DID YOU KNOW?
Did You Know? The First European settler in Boston was William Blaxton, who built a house and orchard on the south slope of Beacon Hill in 1625.
Did You Know? Beacon Hill is home to the Massachusetts State House, designed by Charles Bulfinch in 1787.
Did You Know? Literary salons and publishing houses were founded in the 19th century. "Great thinkers" lived in the neighborhood, including Daniel Webster, Henry Thoreau, and Wendell Phillips.
Did You Know? Beacon Hill has been home to several notable persons, including John Hancock, Robert Frost, David Lee Roth, Sylvia Plath, Carly Simon, Uma Thurman, John Kerry, and John Singleton Copley.
FOOD & DRINK
While Beacon Hill is one of Boston's smallest neighborhoods, roughly 1/3 square mile, it has no shortage of great places to grab a bite or a drink.
If you're looking for a romantic date night, we can't recommend Grotto enough, a subterranean hideaway that boasts refined Italian cooking, notable wine list & nightly prix fixe option. Can't get a seat at Grotto? No problem, walk to the other side of the hill and you'll find Bin 26 Enoteca (pictured above), a contemporary restaurant that pairs an international selection of wine with a seasonally driven menu.
If you're looking to stretch the European menu a bit more, book a table over at No. 9 Park, an upscale restaurant featuring French & Italian inspired dishes & European wines, served in an elegant townhouse space. Continuing the French theme, another mouthwatering restaurant is The Hungry I, a romantic French bistro in a circa-1840s brownstone with patio & 3 dining rooms with fireplaces. And finally, to bring it back home, if you're looking for one of the best steak dinners in Boston, look no further than Beacon Hill's own Mooo...., a sophisticated, modern steakhouse featuring high-end cuts, a full bar & an extensive wine list.
Looking to go grab a drink with some friends? Beacon Hill has some fantastic pubs and dive bars, perfect for a group night out. Swing by Beacon Hill Pub for some arcade games, foosball, and beer, or The Sevens Ale House, for that small-town bar feeling. Looking for something that's a little classier but still fun with a group? Check out Tip Tap Room, an upscale pub that serves beer, wild game & inventive brunch dishes in an open, modern space.
ACTIVITIES & FRESH AIR
Beacon Hill is rich with history and is the perfect neighborhood to explore for an afternoon.
For starters, take a tour of the Massachusetts State House, which is impossible to miss with its 23-karat gold dome coating. And although we touched upon this in our Back Bay spotlight, directly across the street from the state house is the Boston Common, perfect for a sunny day stroll.
Walking into Beacon Hill you'll find the Nichols House Museum, designed by Charles Bulfinch and built back in 1804. The museum will provide some insight into life in Beacon Hill in the 19th and early 20th centuries. And lastly, are you looking to get THE Beacon Hill photo? Take a walk down Acorn Street (pictured above) for your most instagramable moment in the hill.
REAL ESTATE
Beacon Hill, being one of Boston's most desirable neighborhoods while also being one of Boston's smallest neighborhoods, tends to have a mix of both a market that sees more of a steady, gradual incline (compared to some of the upcoming areas we've talked about in the past), while also getting some seemingly random sales spikes whenever a new development is built.
In 2018, Beacon Hill saw a total of 137 home sales, with a median price of $915,000. The median home price jumped 24% in just 5 years! If you have a home in the Beacon Hill area and are curious to see how much your home has gone up in value, give us a shout and we'll give a free consultation on what we think it's worth in today's market.
Want to know what all this fuss is about? We’ve created a collection of some of our favorite homes currently on the market or recently sold around Beacon Hill. Click HERE to view the entire collection of homes or scroll down to view a few of the highlights.
