'''Brookline''' [http://www.townofbrooklinemass.com/] is a town in Massachusetts that is bordered on three sides by Boston.

Get in

By plane

Brookline is served by Boston's major transportation terminals, including Logan International Airport

By train

Brookline is served by 3 branches of the MBTA[http://www.mbta.com] (''the T'') '''Green Line''' light rail.

Take the C line from Boston, and get off at one of the main stops in Brookline. Coolidge Corner is a great place to get off the train.

The D line, also accessible from many places downtown, will bring you to Brookline Village, a quaint area with many restaurants, though it isn't as big a draw for people who live outside the area.

The B line doesn't actually enter Brookline proper, but its Commonwealth Ave. stops are all within blocks of Brookline.

The D line is much faster with less stops than the B and C lines. If given the choice between one or the other, take the D line.

All MBTA trains are now $2.00 inbound or outbound ($1.70 with a plastic "Charlie Card").

If you are disabled, think carefully before taking the train into Brookline. Only a few Green Line stops are wheelchair-accessible (the MBTA[http://www.mbta.com] website should have the most current accessibility information). During busier times of day wheelchair users should have little difficulty getting to Coolidge Corner, Washington Square, and Brookline Village on one of the newer Green Line trolleys with low floors; however many older-style cars with large steps up are still in use, especially during non-peak hours, and these are accessible only via hand-cranked wheelchair lift. The situation is better now than it was even just a few years ago, but the Green Line is still a long way from being universally accessible. The other rail lines in the MBTA, for the most part, have handicap access.

By car

Cars and Brookline, like most of Boston and its immediate suburbs, do not mix perfectly. One thing to be aware of is that there is generally no overnight parking on streets; those cars on streets after 2AM (11PM in some areas) will be ticketed...seriously! There is also a two-hour parking limit, which is not as strictly enforced. (But wouldn't you know it, your car will be the one that gets ticketed :)

By bus

The following Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority [http://www.mbta.com] bus routes are in Brookline:

Route 66-At Coolidge Corner and Brookline Village. Runs up and down Harvard Street and continues north to Allston in Boston and Havard Square in Cambridge.

Route 65-Is less frequent, goes through Brookline Village and Washington Square and continues north to Brighton Center in Boston.

Route 60-Goes Along Highway 9 (Boylston Street) and Cypress Street. Goes through Brookline Village. Continues west to Chestnut Hill Mall, and East to Kenmore Square.

Route 51-Goes from Cleveland Circle into South Brookline and continues Forest Hills MBTA station in Jamaica Pond in Boston.

Route 86-Goes from Cleveland Circle north into Brighton Center and Harvard Square.

Many buses that go to other cities including New York, stop at the Riverside MBTA Stop in Newton on the D Line. The train can be taken into Brookline.

By boat

Brookline has no navigable bodies of water along its borders. Therefore one cannot arrive in Brookline by boat. Theoretically one could cross the Muddy River by canoe or raft and in doing so travel from Boston to Brookline via boat... but that would be just plain silly.

Districts

'''Coolidge Corner''' - A shopping area with much to do. Is the most happening area in Brookline. On C Line, Coolidge Corner Stop.

'''Brookline Village''' - A somewhat sleepier historic area with many restaurants. On D Line, Brookline Village Stop.

'''Washington Square''' - Local shops and some popular restaurants and taverns. On C Line, Washington Square Stop.

'''Brookline Hills''' - Around the high school and across Route 9. Very residential. On the D Line, Brookline Hills stop.

'''Cleveland Circle''' - Actually in the Boston neighborhood of Allston-Brighton, but is right on the border with Brookline. Large student population, due to its proximity to Boston College. Has some bars, restaurants pizzerias, but is slightly more run-down than Brookline proper (although gentrifying). The intersection is very confusing, as it is the intersection of three different lines of the T. On C Line Cleveland, Circle Stop. On D Line, Reservoir Stop.

'''Putterham Circle'''/'''South Brookline''' "Chestnut Hill" - Suburban and residential feel. Putterham Circle has a variety of shops, including market, restaurants, bank, hair salon, gift shop, Starbucks, and others. Does not have access to a train, but the Route 51 Bus can be taken to and from Cleveland Circle.

'''St. Mary's'''- Overshadowed by nearby Kenmore Square and the Landmark Center in Boston. The area has a little bit to it. Is On C Line, St. Mary's Stop, On D Line, Fenway Stop.

'''Pill Hill/The Point''' - Residential area to the south of Route 9. Ritzy. From this area, one can either walk to the Brookline Hills or Brookline Village stops on the D Line, or take the Route 60 bus.

'''JFK Crossing''' - Stretch along Harvard St. with a heavy Jewish influence, from just north of Coolidge Corner to Commonwealth Ave. in Allston.

Get around

The primary way to get around in Brookline is to walk. Most places of interest are close together, or if you need to go farther away, a short ride on the MBTA will do it. If you choose to drive, be aware?especially on Beacon Street, where the trolley runs down the middle of the street.

