clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
A white mug with the Hook + Line logo on it is filled with creamy clam chowder and garnished with green herbs.
Hook + Line’s excellent clam chowder.
Graffito SP/Hook + Line

The Best New England Clam Chowder in Boston

Yes, you’ll probably hear it called “chowda,” but you don’t have to follow suit

View as Map
Hook + Line’s excellent clam chowder.
| Graffito SP/Hook + Line

Clams, potatoes, and bacon bathed in cream. The quintessential New England clam chowder — whether fancified, or done by the book — is a belly-warming delight. Here are 13 of the best places in Boston to eat clam chowder.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

The Warren Tavern

Copy Link

If you’re checking out the Bunker Hill Monument, you might as well swing by the Warren Tavern — allegedly the oldest tavern in the state — to grab some clam chowder.

Neptune Oyster

Copy Link

What can be written about Neptune Oyster that hasn’t already been written? The oysters are great; the lobster roll is great; the Wellfleet clam chowder is also great. Expect a line; wait in that line.

Several diners wait outside Neptune Oyster in the North End, huddled in fall coats under the royal blue awning.
These folks are (likely) after the clam chowder.
Terrence B. Doyle/Eater Boston

Boston Sail Loft

Copy Link

Divisive for some, the perfect addition to chowder for others, Boston Sail Loft adds a hefty does of dill to their chowder. The herby lift is just what the creamy and rich soup needs. And forget ketchup, dip your fries right in their chowder for a surprisingly sumptuous combo.

Union Oyster House

Copy Link

As the nation’s oldest continuously running restaurant, Union Oyster House has picked up a lot of famous fans over the decades. Former President Barack Obama has swung in for clam chowder, Leonardo DiCaprio enjoys a private booth by the lobster tanks when he drops in, and two rare orange lobsters briefly called the restaurant home in 2023 before they were released back into the ocean. While the lobsters might demure, others will attest that the chowder here more than passes muster.

A cup of white clam chowder on a saucer with a baggie of oyster crackers on the side.
A cup of chowder at Union Oyster House.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Ned Devine's

Copy Link

The chowder at this Faneuil Hall pub isn’t just good; in fact, it’s award-winning.

Clam chowder in a glass mug with a packet of oyster crackers on the side.
You can find the same creamy clam chowder at the Glass House in Kendall Square (pictured here), another spot owned by the same folks behind Ned Devine’s.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

The Barking Crab

Copy Link

Another tourist trap, but one of the good ones. You’ll spend a fair amount of money at the Barking Crab, but the food is good, so you’ll leave satisfied if a little lighter in the pockets.

A waterfront restaurant with a giant yellow and red tent covering over top.
The Barking Crab.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Hook + Line

Copy Link

Newcomer to the now-bustling Seaport, Hook + Line offers wonders of wood-fired grilled seafood, from swordfish steak to tiger prawns with a squid and tasso ham XO sauce. Among the menu packed with surprises — grilled hot dog with white sturgeon caviar, anyone? — perhaps the biggest surprise is that the clam chowder is gluten-free. Skip the oyster crackers, and even those with gluten sensitivity can enjoy the rich and creamy chowder that’s balanced by salty bacon.

A white mug with the Hook + Line logo on it is filled with creamy clam chowder and garnished with green herbs.
A mug of clam chowder from Hook + Line.
Graffito SP/Hook + Line

Saltie Girl

Copy Link

Leave it to Saltie Girl (which has since branched out to LA) to improve on the classic dish. Along with the pork belly that’s cured in-house, the garnish of fried clam brings a touch of texture to the play of salty and creamy flavors.

The Row 34 clam chowder is a Boston classic. Made with care, the bacon-rich broth is studded with potatoes, clams, and celery and brightened with bay leaves and herbs. The housemade saltine in particular is a special treat.

An overhead shot of a white cup and saucer filled with white, creamy clam chowder and garnished with chopped green herbs and a white cracker.
Row 34’s clam chowder.
Emily Hagen/Row 34

The Banks Seafood and Steak

Copy Link

It’s hard to beat a classic New England clam chowder with its cubes of potatoes, clams, and bits of salty bacon bobbing in a creamy, thick broth. Dress up the experience at the Banks in Back Bay, where tradition takes a twist with Berkshire pork belly, chives, and a green herb oil drizzled over the chowder.

    Search for reservations
  • Capital One Dining
    Book primetime tables set aside exclusively for eligible Capital One cardholders. Capital One Dining is the presenting partner of the Eater app.
A white dish filled with soup with a cup of crackers and a dinner roll placed beside it on a white plate.
Chowder, crackers, and a roll.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Legal Harborside

Copy Link

This place is a tourist trap and an amusement park disguised as a seafood restaurant — but the chowder, which has been on many presidential inaugural menus dating back to 1981, is as good as it gets.

