2024 BOSTON RISING STARS AWARDS

Boston is a city that knows how to fight: in a revolutionary war, for NBA championships, and even through a pandemic. And the hospitality community, like the city, isn’t backing down either. The last time we were in Boston, we saw the city dealing with lockdowns, rising infections, and a mass pivot to take-out dining. This time, things were different. And we couldn’t be more inspired.

It isn’t just small businesses carving new paths for themselves; we also saw geographic expansion happening all over the area. From Cambridge to Quincy, Newton to Somerville, the hospitality industry is moving out and finding its footing in local outposts, suburbs, and surrounding areas. They’re pivoting away from the rising rents of Downtown Boston and coming up with clever, outside-the-box ways to get their businesses off the ground. 

At marketplaces like Bow Market and the Charles River Speedway, smaller-scale operations are punching above their weight and giving chefs and owners an opportunity to share their visions. These unconventional spaces and models, while still on the rise, are proving that the city is a place where hospitality professionals can do things their way.

We witnessed a hospitality scene that is becoming increasingly global. English pub food, Jamaican staples, and a large influx of Asian-inspired concepts and restaurants showed us that Boston is by no means a monolith. It’s “a scrappy city…and we are fighting for new ways to create access for the underdogs,” says Jamie Bissonnette in his letter to Boston. Chefs, bartenders, sommeliers, and artisans are making their way up north and joining the fray, finding a community that rewards the brave and the bold. We’re thrilled to see Boston back in the ring, taking swings and creating knockout experiences for diners and guests. With determination like this, we can’t wait to see where the hospitality community takes the city next.