See

  • '''Larz Anderson Auto Museum''', 15 Newton Street, Phone: ''+1'' 617-522-6547, Fax: ''+1'' 617-524-0170, [http://www.mot.org]. Tu-Su 10AM-5PM. $5/$3 students and seniors, under 6 free.
  • '''John F. Kennedy National Historic Site''', 83 Beals St., Phone: ''+1'' 617-566-7937, [http://www.nps.gov/jofi/]. W-Su 10AM-4:30PM. The 1917 birthplace and boyhood home of the 35th President of the United States. A peek into how people lived in 1917.
  • Do

    '''The Coolidge Corner Theatre''', 290 Harvard Street, Phone: ''+1'' 617-734-2501, recorded info:, ''+1'' 617-734-2500, [http://www.coolidge.org/]. A charming, old fashioned movie theatre that plays art house films, as well as some crowd-pleasers.

    '''Larz Anderson Park''', 25 Newton St., Phone: ''+1'' 617-739-7518. This features an outdoor skating rink, and is the #1 sledding destination in the town. The park is a great place for kids.

    Learn

    Brookline is home to some of the best public schools around. Brookline High School has many famous alumni including Theo Epstein, the current General Manager of the Red Sox; Michael Dukakis, former Massachusetts Governor and 1988 Democratic Presidential nominee; Robert Kraft, current Patriots and Revolution owner; Conan O'Brien, TV host.

    Work

    Buy

  • Booksmith
  • Cinemasmith
  • Eat

    Budget

  • '''J.P. Licks''', 311 Harvard St., Phone: ''+1'' 617-738-8252, [http://www.jplicks.com]. Sure, there are a few JP Licks in the Boston Area, but this one is still worth visiting. Incredible ice cream, cool neon decorations, and coffee when it is warm.
  • '''Clearflour Bakery''', 178 Thorndike St., Phone: ''+1'' 617-739-0060, [http://www.clearflourbread.com]. M-F 8AM-8PM, Sa,Su 9AM-7PM. Delicious, authentic baguettes and boules, batards and loaves made fresh daily.
  • '''Anna's Taqueria''', 1412 Beacon St #1, Phone: ''+1'' 617-739-7300. ''AND'' 446 Harvard St., Phone: ''+1'' 617-277-7111. Has a cult following. Great for decent and cheap Mexican food.
  • '''Boca Grande''', 1294 Beacon St. ''at Pleasant Street'', Phone: ''+1'' 617-739-3900. Preferred by many to Anna's for Mexican food.
  • '''Pino's Pizza''', 1920 Beacon St. #A ''in Cleveland Circle'', Phone: ''+1'' 617-566-6468.
  • '''Emack & Bolios'''. 1663 Beacon St. ''in Washington Square'', Phone: ''+1'' 617-731-6256, [http://www.emackandbolios.com/]. Su-Th 11AM- 11PM, F,Sa 11AM-11:30PM. Ice cream joint is a popular hang out.
  • '''Brookline Family Restaurant''', 305 Washington Street ''in Brookline Village'', Phone: ''+1'' 617-277-4466. Daily 7AM-11PM. Great Turkish food for cheap. Definitely try the donar kebab sandwich. Dinner entrees are $10-15 but can easily serve two (or provide one person two or three meals worth of leftovers) and you can really fill up on the bean salad (fasooleeye piaz) and bread that are served with all meals. Go when you're hungry!
  • '''Michael's Deli''', 256 Harvard St. ''in Coolidge Corner'', Phone: ''+1'' 617-738-3354. Go for the corned beef sandwich or the excellent egg and cheese bagels.
  • '''My Thai Cafe''',404 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446, ''+1'' (617) 739-8830. Delicious Asian vegetarian restaurant.
  • Mid-range

  • '''Pizza Republic''', 1398 Beacon St. (Coolidge Corner), Phone: ''+1'' 617-879-0401, [http://www.pizzarepublic.com/]. Excellent thin crust and grilled pizzas with interesting, non-traditional toppings in addition to the usual. Try the grilled marinated steak pizza and the chicken/potato/ricotta pizza. (Yes, potato makes a great pizza topping.)
  • '''Golden Temple''', 1651 Beacon St. (Washington Sq.), Phone: ''+1'' 617-277-9722. Offers fancy Chinese food with valet parking, and easy access to the MBTA public transportation.
  • '''Rod-Dee Thai Cuisine''', 1430 Beacon St., Phone: ''+1'' 617-738-4977. Amazing Thai food. Seriously. There is a lot of Thai food in Boston but this unassuming restaurant, busy most of the day, may be the best out there. Only a couple of tables, so plan on taking out.
  • Splurge