3 Bed | 3.5 Bath | 2,974 SqFt | $4,999,000
Presenting Beacon Hill’s newest boutique collection of luxury residences less than one block from the Boston Common. Each residence at 5 Joy Street has been meticulously designed to offer a classic yet contemporary aesthetic featuring graciously scaled interiors that harmoniously integrate with expansive private outdoor space. Residence I at 5 Joy comprises the parlor and garden levels with three bedrooms all with en-suite baths. Parlor living and entertaining rooms include the bow-front formal living and dining room, wet bar, formal powder room, sun-filled library and open-concept kitchen and family room. Top-of-the-line fixtures and finishes, including Sub-Zero, Bosch, and Miele appliances, feature throughout the residence, but its true hallmark is its huge, professionally landscaped (1,750+ square foot) private garden with elegant Bluestone and brick patios. A truly rare opportunity to live and experience Beacon Hill with a backyard. Visit JoyBeaconHill.com for more information.
Listed by Mark Doherty of Campion & Company Fine Homes Real Estate
5 Bed | 4.5 Bath | 5,343 SqFt | $6,200,000
Beautifully appointed Single Family home on the coveted "flat of the hill". This home boasts 3 exposures, offering an abundance of natural light throughout. Chef's kitchen with light grey painted cabinets, Carrara marble countertops, professional Viking stove, Subzero refrigerator, and pantry. Spacious living room with high ceilings, stone mantel fireplace, and built-in bookshelves. Large master bedroom with en-suite bathroom with sunk in tub, glass tiled walls and custom walk-in closet. Lowest level provides a laundry room, cedar closet, and ample storage. Additional washer dryer on the 4th floor. Roof-deck with stunning views of Beacon Hill. All new Lutron, Sonos, and lighting systems. One Garage Parking Space included at the Brimmer Street Garage.
Listed by John Corcoran of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
2 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,225 SqFt | $1,799,000
A Contemporary Restoration of an elegant 2 bed, 2 bath residence on the Flat of Beacon Hill. This home has been completely revitalized by an award-winning interior architect and highly esteemed, custom homebuilder whose work has been recognized several times in Architectural Digest. Thoughtfully curated, this residence features the highest caliber craftsmanship throughout including a kitchen with custom cabinetry, Italian marble, Subzero with integrated panels, and a Wolf Stove. The open living space showcases a custom fireplace, handcrafted crown molding, cathedral ceilings, and dramatic bay windows overlooking the Charles River. The sanctuary master suite has a second fireplace, and a marble bathroom with opulent mosaic tile, radiant floors, and a custom vanity. The 2nd bed / study has multiple purposes. This residence, in a professionally managed elevator building, has been completely modernized while carefully preserving the elegance of the previous prominent mansion.
Listed by The Gilardi Group of Gibson Sotheby's International Realty
3 Bed | 3.5 Bath | 3,480 SqFt | $3,995,000
Located in former "Henry Forbes Bigelow Mansion" this One of a kind -3 Bedroom/plus office in Elevator building is in one of Beacon Hills prized locations! Spanish Renaissance Style townhouse and once 3 individual units now combined as one, this 3rd and 4th-floor duplex lives like a single-family home. The 8 homeowners have the privilege to enjoy a Bricked Common Courtyard. Enter an elegant stoned foyer with double coat closets and powder room which lead into a Formal Living Room with wood-burning fireplace flowing into a Formal Dining Room then a Great Room and newly renovated Gourmet Kitchen. Two Guest suites also located on this floor with full laundry area. The Master Bedroom located on the 4th floor, very private with large walk-in closet, private office, and a Master Bath designed for luxury, separate built-in vanities, fireplace, soaking tub, separate shower and custom-designed linen closet. There are 3 Storage rooms in basement and Rental Garage at Brimmer St. prepaid year.
Listed by Beth Dickerson of Gibson Sotheby's International Realty
4 Bed | 4 Full Bath 2 Half Bath | 5,141 SqFt | $5,750,000 (sold)
This grand "picture perfect" townhouse has been totally renovated and restored by its current owners. There are large gracious entertaining rooms, a state-of-the-art kitchen, a wonderful family room overlooking the garden, a front and rear staircase and beautiful architectural details. There is a new roof, central a/c, a "Nest" system, Lutron lighting and much more.
Listed by Sally T. Brewster of Brewster & Berkowitz R. E.