Watertown West End - Watertown, MA Area Guide

As one of the first Massachusetts Bay settlements, Watertown has a rich recorded history stretching back to the early 1600s. In an effort to share this history with the modern public, Watertown preserves many of its historical houses and opens them for public tours, including the Browne House in West End.

Nearby in downtown Watertown, make an appointment to visit the Edmund Fowle House, currently owned by the Watertown Historical Society. In the 1700s, this house provided a regular meeting place for rebellious revolutionaries and committee members, including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

Watertown's popular Arsenal Center for the Arts acts as a multidisciplinary hub of creative and participatory artistry in the community. Catch a play by the respected New Repertory Theater, check out a show by nationally recognized bands, or stop by Text and Context, a free series for writers happening every Monday night.

When it's time to eat, take your pick of restaurants scattered along Main Street and clustered near the southeast corner of West End. A mix of traditional and ethnic restaurants and cafes guarantee to meet the eating requirements of every diner.

Start your morning off right with coffee and an intimate homemade meal at Spot Cafe. Order the Natalia or the omelette sandwich at this area favorite for breakfast and brunch. In your busy lunch hour, grab the best sub in the area at Mimi's Roast Beef and Seafood, where sandwiches made with the finest roast meat and freshest seafood around supplant the simple take-out/delivery atmosphere. Start with the popular Haddock sub, and don't forget to add the onion rings to your order.

In the evening, feed your Asian cravings at Asiana Fusion. Try the chicken fantasy appetizer, or delight in the delicate tofu options if you eat vegetarian. Take your food to go, or dine in on a weekend to shoot a game of pool and enjoy the regular live music.

For a night of fun, play a round of keno at Fit Z's Bar and Grille, also located on Main Street, or get a little tasty food and a few cold beers in the warm and cheerful atmosphere at Raider Tavern. A mile away, sing your heart out at Tommy Doyle's karaoke, find the courage to read your poem at the regular open mic, or stretch your memory on trivia night. Come back to jam with one of the live bands Tommy Doyle's regularly hosts during the week.

Though quiet neighborhoods line much of West End, a significant number of streets packed with shops, bars and restaurants provide plenty of reason to put your walking shoes on. Stroll along Main Street in the south or Belmont Street in the north.

Major bicycle-friendly roadways in West End include Waltham Street and California Street. An increased local interest in biking gave way to the formation of the Watertown Biking and Pedestrian Committee in 1995. Free and open to the public, the committee meets every month, and works on improving the biking and pedestrian alternatives for commuting and recreation in Watertown. For example, their Community Path project connects much of Watertown via a paved, protected bike path that runs alongside major roadways.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) serves Watertown and connects the town to the surrounding cities via a network of bus routes. Particularly in West End, Route 70 runs every 15 minutes with frequent stops along Main Street.

Instead of waiting to hail a cab, register for the membership-based taxi service Uber. Enjoy fast, safe rides anytime and anywhere throughout the Boston area, including all of Watertown. Simply order, and pay from the convenience of your smartphone.

When you're driving your own four wheels, enjoy proximity to Highway 20, which runs straight through Watertown, and Interstate 90, which brushes the edge of the neighborhood. Be aware of Watertown's citywide 2-hour parking limit from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., as well as a strict on-street parking ban from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m., enforced from November through April. Enjoy several useful parking garages located in downtown Watertown.

Although a densely populated town, Watertown provides its residents with a variety of green spaces by way of parks, riverbanks and cemeteries.

Explore the wilderness in the wooded areas of Whitney Hill Park, and shoot some hoops or swing a baseball bat on the diamond at Lowell Playground. Take your kids to Moxley Park, and play some tennis on one of the several courts. From there, bike the mile trail that constitutes Watertown Linear Park and connects Moxley to Saltonstall Park. Saltonstall hosts many free community events each year, including Faire on the Square, an outdoor summer concert series, Memorial Day festivities and a 9/11 remembrance.

Don't forget to bring your four legged friends to How Park in the south to enjoy the huge open area of an off-leash dog park.

Residents of West End enjoy access to metropolitan, commercial, residential and social communities, while coming home at the end of the day to quiet, pretty neighborhoods. This well-rounded experience comes with a price, so get ready for a cost of living 3 percent higher than Watertown's average cost of living, and a whopping 24 percent higher than the Boston metro area average. Rent a one-bedroom residence in West End for an average of $1,970.19.

Ride to the city center for $2.10 via regular public transportation, or purchase a Charlie Card to pay just $1.60 per ride. A beer at a local pub costs about $5, while local gas prices hover 9 percent higher than the national average.

Spend a day exploring every corner of West End to learn your way around the network of eclectic shops and businesses in this neighborhood.

Whether a die-hard fan or just probing your curiosity, let the warm and respectful owner at The Comic Stop welcome you with candy and drinks while you look around. Freely ask any questions that pop into your head.

Put a smile on someone's face when you pick up a flower or a thoughtfully crafted bouquet from Watertown Florist, or assemble a stylish and affordable outfit at Zia Clothing Outlet in the northeast corner of town.

Neighborhood grocery stores include Stop and Shop, the gourmet grocery store Russo's and the family-run butcher shop, Meat Spot. A couple miles from West End, the Watertown Farmers Market also runs every Thursday from June through October.