Union Oyster House – Downtown Boston

Boston is a city so rich in history.  Other than Italian food, that might end up being my favorite part about in this city.

For our second day in Boston, our plan was to walk around downtown Boston and see the sights on the Freedom Trail. First, however, I could not resist the opportunity to stop by Boston Public Library, where history meets the present.

Boston Public Library is absolutely gorgeous, on the inside and out. A longtime friend said it best when she commented on my Instagram post saying, “If this doesn’t convince someone to read a book, I’m not sure what could!” I absolutely could spend hours in this library. I cannot wait to get a library card as soon as I move to Boston.

From the library, it was not too far of a walk to get to the beginning of the Freedom Trail, which is a 2.5 mile long path which hosts a number of historic buildings and monuments dating from the Revolutionary period. It is slightly daunting to be visiting these old and momentous sights. I will probably have to walk the trail a few times before I am able to take it in fully.

Among the buildings on the Freedom Trail is Faneuil Hall, which we had visited for lunch the day before.  In our second time around, we explored some more of the non-food shops where I got myself my very first Boston sweatshirt.

After touring inside Boston Public Library and also the Massachusetts State House, I was starting to get very hungry. Good thing we found a restaurant along the freedom trail, Union Oyster House. The block where this restaurants sits is so quintessential New England. This is exactly what comes to mind when I think of New England. It felt like I had been transferred back in time to another era. That is a huge part of the appeal of New England for me.

The atmosphere inside the restaurant was also on point with my expectations for New England. This was a New England pub to a tee with the somewhat odd and over-cluttered local decor. Much of it was a bit corny, but I absolutely loved it.

The food was also exactly what I expected from a New England pub. I absolutely had to start with a bowl of New England clam chowder. This soup is creamy and velvety and warmed me on the inside after a chilly morning of walking around outside. Andrew and I both got the clam chowder, while Chris went for the fish chowder. I personally like the clam chowder better because the other one was too fishy for my taste.

We were also served fresh, hot cornbread. This bread was so moist and buttery. That didn’t stop me from spreading some more butter on this bread, but it would have been just as good without it.

For my main course, I ordered the fish sandwich with a side of fries. This was a big ole plate of carby goodness. The fish was lightly breaded and topped with aged white cheddar served with a side of tartar sauce. I typically fall into the camp that disagrees with pairing cheese and seafood, but I enjoyed it on this sandwich. They also made a rather good french fry.

Union Oyster House is a frequently visited restaurant given its location and history. Open since 1826, they claim to be the oldest restaurant in the United States. I can see why this is a truly Boston establishment. I can imagine coming here for a warm cup of soup and a beer to warm me up on a cold winter day.

Look, I know this place is a bit of a tourist trap, but it is part of historic Boston and a fun place to try if you are visiting Boston. 

*This post reflects my honest views. I did not receive any compensation or other incentives to post this review.

Union Oyster House
41 Union St.
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 227-2750