Lower Roxbury - Boston, MA Area Guide

Settled in 1630, Roxbury was home to the First Church in Roxbury, built in 1632. This meeting house was rebuilt four times, with the current version dating back to the late 1800s. Roxbury began as "Rocksberry." It was named for the rocky soil that challenged the farmers who settled the area. The rocky soil comes from a bedrock that sits below most of Roxbury known as Roxbury puddingstone. Roxbury was an independent village, becoming a city in 1846. The cityhood was short-lived, however; the area was annexed by Boston in 1868.

Craftboston, Wine Riot, and the Boston JerkFest are all festivals that take place just north of Roxbury. Just to the west of the neighborhood's boundaries, visit the Museum of Fine Arts on Huntington Avenue or the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum on the Fenway to see a private collection of artworks, sculpture, tapestries, and furniture.

Located just south of the plentiful specialty shops and restaurants of Tremont Street, Lower Roxbury's borders cater both to special nights out and everyday nightlife. Most local entertainment options congregate around the area of Dudley Square. For a quick bite to eat while you're out and about, find several great options in Dudley Square.

Joe's Famous Steak & Cheese offers a no-frills service, selling hot and cold subs, salads, pizza, and a range of breakfast items. Try the steak, onion, pepper, and cheese sub, a local favorite and one of the neighborhood's worst-kept secrets.

Haley House Bakery Cafe, which provides transitional employment for those down on their luck, has become a community institution, filling the streets around Dudley Square with the enticing smells of baked goods each morning. Locally sourced foods fill the menu at breakfast and lunch, where locals rave about the blueberry muffins, jerk chicken, and wide variety of vegan options. Come back on a Friday night to enjoy a poetry slam or other community-based event.

If you're looking for Chinese cuisine, Peking House offers a large assortment of menu items. The restaurant hosts regular luncheon specials as well as a served-any-time dinner menu. Locals claim that the orange chicken is a must-try while you're in the neighborhood.

Lower Roxbury abuts Tremont Street, which when followed north, takes you into the heart of South End. This makes it easy to access the high-end, trendy bars and music venues deeper in the city of Boston.

Locals take advantage of the many bus routes that run through the area, most of them on the larger roads and avenues. Find a station on Malcolm X Boulevard at O'Bryant High School and an express bus on Shawmut Avenue, with plenty of additional stops scattered throughout Lower Roxbury to take you to destinations throughout the city of Boston.

Two subway lines also run in or near Lower Roxbury. The Silver Line terminates at Dudley Square, while the Orange Line stops at the west end of Malcolm X Boulevard. Both head into the center of Boston and to other destinations around the area.

Pedestrians find the small neighborhood of Lower Roxbury easy to walk, but more difficult to cycle due to a lack of bike lanes in the area. City cabs are available, as well as through private companies and Uber. If traveling by personal vehicle, access highways to the west of the neighborhood on Tremont Street, and take advantage of plenty of on-street parking.

Orchard Park in the middle of the neighborhood caters to exercise enthusiasts with softball and basketball courts, as well as a tennis court. Children enjoy the play lot and water-spray feature, while visitors who simply want to relax can head for the passive area.

White Fund Playground, to the west of the neighborhood, offers a tennis court, while Jeep Jones Park has a play lot for children and relaxation space for their parents alongside a basketball court.

On the southern border of the neighborhood along Malcolm X Boulevard, access Roxbury Heritage State Park, featuring beautiful vistas of the Boston skyline, a wonderful dog-walking route, and a historic, Georgian-style house.

Lower Roxbury's cost of living is about seven percent lower than Boston's average. A one-bedroom apartment in Lower Roxbury averages about $856, which is more than 30 percent lower than Boston's average.

The cost of gasoline does not differ from the rest of Boston, but costs you 8.7 percent more than the national average. A pint of beer is about $9 for the neighborhood.

Head to Warren Street to find the central shopping area for this neighborhood, although visitors can also find stores branching off on Washington Street and Dudley Street. Ladies head to the Ashley Stewart boutique at Dudley Square for their wide selection of sizes to fit every shape, while locals with an interest in natural health and beauty head to Essential Body Herbs to find herbal cures and supplements.

Acquire groceries locally at the Bohio Grocery & Snacks on Shawmut Avenue, the Brown Market & Grocery on Dudley Street, or the Nunez Mini Mart on Washington Street. The Kaba African Market on Roxbury Street offers African and Caribbean spices, as well as groceries and beauty products.