Central Square
Central Square
3.5
About
Located between Harvard and MIT, this city square boasts a diverse range of pubs, multicultural restaurants and festivals.
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The area
Address
How to get there
- Central • 1 min walk
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2,883 within 3 miles
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996 within 6 miles
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3.5
73 reviews
Excellent
14
Very good
28
Average
23
Poor
6
Terrible
2
Globalist2
25 contributions
Feb 2013
Central Square in many ways is stuck in 1964. The street signs, the businesses and even the grit on the street feel stuck in a bygone era. The restaurants and stores don't offer much novelty (with several notable exceptions), however, it is a decent place to come on a night out if you're interested in alternative music. Gems nearby include Cantab Lounge (divey) and Green Street (tucked behind the square).
Written 12 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pawsthebest
Boston379 contributions
May 2012
Lots to see and do here. Very artsy area with all sorts of shops, restaurants, dance studios, etc.
Written 4 May 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlexanderD
Jackson, NJ5,743 contributions
Aug 2019 • Family
My family and I enjoyed our evenings near here on our recent trip. There are a ton of diverse and interesting restaurants, some featuring live music. It was a high point of our time in Cambridge to be able to enjoy the culinary scene here. Definitely a locale to visit if you are interested in the local food scene.
Written 27 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GailGee
Leander, Texas, United States55 contributions
Dec 2015 • Couples
While there are a lot of bars and restaurants here, we stay clear. There is a homeless shelter and a methadone clinic here as well. There are scary unbalanced people everywhere. Most of the bars are cash only. Visit at your own risk.
Written 13 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Filmcraft
Augusta, GA176 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
We thought a walk from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus to Harvard University would be fun... not so much! And at the very halfway point (Central Square) was the worst. If you want to find Cambridge's most dangerous place, here it is. Police everywhere, homeless everywhere, open drug use and drunkenness... right here in Central Square. Not safe, not pleasant, no need to be here!
Written 5 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RamblinDan
Boston, MA2,673 contributions
Sept 2013 • Friends
Although the area gets a bad rep, and is indeed home to many people who are seriously down on their luck, Central Square has a lot to offer: some of the best restaurants in the Boston area (Cragie on Main, Rendezvous, Cuchi Cuchi, Central Kitchen, Garden at the Cellar and many excellent Thai, Chinese, Tibetan and Indian spots) and many great places for live music (most notably TT the Beras and the Middle East). Definitely worth a visit.
Written 5 September 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Escape Enthusiast
5 contributions
Jan 2019 • Business
Exited the Central Subway stop for a business meeting, and with 2 hours to kill, was pleasantly surprised by the neighborhood. Two wonderful art stores, a few nice coffee shops, wonderful selection of restaurants, a quirky thrift store (Boomerangs), two lovely bookshops, and dozens of other interesting establishments. Seems to be a neighborhood in transition, and let's just hope it doesn't get overrun with chain outlets like Harvard Square.
Written 22 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yaya Limon
Cambridge, MA18 contributions
Dec 2018 • Friends
Central still teems with life, unique thrift shops, record stores and more eateries than you can imagine. The streets are still full of all kinds of folks, just hanging out on the benches or dropping in for a quick bite. Many affordable places to eat and two all star art stores across the street from each other!
Written 6 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bcl208
Freedonia153 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
Central Square has it all. Within just a few blocks, one can find all of life's necessities as well as some things that make life worth living. Perhaps the strongest points are the excellent and diverse dining options. Some that quickly jump to mind are Life Alive Organic Cafe, Green Street, Rangzen Tibetan Restaurant, Mainely Burgers, India Pavilion, Andala Cafe, Brookline Lunch, Clover, Flour Bakery and Cafe, and Dumpling House (where one does not want to miss the mini soup dumplings with pork). After eating, visit the MIT Museum before hopping on the conveniently-located red line, which leaves one just minutes away from all that Boston has to offer.
Although Central Square may not be a prime destination itself, it is a fantastic base for exploring all of Cambridge and Boston. It may not be a great place to visit, but one would want to live there.
Although Central Square may not be a prime destination itself, it is a fantastic base for exploring all of Cambridge and Boston. It may not be a great place to visit, but one would want to live there.
Written 17 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nikki!
Singapore, Singapore23 contributions
Feb 2018
There are some interesting shops and cafes (Life Alive, 1369 Coffee House, Mainely Burgers, Pandemonium Books & Games), but they were few and far between.
Written 5 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi,
Is the area broadway and Columbia safe for a family to live in?
Written 8 February 2015
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