With the weather getting warmer, now is the perfect time to head into Boston to grab brunch with friends or go alone to get some work done. These delicious delis, bakeries, cafes, and diners are the best in the area for their breakfasts and lunches to start your day off with a nourishing meal. These local favorites may not be the infamous Mike’s Pastries tourist attraction, but are surely some hidden culinary gems of Boston that do not receive the credit they deserve. I asked Hingham High School students some of the best, and here are a few of their favorites.
#1 Zaftigs Delicatessen
Located in Brookline, Zaftigs is a Jewish deli serving homemade tasting breakfasts throughout the day, but it has an especially enticing baked goods selection. A staple on the menu is their French toast sprinkled in powdered sugar and fresh fruit, in addition to a fan favorite: their banana-stuffed French toast. Junior Emmy Oppedisano gave the recommendation, praising Zaftigs on their “great portion sizes and flavor,” commenting, “I can’t wait to go back.” The vintage interior of the deli gives it a nostalgic feel, even if it is your first time, and is accompanied by the family-style menu and welcoming staff. Not only is Zaftigs’ food warm, but so is the atmosphere.
Left is the front counter of Zaftigs’ Brookline location.
#2 Beacon Hill Books and Cafe
Despite its more recent establishment, Beacon Hill Books and Cafe is the perfect place to cozy up with a book and sip on a hot coffee or tea after breakfast from the cafe. The bistro’s dishes consist of nutrient-dense classics like oats seasoned with apples and cinnamon as well as soups, salads, and sandwiches around lunchtime. With the option to get grab-and-goes like scones, shortbread cookies, and iced lattes from the cafe and sit out in the courtyards to chat or read, this chic spot is exactly the
place to spend the morning now that spring is on the horizon. Junior Lauren Walker suggested Beacon Hill Books and Cafe because, “it is one of my fav spots in Boston, so quaint and cute, the fact that it is a bookstore sets it apart from the rest and the food is so good too.”
#3 Flour Bakery + Cafe
Flour Bakery and Cafe is not a well-kept secret, but it had to make the list for the popular opinion that serves the best sticky bun in the city. Flour has not only mastered sweets, but the menu is completed by a myriad of savory options like quiches, bacon, and sandwiches. Additionally, one of the best aspects of the bakery is the remarkable inclusivity for dietary restrictions, offering vegetarian, vegan, nut-free, and the choice to make many items gluten-free.
#4 Cafe Sauvage
Cafe Sauvage wins the best aesthetic in the Back Bay, motivating productivity with the natural light beaming in from huge storefront windows. Bring your laptop and get some work done mid-morning in the sunlight while sipping on a French onion soup or enjoying one of the daily selections of specials like the eggs benedict. With an array of airy croissants topped with sweet jams, whether you want to sit and eat or take it to go, walk around the Back Bay, there is an option for every occasion.
