Which Cambridge square has the most variety of food?

Central Square, along Massachusetts Avenue, is known for its range of global cuisines and late-night options.

Is Davis Square in Cambridge or Somerville?

Davis Square is in Somerville, on the Red Line, just outside the Cambridge line.

Is there a farmers market in Union Square, Somerville?

A Saturday morning farmers market has run there during the season.

When is Harvard Square busiest?

During graduation in late May and early June, and in early September when students move in. Plan ahead and book if you can.

Do I need a reservation for brunch in Somerville or Cambridge?

Many brunch spots are first come, first served with a waitlist, so arrive early. Some take reservations.

Is it easy to reach these squares from Boston?

Yes. The Red Line serves Harvard, Central and Davis Squares. Union Square is served by the Green Line extension.

City guide

Cambridge and Somerville food guide: eating by the square

Mosey · November 11, 2026 · 5 min read

Cambridge and Somerville sit across the Charles River from Boston, and both organize themselves around squares: busy intersections with a subway stop or a bus hub, a cluster of restaurants and a few bars. Each square has its own character. Harvard Square is academic and busy, Central Square is diverse and late-night, Inman is more residential, Davis Square is the lively Somerville hub, and Union Square is the fast-changing food destination of Somerville.

Which square is right for you?

Square	Mood	Good for
Harvard (Cambridge)	Students, visitors, bookshops	Coffee, casual lunch, pre-show dinner
Central (Cambridge)	Diverse, music and nightlife	Global cuisines, late meals
Inman (Cambridge)	Neighborhood, residential	Relaxed dinners, brunch
Davis (Somerville)	Young, lively, Red Line stop	Casual dining, bars with food, brunch
Union (Somerville)	Changing, creative	Latin American food, new openings, a Saturday market

Walk a few blocks in any direction from a square and the character changes, so use the square as a starting point, not a boundary. Getting between squares is easy: the Red Line links Harvard, Central and Davis Squares, buses cover Inman, and the two cities share bike lanes and walking routes along Massachusetts Avenue. Many residents eat in a different square each week, which is a good approach if you are new to the area. Each city also hosts street festivals through the warm months, and these change the mood of a square for a weekend, so look up what is on before you choose a dinner spot.

What is Harvard Square like for eating?

Harvard Square draws students, tourists and residents. Many restaurants and cafes cater to students and visitors, so it has plenty of coffee, sandwiches, pizza and casual dining, and a few longer-established dining rooms. Menus are often priced for visitors, and the square gets crowded around graduation and move-in weeks in early September. A farmers market has run on Tuesdays near the Harvard Science Center; check the current season and hours.

What is Central Square known for?

Central Square, along Massachusetts Avenue, is one of the city's most varied areas for food, with kitchens from South Asia, East Africa, Latin America and elsewhere, and a strong nightlife scene with live music venues. It is a good place for a late meal, and it has a history of lower-priced restaurants alongside newer, more expensive places. As elsewhere, check that a restaurant is open before you go, since the square has changed quickly.

What about Inman Square and the neighborhoods between?

Inman Square sits between Harvard and Central, where Cambridge Street meets Hampshire Street. It has a neighborhood feel, with a number of long-running restaurants and bakeries and a stream of weekend brunch-goers. It is a good option when you want a quieter dinner than the busier squares can offer.

Why do people love Davis Square in Somerville?

Davis Square, at the end of a Red Line stop, is the center of Somerville nightlife and dining. It has independent restaurants, bars with a serious food menu, ice cream and coffee shops, and a theater that hosts concerts and films. Brunch is the busy meal on weekends, and it is a convenient place for a meal with friends because the subway stops in the middle of the square. A Wednesday farmers market has run in a parking lot near Day and Herbert Streets, though check the current schedule.

What is Union Square, Somerville, known for?

Union Square has been transformed in recent years by new development and the arrival of a subway station, and it has a growing number of restaurants. Somerville has large Brazilian, Haitian, Salvadoran and other Latin American communities, which shows in the food in and around the squares and neighboring Magoun Square. Union Square also has a large Saturday farmers market, which listings have described as running in the morning and early afternoon; check the season.

How do you eat well on a budget?

Look beyond the busiest corners. Lunch specials are common, and many bakeries and takeout counters serve filling food at modest prices. University areas have more cheap options, and the squares away from the main tourist routes tend to be less expensive. If you plan to eat out often, check menus online before you go, because prices vary a lot between neighboring blocks.

What are the best times to go?

Weekday lunches are the easiest way to enjoy any of the squares, since service is quicker and tables are available. Evenings from Thursday to Saturday are busiest, and Sundays are busy at midday for brunch. Late May and early June bring graduation crowds, and September brings new students, so plan around those weeks if you want a quiet meal. In winter, many restaurants are quieter and offer a warmer, more relaxed feel, and a bowl of soup on a snowy night in Davis or Inman Square is hard to beat. Outdoor patios open as soon as spring arrives, and they fill up fast on the first warm weekend.

Do these places take reservations?

Many do not, particularly casual restaurants; others take them for dinner and larger parties. Weekend brunch is typically first come, first served with a waitlist. Call ahead for groups of six or more, and for graduation weekends in May and early June, book far in advance. For a general introduction to booking, our US guide to restaurant reservations explains the main options. On Mosey you can rate the places you eat and keep lists of places to try.

Common questions

Which Cambridge square has the most variety of food?
Central Square, along Massachusetts Avenue, is known for its range of global cuisines and late-night options.
Is Davis Square in Cambridge or Somerville?
Davis Square is in Somerville, on the Red Line, just outside the Cambridge line.
Is there a farmers market in Union Square, Somerville?
A Saturday morning farmers market has run there during the season.
When is Harvard Square busiest?
During graduation in late May and early June, and in early September when students move in. Plan ahead and book if you can.
Do I need a reservation for brunch in Somerville or Cambridge?
Many brunch spots are first come, first served with a waitlist, so arrive early. Some take reservations.
Is it easy to reach these squares from Boston?
Yes. The Red Line serves Harvard, Central and Davis Squares. Union Square is served by the Green Line extension.