes. Centre Street rewards unhurried exploration on foot, making it a favorite for visitors seeking Boston’s local restaurant and shopping scene.
Good to know
- Jamaica Plain’s main commercial street, lined with independent restaurants, shops, and cafes
- Best explored on foot; the business district runs roughly between Forest Hills and Hyde Square
- Nearest rapid transit is the Orange Line at Green Street and Forest Hills, just east of Centre Street
- The frequent Route 39 bus connects Centre Street directly to Back Bay
Getting there
- Address: Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA 02130 (main commercial stretch roughly between Forest Hills and Hyde Square)
- Neighborhood: Jamaica Plain
- Nearest T: Green Street and Forest Hills (MBTA Orange Line), both a short distance from the Centre Street business district; Route 39 bus runs along Centre Street