Newbury Street is Boston’s most famous shopping promenade, an eight-block, roughly mile-long stretch running through the heart of the Back Bay from the Boston Public Garden to Massachusetts Avenue. Lined with handsome 19th-century brownstones, it has been converted into an elegant corridor of boutiques, galleries, salons, cafes and restaurants. The character shifts as you walk: the blocks near the Public Garden lean toward high-end fashion and flagship names, while the stretch closer to Mass Ave grows more eclectic, with independent shops, record stores and casual eateries.
Beyond shopping, the street is a showcase of Victorian-era architecture, and many former residences now house businesses behind their original facades. Sidewalk patios make it a prime spot for people-watching, and in warmer months the city periodically closes the street to cars for pedestrian-only “Open Newbury Street” days. It connects easily to other Back Bay landmarks, including Copley Square and the Boston Public Library, making it a natural anchor for a day of exploring the neighborhood on foot.
Good to know
- Free to stroll and window-shop; you only pay if you eat or buy something.
- Walkable and flat; the eastern (Public Garden) end is the most upscale, the western (Mass Ave) end more independent and casual.
- Warm-weather “Open Newbury Street” Sundays close the street to traffic for pedestrians; check the City of Boston site for dates.
- Pairs well with adjacent Back Bay sights like Copley Square and the Boston Public Library, an easy walk away.
Getting there
- Address: Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116
- Neighborhood: Back Bay
- Nearest T: Copley (Green Line B/C/D/E) at the eastern end; Hynes Convention Center (Green Line B/C/D) near the western end