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03/04/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 03/04/2026 16:46

Getting to Know Your Neighborhood: Brookline Village

Getting to Know Your Neighborhood: Brookline Village

Unique shops, great restaurants, and plenty of history

In the City

Getting to Know Your Neighborhood: Brookline Village

Unique shops, great restaurants, and plenty of history

If you build it, they will come. And so they did. Brookline, which was part of the city of Boston until it was independently incorporated in 1705, was first established around the old Town Green. But with the arrival of the Boston and Albany Railroad in 1847, the community's hub moved to Brookline Village, which has been the town's civic and commercial center ever since, home to the police and fire stations, public library, and courthouse.

After the Civil War, the commercial area expanded up Washington and Harvard Streets-now considered the heart of the village-where, today, shops abut homes, recycling is the norm, higher-than-average property taxes produce excellent schools, overnight street parking is illegal, and family-owned businesses far outnumber chains.

Brookline Village is a neighborhood rich in history, local charm, and a vibrant mix of businesses.

Nearby parks

Daniel F. Ford Park and Playground at Emerson Garden
Fronted by Davis Avenue and Emerson Street

This two-acre playground is nestled in a residential area of Brookline Village. Trees shade the perimeter of a large grassy field lined with benches, providing a spot for reading, relaxing, and people-watching. Along with slides, a climbing structure, and a toy ship, the playground has Brookline's first spray pool, where children can cool down on a hot summer's day. The nearby park, with walking paths, is dog-friendly, and offers off-leash hours, for a fee, between dawn and 9 am, as part of the town's Green Dog Program.

Linden Park
Between Linden Place and Linden Street

[Link]Linden Park. Photo by Maddie Malhotra (COM'19)

Established in 1843, this quiet park sports only a single play feature: a circular sandbox, about 20 feet in diameter. The park offers passersby a reprieve from Harvard Street's traffic and a peaceful place to eat takeout from numerous neighboring cafés. A single table sits at the front entrance, and benches are scattered throughout. Near the back entrance is one dedicated to "Alan J. Gagne (1952-2006), Linden Street's beloved mailman." Linden Park is listed on both the National and State Registers of Historic Places.

Linden Square
Between Linden Place and Toxteth Street

This tranquil park doesn't have slides or sandboxes, but does feature shady benches, ideal for reading a good book or enjoying a relaxing lunch. Established in 1843, the park is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Brookline Reservoir Park
Route 9 between Lee and Warren Streets

Brookline's Reservoir Park. Photo by Sahana Sreeprakash (ENG'22)

Both runners and walkers make use of the one-mile circumference of the Brookline Reservoir Park. The reservoir is also a popular destination for anglers: the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife stocks the human-made body of water annually. Those wishing to fish need only bring a permit from the Town Clerk's Office, along with their fishing gear. The Brookline Reservoir Gatehouse, which was built in 1848, was designed to keep Boston's water supply flowing if the main supply was disrupted. In 2015, the National Park Service declared the Brookline Reservoir and Gatehouse a National Historic Landmark.

Village highlights

Brothers & Sisters Co. Coffeehouse + Café
7 Station St.

Brothers & Sisters Co. Coffeehouse + Café, 7 Station Street. Photo by Sana Muneer

Brothers & Sisters Co. Coffeehouse + Café serves passersby with a wide variety of pastries and beverages. The dining area is decorated with colorful pastel drawings, decorative lamps, and an assortment of cozy leather booths, with speakers playing a constant flow of indie tracks. It's the ideal spot for anyone in search of a quiet break. The café is well known for its seasonal drinks, which include floral flavor drinks like butterfly pea matcha and vanilla lavender (for spring), and fruity latte or matcha (for summer). The café also serves breakfast and other sandwiches, including a tofu miso sandwich (with shredded carrots, tomato, and arugula on French bread) and a tuna sandwich (with avocado, tomato, cucumber, arugula, cheddar cheese, and honey mustard spread on seven-grain bread). During the warm-weather months, check out the café's offshoot next door, Jamie's Ice Cream Co., which serves up delicious scoops, sundaes, milkshakes, floats, and a classic banana split from March to October.

Puppet Showplace Theater
32 Station St.

Since 1974, this 100-seat theater has attracted artists from around the world performing marionette, hand, rod, and shadow puppetry. The audience is mainly children (some 20,000 every year)-and for many, it's the first time they've seen live theater. Many performances are familiar, such as adaptations of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. Although mainly for families, school groups, and campers, the theater also hosts programming for adults, like the Puppet Showplace Slam, Boston's oldest puppet cabaret. The theater offers a variety of classes and workshops for children, teenagers, and adults, as well as summer camps for youth and children. Be sure to check out the theater's puppet store, which sells a wonderful variety of puppets and marionettes for all ages.

