Neighborhood Spotlight: Boston’s South End

Achieve weekend perfection at this funky Asian diner, where sizzling skillets and wafting spices intoxicate the air. Myers + Chang does one excellent dim sum brunch (read: you’re here to gobble up Joanne Chang’s pillowy offerings), and pro-tip: hit up the SoWa Open Market post-meal—nothing settles the stomach like artisan goods and vintage finds.

There’s something terribly seducing about SRV. The sublime Columbus Ave bacaro buzzes with patrons swinging wine and Venetian cicchetti (small plates) like there’s no tomorrow. Tuck into luscious pasta and shiny risotto, and, if you’re with a date, end the night at Wally’s Café; Boston’s oldest jazz club makes for a perfect nightcap.

Bring an appetite or bring a group: you’re going to want to eat as many tapas as humanly possible. Boisterous and bold, Toro fires Barcelona-style tapas like no other: pan con tomate crackles with salty-sweet simplicity, dates wrapped in jamón melt on the tongue, and grilled maíz is a glorious mess of crumbly cheese and slick aioli. You’ll want to sip on one of the excellent Spanish sherries to get you through it all.

Step into The Salty Pig, and you’re bound to see an eclectic crowd. Power-lunching business types and starry-eyed lovers sit side-by-side, and that’s because pork lovers of all stripes come to this bustling locale for their fix. From fanciful charcuterie boards to prosciutto-laden pizza, there’s something for every mood, taste, and budget. All you need to do is come hungry.

Sibling to The Salty Pig and SRV, Coda is the restaurant that started it all. Residents in-the-know flock to this quaint bistro for always-reliable, soul-warming food done with style. You’re in for cheesy poutine, fork-tender baby back ribs, and perfectly charred chicken under a brick.

Splashes of Baja, Oaxaca, Veracruz, and the Yucatán pepper this neighborhood taquería, where tacos and tequila reign supreme. The turquoise-accented space has over 100 agave varieties that are “Burro tested and approved,” which means that if you’re not drinking something with those tacos, you’re doing something wrong.