Where locals eat in Cambridge, Massachusetts
A common misconception about Cambridge dining: People assume Harvard Square has the best restaurants because it's famous. Locals know the opposite — Harvard Square restaurants serve tourists. The best food is in Central, Inman, and Porter, where restaurants survive on repeat customers, not foot traffic.
How locals actually choose a restaurant: First, pick the neighborhood you're already in. Then pick the cuisine. Then check if you need a reservation. Cambridge restaurants are small; the good ones fill up. Spontaneous dining works best at lunch or early dinner.
Julia Child lived on Irving Street. She would've loved our restaurant scene.
Elegant bistro with seasonal menu featuring European-inspired cuisine. Beautiful outdoor patio perfect for warm weather, excellent wine selection. Inman Square destination.
Award-winning Mediterranean restaurant with Turkish and Arabic influences. Chef Ana Sortun's seasonal menu features creative mezze, grilled meats, and vegetarian options.
Beloved Middle Eastern restaurant serving Levantine-inspired mezze and hearty entrees. Owner Mohamad El Zein's personal stamp on traditional dishes with a mostly Lebanese wine list. Now expanded to a larger Central Square location.
The original 1369 location in Inman Square, opened 1993 in the former 1369 Jazz Club space. Cozy neighborhood feel with excellent coffee and community atmosphere.
Authentic Irish pub in Cambridge's oldest wooden mercantile building. Known for perfect Guinness, excellent food, and live Irish music sessions three times weekly.
Chef Will Gilson's acclaimed New American restaurant in Inman Square. Seasonal, locally sourced cooking in a converted Puritan furniture store. Known for whole-animal butchery, creative vegetable dishes, and an excellent cocktail program.
Cambridge institution since 1919. Jewish-style deli serving everything from traditional Reubens to innovative entrees. Birthplace of Legal Sea Foods (1950). Three generations of the same family.
Inman Square coffee institution. Been here forever, feels like someone's living room. Great for reading, working, or just existing. The iced coffee is perfect. Not trying to be trendy, just trying to be good. Exactly what a coffee shop should feel like.
Authentic North Indian street food at prices that make no sense (in a good way). The chole bhature is perfect. The thali platters are generous. No frills, strip mall location, incredible food. This is what dhaba-style should taste like. Best value Indian in Cambridge.
Lively Inman Square Mexican restaurant with tableside guacamole, creative fare, and assorted margaritas. Local favorite for Tex-Mex comfort food and generous portions.
Join our distinguished directory of Cambridge establishments and connect with discerning diners across all eight districts.
"I saved Latin. What did you ever do?"
— Max Fischer, Rushmore Academy
Cambridge has over 120 curated restaurants spanning every cuisine. Top-rated spots include award-winning establishments in Harvard Square and Inman Square, diverse ethnic restaurants in Central Square, and innovative dining in Kendall Square. Browse our directory sorted by rating above to find the highest-rated options.