Get to Know Boston’s Left Bank

A Sponsored Article from Cambridge Office for Tourism


Offering unique meeting venues and a smorgasbord of international cuisine, Cambridge has a neighborhood that’s perfect for your group.

Each of Cambridge’s five main neighborhoods (or squares, as locals call them) has a personality all its own. Whether you’re trying to find a futuristic venue for your organization’s big event or want to plan an off-the-clock itinerary for your team of young professionals, getting to know these vibrant squares can help you decide where to plan your next gathering.

Central Square
Eclectic doesn’t even begin to describe this tiny-but-tenacious patch of the city. Attendees will find that expertly brewed coffee, Prohibition-inspired cocktails and healthy smoothies are always close at hand here. This is an area where tech start-up offices comingle with brightly-colored Indian restaurants—a diverse vibe that team members will appreciate.

Harvard Square
A trip to Cambridge isn’t complete without a visit to historic Harvard Square. Arrange for a guided stroll through the Yard to give attendees a healthy dose of the Ivy League between meetings, or host an elegant dinner or reception in the newly renovated Harvard Art Museums. From marveling at fine works of art to walking the same streets as some of the brightest minds in the country, Harvard Square is ripe with inspiration.

Inman Square
Head a little off the beaten path to this hidden gem of a neighborhood, where your group can enjoy a properly poured Guinness at The Druid, a popular Irish pub housed in the oldest wooden mercantile building in Cambridge. Or opt for a post-meeting pint at Bukowski Tavern, where they can spin the Wheel of Indecision to help make a selection from the bar’s 150-plus beer options.

Kendall Square
Between web giants such as Google and Microsoft, a dense cluster of biotech companies and the cutting-edge research going on at MIT, Kendall Square is, simply put, a venerable playground for scientific progress. Host your event in the Frank Gehry-designed, tangle-of-angles Stata Center; Eero Saarinen’s ethereal MIT Chapel; or arrange for a seated dinner among robots at the MIT Museum.

Porter Square
The 46-foot-tall, bright red Gift of the Wind kinetic sculpture greets you as soon as you step out of the subway station in Porter Square, a densely-packed commercial district where international restaurants abound. This is a great area to meet for casual group lunches, where you can choose from savory options like the Mediterranean fare at Baraka or the ramen menu at Yume Wo Katare.

Let Cambridge Office for Tourism help you plan your next successful meeting.

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