Long in the shadow of its neighbor Cambridge, Somerville has emerged in recent years as a destination worthy in it's own right.  Davis has been on the upswing from working class city to hip, affordable mecca since the mid 80s, helped largely by the extension of the "T".  Davis Square merchants briefly referred to themselves as located in "Somerville-Cambridge" due to their proximity to the cooler Cambridge, but it now has a cache all its own and is proudly a distinctly Somerville destination.

Young professionals, Tufts students and Somerville natives peacefully co-exist in Davis Sqaure (the rest of Somerville is mostly residential or industrial so probably less compelling for visitors).   Davis offers a great mix of funky shops, restaurants from takeout to high end and local services.

Those seeking coffee while they explore Davis Square have many choices to fit their personal syle - chains Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks each draw their own crowds (the Starbucks even has a fireplace!), while the  Someday Cafe and Diesel both have a more independent vibe. Redbones Redbones2:

Those seeking nightlife will not be disappointed.  The Burren is an excellent Irish pub which often has live music.  Johnny D's Uptown Lounge features a variety of musical acts (and serves fantastic blueberry pancackes on weekend mornings).  If live music isn't your thing, Joshua Tree offers a quality yuppy bar experience, and decent pub fare as well.

 On to dining, many great choices.

  • If you're splurging, Gargoyles on the Square offers top notch cuisine with prices lower than you'd find at similar quality places in downtown Boston. 
  • If BBQ is your thing, Redbones may be the best in the Boston area. 
  • Diva offers quality Indian fare, while those a little more adventurous should not miss the Tibetan food at Martsa on Elm.
  • The Blue Shirt Cafe offers tasty take out with vegetarian options.
  • Picante and Anna's both offer quality, low key Mexican.
  • Joshua Tree and Orleans both offer good mid-range options with sit down service.

Davis Sqaure boasts a great old movie house, The Somerville Theater, which offers discounted tickets to near first run and independent films.

 For shoppers, there are quite a few interesting shops - from Pluto for funky gifts to Buck-a-Book for cheap reads.

Other spots beyond Davis Sqaure that are worth a visit:

  • Dali for Tapas
  • The Wine and Cheese Cask for you guessed it, wine and cheese!
  • Sound Bites for Brunch (Ball Sqaure)
  • O'Sullivan's - one of the best burger joints in Boston