The Boston Marathon is the most well known Marathon in the whole world and is the biggest event that Boston holds each year. And because of that if you will be in Boston during the Marathon you need to know the tips and tricks that locals use to survive the weekend prior and Marathon Monday itself. Turn Marathon Weekend into a five-star getaway!
People Watching
Enjoying your time in Boston right before and during the Marathon is a delicate balancing act of getting a taste of the action and getting a respite from all the people. So when you arrive in Boston and still have enough energy to put up with the crowds, I recommend lunching on Newbury Street and enjoying an afternoon of people watching. Runners come from all over the world to compete, so on a sunny Saturday before the event the street will be bustling with well-toned people from across the globe.
One of my favorite places to enjoy an alfresco lunch is Met Back Bay.
I like to keep it light and tasty at Met, starting with a sparking cocktail and some tuna sashimi is the way to go!
Sitting outside right on Newbury Street you have a front row to Boston’s chicest neighborhood.
Moving on to a crunchy kale salad with grilled steak and finishing with a delicious dessert makes for a wonderful meal!
Take a Harbor Cruise
By the time Marathon weekend rolls around Boston is usually waking up from its winter hibernation and it should be prime springtime. So if you are lucky enough to arrive on a sunny weekend, hit the water and tour the city by boat on a harbor cruise. The best option in town is Boston Harbor Cruises, they offer a few different site seeing tours as well as whale watches! We choose the “USS Constitution Cruise”.
The views from the boat are amazing!
If you are looking to get some pictures of things other than the finish line, a harbor cruise is the way to go! And not to mention this is a great way to get away from the crowds in Back Bay.
A Stylish Dinner
After your harbor cruise, especially if you don’t feel like re-joining the masses in Back Bay, head to the Envoy Hotel, just a 10-minute walk down the street, for a chic and delicious dinner!
The hotel’s restaurant, Outlook, is an amazing new gem in the Seaport. Lead by a rising star on the Boston culinary scene, Chef Tatiana Pairot Rosana, the restaurant is producing amazing food and drinks. We were truly wow’d by the level of sophistication of all the dishes.
Outlook is a must for anyone looking for a stylish night out. Oh and I hear their roof deck is pretty amazing as well, so I will definitely be heading there in a few weeks when it gets a tad warmer!
Marathon Monday
On the big day, there is only one way to watch the Marathon—at L’Espalier. L’Espalier is located steps from the finish line and on the second floor of its Boylston Street building, so you literally will have the best seat in the house to watch all the excitement of the final leg of the race.
Every year the restaurant serves a special 5-course prix fixe menu. As amazing as the food at L’Espalier, having a world-class sporting event to watch while you dine makes it even better!
You start with a complimentary cocktail and some delectable snacks.
And then you move to the house specialty, the lobster bisque.
And then for my appetizer, I had a well-crafted foie gras dish.
And for a main, wild salmon.
As a finale, an upgraded strawberry shortcake.
Unless you are running the race, L’Espalier is the only place you should watch the Marathon.