Boca Grande Taqueria
3 Harvard Square

Boca Grande Taqueria, 3 Harvard Square. Photo by Nancy Jiang (COM'22)

This taqueria specializes in fresh, healthy Mexican cuisine. With a menu featuring tamales, burrito and salad bowls, enchiladas, and street tacos, Boca Grande prides itself on not using hydrogenated oils, trans fats, preservatives, artificial flavorings, or MSG in their food. They also do not use processed, canned, or frozen foods. Their house rice and beans are vegetarian-based and the menu includes several vegan options, such as tofu chile adobo.

Serenade Chocolatier
5 Harvard Square

[Link]Serenade Chocolatier, 5 Harvard Square. Photo by Maddie Malhotra (COM'19)

The chocolatiers here create handmade artisanal chocolates, filling molds and operating a tempering machine in an open kitchen behind the counter. Only natural ingredients-pure butter, cream, fresh-roasted nuts, fruits, and premium European chocolate-are used. A specialty is the Viennese hazelnut, a chocolate cube comprising a single layer of milk and white chocolates wedged between two layers of dark chocolate and infused with hazelnut butter. Novelty items include the chocolate piñata cake, a hollow shell of dark or milk chocolate filled with a variety of artisanal chocolates. Each cake comes with a wooden mallet, so it can be smashed and the chocolate treasures released. The store also blends several dark chocolates to make a 72 percent cocoa-rich, dairy-free vegan chocolate. Follow Serenade Chocolatier on Facebook or X for news of special events and free samples.

Poke Garden
6 Harvard St.

Poke Garden has brought a fusion of Hawaiian and Japanese cuisine to Brookline. With its selection of signature bowls-try the ahi tuna bowl (tuna, seaweed salad, cucumber, mango, scallion, onion crisp, and sesame ginger sauce) or the Poke City Special (with pineapple salsa)-and a build-your-own option, diners will find plenty of different combinations to suit their sushi cravings. Bowls can also be ordered online and are available for delivery.

Henry Bear's Park
19 Harvard St.

This store offers toys and games arranged by age and interest. But it's not just for kids: adults will find gems in the Young at Heart section, with classic board games, such as Scrabble, Monopoly, Battleship, and checkers. The store just released its spring gift guide and themed toys. Henry Bear's Park hosts free events that include educational games and music sessions, popular with local families. The store's name comes from a children's book by David McPhail, published in 1976-the year the first store opened on Huron Avenue in Cambridge. It now has 10 locations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Cafe Itadaki
24 Harvard St.

Cafe Itadaki, 24 Harvard St. Photo by ???

Cafe Itadaki opened in 2024 and quickly became a regular stop for students looking to settle in with a laptop and stay for a while. The menu focuses on Japanese staples-such as ramen, curry, and neatly wrapped onigiri-along with coffee and matcha drinks made with ingredients the owner brings back from trips to Japan. Try the tonkotsu miso ramen, the matcha mille crepes, or the pork katsu curry. For those in a rush, pickup and delivery are available through DoorDash and Uber Eats.

Martin's Coffee Shop
35 Harvard St.

Martin's Coffee Shop, 35 Harvard Street. Photo by Sahana Sreeprakash

This Brookline Village mainstay (it's been in business since 1918!) is a favorite with locals for breakfast and lunch. Grab a seat at the classic diner counter and enjoy a hearty meal of omelets, pancakes, stuffed French toast, or create-your-own eggs Benedict. The lunch menu offers an extensive list of burgers, grilled sandwiches-like the King (eggplant, roasted red peppers, mixed greens, tomato, red onions, and avocado)-salads, soups, rice bowls, grilled wraps, and other classic homestyle favorites. The restaurant opens daily at 7 am (8 am on Sundays) and closes at 3 pm. Online ordering is also available.

Bottega di Capri
41 Harvard St.

This cozy delicatessen gives Italian eateries in the North End a run for their money. Featuring fresh, affordable homemade pastas and more than a dozen sauces for eat-in or takeout, it's the place to grab a sandwich for lunch or a prepared meal when you don't feel like making dinner. The homemade meatballs with pasta and the lobster ravioli are a must, as are the numerous panini and sandwich selections.

Gateway Arts
60-62 Harvard St.

