Boston/Outer Neighborhoods

The southernmost neighborhood of Boston, Hyde Park is home to a diverse range of people, housing types and social groups. The area was established in the 1660s and grew into a hub of paper and cotton manufacturing in the eighteenth century, housing new Irish-American immigrants and a flourishing Black population. The extension of rail lines from Boston at Readville Square in the 1850s spurred the area's residential development.

Hyde Park was once home to the first all African-American army unit, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. They assembled and trained at Camp Meigs in Readville. The area would later briefly become a race track during dawn of the 20th century, before being used as an air combat testing facility during World War I. Today it is a series of light industrial buildings near the Neponset river.

Historically a section of neighboring Dorchester, Mattapan became a part of Boston when Dorchester was annexed in 1870. Predominantly residential, Mattapan is a mix of public housing, triple deckers, and single-family homes. Mattapan Square, where Blue Hill Avenue, River Street, and Cummins Highway meet, is the commercial heart of the neighborhood, home to banks, law offices, restaurants, and retail shops. Mattapan now has the largest Haitian community in Massachusetts, and is also largely made up of African Americans and immigrants from other Caribbean countries.

Roslindale is a primarily residential neighborhood six miles southwest of downtown Boston. It was part of Roxbury until it seceded in 1851. The town then voted in 1873 to be annexed to the City of Boston. Roslindale grew residentially as a classic streetcar suburb. Railways were built after the American Civil War, which spawned a new round of commercial development. In the 1920s, Roslindale Village took the shape it has today, with tree-lined Adams Park at its center.

That tree-lined park surrounded by local businesses remains attractive to Bostonians in the 21st century. This walkable area has become a haven for those priced out of JP and other areas affected by gentrification issues. Even here prices have seen dramatic rises in the early 2010s, and residents are working together to maintain the fabric of their community.

Founded in 1630, West Roxbury is nine miles from downtown Boston, and had been used as farm land by the then independent town of Roxbury. Seceding in 1851, West Roxbury was annexed by Boston in 1874. Due to this quirk of history, it's often confused with Roxbury, although the two are not connected and don't share a border.

This neighborhood's claim to fame is that it once played host to an experimental Utopian community during the mid-19th century. Called Brook Farm, members (like Nathaniel Hawthorne) were inspired by the ideals of Transcendentalism, a religious and cultural philosophy based in New England. The experiment was financially unsuccessful, although many members looked back on their experience positively. All of the buildings from this era have since been lost to fire, but the grounds are now a park and available for tours.

The car is the premiere way to get around in these neighborhoods. You will be further from the city center, so traffic and congestion will be (comparatively) less of an issue. On street parking is cheap and easy to find. Most attractions here are further apart and not well served by public transit. While not necessary, a car will make your life easier while here.

Forest Hills station on the Orange line in Roslindale is the only option for direct rapid transit into the city. The next closest option is the Ashmont–Mattapan High Speed Line, a historic trolley that connects to the Red Line in Dorchester. Compared to the rest of the T, this trolley ride is particularly scenic, passing through mill villages and nature areas. The last stop on this line serves Mattapan. Used by locals daily, the current rolling stock was built at the end of World War II and it is a tourist attraction for any train enthusiast.

Other than those two options, you're going to need to ride the commuter rail, or the MBTA buses. For Hyde Park and Mattapan, take a train from South Station on the Fairmount, Franklin, or Providence/Stoughton lines. For Roslindale or West Roxbury get on the Needham line, also from South Station.

For MBTA buses, your best bet is to catch one out from Forest Hills, a major bus hub which plays host to an array of bus routes. Mattapan offers much fewer and less frequent connections, with only infrequent service on the 30, 33, and the 24 routes (the 28 runs to Nubian more frequently). Running out from Forest Hills, the 32 is very useful and runs frequently, paralleling the commuter rail, and making local stops down to Hyde Park. The 34, 35, 36, and 37 all travel down to Roslindale, with the 34/34E running down Washington St. to Dedham and beyond, and the 35/36/37 running to West Roxbury.

