Things to Do in Cambridge, Massachusetts: Where to Eat, Stay & Play

Sitting just across the Charles River from Boston, Cambridge is often touted as an add-on for travelers and tourists visiting its much bigger neighbor. But this brainy, creative city more than deserves star billing. The museums and other cultural offerings of its signature universities, Harvard and MIT, are world-class; Cambridge also hosts some of the best dining and shopping around. And when the holiday season rolls around, the enclave of Harvard Square and its adjoining neighborhoods take on a merry personality that lends a bit of extra sparkle to any traveler’s itinerary.

Best Things to Do in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Where to Eat & Drink in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Imagine

At this Iggy’s-spinoff café in Huron Village, you can go virtuous (lattes infused with collagen, ginger, turmeric, etc.) or decadent (signature buttery croissants in plain, chocolate, almond, or ham-and-cheese varieties). Why choose? Swing both ways and live your best café life.

Lehrhaus

Not only does this kosher tavern dish out unexpected Jewish delights—reubens made with beet “pastrami,” mac and cheese kugel, and gefilte fish taquitos, oh my—it also hosts classes and special events, and members can use the lending library focused on Jewish history and culture.

Pammy’s

Cobia, fig, and yuzu kosho in warm dashi. Striper with skordalia and squash blossoms. Mafaldine pasta with honeycomb tripe and labneh. Culinarily speaking, Pammy’s isn’t your nonna’s trattoria—but the welcome is so warm that you will feel like family.

Wusong Road Tiki Bar

Come for the fun, expertly crafted tropical drinks (it’s pretty much impossible to frown while sipping a “1980s Mai Tai”) and stay for the pork belly bao buns and maple pork Peking ravioli. Trust us, a trip to this historic conductor’s building turned tiki bar is always a good time.

Zuzu’s Petals

In the name of ambience, staffers at this screen-free bar ask patrons to stash phones—all the better to focus on your pals and the splittable desserts. Or don’t share: On Mondays, enjoy all-you-can-eat brownies when you order a glass of wine.

Where to Stay in Cambridge, Massachusetts

The Charles Hotel

Long the spot to stay for Harvard parents and visiting dignitaries, it’s no surprise that this well-situated hotel specializes in quiet luxury. Beyond the oversized guest rooms done up in Ivy League chic (plaids, Shaker-style furniture), there are all sorts of smart on-site amenities: EV charging, a tricked-out fitness room, and the city’s top jazz club.

Prentiss House

Walkable to, well, everything, this 20-room modern-but-homey historic inn off Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge’s Baldwin neighborhood boasts an enviable local art collection and convenient self-check-in/check-out.

Best Things to Do in Cambridge, Massachusetts

The Brattle Theatre

While the annual screening of It’s a Wonderful Life on 35mm film is a must-see, this beloved arthouse theater also shows more offbeat seasonal fare such as Gremlins and Die Hard (totally a Christmas movie, end of discussion).

Harvard Art Museums

Rich in important works by Picasso, Degas, Homer, Cézanne, and more, the Harvard Art Museums’ collection can be overwhelming. Break it into several (free) trips or catch a popular Ho Family Student Guide Program tour to see the masterpieces through a student’s eyes.

Harvard Book Store

If the thoughtful selection and quirky bargain basement don’t convince you this is the Boston area’s best bookstore, maybe the coveted author events will: Literary bright lights Gary Shteyngart, Roxane Gay, and Sloane Crosley have all done recent readings.

Midwinter Revels

Since 1971, the stately Sanders Theatre has been home to this annual holiday hootenanny, which blends music from around the globe with holiday sing-alongs and participatory theater. Just try not to dance.

This feature was originally published as part of “Weekend Away: Holiday Weekend in Cambridge, Massachusetts” in the November/December 2025 issue of Yankee.

Courtney Hollands

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