Gateway Arts, a service of the nonprofit Vinfen, is a studio art center dedicated to creating careers in art for people with disabilities. For more than 50 years, the studio spaces, gallery, and storefront have supported artists with developmental and psychiatric disabilities. The space provides them studio mentorship to help them grow professionally and a store where they can sell their artwork, which includes paintings, silk scarves, fine jewelry, wooden furniture, cards, hand-woven textiles, and pottery. Gateway also hosts exhibitions throughout the year in its second-floor gallery space. Half of all profits go directly to the artists. The store is open Monday to Friday from 11 am to 5 pm, and online.

Hipstitch
194 Washington St.

Hipstitch. Photo by Sangmin Song (COM'26)

This creative sewing studio welcomes makers of all ages and experience levels. The Brookline shop is one of several locations, with others in Newton and Wellesley. With a focus on hands-on learning, the studio offers workshops and classes in quilting, fabric collage, and other sewing techniques, guiding beginners through their first stitches while giving more experienced participants space to refine their craft. Hipstitch also offers weeklong summer camps for children and hosts birthday parties for craft-minded kids.

Omori Izakaya
195 Washington St.

Izakayas, for those who don't know, are informal Japanese bars that serve alcoholic drinks and snacks. True to that spirit, this Japanese pub offers a wide menu of Japanese street food items and starter entrées like sashimi, yakitori, and donburi, as well as full course omakases (chef's choice) that pair well with the restaurant's beer, sake, and wine program. Omori is open daily and reservations are available for private events. Be sure to check out the daily lunch specials and check online for discounts and promotions. Outdoor dining is available during warm-weather months on the patio.

Cadeau Boutique & Gallery
214 Washington St.

Photo by Nancy Jiang (COM'22)

Searching for the perfect special birthday or holiday gift? This intimate shop houses a collection of candles, housewares, a carefully curated selection of clothing, ceramics, fine jewelry, and accessories, including bags and scarves. It's staffed by friendly sales clerks who help guide you through every step of the gift-buying process. The boutique is the brainchild of Sara Petras, former manager of the former women's clothing store Portobello Road, in Chestnut Hill. She earned an MFA in painting from MassArt and has a passion for early-20th-century French painting. The boutique is open Mondays through Saturdays, and it also has a location in the South End.

Turtle Books
224 Washington St.

Turtle Books. Photo by Sangmin Song (COM'26)

Turtle Books arrived on Washington Street in 2025 and is dedicated to young readers. Co-owners Bruce and Cathy Jacobs said they wanted to create something that would serve the neighborhood (the long-running Children's Bookshop, which was across the street, closed in 2022). The shelves lean heavily toward children's titles, with a smaller selection of books for adults mixed in. The shop also hosts book clubs, graphic novel workshops, Sunday read-aloud sessions for toddlers to kindergarten age, poetry contests, and events with local authors. And visitors can also stop by and see the shop's mascot turtle in his tank.

The Shared Tea
229 Washington St.

The Shared Tea is the perfect place to wind up after a long day of exploring Brookline Village. The menu offers classic boba and milk teas, matchas, cheese foam teas, fruit smoothies, and more. Try the tea-based peach smoothie with homemade cheese foam. The sharable mochi bites are delicious, the perfect accompaniment to any tea drink.

Mahaniyom
236 Washington St.

This popular Thai eatery has a small, carefully curated dinner menu, and is renowned for its innovative cocktail list. In 2025, Mahaniyom received a Bib Gourmand designation from the acclaimed Michelin Guide for its exceptional cocktails. Co-owners Smuch Saikamthorn and Chompon Boonnak (MET'13) were childhood friends who grew up together in Thailand's Phetchabun province, and they've designed their restaurant to resemble the unassuming bars and grab-and-go street food eateries they knew as kids. The food is prepared the way the chefs intended-straightforward and simple. You'll find classics like pad thai, delicious and inventive entrees like the larb ped (egg noodles, duck meat, Thai chili powder, cilantro, mint, rice powder, crispy shallot), and a selection of rice plates. The outstanding handcrafted cocktails include creative options like the Mahaniyom Sazerac, made with Thai tea-infused rye, house bitters, and absinthe. Diners can also order online.

Boston E-Bikes
242 Washington St.

Boston E-Bikes, 242 Washington St. Photo by Sana Muneer

This family-owned business founded in 2018 by a Brookline native showcases both bikes and e-bikes. In addition to offering a selection of new e-bikes (brands include Euphree, Velotric, Blix, Liberty Trike, and Lectric, each with a full two-year warranty), the store offers repairs and pickup and delivery services. It also offers test rides by appointment and walk-in service, depending on availability. The knowledgeable and friendly staff will help find the right e-bike for you.

Framers' Workshop
278 Washington St.

