Downtown, The Financial District and Chinatown
Want to be in the center of everything?
If you envision yourself surrounded by that oh-so-American landscape of skyscrapers, steam-belching manhole covers, and throngs of hurried pedestrians in business suits, than the Financial District/Leather District/Chinatown is your place. And in Chinatown, you’ll have the added color of sidewalk vegetable vendors and some interesting smells.
In fact, this area of town did not offer much in the way of residential real estate until recent years. But now that dozens of new luxury residential condominium developments have sprouted up downtown, there are hundreds of new residents in this part of town. Many of them also live in old industrial and office buildings that have been converted into sleek, minimalist lofts.
This neighborhood offers quick access to the office for those who work downtown, as well as proximity to The Back Bay, The Waterfront and the North End. The airport is just an easy subway ride away and South Station, the train station, offers a fast train to New York.
You’ve got to be a bit of an urban pioneer to appreciate this part of town. Although there is lots of activity and good shopping during the day, streets in the Financial District pretty much clear out after dark. You won’t find quite the liveliness of the Back Bay or South End once the offices have closed. On the other hand, many of the units available here often something that is harder to find in other parts of the city: Condos are often spacious, very modern, and offer amenities such as a concierge who may even offer to walk your dog on nearby Boston Common. There are also some spectacular views of both the city and the waterfront.
Neighborhood fact: More than 17 new luxury condo developments have gone up in this neighborhood in the last few years.
Neighborhood Links
- Downtown Crossing
- Boston Chinatown.org
- Chinatown Blog
- Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center
- Leather District Boston
- LDNA Blog
- Bay Village Neighborhood Association
Where to go in Downtown, Financial District, Chinatown for:
- An American Bistro: Silvertone, meatloaf and mashed potatoes instead of faux-Euro food.
- Dim Sum: Emperor’s Garden, 690 Washington St, 617-482-8898, authentic, authentic, authentic.
- Sushi: Ginza, winner of Boston Magazine’s Best of Boston Award.
- Dessert: Finale Restaurant. The molten chocolate cake is almost as good as the kind you can find in Southern Italy.
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