A waterfront view of Legal Harborside at dusk, with a final bit of sun peeking over the horizon.
Some very good ocean views.
Legal Harborside/Facebook

Eventide Fenway

Copy Link

Like its older sibling in Portland — one of the many stellar restaurants in the Maine seaside city — Eventide Fenway focuses on fresh seafood. While it may be tempting to just stick to the oft-changing selection of oysters and classics like the brown butter lobster roll, do dive into the New England clam chowder. The classic recipe is kicked up a notch with salt pork, and saltines add just the right crunch.

The Pearl

Copy Link

The Pearl is a precious beauty among a sea of large chain restaurants in Dorchester’s South Bay shopping center. The chowder is creamy, clam-filled, and hits the spot.

The Warren Tavern

If you’re checking out the Bunker Hill Monument, you might as well swing by the Warren Tavern — allegedly the oldest tavern in the state — to grab some clam chowder.

Neptune Oyster

What can be written about Neptune Oyster that hasn’t already been written? The oysters are great; the lobster roll is great; the Wellfleet clam chowder is also great. Expect a line; wait in that line.

Several diners wait outside Neptune Oyster in the North End, huddled in fall coats under the royal blue awning.
These folks are (likely) after the clam chowder.
Terrence B. Doyle/Eater Boston

Boston Sail Loft

Divisive for some, the perfect addition to chowder for others, Boston Sail Loft adds a hefty does of dill to their chowder. The herby lift is just what the creamy and rich soup needs. And forget ketchup, dip your fries right in their chowder for a surprisingly sumptuous combo.

Union Oyster House

As the nation’s oldest continuously running restaurant, Union Oyster House has picked up a lot of famous fans over the decades. Former President Barack Obama has swung in for clam chowder, Leonardo DiCaprio enjoys a private booth by the lobster tanks when he drops in, and two rare orange lobsters briefly called the restaurant home in 2023 before they were released back into the ocean. While the lobsters might demure, others will attest that the chowder here more than passes muster.

A cup of white clam chowder on a saucer with a baggie of oyster crackers on the side.
A cup of chowder at Union Oyster House.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Ned Devine's

The chowder at this Faneuil Hall pub isn’t just good; in fact, it’s award-winning.

Clam chowder in a glass mug with a packet of oyster crackers on the side.
You can find the same creamy clam chowder at the Glass House in Kendall Square (pictured here), another spot owned by the same folks behind Ned Devine’s.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

The Barking Crab

Another tourist trap, but one of the good ones. You’ll spend a fair amount of money at the Barking Crab, but the food is good, so you’ll leave satisfied if a little lighter in the pockets.

A waterfront restaurant with a giant yellow and red tent covering over top.
The Barking Crab.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Hook + Line

Newcomer to the now-bustling Seaport, Hook + Line offers wonders of wood-fired grilled seafood, from swordfish steak to tiger prawns with a squid and tasso ham XO sauce. Among the menu packed with surprises — grilled hot dog with white sturgeon caviar, anyone? — perhaps the biggest surprise is that the clam chowder is gluten-free. Skip the oyster crackers, and even those with gluten sensitivity can enjoy the rich and creamy chowder that’s balanced by salty bacon.

A white mug with the Hook + Line logo on it is filled with creamy clam chowder and garnished with green herbs.
A mug of clam chowder from Hook + Line.
Graffito SP/Hook + Line

Saltie Girl

Leave it to Saltie Girl (which has since branched out to LA) to improve on the classic dish. Along with the pork belly that’s cured in-house, the garnish of fried clam brings a touch of texture to the play of salty and creamy flavors.

Row 34

The Row 34 clam chowder is a Boston classic. Made with care, the bacon-rich broth is studded with potatoes, clams, and celery and brightened with bay leaves and herbs. The housemade saltine in particular is a special treat.

An overhead shot of a white cup and saucer filled with white, creamy clam chowder and garnished with chopped green herbs and a white cracker.
Row 34’s clam chowder.
Emily Hagen/Row 34

The Banks Seafood and Steak

It’s hard to beat a classic New England clam chowder with its cubes of potatoes, clams, and bits of salty bacon bobbing in a creamy, thick broth. Dress up the experience at the Banks in Back Bay, where tradition takes a twist with Berkshire pork belly, chives, and a green herb oil drizzled over the chowder.

A white dish filled with soup with a cup of crackers and a dinner roll placed beside it on a white plate.
Chowder, crackers, and a roll.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Legal Harborside

This place is a tourist trap and an amusement park disguised as a seafood restaurant — but the chowder, which has been on many presidential inaugural menus dating back to 1981, is as good as it gets.

A waterfront view of Legal Harborside at dusk, with a final bit of sun peeking over the horizon.
Some very good ocean views.
Legal Harborside/Facebook

Eventide Fenway

Like its older sibling in Portland — one of the many stellar restaurants in the Maine seaside city — Eventide Fenway focuses on fresh seafood. While it may be tempting to just stick to the oft-changing selection of oysters and classics like the brown butter lobster roll, do dive into the New England clam chowder. The classic recipe is kicked up a notch with salt pork, and saltines add just the right crunch.

The Pearl

The Pearl is a precious beauty among a sea of large chain restaurants in Dorchester’s South Bay shopping center. The chowder is creamy, clam-filled, and hits the spot.

Related Maps