[Link]Framer's Workshop, 278 Washington Street. Photo by Sarah Silbiger (COM'18)

Since 1976, Framers' Workshop has been a mainstay in Brookline Village. Once Boston's only do-it-yourself frame shop, the store has now shifted to mostly custom framing, but they do offer take-home orders that allow you to assemble your art at home. Those kits run between $50 and $60 for smaller pieces to $150 to $400 for larger pieces, subject to the materials. The shop also offers DIY workshop stations for those who want to do their own framing. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and helpful-and can even build custom-framed mirrors. For custom orders, appointments are recommended. Note: the shop is closed Sundays and Mondays.

Cutty's
284 Washington St.

"Nobody knows how great our ingredients are," says co-owner Charles Kelsey, who invests in food-rather than advertising-for his gourmet breakfast and lunch sandwich shop. Kelsey and his wife, Rachel, seek out local, organic ingredients like all-natural, antibiotic-free meats, fresh bread from Iggy's in Cambridge, and fresh produce from Brookline's Allandale Farm. Former America's Test Kitchen editors with degrees from the Culinary Institute of America, the couple prepare food on-site. The sandwiches are amazing, featuring everything from a slow-roasted beef sandwich (with crispy shallots, Thousand Island dressing, and sharp cheddar on brioche) to a greens and bacon sandwich (with Swiss chard and spicy mayo on ciabatta). Their BBQ ranch fried chicken sandwich-which takes days to prepare and is one of the shop's most popular items-is one of two sandwiches only available on their Super Cluckin' Sunday-held once a month-along with the honey mustard fried chicken sandwich. Limited quantities of these sandwiches are available, and can be ordered ahead of time online. Also look out for Cutty's daily specials.

Anatolia Buffet & Kebab House
305 Washington St.

Anatolia Buffet & Kebab House serves traditional Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine. The restaurant is run by owner Ahmet Ozseferoglu, who serves up specialties from his homeland, including an Adana kebab (named after the fifth-largest city by population in Turkey, where it originated), consisting of spicy ground lamb on skewers. Although the halal-certified menu is heavy on meat, vegetarians will enjoy feta cheese pizza and a variety of cold appetizers and salads. Many dishes are served with pide, a homemade sesame-seeded bread that's soft on the inside, crunchy on the outside (it's delicious!). With many items premade and showcased at the counter, service is quick.

Village Pizza House
312 Washington St.

Village Pizza House. Photo by Sangmin Song (COM'26)

This pizzeria has been serving up Greek-style pizza to local residents and Brookline High School teachers and students since 1970. You'll also find a wide selection of subs, burgers, pasta dishes, salads, calzones, wraps, and homemade lasagnas. Many customers choose to carry out or order online, but there is ample seating inside. Be sure to try one of the specialty pizzas, like the grilled chicken Alfredo pizza with broccoli.

Veggie Crust
8 Cypress St.

This eclectic vegetarian restaurant (with vegan options) specializes in classic Indian dishes, such as curries and samosas, while also offering Italian specialties like pizza and pasta. Try the paneer tikka masala pizza (topped with masala sauce, marinated paneer, red onion, garlic, and ginger) or the white spinach feta pizza (topped with Alfredo sauce, feta, mozzarella, spinach, garlic, and caramelized onions). Traditional Indian options include malai kofta, saag paneer, chana masala, and dal makhani. If you're feeling thirsty, complete your meal with a fresh juice or sweet mango lassi. Veggie Crust's Brookline Village location (there is another in Somerville) is also kosher-certified. Note: the restaurant is closed Mondays.

The Brookline Pizza Spa
75 Harvard St.

A favorite with locals, the Brookline Pizza Spa serves pizza, salads, wraps, paninis, calzones, wings, and other New England favorites like roast beef sandwiches and raspberry lime rickeys. The shop also serves pizza by the slice-which is almost the size of two slices-for $4 to $5, depending on the variety. Gluten-free pizzas, sandwiches, and wraps are also available. Owned by the Shuja family since 2023, the Harvard Street building (where the eatery is located) dates from 1910, when it operated as a hotel. The Brookline Spa (no pizza back then) eventually turned into a restaurant and later a convenience-grocery store for several decades. The restaurant now offers delivery from 11 am to close!

Newsboys Memorial to Albert Edward Scott
333 Washington St.

Tucked away alongside Brookline Town Hall, this small memorial honors all Brookline residents who gave their lives while serving their country. But if you walk to the back of the memorial, you'll discover that it specifically honors Albert E. "Scotty" Scott, a 15-year-old newsboy who lied about his age and entered World War I while still a Brookline High School freshman. Less than a year after entering the Army, Scott became a folk hero in Brookline, reportedly killing or injuring some 30 German soldiers in France, before being killed by one of them. A plaque commemorating his sacrifice was erected by the Roosevelt Newsboys' Association of Boston.

