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Newbury Street is Back Bay's shopping street, running from the Public Garden at Arlington Street to Massachusetts Avenue, and the best things to do on it are browsing its boutiques and independent shops, looking into its art galleries, and stopping for a meal or ice cream along the way. Walking end to end, from 1 Newbury to Newbury Comics at No. 348, takes about 20 minutes without stops. On selected Sundays the city closes it to cars: the last 2026 Open Newbury day of the summer series is Sunday, October 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The street gets more casual as the numbers rise: designer boutiques and fine jewelry near the Public Garden end, galleries and restaurants in the middle blocks, and record shops and bookstores near Mass Ave. Here is what to do, block by block.
When is Open Newbury Street?
Open Newbury is the City of Boston's car-free Sunday on the mile-long, eight-block stretch from Berkeley Street to Massachusetts Avenue, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The 2026 summer dates were July 12, 19 and 26, August 2, 9 and 23, September 6, 13 (canceled for rain) and 20, and October 11. The city has said one more date in December, a holiday stroll, will be announced later.
Shopping: from the Public Garden end to Mass Ave
The low numbers hold the luxury names. Chanel is at 6 Newbury Street, and Shreve, Crump & Low, which dates its history to 1796, sells jewelry, watches and china from a three-story store at No. 39. In the middle blocks, Buck Mason at No. 229 is one of the few places in Boston to try on the California brand's T-shirts, jeans and outerwear in person.
Toward Mass Ave the street turns independent. Newbury Comics at No. 348 sells vinyl, including exclusive color pressings, along with comics, K-pop and pop-culture merchandise. Next door at No. 338, Trident Booksellers & Cafe has combined a bookstore and a kitchen since 1984 and is still owned by the founding Flynn family.
Art galleries on Newbury Street
Three galleries to look for:
- Copley Society of Art, 158 Newbury Street. Founded in 1879, it is the oldest nonprofit art association in the United States and shows its members' work. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Vose Galleries, 238 Newbury Street, which deals in American paintings and has represented artists such as Aldro Hibbard and John Joseph Enneking.
- Krakow Witkin Gallery, on the fifth floor of 10 Newbury Street, for contemporary art.
Where to eat and drink on Newbury Street
At the top of the street, Contessa is the glass-enclosed Northern Italian restaurant on the roof of The Newbury Boston hotel, with views over the Public Garden; book ahead. Stephanie's on Newbury, at No. 190, has served what it calls sophisticated comfort food since 1994 and has one of the street's sidewalk cafés and a weekend brunch. Trident's cafe is the easy all-day option at the Mass Ave end.
For something sweet, J.P. Licks (No. 173) and Ben & Jerry's (No. 174) face each other across the street, and Amorino serves gelato at No. 249.
Near Newbury Street
The Public Garden is across Arlington Street from the first block. From the middle of the street, around No. 200, it is a two-minute walk south to the Boston Public Library's Central Library on Copley Square, with Trinity Church across the square. From the Mass Ave end it is a seven-minute walk to the Mapparium, the three-story stained-glass globe at 210 Massachusetts Avenue.
How to get to Newbury Street
Take the Green Line. Arlington station is a two-minute walk from 1 Newbury Street, Copley station about two minutes from the middle of the street, and Hynes Convention Center station about two minutes from the Mass Ave end. Driving is harder: street parking is metered and scarce, so use a garage such as the Prudential Center's.
More in the neighborhood: things to do in Back Bay, what to buy in Boston and luxury things to do in Boston.
Sources: City of Boston, Open Newbury; Copley Society of Art; Vose Galleries; Krakow Witkin Gallery; Stephanie's on Newbury; Mapparium. Checked October 1, 2026.