1 Le Foyer Bakery, 132 Babson St (Mattapan, T: Mattapan), ☏ +1 617 298-0535. M-Th 7AM-6PM, F Sa 7AM-7PM, Su 7AM-3PM. Very good Haitian bakery. (updated Feb 2017)

2 Simco's, 1509 Blue Hill Ave (Mattapan, T: Mattapan), ☏ +1 617 296-3800. 10AM-1AM daily. The exterior has seen better days, but people love the footlong hotdogs on a top split style bun. They also sell fried clams and raspberry lime rickeys to complete the New England hat trick. Don't expect much in the way of ambiance, or tables for that matter. (updated Feb 2017)

3 P & R Ice Cream, 1284 Blue Hill Ave (Mattapan, T: Morton Street), ☏ +1 617 296-0922. M-Sa 7AM-1:30AM, Su 8AM-1:30AM. Check out this hole in the wall for Jamaican take out and ice cream, together at last! (updated Feb 2017)

4 Al's Roti, 1188 Blue Hill Ave (Mattapan, T: Morton Street), ☏ +1 617 298-9850. M-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM. (updated Feb 2017)

5 Los Antojitos, 5272 Washington St (West Roxbury), ☏ +1 617 469-2100. M Tu Th 10AM-8PM, F Sa 10AM-9PM, Su 10AM-6PM. Highly regarded Salvadoran food. (updated Feb 2017)

6 Nu Flav, 1100 Blue Hill Ave (Mattapan, T: Morton Street), ☏ +1 617 506-7092. 9AM-midnight daily. Haitian dishes with plantains, rice, beans, and pineapple; served alongside comfort food like mac and cheese. (updated Feb 2017)

7 Safari African, 1336 Blue Hill Ave (Mattapan, T: Morton Street), ☏ +1 617 296-0011. Tu-Sa noon-10PM, Su 1-8PM. (updated Feb 2017)

8 La Lechonera, 342 Cummins Hwy (Roslindale), ☏ +1 617 323-0311. M-Sa 10AM-8PM, Su 10AM-6PM. (updated Feb 2017)

9 Sophia’s Grotto, 22 Birch St (Roslindale, T: Roslindale Village), ☏ +1 617 323-4595. M-Th 5PM-9:30PM, F 5-10:30PM, Sa noon-10:30PM, Su noon-9PM.

10 Dogwood Cafe, 3712 Washington St (Roslindale, T: Forest Hills), ☏ +1 617 522-7997. M 5PM-1AM, Tu-Th 11:30AM-1AM, Sa Su 10AM-1PM. Great bar and restaurant, wood-grilled pizzas. Right across the street from the Forest Hills Orange Line station (updated Feb 2017)

11 Rox Diner, 1881 Centre St (West Roxbury, T: Highland), ☏ +1 617 327-1909. M-F 6AM-2:30PM, Sa Su 7AM-3PM. Most everything is local, organic, and from scratch. (updated Feb 2017)

12 ZAZ, 1238 River St (Hyde Park, T: Fairmount), ☏ +1 617 276-3729. Tu-F 11AM-2PM, 4-10PM, Sa 8AM-10PM. (updated Feb 2017)

13 Antonio's Bacaro, 5 Fairmont Ave (Hyde Park, T: Fairmount), ☏ +1 617 272-3028. Tu-Th 5-9:30PM, F Sa 5-10:30PM. Italian. (updated Feb 2017)

14 Delfino, 754 South St (Roslindale, T: Roslindale Village), ☏ +1 617 327-8359. Tu-Sa 5-10PM, Su 4-9PM. (updated Feb 2017)

15 Redd's In Rozzie, 4257 Washington St (Roslindale, T: Roslindale Village), ☏ +1 617 325-1000. Tu-Th 5-10PM, F 5PM-1AM, Sa 5PM-midnight, Su noon-3PM. (updated Feb 2017)

2 Recreo Coffee & Roasterie, 1876 Centre St (West Roxbury, T: Highland), ☏ +1 617 553-2379. M-F 7AM-5PM, Sa 8AM-4PM, Su 8AM-2PM. (updated Feb 2017)

3 Simpli Bar & Bites, 3840 Washington St (Roslindale, T: Forest Hills), ☏ +1 617 522-2400. Tu-Sa 7AM-11PM, Su M 7AM-3PM. Continuously changing throughout the day. Offers coffee in the morning, and something stronger in the evenings. Small bites served all day, and brunch on the weekends. (updated Feb 2017)

4 Brassica Kitchen + Cafe, 3710 Washington St (Roslindale, T: Forest Hills), ☏ +1 617 477-4519. M 6AM-4PM, Tu-F 6AM-4PM, 5:30PM-midnight, Sa 8AM-4PM, 5:30PM-midnight, Su 8AM-4PM. (updated Feb 2017)

5 Fornax, 27 Corinth St (Roslindale, T: Roslindale Village), ☏ +1 617 325-8852. M-F 7AM-7PM, Sa Su 8AM-6PM. Stop in to this funky, eclectic space for some of the best freshly baked bread in the city. Plenty of other sweet and savory baked goods to wash down with your hot cup of coffee. Eat in or take away. (updated Feb 2017)