Public Library of Brookline
361 Washington St.

[Link]The Public Library of Brookline, 361 Washington Street. Photo by Chynna Benson (CGS'18, COM'20)

For more than 150 years, the Public Library of Brookline has served a variety of local residents, including the Kennedy clan, Emmy- and Tony-winning actress Jane Alexander, TV personalities like Conan O'Brien, and sports luminaries like Patriots' owner Bob Kraft. Besides books, the library offers all of its card-carrying members access to ESL conversation groups; foreign language books, including large collections of Chinese, Russian, and Hebrew texts; and museum passes for reduced admission to cultural institutions like the New England Aquarium, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Museum of Science. The library hosts storytimes and other programming, and provides resources for people with disabilities, seniors, and students. The Brookline Village branch also has an outdoor children's garden featuring benches perfect for reading. Digital books and audiobooks are also available for rental. Titles are available electronically for up to three weeks, then they vanish.

Off the beaten path

La Morra
48 Boylston St.

Enter La Morra's exposed upstairs yellow-walled dining room for traditional Northern Italian cuisine featuring an authentic Tuscan-style wood-burning grill. Husband and wife duo Jennifer and Josh Ziskin advertise "simple ingredients" and "time-honored techniques." Inspired by the Italian village of La Morra, guests can choose from an array of flavorful roast meats and fish, homemade pasta, and cicchetti (Venetian tapas). The seasonal menu includes entrees like pan-seared monkfish with roasted sunchokes, braised spinach, and parsley puree, and pork osso buco with creamy polenta, mushrooms, and gremolata, as well as a rotating selection of vegetarian entrées. The restaurant has a bar displaying dozens of Italian wines and liquors and offers seasonal cocktails. La Morra offers takeout and delivery. Note: the restaurant is closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Rifrullo Café
147 Cypress St.

Owner and chef Colleen Marnell-Suhanosky, a James Beard Award-winning cookbook author, wants customers to feel at home in her restaurant-and the menu does just that. There are breakfast offerings, such as a variety of egg dishes, spiced French toast with maple butter and caramelized apples, and chia porridge (made with organic oats, chia seeds, coconut milk, fresh pears, and toasted pecans). Lunch items include fresh salads and homestyle favorites like grilled cheese. Try the chicken shawarma (with feta tzatziki, cabbage radish salad, cucumbers, and red onion), the vegetarian Greek gyro, or the salmon burger (served with cilantro sesame slaw and spicy tahini). The baked goods are delicious, as well. You can grab a seat at the counter or on the hot pink leatherette couch, an heirloom from the owner's grandparents' Italian restaurant in Minneapolis.

Shambhala Meditation Center
646 Brookline Ave.

Discovering your own kindness, goodness, strength, and wisdom as a means to moving toward a more harmonious society is the goal of the Shambhala community. To that end, it offers weekend workshops, dharma talks, and meditation in two shrine rooms with comfortable mats and scented with incense. The center welcomes people of all faiths and traditions, with monthly theme nights, such as the Heart of Recovery-which brings together Buddhist meditation practice and the 12-step model of recovery for people on the path to sobriety-a monthly LGBTQ+ meditation group, and another for those who self-identify as people of color. No membership is required for drop-in groups, but a donation of $25 is suggested for beginners, if they can afford it. The center has a tiered pricing model to support a variety of financial circumstances. More info can be found here.

Evelyn Kirrane Aquatic Center
60 Tappan St.

Named for the town's Recreation Department superintendent from 1972 to 1989, the aquatics center on the Brookline High School campus was the nation's first indoor public swimming facility. The center has three pools: a shallow one for children and beginners, a lap pool, and a diving area. The last two connect through a sealed tunnel, and swimmers wearing goggles can peer through the lap pool's underwater window to watch divers on the other side. A major attraction for swimmers with sensitive skin is the pools' copper ionization filtration system, which lowers the levels of chlorine required. The pools cost $8 a visit for Brookline residents, $10 for nonresidents, and a reduced rate of $6 and $8 for students. Yearly adult and family passes are also available for purchase. Private and group swimming lessons are available for Brookline residents (prices vary).

Getting there: By foot, head down Harvard Street from Comm Ave until you cross Washington Street. The 1.5-mile walk takes about 30 minutes. By T, walk to the Fenway stop on Park Drive and take the outbound D Line trolley two stops to Brookline Village. By bus, hop on the #66 headed down Harvard Street.

This article was updated March 5, 2026.

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Boston University published this content on March 04, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 04, 2026 at 22:46 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]