Harbor View-Orient Heights - East Boston, MA Area Guide

Originally known as Hog Island, Orient Heights was one of six islands that dotted the harbor. Noddle's Island was first settled in the 1620s by William Noddle, who had a farm and grazed livestock. In 1832, the East Boston Company developed Noddle Island to the south, laying a street grid and constructing shipyards that produced the city's fastest clipper ships. The islands were annexed by Boston in 1836 to form East Boston. During the early part of the 20th century, the strait that divided Hog Island and Noddle Island was filled in, connecting them to the mainland.

The Kennedy family lived on Meridian Street in East Boston, and later moved to Monmouth Street. John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jackie, walked through East Boston in 1954 as he geared up for a senate campaign, hoping to garner votes from the neighborhood. He stopped and waved to the crowd in front of Santarpio's Pizza, a pizzeria that began as a bakery in 1903.

Four miles away in Downtown Boston, the Paul Revere House is a must-visit after moving to an apartment in Harbor View-Orient Heights. Constructed in 1680, this wooden landmark is where the patriot resided during the Revolution. It is the oldest building in downtown Boston, and one of the few remaining structures from the colonial era. Nearby at Revere Beach, the annual National Sand Sculpting Festival attracts world-class sand artists to sculpt elaborate cityscapes and fantastic creatures.

Orient Heights has a number of affordable local eateries clustered on the corner of Bennington and Boardman Streets, including Mexican, Columbian, Peruvian, New American, Vietnamese, pizzerias, and breakfast spots.

At Royal Roast Beef & Seafood, customers line up for the tender roast beef sandwiches and the fish and chips, which arrive with large chunks of crisply battered haddock. Regulars also like the pastrami served on an onion roll and the huge chicken fingers, along with house-made tartar sauce. Prices are affordable, albeit higher than your average sandwich shop, and the late hours make it a good option for a satisfying meal after a night out.

Milano's Delicatessen serves up red sauce Italian and take-out favorites, including pizza, subs, and pasta dinners, along with specialty grocery staples like homemade egg pasta and sliced capicolla. Customers order from the sprawling chalkboard menus at the counter, and though there's no wait service, several cafe tables wait nearby, along with a small bar for sipping espresso. Favorites include the chicken ziti with broccoli served with an Alfredo sauce that's creamy without being heavy and the chicken Napoletano sub, a pillowy roll stuffed with a chicken cutlet, red peppers, prosciutto, and creamy bocconcini mozzarella.

Orient Heights is quiet at night, and most locals prefer to stay in or perhaps head to a dance club in downtown Boston. However, a few watering holes scattered throughout the southern section offer a place to unwind, along with more options farther south in Maverick Square. For Latin dance tunes and brews, El Kiosco transforms at night from a mild-mannered Peruvian restaurant into a bar with salsa nights and karaoke.

Orient Heights offers residents quick commutes into downtown Boston and good public transportation, though some pockets of the area prove more walkable than others. L-train riders pick up the blue line at the Wood Island, Orient Heights, and Suffolk Downs stations, and local buses provide additional service, with Route 713 to Winthrop and Route 120 to Maverick Station. Hailing a taxi is difficult unless you're close to Logan Airport, but Uber services the area, along with several cab companies.

Drivers have a 15-minute commute into downtown Boston along Route 1A and can pick up I-90 near Logan Airport to escape the city on weekends. Finding street parking here can be a hassle, and many spaces require a residential parking sticker, but parking garages near the airport provide a back-up plan for visitors who can't find a space.

Parks, playgrounds, and beaches dot Orient Heights, providing residents with undisturbed nature and outdoor fun. Visitors can play tennis, swim in the ocean, or birdwatch in a protected salt marsh. At Noyes Playground, young children climb on the playground while parents relax on the bench, and a baseball diamond serves as home field for the local Little League teams.

For pristine nature and stunning views, the 152-acre Belle Isle Marsh Reservation invites visitors to walk the winding paths through the protected salt marsh and climb the observation tower for views of the city's skyline. On the north side, bike trails provide scenic weekend rides, and the waterfront has good spots to launch a kayak. The preserve is also a favorite with dog owners who often let their pups roam free through the tall grass, though technically Boston's leash laws are in effect.

Locals looking for surf and sun head to Constitution Beach Park, a popular beach that visitors like for its easy parking and solid amenities, including bathrooms and a foot shower for cleaning up. In the summer, lifeguards keep an eye on the swimmers, and though the water is often chilly, the waves are calm. Sunbathers can watch the planes taking off from Logan Airport, and the park also has bike paths and a tennis court. A concession stand sells ice cream, and picnic tables wait nearby along with a playground and swings, making it a convenient choice for parents.

Living in Boston doesn't come cheaply, but residents in Orient Heights catch a break on the cost of housing, making the neighborhood an affordable option. The average one-bedroom apartment in Orient Heights rents for $1,515 a month, almost 25 percent less than the Boston average. Groceries and utilities fall in line with typical city costs, but reasonably priced restaurants prove more budget-friendly, with a beer at the pub typically costing $5 to $6 a pint. Gas prices are 10 percent higher than the national average, and a one-way subway fare is $2.65, though the cost drops to $2.10 if you purchase a CharlieCard.

For shopping, visitors find everyday essentials at the corner of the Bennington and Boardman streets, where the main-street style storefronts evoke a bygone era of locally-owned, friendly shops. Farther north along Furlong Drive, a shopping plaza has national chains, including a Target. At Sterlingwear of Boston, the winter coats for men and women are still made in the U.S.A, along with winter accessories, such as scarves and gloves. The wool outerwear costs considerably more than those at bargain stores, but the quality construction has earned loyal customers, particularly the company's signature peacoat, a reproduction following the U.S. Navy's official specifications. For fine cigars, Tufts Tobacco Shop sells a solid selection of Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan brands, along with injection equipment for those who wish to make their own cigarettes.

For groceries, residents head to the Stop and Shop on Furlong Drive, or grab last-minute staples at the neighborhood's small gourmet and ethnic grocers. Though Orient Heights has no farmers market of its own, residents can head to East Boston Farmers Market on nearby Maverick Square on Thursdays during the warm months for fresh fruits and vegetables, along with seafood, baked goods, and a selection of specialty ingredients for Asian and Latin cuisines, such as sweet Thai basil, chiplin and jilo, a type of eggplant that's native to Brazil.

For a truly unforgettable shopping experience, head downtown to Faneuil Hall Marketplace. This historic shopping destination features more than 100 locally-owned specialty shops, large retailers, and terrific restaurants. A fleet of unique pushcarts feature items made by local artists. The market consists of four separate places: Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North Market, and South Market. These wrap around a cobblestone promenade where you'll typically find street performers and musicians putting on a show. Faneuil Hall is a National Historic Landmark, built in 1742 by Peter Faneuil as a gift to the city. Quincy Market was added in 1826 to give merchants a little more room to sell their goods. The Sons of Liberty met at Faneuil Hall when England attempted to impose more taxes on the colonies to debate the issues and discuss their plans to resist.