  • '''Fugakyu''', 1280 Beacon Street (''Coolidge Corner''), Phone: ''+1'' 617-734-1268. Some of the best sushi in town. It truly lives up to the meaning of its name, "house of exquisite excellence." Don't worry about bringing people who don't like sushi, as they have an extensive menu (many pages) of cooked food and appetizers including shabu-shabu, tempura, katsu, sukiyaki, teriyaki, along with plenty of vegetarian options. There are many private dining rooms for 4 to 20 people that can be requested at the door for smaller parties - reservations are only made for larger groups, along with a large number of open-floor tables.
  • '''The Fireplace''', 1634 Beacon Street (''Washington Square'') Phone: ''+1'' 617-975-1900, [http://www.fireplacerest.com/]. Creative, modern American cuisine, with excellent, often locally-sourced ingredients. Live music on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Good, all-American wine list in keeping with the menu. Outdoor seating is available during the warmer months, great for people-watching.
  • '''La Morra''', 48 Boylston St. ''in Brookline Village'', Phone: ''+1'' 617-739-0007, [http://www.lamorra.com/]. Northern Italian food.
  • '''Taberna de Haro''', 999 Beacon Street, Phone: ''+1'' 617-277-8272. Spanish Tapas at St. Mary's.
  • ''' Rani Indian Bistro''', 1353 Beacon St, Phone: ''+1'' (617) 734-0400, [http://ranibistro.com/]. A distinct step above the usual Indian restaurant. Delicious.
  • Kosher

    Harvard St. between Commonwealth Ave. and Beacon St. is a heavily Jewish neighborhood: the majority of the kosher restaurants in the Greater Boston area can be found here. These restaurants are best accessed by the 66 bus, although they are within walking distance from the Harvard Ave. stop of the B branch of the Green Line and the Coolidge Corner stop of the C branch of the Green Line. Keep in mind that like all kosher restaurants, these restaurants are '''closed Friday night and only open late Saturday night (if at all on Saturday)''' due to the Jewish Sabbath.

    In addition to the restaurants listed here, the J.P. Licks mentioned above is also kosher. [http://www.jplicks.com/kosher.pdf]

  • '''Cafe Eliat''', 406 Harvard St., Phone: ''+1'' 617-277-7770, [http://www.cafe-eilat.com]. One of the few places to get kosher pizza.
  • '''Jerusalem Pita and Grill''', 10 Pleasant St., Phone: ''+1'' 617-739-2400.
  • '''Kupel's Bakery''', 421 Harvard St, Phone: ''+1'' 617-566-9528. Not a restaurant, but good for a bagel or a light snack.
  • '''Rami's''', 324 Harvard St., Phone: ''+1'' 617-738-3577. A falafel place run by Israelis: has some of the best falafel in the area, although the service can be a tad brusque at times. There are a few tables that fill up quickly at peak times.
  • '''Rubin's Kosher Restaurant''', 500 Harvard St., Phone: ''+1'' 617-731-8787, [http://www.rubinskosher.com]. Kosher deli.
  • '''Ruth's Kitchen''', 401 Harvard St., Phone: ''+1'' 617-734-9810.
  • '''Taam China''', 423 Harvard St., Phone: ''+1'' 617-264-7274. Glatt kosher Chinese food: don't expect to see any pork-fried rice on the menu here.
  • Drink

  • '''Matt Murphy's Pub''', 14 Harvard St, ''+1'' (617) 232-0188, [http://mattmurphyspub.com/]. Consistently rated as "Best Irish Pub" by several local publications, this Brookline spot (ride to Brookline Village on the 'D' Branch of the Green Line - about 20 minutes from downtown Boston) boasts fantastic Irish food miles removed from standard pub fare and bartenders and waitstaff with genuine brogues, as well as live music.
  • '''The Publick House''', 1648 Beacon St. '' in Washington Square'', Phone: ''+1'' 617-277-2880, [http://www.thepublickhousebrookline.com]. Has great food and a huge selection of artisanal beers on tap and in bottles. Get your hard to find European beers and domestic micro-brews here. Come for the beer, stay for the mac and cheese and the Belgian-style frites.
  • '''Washington Square Tavern''', 714 Washington St, Phone: ''+1'' 617-232-8989.
  • Sleep

  • '''Courtyard by Marriot''', 40 Webster St. ''Coolidge Corner'', Phone: ''+1'' 617-734-1393, Fax: ''+1'' 617-734-1392, [http://www.hershahotels.com/Massachusetts/Brookline-MA0001-Home.aspx/].
  • '''Holiday Inn Brookline''', 1200 Beacon St., Phone: ''+1'' 617-277-1200, [http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/bklma]. The Holiday Inn hotel in Brookline, MA offers an indoor heated pool, fitness center, business center, hotel bar & lounge, and event facilities.
  • '''The Beech Tree Inn''', PO Box 190, Phone: +1-800-544-9660, [http://www.thebeechtreeinn.com/]. The Beech Tree Inn Bed and Breakfast offers 10 guest rooms in the outskirts of Boston. The inn is just a short tram ride from many of the cities events and activities.
  • The Best Western Terrace Inn. 650 Commonwealth Ave.. 1-617-566-6260. ttp://www.bestwestern.com/TerraceInn/. Free parking.

    Contact

    Stay safe

    The town is incredibly safe, with an impressive police presence. The police in Brookline will often annoy the local high school and college populations for "rowdiness."

    Get out