Five Fields - Lexington, MA Area Guide

Five Fields is a community of approximately sixty contemporary homes. The Architects Collaborative of Cambridge designed and developed the community in the 1950s. The development comprised 68 lots for modernist-style homes and several acres of common land for community use.

Small and residential, Five Fields does not have any of its own museums, art scene or festivals. However, residents don’t have to travel far to find culture. Just a couple of miles away lies the William Wellington House, built in 1779 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. This Georgian style home was restored by the Waltham Historical Commission and serves as an educational and cultural events center. A bit farther south in Waltham, the Francis Cabot Lowell Mill, one of this country’s first textile mills, houses the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation.

The residential character of Five Fields means that it has no central restaurant location and, in fact, no restaurants operating within the neighborhood. However, residents have plenty of great dining options to choose from close at hand. Thai E-sarn Cuisine in nearby Arlington specializes in authentic Thai cuisine. Favorites include yum ruam mitr, a mixed seafood salad with shrimp, scallops, squid and mussels combined with onions, chili, scallions and cilantro in a tangy lime dressing. Or try yum pla dook fu, which features crispy shredded catfish served on spicy green apple salad with cashew nuts.

Off of Route 128 and I-95 in Waltham, the Copper House Tavern serves up flat top burgers and stone fired individual pizzas alongside 40 different craft beers. For lunch, enjoy the wild mushroom and spinach flatbread. Dinner favorites include the butternut squash ravioli with maple sage cream sauce. For dessert, locals rave about the delectable bread pudding and the chocolate Chambord fudge cake.

Just a mile away from Five Fields, B & F Pizza, a family-owned restaurant, proudly serves gourmet pizzas, grinders, salads and subs. Try one of the unique creations such as the Pythagora, which sports feta cheese, mozzarella cheese, kalamata olives, fresh sliced tomatoes, and optional pizza sauce. Their wide-ranging menu even includes fried chicken.

For nightlife, Five Fields residents head down to Waltham, where The Gaff – Irish slang for “home” – pours an impressive list of brews and cocktails to quench any thirst. Just a mile away from the community, Waltham Sports Pub provides the perfect location for watching the game while quaffing some cheap beers. For live music, head to Joco’s Bar & Kitchen on Fridays and Saturdays, and while you're there be sure to check out their daily food specials.

Most Five Fields residents get to work by car, but Lexington buses serve the area and you can call one of several cab companies. Uber operates in the Boston metro area, but finding an Uber driver near the community could be a challenge. The area does not have any public parking garages but you can generally find free parking on the street in the neighborhood. Access to highways couldn’t be easier, as Five Fields sits adjacent to the Concord Turnpike which connects with Interstate 95, which runs north and south just west of the neighborhood.

Five Fields is very walkable. Both the tree-line streets and the walking trails through the woods on Juniper Hill provide ample opportunity for dedicated walkers and casual strollers alike. The neighborhood streets don’t provide biking lanes, but Juniper Hill, a 28-acre tract of conservation land, features unpaved paths up a hill through hardwood forests. About a mile to the southeast, a series of bike trails begins at James Falzone Memorial Park and spreads out over several miles into conservation areas.

In addition to Five Fields' beautiful community areas, the area abounds with conservation acreage where locals hike and bike in a natural environment. James Falzone Memorial Park provides a multi-purpose athletic field as well as hiking/bike trails at no charge. The kid-friendly park welcomes dogs as long as they are kept on a leash.

The Five Fields neighborhood hosts an end-of-the-summer square dance and swimming races on Labor Day weekend. Other events typically held throughout the year include pig roasts, open houses and an art show.

Five Fields is one of the pricier places to live in the Boston area. Average rental for a one-bedroom apartment runs about $1,900.00. The cost of public transportation to one of the city centers can vary quite a bit depending on what services you want it to include and where you’re going, so check with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority before heading out.

A beer at a local pub typically sells for $4, with some places offering domestic beer for considerably less. Gas prices in the area sit at about 9 percent higher than the national average.

Five Fields has no retail district of its own, although the Wagon Wheel Nursery & Farmstand just outside the neighborhood carries local and organic goods and produce at the best possible prices. The Wagon Wheel has deli meats and cheeses, seafood, prepared meals to go and much more. While there, you can pick up some fresh fruit and flowers or pick up something for you garden. Just down Waltham Street, residents shop for clothing at chain stores such as TJ Maxx. Locals shop for groceries down Lexington at Shaw’s supermarket.

For a trip back in time, check out Balich 5 & 10 in Arlington. Since 1954, the Balich family has supplied everything from socks to office supplies as well as a host of unique and hard-to-find items. Loyal customers return faithfully to enjoy this old-fashioned five-and-dime store.