One benefit of conducting business in the city, is the vast array of restaurants and cafes where you can set up shop for the day and get work done. If you’ve ever found yourself needing to take an important client to lunch or schedule a meeting outside of the office, there are a lot of important factors to consider: noise, ambience, price, and even availability of wifi.
Within two of Boston's neighborhoods, Back Bay and the Financial District, here are a few locations that meet different goals for your meeting.
To Impress
L’Espalier, 774 Boylston Street, Boston (Back Bay Neighborhood)
Average price for 2: $75-$125; Takes Lunch Reservations.
lespalier.com | Photo(s)
Our first, and possibly most favorite, place to take your clients to lunch is L’Espalier. A bit more expensive than other lunch options, this restaurant is sure to impress any client. With a superb menu and friendly waitstaff, L’Espalier is a great restaurant to celebrate a big deal closing or a milestone achieved.
To Brainstorm
Trident Booksellers and Café, 338 Newbury Street, Boston (Back Bay)
Average price for 2 $10-$30; Does Not Take Lunch Reservations
tridentbookscafe.com | Photo(s)
Walk into this Best of Boston Bookstore and you immediately see shelves upon shelves of books and gifts. You may not expect a full menu ranging from breakfast, to freshly made juices, to handmade Tibetan vegetarian dumplings. This cafe and bookstore is full of life; the atmosphere may just spark your own creativity. On the famous Newbury Street, this café is also equipped with easy to access outlets, bar seating that makes a great workspace, decent public wifi, and quick and easy checkout Whether your client is local or just visiting, this makes a great spot for a fun meeting.
To Catch Up
Sip Cafe Zero Post Office Square, Boston (Financial District)
Price for 2: $5-$15; Does Not Take Lunch Reservations
sipboston.com | Photo(s)
This little hole-in-the-wall serves some of the best coffee around, with a perfect atmosphere for a client meeting. With a great location, glass walls, and a mini park surrounding it, this is the perfect cafe to grab a coffee and chat. To make the spot even sweeter, if you're hungry they have delicious food too alongside their amazing teas (both iced and hot) and variety of specialty drinks! In the winter, our favorite is their hot apple cider. This refreshing little cafe, in the heart of Boston’s bustling Financial District, will become a favorite for you and your client.
To Energize, head to Fenway!
Mei Mei, 506 Park Drive, Boston (Fenway Neighborhood)
Average price for 2: $15-$30; Does Not Take Lunch Reservations
meimeiboston.com | Photo(s)
Brought to life by a kickstarter campaign to turn their beloved food truck into a brick and mortar restaurant, this is the perfect place to take your client for a casual check-in meeting. With a delicious menu of inspired Chinese-American food, there is something on the menu for every palate. It's a small space with spacious tables, so you can enjoy your dumplings or The Double Awesome (our personal favorite), and then whip out your laptop or tablet and start your meeting!
For vegetarian, head to Cambridge!
Veggie Galaxy, 450 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge (Central Square Neighborhood)
Average Price for 2: $30-$50; Does Not Take Lunch Reservations
veggiegalaxy.com | Photo(s)
This little diner-esque joint in Cambridge is possibly one of the freshest and coolest places you can take a client. With high-top tables and chairs, as well as regular-level diner-like seating, you and your client can comfortably enjoy their vegetarian and vegan menu. While this place is strictly meat-free, if you are a carnivore you won’t miss it. They can make chickpeas into the best “tuna” sandwich you’ll ever eat, and their vegan cheese is almost like the real thing! This casual spot is great to take vegetarian/vegan clients, and is even a great place to meet for breakfast! On the weekends they can be busy, so instead of waiting, head across the street to Life Alive Cafe for another vegetarian option.
For a Private Space
For a more private space, we recommend booking a private room through Breather. With locations in Back Bay and the Financial District, you can choose a space that best meets your needs. Then, if you need to plan a lunch you can get it catered by a nearby restaurant.
Tweet us @raniwise to share your favorite spots.
Contributed by Isabelle Wigon